Gull Sp., Somerset (1 Viewer)

R

rharris

Member

• Aug 25, 2011

• #1

Hi there,

Can any of the gull experts on here tell me what the larger gull is in the group of Herrings (top left or left in most of the group shots). It was clearly larger than the others and apeared to have a heavier bill. Sorry for the quality of the photos but it was quite distant and these are very heavily cropped.

Many thanks for your insight in advance.

R H

 

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chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Aug 25, 2011

• #2

Very pale head coupled with a heavy black bill - 1st year Great Black-backed Gull.

Chris

 

S

Steve Lister

Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.

• Aug 25, 2011

• #3

chris butterworth said:

Very pale head coupled with a heavy black bill - 1st year Great Black-backed Gull.

Chris

Click to expand...

Agree with Chris - can't be anything else.

Steve

 

S

smiths

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2011

• #4

I am not convinced. Is there a photograph of the (open) upperwing please ?

 

timwootton

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2011

• #5

I am - looks spot on for GBBG.

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Aug 26, 2011

• #6

From these pic - I´m not def. convinced either.
The gull is not a 'first year' (if Chris by that means a bird of the year?) but a 2cy moulting into second winter.
In my eyes it could well be a (male), Herring Gull, although some female GBBG might be close regarding the billsize. Upperwing shot?

JanJ

 

Cristian Mihai

Cristian Mihai

• Aug 26, 2011

• #7

I would agree with JanJ.

 

R

rharris

Member

• Aug 26, 2011

• #8

JANJ said:

From these pic - I´m not def. convinced either.
The gull is not a 'first year' (if Chris by that means a bird of the year?) but a 2cy moulting into second winter.
In my eyes it could well be a (male), Herring Gull, although some female GBBG might be close regarding the billsize. Upperwing shot?

JanJ

Click to expand...

This is the only other image I have of it with wings up - didn't include it as the quality is even worse, but in case it helps? The bird was quite a lot bigger than any of the other Herrings present and I assumed it was a GBBG myself but willing to listen and learn...

 

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Muddy Turnstone

Young birder

• Aug 26, 2011

• #9

I certainly get the feeling of Herring Gull here... their size can vary a lot - (I've seen GBBGs whom was smaller than Herring)

/Rasmus