Herring gull, Plymouth, UK. (1 Viewer)

T

thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Jan 12, 2018

• #1

Hi,

Is this a Herring Gull Larus Argentatus, or spp. Argenteus? The photo was taken today. It looked slightly different to the other herring gulls, not just because it was the only one with with a clean white head, but it also looked as if it had a rounder head. Anyways, I thought I’d upload it to see if anyone can help.

Cheers,

Tom

 

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CARERY

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2018

• #2

Don't think it's possible to decide which ssp. from these pictures. The white head is no help, as HG are variable in the timing of their moult and some stay rather white-headed.

 

T

thomasclark1985

Well-known member

• Jan 18, 2018

• #3

A few more Gulls

Thank you for the response. I’m only just getting into Gulls and didn’t quite realise just how difficult they are! Here are a couple more photos I could do with confirming/correcting!

Is the first photo a near adult herring gull, and the second a 2nd-winter herring gull?

Thanks,

Tom

 

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Last edited: Jan 19, 2018

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2018

• #4

Agree.

 

MTem

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2018

• #5

Surely they're both 3w, now 4cy.
Dark tip on bill of #1, 2nd gen primaries (no white tips) and retained coverts on both birds
Mick

 

S

SteveClifton

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2018

• #6

MTem said:

Surely they're both 3w, now 4cy.
Dark tip on bill of #1, 2nd gen primaries (no white tips) and retained coverts on both birds
Mick

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Agree on the ageing Mick, but given that all gulls undergo a complete autumn moult those should be 3rd generation primaries.

 

MTem

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2018

• #7

Agree Steve, brain fart.

 

S

SteveClifton

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2018

• #8

MTem said:

Agree Steve, brain fart.

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I've never been called that before 8-P