1st winter Mediterranean gull? [Düsseldorf, Germany] (2 Viewers)

[David_]

Hello,

found this gull in a small flock of Black-headed gulls. The dark legs caught my eyes to take a photo. I think this is a 1st winter Mediterranean gull but as I still struggle with non-adult gulls I am asking for confirmation for species and age.



Thank you!

 

[Hauksen]

Hello,

found this gull in a small flock of Black-headed gulls. The dark legs caught my eyes to take a photo. I think this is a 1st winter Mediterranean gull but as I still struggle with non-adult gulls I am asking for confirmation for species and age.

View attachment 1409152

Thank you!

Hi David,

Not that I'm any good with gulls, but have you considered a Kittywake? ornitho.de shows them occassionally following rivers far into Germany.

Regards,

Henning

 

[pbjosh]

I'm no expert on EU gulls nor on Kittiwakes, but isn't that very long-legged for a Kittiwake?

 

[Butty]

1st-winter black-headed gull - just the same bill-size/shape as the others with it. Mediterranean gull has a much chunkier bill.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
what a hard bird, at least for me. First: do you have more pictures?

Its one of those threads, I learn from, and if forced, I would opt for BHG like Butty. But with such a very bad feeling. There are many reasons for this:

• Yes, Med Gull is described as larger and many are. But I have seen many 1cy Med Gulls in recent years in NE-Germany, that were the same size as BHG and smaller than Common Gulls.
• A german Gull expert said "everything is possible in Gulls" in a german forum, but BHG with black legs in winter/basic plumage are rare at best.
• Yes, bill seems too small for Med Gull, but bill shape is also not perfect for BHG. And if you look hard enough, you can imagine a drooping bill, good for med Gull. You can do this, trust me.
• black centers to wing coverts are rare (scarce?) in BHG, but good for Med Gull
• head pattern with just a tiny crescent, that can be described as a spot is within variation for the weakest marked Med Gulls. But yes, within variation for BHG.
• I think the paler mantle of Med Gull would be visible here.

This is such an interesting bird imo, that I hope for more pictures and comments and I hope it is still there. And I must admit that I changed into the Med Gull camp when writing this. And the bad word hybrid (=the last refuge for the frustrated birder, I agree with you Butty!) came into my mind, too.

Edit: a Kittiwake can be excluded with confidence imo.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Hello,

found this gull in a small flock of Black-headed gulls. The dark legs caught my eyes to take a photo. I think this is a 1st winter Mediterranean gull but as I still struggle with non-adult gulls I am asking for confirmation for species and age.

View attachment 1409152

Thank you!

Yes. 1st winter Med Gull 👍🏼

 

[David_]

Thanks for all the comments.

Sadly there are no other photos. I got distracted by a Peregrine attacking a Common buzzard to chase it out of his territory. When I turned around to take some more photos of the gull it was gone.

I might have some time on Friday morning to get back and have another look. There are some Med gull reportings on Ornitho for Düsseldorf from the last 2 weeks (adults, 2nd and 1st year) so it might be staying in the area a little longer.

 

[lou salomon]

just to confirm: it's a 1cy Mediterranean Gull indeed, on bill shape/colour and leg colour. slight head striations in nape probably not visible here due to strong light.