Dear all,
Having looked at the gull I.D. requests posted recently I'm glad that I'm not the only one who finds tricky candidates to identify. Take the gull below for instance. Although birding in the mist isn't exactly easy, I saw this gull yesterday amongst a mixed group of Black-Headed and Common Gulls.
Initially identifying it as a 2nd winter Herring Gull I was puzzled by its apparent all dark (blackish) bill which seemed somewhat heavy and blunt tipped for Herring Gull. Thinking it could be a Yellow-Legged Gull I thought the dark eye-mask would support this. I then noticed the mantle which seemed a shade too pale (Herring Gull?) but nonetheless quite wholly unmarked grey (Yellow-legged Gull). It was at this point that I decided that it might be worth videoing.
Unfortunately it refused to turn sideways and remained inactive, front-on and wing stretched just once. It then flew off and didn't return. In flight I did note a black tail band and a largely white uppertail but the view was brief.
Is there enough in these pictures to reach a conclusion. Structurally I thought it looked somewhat like a cross between a Lesser-Black Backed and a Herring Gull with a bulging upper breast and a dark bill that was blunt ended and looking a little too big for the bird.
Any comments are welcome as always,
Thanks,
Lancey
Having looked at the gull I.D. requests posted recently I'm glad that I'm not the only one who finds tricky candidates to identify. Take the gull below for instance. Although birding in the mist isn't exactly easy, I saw this gull yesterday amongst a mixed group of Black-Headed and Common Gulls.
Initially identifying it as a 2nd winter Herring Gull I was puzzled by its apparent all dark (blackish) bill which seemed somewhat heavy and blunt tipped for Herring Gull. Thinking it could be a Yellow-Legged Gull I thought the dark eye-mask would support this. I then noticed the mantle which seemed a shade too pale (Herring Gull?) but nonetheless quite wholly unmarked grey (Yellow-legged Gull). It was at this point that I decided that it might be worth videoing.
Unfortunately it refused to turn sideways and remained inactive, front-on and wing stretched just once. It then flew off and didn't return. In flight I did note a black tail band and a largely white uppertail but the view was brief.
Is there enough in these pictures to reach a conclusion. Structurally I thought it looked somewhat like a cross between a Lesser-Black Backed and a Herring Gull with a bulging upper breast and a dark bill that was blunt ended and looking a little too big for the bird.
Any comments are welcome as always,
Thanks,
Lancey
