Gull ID needed: Cornwall, Lizard Point, UK (1 Viewer)

[mikfoz]

I'm not sure of this gull at all due to all-white tailfeathers and being on holiday with no reference material. Should hopefully be a clear enough view for our gull afficionadoes.

 

[mikejack82]

Moulting argenteus?

 

[JANJ]

Moulting Herring - most probably argenteus.

JanJ

 

[mikfoz]

Thought Herring Gull but the tail feathers and totally pale eye really threw me.

 

[mikejack82]

Thought Herring Gull but the tail feathers and totally pale eye really threw me.

What would you expect from herring, just out of interest?

 

[mikfoz]

What would you expect from herring, just out of interest?

Don't they normally have more barred wingtips and red ring round the eye? Or am I going a bit senile. I'm losing the plot aren't I. It just looks different a bit to my more oop north Herrings. Or maybe I see more yellow-legged gulls than I thought in Blackpool and think they're Herring Gulls. They all look too familiar dammit!

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Mike,

They have pale eyes up here! Not sure how the tail feathers differ. Clearly as already suggested the bird is in moult.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[mikfoz]

Cheers, Steve. I'm not the best one with gulls, I have to admit. All the various minute differences seem to blur in my head and I think I have been storing features of Yellow-Legged Gulls in my mind and thinking they're Herring Gulls as I really had the red ring round the eye imprinted as a Herring Gull characteristic.

I thought it must be a Herring Gull as there were loads about in a similar state of moult, often in close association with first year juveniles, but I lacked confidence.

I'm rambling now, but better to be safe than sorry