Dark backed Gull on the Thames? (1 Viewer)

KenM

Well-known member

• Oct 8, 2018

• #1

Found this yesterday late afternoon, certainly the darkest backed graellsii that I've ever seen, thus discounting fuscus,......intermedius was my next port of call.

However am unsure as to whether the pp still has some growth to follow, as the distance between tail end and pp appears somewhat short?

Comments welcome.

Cheers

 

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  P1800185.jpeg Intermedius.jpg

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Louis_P

Average Birder

• Oct 8, 2018

• #2

Sorry if this sounds stupid as I am new to the world of gulls but why can't the bird be a fuscus. In my book fuscus is shown as being identical to your pictured bird as far as I can see.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 8, 2018

• #3

I'd go for intermedius - which is quite frequent in Britain, unlike fuscus, which is very rare and should also be a bit blacker :t:

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Oct 8, 2018

• #4

Louis_P said:

Sorry if this sounds stupid as I am new to the world of gulls but why can't the bird be a fuscus. In my book fuscus is shown as being identical to your pictured bird as far as I can see.

Click to expand...

Certainly not a stupid question Louis P, as was mine....regarding the "short" primary projection, which I'd have thought would have been at odds with fuscus?

Cheers

 

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Louis_P

Average Birder

• Oct 8, 2018

• #5

Thanks for the help. Looking carefully I do see now that is more grey than a fuscus and I see what you mean about the primary projection. In my book the intermedius is shown having a slightly shorter primary projection as your bird does display. It also notes an intermedius 'can be as black as Great Black-Backed Gull' which again suits your bird well. Now I just need to nail those other 'dark winged larger gulls' one day...