Gull ID and age, Yorkshire, England (1 Viewer)

[Brett Richards]

I am puzzled by this gull, photographed today, 13 June 2022 at Filey Dams. Hard to decide whether it was a Yellow-legged Gull or a very pale graellsii L b-b Gull. Most of the time it appeared just a shade or two darker then the argenteus Herring Gulls, OK for Yellow-legged; just occasionally, during brief duller spells, it looked OK for L B-b. It always looked paler than a graellsii L B-b Gull nearby. It could of course be a hybrid - L B-b x ? I have not altered the brightness in any of the photos, which reflect how it appeared pretty accurately.
What age is it, 2s or 3s? Bare parts seem to contradict plumage characters.

Brett

 

[lou salomon]

Looks like a 4cy graellsii, maybe on the pale side.

 

[Brett Richards]

Looks like a 4cy graellsii, maybe on the pale side.

Thanks Lou, that was my tentative conclusion. It certainly was pale, the palest I've ever seen. Most of the time it was difficult to believe it was L B-b.

Brett