Gull ID maybe "Big Pale Heuglini" in Cyprus (1 Viewer)

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 23, 2015

• #1

Hi friends,

this gull was photographed yesterday at Larnaca, Cyprus. It was in a flock of 30+ comprising of L.michahellis and L. armenicus.
It seemed a Largish Gull among the other, and displayed aggresive behaviour when another Gull got to close to it.
Enough other features, such as mantle, legs, head shape, etc seem to suggest this is a "Big Pale Heuglini" ?

Please give me your expert opinions !

best wishes

Filippos

 

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lou salomon

the birdonist

• Sep 23, 2015

• #2

hi filippos,

your bird looks like a 3rd cycle cachinnans to me although p10 tongue (ventral) is very short. but a heuglini (as per peter adriaens) is supposed to have a diagonal tongue end and a darker mantle. it's not yet clear what those "big pale heuglinis" are in fact. maybe a mix of cachi and heuglini, some pass on the eastern black sea shore, some winter in cyprus, crete, the levante, the gulf region..

 

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 23, 2015

• #3

Thank you Lou.

 

Cristian Mihai

Cristian Mihai

• Sep 23, 2015

• #4

Caspian Gull for me.

 

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 23, 2015

• #5

Thank you Cristian.

 

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 24, 2015

• #6

Dear friends,

a friend that was with me managed some photos of the same gull flying. Maybe these could help more.

thanks

 

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I

Iraq Babbler

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2015

• #7

Regarding, features like: dark Kodak, small P10 mirror only, lack of tongues in inner pps., bill shape, peppering eyes for imm gulls, are not that typical for Caspian Gull, especially the last flying pics. when the upperparts looked dark and suggestive for heuglini better.

Omar

 

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 27, 2015

• #8

Thank you Omar.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Sep 27, 2015

• #9

filippos, you might want to read this: http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/03/28/trouble-along-the-black-sea/

and: your bird is not at all straightfort...

 

Φ-Filippos

Active member

• Sep 27, 2015

• #10

Thanks Lou! I enjoyed reading the article.

I guess its a mystery bird (I dont like "misery bird" !). Nothing much we can do about it! But it still nevertheless is a very interesting subeject for research.

 

jogresh

Bimble and patch

• Sep 30, 2015

• #11

Thanks for the link, I'd heard about the trip but not yet read any write-up. It seems that confirming the ID of extra-limital barabensis could be tricky.
I'm interested in gull ID, but very much a beginner. My initial guess for the Cyprus bird was heuglini due mainly to the mantle colour, is this now the likely ID following on from the flight shots showing the extent of black in the primaries and pattern of p10? Genuine question as keen to learn more about Caspian and Heuglins.