Gull ID - Ireland (2 Viewers)

[vgarland]

Hi,

Please see attached photo of a gull resting on the shoreline at Broadmeadows Estuary, Swords, County Dublin, Ireland. This bird looks quite funky but I can't quite pin it down. My first thought was immature ring-billed gull but now I'm not so sure. Any help will be appreciated!

Best regards,

Victor

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
ruffled feathers, the way it appearantly sits, and some yellowish dirtening on the breast??? makes me think of an ill bird.

Apart from that, it looks like an immature Herring Gull to me. As I learned from literature, nearly adult looking gull with some uniform brownish wash to rhe greater coverts is only good for the larger Gulls of the Hering Gull group(???)

such weakened birds sometimes shows an delayed/retarted moult, but I think its an 3cy bird, if taken recently.

But better wait for the well known experts to confirm or correct. Thanks!

 

[vgarland]

I was focussed so much on the head and bill, I missed the light brown wash against the grey of the wing. 3rd year Herring Gull seems about right. It was windy yesterday so maybe the ruffled head is confusing me!

 

[vgarland]

Thanks Alexander!