Gull, Redbridge(Hants),UK, 17.03.22 (2 Viewers)

[pdwinter]

I struggled with this dark mantled gull, because it has lost the lower part of one leg and was in rather poor condition. My thought was it was probably a Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus graellsii but wondered if the wing pattern was OK for that species. Apologies for the poor quality photo / video.

TIA
Paul

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Paul,
I share your reservation to ID this bird as a LBBG:

• the white mirror seems too large for a LBBG and there seems only a weak=narrow black tip. Therefore the wingtip seems white
• more, the amount of black on p8 seems too small, at least for many LBBG
• legs seems greyish-pink, but the poor state of the bird must surely be considered here.
• the bird lacks dark primaries and secondaries on the underwing.

But what is it?
A Herring Gull, a YLG, or an Herring x LBBG hybrid. I cant answer that with confidence, and therefore hoped for others to comment on this bird. But as no one has commented yet, I give it a try:
it doesnt look good for a YLG for me:

• mantle seems very dark indeed, slightly too dark for a YLG
• I think the deep red eye-ring should be visible
• I would hope for more black in the wing=makes this an IDable YLG for my level of experience
• leg colour seems wrong, but please note the caveat above

Therefore I would put my money (but not too much) on a Herring Gull or a Herring x LBBG hybrid. But I hope for others to jump in! And thanks to Lou and the other experts again: northern HG can be very dark mantled.


More: is there a 4cy Caspian Gull preening on the right? It seems quite pale-matled, but it stands in a different direction towards the photographer as the other Gulls. And the head-bill profile together with a small, dark eye seems ok imo.

 

[pdwinter]

Thank you Alexander.

If it had been less windy I think I might have got a few better photos which might have helped!

More: is there a 4cy Caspian Gull preening on the right? It seems quite pale-matled, but it stands in a different direction towards the photographer as the other Gulls. And the head-bill profile together with a small, dark eye seems ok imo.

I didn't notice a Caspian Gull when I was in the field ... but I was concentrating on getting a video of the dark bird and not looking through my binoculars / telescope I'm afraid.