2 large gulls from Cyprus (1 Viewer)

SJC

Well-known member

• Feb 11, 2020

• #1

Photographed a few days ago in Cyprus. They were part of a large flock of mainly Caspian and Armenian Gulls but also a few Yellow-legged, Heuglin's and Baltic. I'm not sure about these two

 

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P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Feb 11, 2020

• #2

Not sure about the first two but the last two look like 2cy Armenian gulls with that thick stubby bill & very similar pattern of mantle to GBBG.

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Feb 11, 2020

• #3

Thanks Neil. I was thinking along the same lines but the head looks a bit square and the bill a bit too long and pointed for typical Armenian. I can't think of what else it can be though...

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Feb 11, 2020

• #4

Hi SJC!

The 2cy is a fine armenicus. http://www.gull-research.org/armenicus/02cyfebr.html
The other might be a subadult barabensis, my best guess. Nice photos as usual

JanJ

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Feb 11, 2020

• #5

Thanks JanJ!

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Feb 11, 2020

• #6

1 is either a 4cy steppe gull or a hybrid (heuglini x cachinnans - thing), hard to tell. definitely something from central asia, maybe taiga belt of russia west of urals.

2 maybe armenian but i'd have a hard time to exclude a YLG here!

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Feb 12, 2020

• #7

Thanks Lou. I was surprised by how many barabensis/eastern cachinnans type there were in the large group (barabensis is not on the Cy list)

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Feb 12, 2020

• #8

it seems that barabensis should be put on the list. recently a large number have been ssen in port said, egypt, so they do migrate back through the eastern mediterranen.

 

SJC

Well-known member

• Feb 12, 2020

• #9

I was under the impression that Steppe (barabensis) cannot be safely identified from Eastern Caspian in the field