After a 'Mongolian' Gull with a Caspian Gull-like wingtip last week (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3521286#post3521286), I'm growing increasingly confused by this lot at the moment!
Today's puzzle looked like nothing more than a nice adult Vega Gull from range, albeit one at the cuter, shorter-legged end of the scale (perhaps a female). A little closer, and the obvious white mark near the tip of P9 marked it out as one to pay close attention to ........ and then it opened its wings!
Yet again, another wingtip pattern I was really not expecting, with broad Thayer's-like tongue down P9 and rather limited black below!
Does this bird still fall within acceptable variation for vegae? Could it actually be what I hope it is? Is the eye too pale for thayeri? Does the absence of 'string of pearls' completely rule out thayeri? All help appreciated!
Today's puzzle looked like nothing more than a nice adult Vega Gull from range, albeit one at the cuter, shorter-legged end of the scale (perhaps a female). A little closer, and the obvious white mark near the tip of P9 marked it out as one to pay close attention to ........ and then it opened its wings!
Yet again, another wingtip pattern I was really not expecting, with broad Thayer's-like tongue down P9 and rather limited black below!
Does this bird still fall within acceptable variation for vegae? Could it actually be what I hope it is? Is the eye too pale for thayeri? Does the absence of 'string of pearls' completely rule out thayeri? All help appreciated!
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