gulls (1 Viewer)

[Cristian Mihai]

hi,

to my eyes this is an advanced 1cy YLG, not retarded 2cy! :

http://www.gull-research.org/ylg1cy2cy/2cyoct/micha5429.htm

what's your views?

Maybe a comparison with this 2cy will be useful (pics taken on January 17th).
(Obviously I agree with you Lou.)

 

[ody]

Hi, all!
I think here is the best place to find out ,if this Gull a Larus fuscus is(everytime in the middle).

 

[lou salomon]

larus marinus

hi odysseas,

this is quite an interesting gull and if i'm right a mega rarity for northern greece. to me it looks like a subadult (3rd or 4th winter?) great black-backed gull (larus marinus)! it seems to be larger than the surrounding LWHG (michahellis and/or cachinnans, probably more cachinnans) and wing projection looks short, absolutely too short for any lesser black-backed gull subspecies. also bill looks much too strong and head large.
signs of immaturity are the strong marked bill (which indicates a 3rd winter?), the unusally large amount of dark feathers on breast sides for this age and a browinsh tingue to greater coverts. on the other hand it has pretty large white primary tips and wide tertial crescents.
do you have any more shots of this bird? any flight shot?

i'd put it on the identification Q&A forum as well, ody - much more people are looking at that forum, and many familiar with GBBG (but i think there can't be any doubt with this bird!)

all the best and congratulations to that great find!

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Subadult GBB Gull.

 

[lou salomon]

advanced michahellis

Maybe a comparison with this 2cy will be useful (pics taken on January 17th).
(Obviously I agree with you Lou.)

a very nice individual, cristian, contrasting and slightly unusal pattern, especially for greater coverts, also quite advanced in moult, with more adult like scapulars. talking about advanced michahellis - have a look at this individual from crete by michalis () dretakis:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k3QPF9XkXJM/STAYLvVAcyI/AAAAAAAABOQ/XzHfJim4DaE/s1600/1_JUV.JPG

apparently it has moulted all plumage except some outer GCs and of course remiges (can't see the tail). and it is from november!

cheers

 

[JANJ]

That last link of yours doesn´t work for me Lou.

In the meantime - have you seen this interesting gull?

http://www.elisanet.fi/hj.koskinen/Bara2cy_Nida_Lithuania20080909.html

JanJ

 

[lou salomon]

hm, for me it works. but you can see it on michalis' blog: http://gullsofcrete.blogspot.com/

it's the 14th pic from top and is labelled "Michahellis 1st winter" (just below a 1st winter baltic). it is clickable of course.

that lithuanian gull is quite interesting, could it be indeed a barabensis? it shares features of both cachinnans and heuglini with a p10 mirror, dark primaries and in this pic looks pretty "barabensis-jizzy": http://www.elisanet.fi/hj.koskinen/IMG_K23137.jpg , just a bit too long legged maybe.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Strange coverts at that "Michahellis 1st winter". Here is a link that works JanJ:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k3QPF9XkXJM/STAYLvVAcyI/AAAAAAAABOQ/XzHfJim4DaE/s1600-h/1_JUV.JPG

 

[lou salomon]

probably you mean greater coverts. they look strange because they are 2nd generation, moulted very early. usually this happens in 2cy, but then they look different (or "normal").
remember your bird from december which also has moulted GC in 1cy: http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=172027&d=1229002036

 

[Cristian Mihai]

probably you mean greater coverts. they look strange because they are 2nd generation, moulted very early. usually this happens in 2cy, but then they look different (or "normal").
remember your bird from december which also has moulted GC in 1cy: http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=172027&d=1229002036

Yes Lou, you' re right, greater coverts. Nothing "strange" with the pattern for lesser/median coverts...they are in the range for a 1cy YL.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Some pics with large gulls taken on Jan 21st in Tineretului (unfortunately was a foggy morning).
First, a 2cy YL.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

What about this one (a 4cy?)?

 

[Cristian Mihai]

And this one: I would say that it looks pretty good for an adult (Caspian? - small eye, shape of the bill etc.)...IMHO the pattern of the P10 (left wing in the last pic) is perfect for a Caspian. Right or wrong?

 

[Cristian Mihai]

The last one (...for the moment)...

 

[JANJ]

Hi Cristian.

Another nice set of gulls!

As you say - the one in post 731 is a YLG. In next a third winter (4cy type) a big -billed male. Note the tiny mirror on p9.
Next - as you say, a Caspian Gull. In my eyes p10 seems to have an all white tip but note the mirror on p9 shining through on the perfect underwing view in the third image.

Last one a nice Caspian - approx. the same age as the YLG in 732.

JanJ

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Hi Cristian.

Another nice set of gulls!

As you say - the one in post 731 is a YLG. In next a third winter (4cy type) a big -billed male. Note the tiny mirror on p9.
Next - as you say, a Caspian Gull. In my eyes p10 seems to have an all white tip but note the mirror on p9 shining through on the perfect underwing view in the third image.

Last one a nice Caspian - approx. the same age as the YLG in 732.

JanJ

Thank you for comments JanJ.
I have a very limited experience with subadult Caspian Gulls, and for this reason I didn't age the last Caspian... But, on the other hand, it is obvious that it looks too advanced for a 3cy, and that it's a subadult - so 4cy it's the only option...

 

[Cristian Mihai]

January 22nd. pic 1 - Adult YL (female type?) with some Common Gulls. pic 2 - two more YL enter it the frame (left hand bird seems to be a 4cy). pic 3 - a 3cy YL. pic 4 - a 4cy YL. pic 5 - an adult YL.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

A 2nd winter type YL Gull?

 

[Cristian Mihai]

A 2cy bird with a strange bill.

 

[JANJ]

Nice ones Cristian, showing many good viewings from different angels.

JanJ