Gulls - Somerset, UK (1 Viewer)

[rylirk]

Hi all, I went for the Ring-Billed Gull at Chew Valley in Somerset yesterday, and I'm trying to make sure I know exactly which of the many gulls there it was! Of these 5 pics here, I believe the first 2 photos here show the Ring-Billed gull, and the last 2 show juv. Common gulls. Is this correct?

 

[Butty]

All look like common gulls (small bill).

 

[rylirk]

To my eyes, the bill on the first two photos looks much thicker than the bird in the last photo though? I had thought the different in bill size was quite subtle

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
do you have more pictures of the first bird (I assume from your post that picture 1 and 2 shows the same bird)?
I agree with you and Butty that picture 3 and 4 are 1cycle Common Gulls.

But I have yet to see a Common Gull with such distinct barred greater coverts. I know from literature that this is a feature of RB Gull. But as I have never seen one, I hope for more comments and more pictures.

 

[WildPhotographer]

There was a lot of mis-ID at Herriots going on in the latter part of yesterday afternoon. I have never seen a Ring-bill and I am told that 1W juveniles are very challenging, so I was delighted with my pictures, until an eminent colleague corrected my enthusiasm with friendly banter - no I did not get a single shot, but many beautiful frames of 1W Common Gulls

To be fair, it is very far from straightforward. I was told that feathers on the back are light silver, yet check out the Gull-Research page

 

[rylirk]

Indeed Alexander! I have many more photos of the last bird, here's a couple more that show the covert barring.

And yes WildPhotographer, it was pretty hectic there; it was interesting how many times 2 or more birds were 'definitely the Ring-Billed' according to different people!!! I was there right at the end of the afternoon so there's a good chance I met you!

 

[WildPhotographer]

Indeed Alexander! I have many more photos of the last bird, here's a couple more that show the covert barring.

And yes WildPhotographer, it was pretty hectic there; it was interesting how many times 2 or more birds were 'definitely the Ring-Billed' according to different people!!! I was there right at the end of the afternoon so there's a good chance I met you!

That is the same bird - unfortunately it is definitely a a common Gull
Nick

 

[SteveClifton]

There seems to be a lot of confusion over this bird!
For clarification, the first 2 pics in post #1, both pics in post #6 and the one in post #7 are all of the same bird: a second calendar year (1st cycle) Ring-billed Gull.
The last 2 pics in post #1 are indeed 2cy Common Gulls

 

[smiths]

Ring-billed Gull indeed in posts #7, 6 and 1.1-1.2.

 

[Jon Turner]

We were there yesterday early afternoon. We saw lots of Common Gulls, and tried to turn them into RBGs but the rounded heads and lack of the 'fierce' expression just didn't add up.