Gulls from Morocco (1 Viewer)

[JayFeatherPL]

Morocco Casablanca and Essaouira, 24th and 25th of January, location and the birds can be seen on the video. And can you also write how did you identify these gulls? Some characteristic features? Thank you in advance. I have more photos and some videos if needed.

 

[01101001]

Hard to believe how close some of the closeups are. The following link may help with some of those--I'll leave the rest to others: Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) -> Great Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - BirdID's Bird Guide - Nord University - Birdid.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

36 and 37 are adult Yellow legged Gulls, 22 is a 1st cycle=2cy YLG imo (clear contrast between pale grey mantle with dark centers and darkbrown wingcoverts)
31 is an adult Lesser Black backed Gull, black marks on the bill arent necessarily a sign of immature birds
25 and 28 shows an adult and an immature (4cy?) LBBG
Please compare the darkness value of the upperparts

and yes, I totally agree, what a nice location!

 

[Muppit17]

Hello,

36 and 37 are adult Yellow legged Gulls, 22 is a 1st cycle=2cy YLG imo (clear contrast between pale grey mantle with dark centers and darkbrown wingcoverts)
31 is an adult Lesser Black backed Gull, black marks on the bill arent necessarily a sign of immature birds
25 and 28 shows an adult and an immature (4cy?) LBBG
Please compare the darkness value of the upperparts

and yes, I totally agree, what a nice location!

I would expect any Gull flock to be c80% YLG, c20% LBBG in this part of Morocco. I have regularly found odd GBBG, and a few Common Gulls amongst them.

I tried a few times to take photos of the variability but found that lighting issues confused the matter rather than helping (a situation I had in the past in the Gulf & Sicily).

I will continue to scam the flocks when I have the chance but am aware how many are not 'typical' and how 'poor' my photo often are in failing to capture what I thought I saw at the time.