Common Gull or Ring Billed (1 Viewer)

Whilst on the Portsmouth Bilbao ferry we had a short stop at Roscoff. At which point a Ring Billed Gull flew past - basically a stocky Common Gull with a very stout bill (almost looked out of proportion) and a Black mark towards the end. Ok enough for me but not enough for a records commitee (rightly so). I failed to get any pictures but did go and fetch my camera and then stay on deck most of the day!

About an half an hour after leaving Roscoff I got this fellow at some distance.

Someone is going to tell me its a nailed on 1st year Common Gull but I only have collins to go by. For instance, for the Ring Billed it says need the wing panel - which where how what? The back seems very plain and grey to me - shouldn't the Common Gull have some brown on the shoulders. At the time I was struck by how light the wings appeared (almost like a Sabines - alhtough that isn't reflected in the photos) - through bins.

Anyway, I thought i would pass it over to the Gull experts and I look forward to being educated!

I think it is a First winter Common Gull. You would be very brave to claim a Ring-billed on your fly-by description. You don't say what age it was but many immature Common Gulls have a sub-terminal black mark on the bill reminiscent of Ring-billed, and indeed 2nd year Herring Gulls too

I am very far from a gull expert, but one thing to do is to check the underwing pattern against similarly aged RbGulls. For the record, I am not optimistic you are right.

Niels

This photo was not the same bird as the one I saw in port. I do have some underwing of this bird though....

I had to thought 1st year common but I could ldnt reconcile with Collins. Hence the question what should I be looking for to confirm id..

I won't be submissive ting any records as I said not enough.

rosbifs said:

This photo was not the same bird as the one I saw in port. I do have some underwing of this bird though....

I had to thought 1st year common but I could ldnt reconcile with Collins. Hence the question what should I be looking for to confirm id..

I won't be submissive ting any records as I said not enough.

Click to expand...

Link to a good article/blog on separating Common and Ring-billed Gulls, with check-list of key features and comparison photos: https://gullstothehorizon.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/ring-billed-gulls-vs-common-gulls-comparison-from-a-dutch-perspective-201402/

Underwing is variable in both sp. so of little value, especially at this distance.

I'm a little confused by your 1st post. You said the earlier bird you saw was a Ring-billed Gull, yet also said you weren't sure of the features to check to confirm an ID as Ring-billed? If that's the case then how can you be sure it wasn't just a robustly built Common Gull, or perhaps even a small Herring Gull?

SteveClifton said:

Link to a good article/blog on separating Common and Ring-billed Gulls, with check-list of key features and comparison photos: https://gullstothehorizon.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/ring-billed-gulls-vs-common-gulls-comparison-from-a-dutch-perspective-201402/

Underwing is variable in both sp. so of little value, especially at this distance.

I'm a little confused by your 1st post. You said the earlier bird you saw was a Ring-billed Gull, yet also said you weren't sure of the features to check to confirm an ID as Ring-billed? If that's the case then how can you be sure it wasn't just a robustly built Common Gull, or perhaps even a small Herring Gull?

Click to expand...

Brilliant website. Working my way through it.

As for the first bird - I had the impression that it had a classic bill for Ring Billed - it flew past at eye level and within 10 metres. I instantly thought Ring Billed. Its like you know the difference in bill shape of Black Headed and Med Gull or Audouins and Yellow Legged. I phoned my Dad and described it and he then read back the Collins (mine was in the cabin with my camera - so I didn't have any other reference in the moment).

Yes I know there are other factors which I wouldn't have had much idea in that moment.

As I also said I wouldn't have enough to pass any examination. Does that make sense?

rosbifs said:

As I also said I wouldn't have enough to pass any examination. Does that make sense?

Click to expand...

Yes know what you mean. Frustrating when you feel a good bird got away from you - shame you didn't have the camera for the first bird