Herring Gull with unusual primary pattern, W Yorks (1 Viewer)

Adult Herring Gull with an interesting combination of primary patterning, although with the large mirror on P9 and the unbroken white tip to P10 it's presumably just an odd-looking argentatus(?).

David

Got northern 'tatus written all over it Dave. Great looking bird!

Similar bird here: http://www.gull-research.org/hg/hg5cy/addec86.html

While I remember, did you ever do anything with your 'crossbill'?

I didn't comment at the time but it's intrigued me ever since seeing your post. I wouldn't mind seeing some more shots if possible. Perhaps worth submitting to YNURC?

Thanks Steve. I agree it looks like a northern argentatus in a lot of ways (and that's probably what it is), but I keep wondering about the complete black band on P5, and how common that is in such birds. By the way. I should add that the photo was taken a couple of years ago (and I've been going back to it at regular intervals ever since).

Re the crossbill: I did get two or three more pics but they're more or less identical to the one I put on here. Everyone I ask seems to agree that the bill structure looks outside the range of Common, but I haven't really got any further than that (yet). Where's Lindsay Cargill when you need him?

While we're on crossbills, we had five different flight call types on vismig this year (aversrares classification), compared to our previous max of two, yet in terms of number of birds it was our worst year on record.

Cheers,

Dave