Gulls from Iceland June 2024 (1 Viewer)

[Garrulous Jay]

Anybody help me with these gulls seen in Iceland in the first week of June 2024? Obviously my query is Glaucous or Iceland? I read of the orbital ring colour which is red or yellow "when seen up close", but to be honest, from a distance, the PHOTO looks to be red but when you go really close, it looks yellow.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

I'm not sure eye-ring helps much. In June, Iceland Gull must be rare as it is a wintering bird in Iceland. I see thick bills, thus better for the default species in June, the Glaucous Gull.

 

[AStevenson1]

Bird in centre of first pic is a glaucous x herring (quite regular in Iceland), note the blackish markings in the primary tips, others look like glaucous. Pics of immatures are both glaucous, beside the build and the thicker bill already mentioned glaucous have a a blunter less elongated rear end as the wing tips only extend a little beyond the tail tip which is the case here Iceland would look longer/slimmer.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Bird in centre of first pic is a glaucous x herring (quite regular in Iceland), note the blackish markings in the primary tips, others look like glaucous. Pics of immatures are both glaucous, beside the build and the thicker bill already mentioned glaucous have a a blunter less elongated rear end as the wing tips only extend a little beyond the tail tip which is the case here Iceland would look longer/slimmer.

indeed, well spotted.

 

[Garrulous Jay]

Thanks everyone. This was my first time in Iceland and I was hoping, perhaps too much, for an Iceland gull. Ah well, another time maybe. I'm thinking of a North polar cruise sometime, taking in places like North Iceland, Faroes, Jan Meyen and Svarlbard. This June 24 one was a self drive ring-road trip and I saw plenty to keep me happy. Most notably, I was astonished at how common Red-necked phalaropes were. They were everywhere and in their dozens. Myvatn was a little disappointing as historical accounts had led me to believe it was duck central. Admittedly, we saw most species but in very small numbers.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Thanks everyone. This was my first time in Iceland and I was hoping, perhaps too much, for an Iceland gull. Ah well, another time maybe. I'm thinking of a North polar cruise sometime, taking in places like North Iceland, Faroes, Jan Meyen and Svarlbard. This June 24 one was a self drive ring-road trip and I saw plenty to keep me happy. Most notably, I was astonished at how common Red-necked phalaropes were. They were everywhere and in their dozens. Myvatn was a little disappointing as historical accounts had led me to believe it was duck central. Admittedly, we saw most species but in very small numbers.

When you go to the North, you see less biodiversity and less quantity. If you want to see a lot, you should rather target the tropical areas. I'm currently in Colombia ; the country has more bird diversity than North America, Europe, North Africa and Middle-East put together...

 

[Edward]

Thanks everyone. This was my first time in Iceland and I was hoping, perhaps too much, for an Iceland gull. Ah well, another time maybe. I'm thinking of a North polar cruise sometime, taking in places like North Iceland, Faroes, Jan Meyen and Svarlbard. This June 24 one was a self drive ring-road trip and I saw plenty to keep me happy. Most notably, I was astonished at how common Red-necked phalaropes were. They were everywhere and in their dozens. Myvatn was a little disappointing as historical accounts had led me to believe it was duck central. Admittedly, we saw most species but in very small numbers.

Iceland Gull does occur in summer in Iceland, but pretty scarce. It's a very bad year at Mývatn apparently (haven't been this year), it normally is duck central but there has been a lack of food in the lake and the weather was extremely cold at the beginning of the breeding season.

 

[Butty]

When you go to the North, you see less biodiversity and less quantity. If you want to see a lot, you should rather target the tropical areas. I'm currently in Colombia ; the country has more bird diversity than North America, Europe, North Africa and Middle-East put together...

Well worth bearing in mind 👍🏼