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Caspian Gull? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Reader
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Looks good to me, so it probably isn't (I usually get big gulls wrong :-O)
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Looks alright to me too FWIW, head shape always reminds me of Slender-billed Gull
A
A
Reader
Well-known member
I hope you are both right. What has thrown me is the fact that a German ring Caspian has been on this site for the last two days. It left late morning and within minutes this bird turned up.
What's wrong with that? We'll its on a small pool in the middle of a housing estate called Stoke floods in Coventry where the locals feed the ducks on the grassy banks.
Nothing of note drops in there and yet it appears two Caspian's visited minutes apart. Oh!! Also a female Mandarin Duck as well. Certainly a mini purple patch for the site.
Does anyone else confirm it as a Caspian. If it is, what age (adult?)
What's wrong with that? We'll its on a small pool in the middle of a housing estate called Stoke floods in Coventry where the locals feed the ducks on the grassy banks.
Nothing of note drops in there and yet it appears two Caspian's visited minutes apart. Oh!! Also a female Mandarin Duck as well. Certainly a mini purple patch for the site.
Does anyone else confirm it as a Caspian. If it is, what age (adult?)
SteveClifton
Well-known member
Did you get any other shots? perhaps in flight too?
Although it looks quite promising I think you need a few more images to be 100% certain on this one, at a time when lots of Herring Gulls are gaining 'summer plumage' and hence look much more Caspian-like than they do in early winter.
Reader
Well-known member
Unfortunately I didn't. The bird was distant (heavily cropped images) and didn't move for the thirty plus minutes I was there.
Rotherbirder
Well-known member
From these images? I wouldn't stick my neck out too far. The German ringed bird (yellow Darvic 'XNDJ') that you refer to is now a 6cy; I had it in South Yorkshire in 2015.
RB
Reader
Well-known member
As I thought. I am not a Gull fan so find it hard to work some of them out. This being one of them.
CARERY
Well-known member
For me it is a typical (probably adult) Caspian Gull - at least phenotypical, long legs, slender bill, bulging breast, dark eye.
The problem is that there are a few mixed colonies in Eastern Germany and Poland (and elsewhere?) with Caspian, Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls that hybridize frequently. The offsprings can - as in most hybrids - look very close to either one of the parents or all forms of intermediate.
The problem is that there are a few mixed colonies in Eastern Germany and Poland (and elsewhere?) with Caspian, Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls that hybridize frequently. The offsprings can - as in most hybrids - look very close to either one of the parents or all forms of intermediate.
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Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
lou salomon
the birdonist
agree with roland. no need for an open wing shot, this is a typical adult caspian gull.
Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
That last shot clinches it for me John - bill in full profile spot on for Caspian.
Steve
Steve
Reader
Well-known member
Thanks Roland
Still a Caspian Gull... for me in adults the more olive-yellow (Caspian) compared to yellow (Herring) bill often is the first pointer.
Reader
Well-known member
Cheers Steve
I will probably be in your neck of the woods sometime tomorrow morning as I am thinking of calling in to Eyebrook.
I will probably be in your neck of the woods sometime tomorrow morning as I am thinking of calling in to Eyebrook.
