Common / Ring-billed Gull in La Palma / Spain (1 Viewer)

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #1

Hi all,

Last month I found a Common Gull on a beach at Santa Cruz were was also the first Iceland Gull of La Palma, Canaries, Spain. However, despite confirmations of some birding contacts I have, Eduardo Garcia del Rey thinks it might actually be a Ring-billed Gull (he thought about an individual that wintered at Tenerife and trying to travel back to Nearctic).

I'd like your opinion. The photo with the Iceland Gull is "photoshopped", there were really together, but I took the photo of each separately (there were to far apart for my zoom) and joined them in post-treatment.

Thanks for helping

Alino

 

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Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Apr 21, 2017

• #2

Welcome to Birdforum!

Looks like Common to me, the bill is too small for Ring-billed, and the bird overall too small compared to the LBBG in pic #3.

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #3

Nutcracker said:

Welcome to Birdforum!

Looks like Common to me, the bill is too small for Ring-billed, and the bird overall too small compared to the LBBG in pic #3.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your answer.

It is not a LBBG, it is Larus michahellis atlantis... they are dark indeed!

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #4

Certainly looks small billed. +1 for Common Gull

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #5

SJC said:

Certainly looks small billed. +1 for Common Gull

Click to expand...

It means I would have found 2 new gulls for La Palma the same year! Which one will be next????

 

Brian J Small

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #6

Ring-billed Gull for me

http://gull-research.org/delawarensis/2cy/2cyapril03.html

B

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #7

Brian J Small said:

Ring-billed Gull for me

http://gull-research.org/delawarensis/2cy/2cyapril03.html

B

Click to expand...

Thank you Brian. Wow, 2 for Common, 1 for RbG, but I guess your opinion is an expert one. What do you say about very small size (with direct comparison with YlG) and small bill?.

I see very pale mantle good for RbG... a bit confused now.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #8

It does look small billed, but the body shape is all RBG - Common is realtively shorter legged and longer in the rear

http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/Common Gull - 1st years.html

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2017

• #9

Jane Turner said:

It does look small billed, but the body shape is all RBG - Common is realtively shorter legged and longer in the rear

http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/Common Gull - 1st years.html

Click to expand...

When I found the bird, I thought RbG rarer than Common, so I hoped RgG... but what disturbed me for Ring-billed Gulll was: he was so short-legged and long winged that I doubted, and disappointingly came back thinking I "only" found a Common. Finally, Common would be new for La Palma, and RbG would be a second, not that bad of course.

I'm not arguing against you or Brian, obviously you have more knowledge of them... just explaining my confusion.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Apr 21, 2017

• #10

ring-billed gull for me as well, a slim billed 2cy individual.