Dear all,
I've seen both these gulls recently and, for me at least, both are puzzling in their own ways:
The 1st winter gull appears to be one of the 'glaucous x herring gull hybrid' types which I personally haven't seen outside western Ireland (at Killybegs in two successive winters). I watched it for twenty minutes before it became lost to view amongst a mass of Herring Gulls. It was very aggressive and was pursuing the other Herring Gulls to rob them of any food they had. The gull was about the size of a Herring Gull or a little larger. What really struck me, and what I don't recall seeing on a Herring x Glaucous hybrid before was the underwing pattern (pity the bird's body was hidden from sight behind a bank of sand!). I played back my video I'd shot and watched the scene with the wings flicked upwards in slow motion - to my surprise the flight feathers on the underwings are clean white contrasting with the brown axillaries. If anyone has seen anything like this before, or can add anything to this bird's identification/parentage, I'd like to hear from you.
The near-adult/adult gull may be less of a puzzle but I've been in two minds ever since I saw it. I'm hoping the forum can solve this one for me.
If further photos of any features on either bird are required, please let me know.
Thanks,
Lancey
I've seen both these gulls recently and, for me at least, both are puzzling in their own ways:
The 1st winter gull appears to be one of the 'glaucous x herring gull hybrid' types which I personally haven't seen outside western Ireland (at Killybegs in two successive winters). I watched it for twenty minutes before it became lost to view amongst a mass of Herring Gulls. It was very aggressive and was pursuing the other Herring Gulls to rob them of any food they had. The gull was about the size of a Herring Gull or a little larger. What really struck me, and what I don't recall seeing on a Herring x Glaucous hybrid before was the underwing pattern (pity the bird's body was hidden from sight behind a bank of sand!). I played back my video I'd shot and watched the scene with the wings flicked upwards in slow motion - to my surprise the flight feathers on the underwings are clean white contrasting with the brown axillaries. If anyone has seen anything like this before, or can add anything to this bird's identification/parentage, I'd like to hear from you.
The near-adult/adult gull may be less of a puzzle but I've been in two minds ever since I saw it. I'm hoping the forum can solve this one for me.
If further photos of any features on either bird are required, please let me know.
Thanks,
Lancey