Common Gull with red on bill? Coventry UK (1 Viewer)

[stevethehydra]

Seen in Swanswell Park, Coventry on 30th December, a couple of Common Gulls among the Black-headed... this one seemed odd to me because it appeared to have the "red spot" on its bill like the larger Larus gulls (Herring, LBB, GBB, etc). My understanding was that Common Gull never normally has this. Definitely a Common in all other aspects (size, structure, leg colour, etc). Thoughts?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/31938671182/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/31711540570/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/31969050791/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/32047904066/in/dateposted-public/

Also perhaps noteworthy a BHG with a "faded" version of the breeding plumage hood rather than the usual winter plumage:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/31276522843/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126840895@N05/31711554950/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Nutcracker]

It's a blackish smudge (not red!), and that's normal on winter Common Gulls :t:

 

[Nutcracker]

Here's a close-up showing the dark smudge

 

[MTem]

And the BHG is acquiring its hood - some birds get their hoods much earlier than others, or keep them much later, and this is not uncommon.

Mick

 

[stevethehydra]

Thanks, didn't really think it was anything other than a Common Gull, just wondered if it was unusual. I have seen black markings on the bill of CG before, but (I thought) not on those that otherwise looked adult, so I had assumed it was an immature plumage thing... and it did look (to me, at the time) more red than black on this one! But happy to put it down to within-species variation.