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Message: <blockquote data-quote="smiths" data-source="post: 1362272" data-attributes="member: 4346">While I agree that the white tertial crescent looks very prominent on this bird, I would not completely rule out Ring-billed Gull on the basis of this single photograph.Judging the colour of the upperparts is always hard in digital shots like this one. It was obviously taken in less than bright conditions (it seems to be snowing? And there is also obvious vignetting effect, visible in the upper right corner of the photo), which may make the grey look darker than it really was. Also, it is not safe to compare with the upperparts of the Yellow-legged Gull in front, as that bird is not at the same angle to the camera.Light conditions may create an effect like in this photo of a Ring-billed Gull:<a href="http://www.pbase.com/image/26688499" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/image/26688499</a>Also, note that only P9 is visible on the underside of the rear wingtip; P10 must be out of place somewhere. That is why the mirror looks much smaller than the one on the other wingtip.I find it hard to believe that this could be a large gull. The bill is really thin and lacks a gonydeal angle, and the knees look rather delicate (compare with the YLGull in front).If this is a Caspian Gull, the dull bill colour (lacking an orange gonys spot), black subterminal band on P10, small mirror on P9 and lack of a long, pale tongue on the underside of P9 would make this a third-cycle bird (third winter). However, 3w Caspian Gull normally shows a distinct, dark eye contrasting with a white head, and that effect is lacking here. In fact, the iris seems to be pale. Another important thing is that there may be some head streaking in this bird; the head certainly looks 'dirtier' than the white breast and belly, an effect not normally seen in Caspian Gull.Except for the tertials, this bird very much looks like a Ring-billed Gull. It would be interesting to see more photographs.</blockquote>

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