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Black headed gulls or something else? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mipettin
- Start date
Hi Mipettin,
All the birds are Black-headed Gulls. In the first picture there's an adult in summer plumage (with the dark hood) and the other bird is a first winter, as is the bird in the second picture. This explains the markings on the tail and the wing. Franklin's Gull is a North American species that is extremely rare in Britain (although there's one in Dorset at the moment). It could like quite similar to a BH Gull from this angle but the darker grey on the wing (particularly the leading edge of the primaries) would probably still be noticeable.
All the birds are Black-headed Gulls. In the first picture there's an adult in summer plumage (with the dark hood) and the other bird is a first winter, as is the bird in the second picture. This explains the markings on the tail and the wing. Franklin's Gull is a North American species that is extremely rare in Britain (although there's one in Dorset at the moment). It could like quite similar to a BH Gull from this angle but the darker grey on the wing (particularly the leading edge of the primaries) would probably still be noticeable.
Martin,
I think this bird is probably a Herring Gull (1st winter). If you look at the inner primaries (back edge of the wing just before the tip) they appear slightly translucent and form a pale window. This is quite a useful distinction between 1st winter Herring and LBB.
I think this bird is probably a Herring Gull (1st winter). If you look at the inner primaries (back edge of the wing just before the tip) they appear slightly translucent and form a pale window. This is quite a useful distinction between 1st winter Herring and LBB.
They tend to stay tricky too, even when you're more experienced! 
Quite rewarding though, so keep at it.
Quite rewarding though, so keep at it.
