Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
A very nice Caspian Gull, Tsingy.
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gulls (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter lou salomon
- Start date
JANJ
Well-known member
Like Lou say's Cristian, your gull seems rather strangely patterned. An aberrant Caspian like gull or something else, and what that someting else would be is diffucult to work out. Seems like the tongue on p10 is very short, seen from above, not fully visible though, but not viewable from below. A Caspian with a dark mark on p4 would not be unique, seen a couple myself and pic from Holland etc.
You will probably get some more pic Cristian.
JanJ
You will probably get some more pic Cristian.
JanJ
lou salomon
the birdonist
that's at least 3 different adult caspian gulls, tsingy.
lou salomon
the birdonist
a small p4 mark actually is seen in about 40-50% of adult caspian gulls, jan;
in this strange ind. it just adds up with many other oddities since it appears to be large (as the p10 subterminal mark is solid).
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
lou salomon
the birdonist
this is most likely a pretty dark male caspian gull. but it is really hard to separate from a similarly plumaged michahellis. pale median covert centers, pale greater coverts, shawl, belly line, bill shape, apparent pale inner webs on p10 base and apparent tail pattern (undertail and broad tail band - hard to judge..) to my eyes look better for cachinnans. photo taken recently i guess?
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JANJ
Well-known member
I guess michahellis on tendency to darkish mask and bill, which looks short with a steep upper mandible tip and largish eye
JanJ
lou salomon
the birdonist
hi jan,
a normal michahellis at this age usually has stronger head striation. male caspians (can) have such strong curved upper mandibles. the bill is not entirely black but large parts of its sides are paler, and: it is long and parallel edged. white head is contrastingly separated from dark shawl. underwing pattern is delicate, not as plain brown as in most michs. axilliaries cold also be taken in account as being pale based with a rel. fine barring towards tip. belly line has the two "caspian bumps". remember the young dark caspians i photogr. in sept. 2011 - many of them have a very similar pattern.
comparison of similar patterned 1cy:
dark male caspian: http://www.lou.bertalan.de/gulls/pic/vh/up_0570.jpg
pale male michahellis: http://www.lou.bertalan.de/gulls/pic/vh/up_0899.jpg
cheers
a normal michahellis at this age usually has stronger head striation. male caspians (can) have such strong curved upper mandibles. the bill is not entirely black but large parts of its sides are paler, and: it is long and parallel edged. white head is contrastingly separated from dark shawl. underwing pattern is delicate, not as plain brown as in most michs. axilliaries cold also be taken in account as being pale based with a rel. fine barring towards tip. belly line has the two "caspian bumps". remember the young dark caspians i photogr. in sept. 2011 - many of them have a very similar pattern.
comparison of similar patterned 1cy:
dark male caspian: http://www.lou.bertalan.de/gulls/pic/vh/up_0570.jpg
pale male michahellis: http://www.lou.bertalan.de/gulls/pic/vh/up_0899.jpg
cheers
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lou salomon
the birdonist
a large part of lower mandible seems to have been broken, yes, looks like its tongue.
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
lou salomon
the birdonist
looks well fed - they can get very nice in their 1st winter cloth with a bunch of 2.gen coverts.o
tittletattler
Well-known member
I would agree with Lou with regards the bird in flight.
I would wager that from above, the inner primaries will look rather grey (as they do from below).
Compare to this bird:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/little-w/4063375071/
Cheers, Andy.
tittletattler
Well-known member
Nice shots Cristian of an advanced (male?) michahellis.
tittletattler
Well-known member
A quick jaunt out this afternoon didn't turn up too much but it wasn't without some interest.
A leucistic Common Gull was unusual: A Commlien's Gull??
A few Yellow-legs were present but only 1 2nd winter bird posed nicely although good shots were tricky in the stiff breeze.
One of the Black-headed Gulls had a yellow ring '2ANV'. Almost looks like 'JANJ'. :t: I wonder if we could pay to have our initials on a gull ring?
Cheers,
Andy
A leucistic Common Gull was unusual: A Commlien's Gull??
A few Yellow-legs were present but only 1 2nd winter bird posed nicely although good shots were tricky in the stiff breeze.
One of the Black-headed Gulls had a yellow ring '2ANV'. Almost looks like 'JANJ'. :t: I wonder if we could pay to have our initials on a gull ring?
Cheers,
Andy
Attachments
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
Thank you, Andy. Unfortunately I was in a hurry, so I didn't manage to take pics with other birds.
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
magpiemick
Well-known member
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