Sighting in La Robine-sur-Galabre, July 18, 2011

Two people were walking in mid-altitude mountains at about 6:05 pm when they noticed eight silvery V-shaped objects in the sky. The objects moved without making any sound and seemed to fly in various formations. One of the two witnesses took photographs. The investigation gathered only one testimony.

After studying the account and, above all, the photographs, GEIPAN concluded that all the conditions were in place for the witnesses to see and photograph ordinary white birds flying at a relatively high altitude. They may have been yellow-legged gulls on their post-breeding migration. The flight speed range reconstructed from the photos fits this hypothesis, and ornithological data confirm that these birds could be present at that place and date. The appearance (formation, colour, number) is consistent.

The lack of any perceived wing beat can be explained by the distance of about 600 m, especially since white birds contrast less against a blue sky than black ones would; these birds can also glide like a bird of prey. Likewise, the inverted-V shape of each individual bird relative to the direction of flight fits poorly, but it is hard to imagine the witnesses could clearly make it out, even though they stated that the objects were clearly visible. GEIPAN classified the case as B: birds.