Gull ID
On the Seton Burn this afternoon, one LWHG with yellow legs and mid-grey upperparts (marginally darker than Common Gull), consorting with LBB. Structurally very similar to LBB, but primary projection clearly shorter - about half that of LBB, cf. image 2 (note the left wing seemed slightly damaged so was hanging down a little, conveniently revealing the tail). Legs clearly yellow, but duller than adjacent LBB. In flight primary tips looked similar to LBB, a decent subterminal white mirror on P10, all other white marks tiny, but flapping wildly in wind so could not really get anything in terms of a bar on P5. Large pale patches on upperwing in flight, where secondary bases revealed by moulted greater coverts (cf. photo 3 in "Gulls"). Only on the deck for 30s or so, during which constant agressive interaction with LBB, single long call (beak upwards) and the hunched posture seen in most attached images.
Course, some graellsii are washed out and can appear extremely pale at this time of year and this was my initial thought but the primary projection seems to rule that out. I was also thinking LBB x HG hybrid at the time but according the
SOC guidelines these are also excluded by P5: "for Yellow-legged Gull ... crucially, a prominent thick sub-terminal black band in P5. ... This wing pattern excludes ... Herring/Lesser Black-backed hybrids, which show ... no black or a weak band in P5, mostly restricted to the outer web." With lack of this feature, still less a good photo of it in flight, clearly nothing definitive can be said but would still be interested in any comments! Plus, have a look for it if passing - it flew off S over the caravan park.
Also on the shore, Cherry Blossom (Med Gull red-7P8) again, first noted ystdy, blog entry
here.
NB - File upload has reduced resolution on my pics due to width so have also added one crop, bird in question is behind the LBB.
