Gulls for ID, Cornwall, England (1 Viewer)

[Brett Richards]

Would appreciate opinions on the gulls in the attached photos, taken at Porthgwarra, 5 September.

Is the first image just a juv Lesser Black-backed Gull? The next 3 images show the same bird. Head and bill look OK for 1cy Yellow-legged Gull, but the tertials would have to be 2nd gen for that species. Is it just a Herring Gull?

Thanks

Brett

 

[SteveClifton]

As I'm sure you know Brett, open wing & tail shots always help, but that said, nothing in these images make me think of anything other than 1cy LBBG (that small slim bill!) and Herring Gull for the last 3.
The pedant in me wouldn't call either a juvenile as post-juvenile moult is clearly well underway in those scapulars (in both birds).

I agree with you that the second bird's tertials are consistent with 1cy HeGu rather than YLG, and the primaries are quite short too (for YLG).

Hope you are well btw-long time no see!

 

[Nutcracker]

Why isn't #1 just another Herring Gull? Notched tertials point that way.

 

[lou salomon]

long black primaries without pale tips, mike. these kind of notches are possible in LBBG tertials, note however that pale border doesn't reach greater coverts.

 

[Nutcracker]

But bird #2 also has long black primaries without pale tips!

 

[lou salomon]

no. look carefully. primaries are slightly paler, not jet black, they do have small white tips (crescents on tip) and they are proportionally shorter! of course there are many other things that make it a young herring gull.
as for bird 1 there is hardly anything more than primaries, maybe weak bill and tertial crescents (white borders) not reaching greater coverts.

 

[Brett Richards]

Thanks Guys for your replies, and Steve, reasonably well thanks, although age is catching up with me now; I don't have the stamina I used to have.

Cheers

Brett