Bahrain Gull and a Shrike (1 Viewer)

alanp

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2018

• #1

Saw this Shrike near Hamal in Bahrain, poor photos as I had to shoot into the sun because of limit viewpoint. I think it is either an Isabelline or a Red Backed Shrike.

The Gull was in the same area and not sure if it an Armenian Gull, Yellow Leg or Lesser Black Back Gull.

 

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peterarras

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2018

• #2

Hi Alan,
The Shrike is a Daurian Shrike!

 

alanp

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2018

• #3

Thanks Peter

 

A

andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2018

• #4

The Gull is most likely a Steppe Gull, Larus fuscus barabensis, which is more or less the default taxon in the Gulf. The head and bill shape don't look quite right for Heuglin's, and it doesn't look "mean" enough. I'm not sure if there are records of Armenian in Bahrain, although there are records from Kuwait - in any case it's rare. Yellow-legged doesn't really occur in the region.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Dec 18, 2018

• #5

agreed, looks like a 3rd cy larus fuscus barabensis.

 

Tib78

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #6

Well the bill shape and pattern, Jizz and tiny P10 mirror are very much reminiscent of an Armenian to me. If this was photographed in Israel, I don’t think I would give it a second look. Are there any other pics? With other gulls etc...?

 

Last edited: Dec 19, 2018

KenM

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #7

Tib78 said:

Well the bill shape and pattern, Jizz and tiny P10 mirror are very much reminiscent of an Armenian to me. If this was photographed in Israel, I don’t think I oublié give it a second look. Are there any other pics? With other gulls etc...?

Click to expand...

Armenian has a dark eye, this one clearly has a pale iris.....?

 

Tib78

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #8

http://www.gull-research.org/armenicus/5cy/5cyjan05.html

From what I gather dark-eyed gulls have a greater propensity to have pale-eyed individuals within their population than the other way round (ie dark-eyed adults are rare among pale-eyed gulls).

 

alanp

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #9

Hi Tib, It was the only photo I took at the time and the only other birds close by were Black Headed Gulls and Slender Billed Gulls. I am visiting my nephew in Bahrain and he is a few minutes walk from a small harbour at Hamala. There are huge numbers of Gulls here but most are roosting too far out to ID. This bird was on a small island in the bay.


I have attached a photo taken tonight not sure if its the same bird. There were only a few birds close enough for a decent photo as there were fishermen on the end of the Island. There are a lot of large gulls that vary in plummage but not close enough to get a photo. I am here till after xmas and will see if I can get a group photo of Yellow Legged Gulls.

 

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Last edited: Dec 19, 2018

alanp

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #10

Armenian Gull is on the Bahrain List but not Steppe Gull.

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #11

Agree that the gull is more likely an armenicus. The shortish blunt tipped heavy bill looks better for armenicus. Some armenicus are pale-eyed.

JanJ

 

A

andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2018

• #12

alanp said:

Armenian Gull is on the Bahrain List but not Steppe Gull.

Click to expand...

Perhaps it's listed under Lesser Black-backed or even Caspian.