Most birds around now are taimyrensis. The usual variation in bill and head markings, but more consistency in P10 today! The last bird is a remarkably dark-eyed individual.
The fun and weirdness was all at my inland site, where the composition of the gull flock seemed to have changed since the last time I looked (very few adult mongolicus). Viewing there is usually challenging as you face south, and if the sun is out it gets awkward!
The first birds I clapped eyes on were the two in the first photo.
The sitting bird is still growing its P10 and has a dull green bill. It also has something 'a bit thayeri' going on in P7. I can only assume from the timing of moult, the pale saddle, and the dull bare parts that it is vegae, but where are all the head streaks?
The standing bird has the beady-eyed look and bright bill of a mongolicus. However, the saddle is a bit on the dark side and the bill much longer than any mongolicus so far. I did manage to get this one in flight when it left, and still it did not seem typical. Pro-mongolicus features were the dark eye, crisp-looking plumage, pale 'hand' (from below), and the pattern of P10. However, pro-taimyrensis features were the lack of a mirror on P9 and the fairly narrow trailing edge. Not sure which one of these I prefer, really.
Back at my inland site, the light was surprisingly good late afternoon. The presumed vegae from #77 above was once more present and not just sleeping this time. On the spread wing, the tip to P10 and the longish and uneven-edged tongue are out for some kind of pale-end taimyrensis, as is the rather broad trailing edge. The late moult and dull bill are also not right for mongolicus. All of the above do fit vegae, though, so it does look like this is an adult which has simply completed its body moult early.
The standing bird, which is the one in the flight pics, can't be a mongolicus or vegae with those bright Yellow legs. With that quite long and rectangular ending tongue I doubt it's a taimyrensis. For me it's a barabensis
I don't know if this one's a vegae, head and bill jizz are not quite good imo. Why not a retarded mongolicus?
Thanks, Alex. Your comments are much appreciated.
There is something 'different' about this individual, though hard to say precisely what. I thought about barabensis (without really knowing what that meant), but seemed to recall that that form should have worn apical spots by March. Would that not be a problem for this individual?
Also, I found a second individual (same day) with a rectangular-ending tongue, a type that I used to think had a very good chance of being barabensis on account of all the black in the bill. However, after finding so many adult taimyrensis with black bill markings, I quite gave up looking for this form. At that time, though, I had no idea about the underside of P10. Is a rectangular-ending tongue a strong feature of barabensis?
Attached: 2 x Indivdual #77; 1 x taimyrensis with rectangular-ending P10.
Unfortunately not, a rectangular ending tongue is not a strong feature of barabensis. tongue shape and lenght are extremely variable. But question is: is a very long and rectangular ending p10 tongue a strong feature AGAINST a taimyrensis, based on your experience?
Is birulai a Yellow-legged vega gull?