Seagull at Cabo Raso (Atlantic coast of Portugal), 26/11/2022 (2 Viewers)

[Luís Vieira]

Good evening everyone,

On 26/11/2022 I photographed this seagull in Cabo Raso (Atlantic coast of Portugal) in flight to the North along the coast. Of a total of about 300 L. michahellis and L. fuscus that I counted in flight to the South during the morning, this was one of the rare gulls that flew to the North. I am not sure whether this bird is L. michahellis. Do you agree?

Thanks in advance.

Luís

 

[lou salomon]

hi Luis, quite an interesting bird, and certainly bears some potential for a 3rd cycle (3cy) Larus smithsonianus. Do you have more pics of it?

 

[Luís Vieira]

Hi Lou, thank you very much for your comments. I certainly wasn't expecting that species! I have 2 more photos, but I don't think they help much with identification. What do you think?

Thanks a lot!

Luís

 

[smiths]

Obvious contrast between the dark grey inner primaries and their white tips, as well as strong contrast between dark grey 'mantle' and white rump, so I would think it is one of those immature "lusitanius pitfalls", like this one that surely had me going:

Gaivota-de-patas-amarelas - Larus michahellis 2016-12-04 | Portugal | Observation.org

Portugal | Observation.org - All observations from nature online

portugal.observation.org

 

[Luís Vieira]

Thanks! It sure looks very much like the one I photographed at Cabo Raso.

 

[lou salomon]

I was hoping you to chime in, Peter, as I was aware of this pitfall 'lusie' - but the whole bird looks so immature that it seeems a bit hard to imagine even a very retarded YLG (although smudge around eye looks fine). Mantle looks pale to me but that could be an exposure thing.