American Herring Gull? Dorset (1 Viewer)

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Thought I'd let a discussion take place on this potential Smiths from Portland, given that I was there, and on my patch! ;-)

P.S. Ian Lewington's seen the pics, and said 'there's nothing to rule AHG out', or words to that affect.

http://portlandbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[Rich Bonser]

Thought I'd let a discussion take place on this potential Smiths from Portland, given that I was there, and on my patch! ;-)

P.S. Ian Lewington's seen the pics, and said 'there's nothing to rule AHG out', or words to that affect.

http://portlandbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/

I genuinely apologise for being blunt here, but there appear to be no solid pro-American Herring Gull features on this bird in my opinion. Bar slightly coarser than usual barring on the rump and uppertail-coverts, this to me is a fairly standard 2cy Euro Herring. Or to alter the terminology - this bird can't be identified as an American Herring Gull in a vagrancy context.

Check any gull flock and you'll find a lot of 2cy's in head moult like this bird (as well as varying degrees of lack of wings!).
Cheers
Rich
http://rothandb.blogspot.co.uk/