Young Gulls ~ Help Please: (1 Viewer)

Mike Robinson

Well-known member

• Jan 29, 2013

• #1

It strikes me that the the Gulls in the picture might all belong to the same species and might all be of similar ages. They were standing beside the tidal Thames by Erith.

Looking at my book, 'Gulls of Europe, Asia & North America' (by Olsen and Larsson) it seems to me that they might be 2nd Winter Herring Gulls? First Winter birds would be darker? That being said, I could alternatively plump for First Winter, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls? I have boldly discarded Great Black-Backed Gull and Yellow-Legged Gulls!

I would be grateful if somebody could throw some light on this please?

A zillion thanks ~ Mike .....

 

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DamianP

Well-known member

• Jan 29, 2013

• #2

I'll have a stab as no-one else has yet answered. The front two are definitely black-headed gulls. The middle one looks like a common gull, and the back three are either juvenile herring gulls or juvenile lesser black-backed gulls - I'd guess at the former. Hope someone else answers with more confidence for you soon.

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Jan 29, 2013

• #3

The left bird has definitely a shape of Herring Gull, not LLB. I guess all are HG indeed!

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Jan 29, 2013

• #4

all 3 large gulls are 2cy (1st winter/1st cycle) herring gulls.

 

Mike Robinson

Well-known member

• Jan 29, 2013

• #5

Dear all:

In addition to thanking you for your kind help &c. I apologise for not being entirely clear in my original request. I did actually mean the three Gulls at the rear of the picture.

So it seems I was partly there; if albeit, near but yet so far away, as it were!

Once again, thank you .....

 

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EdvardH

Well-known member

• Jan 30, 2013

• #6

Another newbee question that I hope fit into this thread:

When you see flocks of gulls, are there any "guiding rules" on which kind of gulls who usually mix up?

 

Mike Robinson

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2013

• #7

Dear Edvard: You might do well to start a new thread under perhaps 'birds and birding'?