Gull ayrshire (1 Viewer)

[JIM J]

Looking for help taken at kay Park Kilmarnock ayrshire last week

 

[Prestdj]

nice........well its a herring gull adult but quite darker on the grey than the nearby argenteus so thinking argentatus hoope others can help as im just starting my gull journey

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Jim,

do you have more pictures?
My thoughts:

• I remember another thread, where Lou corrected my ID with comments about dark manteled Herring Gulls. Thanks again! One is here: Is this just a 3cy Herring Gull? Bucks, U.K. and I have another one in mind.
• the first picture seems slightly overexposed, but putting all three pictures together, I struggle to exclude a LBGG here. Especially the second picture seems to show a "classsic" LBBG shade, lacking any bluish tinge/coal-grey
• your Gull has blackish "immatue" markings on the bill. Yes, that doesnt mean it isnt a full adult bird, but that coul explain the pale pinkish legs. And thanks for the comments in the other recent thread!
• streaking of the head gives me LBBG vibe. And please note that quite a few (yes adults) Herring Gulls has whiter/less streaked heads by mid January
• shouldnt the white spots on the primaries be larger on a Herring Gull??? And should some grey (tongues) be visible here???

Conclusion? Yes, I would ID this as a LBBG, maybe an subadult bird. But as always better for confirmation or correction.

 

[JIM J]

Only other images I could find cheers for replies