Iffley lock, Oxford, UK; help identifying needed (1 Viewer)

Hi all,

In this location today I saw a solitary gull perched on a wooden pillar in the river. It looked like a small herring gull, but its back was a messy sort of chocolate brown colour. It's beak was fairly delicate and had a distinctive pattern of colours: it was yellow with a red spot on the lower beak, a black spot on the upper beak, and a white spot on the tip. The legs were a very dull yellow colour, and the eyes were dark. I've got no idea, but would love to know what it was.

Thanks.

http://www.gull-research.org/lbbg3cyb/c73jun.htm

check the link

I imagine you saw a Lesser Black-Backed Gull. (not yet in its adult plumage - about 3 years old - it takes several years!)

Thanks! That's exactly what it looked like. Mystery solved.