ROBINE-SUR-GALABRE (LA) (04) 18.07.2011

At 18:05 on 18 July 2011, 2 people hiking in mid-altitude mountains at La Robine-sur-Galabre (04) saw 8 silvery V-shaped objects move silently across the daytime sky in changing formations. One photographed them, and only 1 account was collected. Analysis of the accounts and especially the photographs led GEIPAN to conclude that the conditions allowed ordinary white birds to be observed and photographed at relatively high altitude; see the investigation report. They could have been yellow-legged gulls on post-breeding migration. The range of possible flight speeds reconstructed from the photographs fitted, and ornithological records confirmed that such birds could be present at that place and date. The formation, colour and number also fitted. GEIPAN notes that these birds usually flap but can glide like raptors. At a distance of about 600 m, wingbeats could be difficult to see, particularly with white birds contrasting less against blue sky than black birds would. The reported individual V shapes, reversed relative to the direction of travel, fitted less well. However, for the same reasons, GEIPAN doubted the witnesses could clearly distinguish each bird's V shape at that distance, despite the reporting witness's statement that the UAPs were clearly visible. GEIPAN classified the case B: birds.