gulls (1 Viewer)

[Cristian Mihai]

My only guess is Yellow-legged, but...

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Some pics taken today, November 20. Dambovita river, near Bucharest.

 

[username]

I did not see this bird myself...but could i ask you 'gull-guys' what your opinions are of this bird..? Many thanks....

 

[davidearlgray]

I did not see this bird myself...but could i ask you 'gull-guys' what your opinions are of this bird..? Many thanks....

Looks like a 4th winter type Caspian Gull to me!

 

[Steve Lister]

As I have said before, and as several of us have discussed in pms and emails, the bill on this bird looks too short and two deep for a Caspian Gull and I think it is either a Herring Gull or at best a hybrid Caspian x Herring Gull.

It was in Leicestershire in October for anyone who is unaware, and has been on a blog as a (disputed) adult Caspian Gull since then.

Steve

 

[JANJ]

View attachment 229206 Hi folks, any comments would be welcome on the attached pic.Taken at my local landfill site/nature reserve,in England, earlier this year.
This was a tiny bird much smaller than the Argenteus/Argentatus nearby and much more so than the 10+ Michahellis also present.In fact it was much closer in size to Ring-billed Gull.It was very short legged and long winged but much paler than even the palest Graellsii Lesser-Black backeds present.
look forward to your replies.

What date snowcap?

JanJ

 

[snowcap]

Hi JanJ, this pic was taken on the 12th of February 2009.The bird was present for around two weeks in February.

 

[JANJ]

Hi JanJ, this pic was taken on the 12th of February 2009.The bird was present for around two weeks in February.

Hi snowcap.

As I felt a bit unsure of your gull I have put it on the Gull Reseach Org Forum, under identification.
Hope it´s alright.

http://www.talk.gull-research.org/index.php

JanJ

 

[snowcap]

No problem JanJ, look forward to hearing more opinions.

cheers,S

 

[lou salomon]

hi snowcap,

it's a "should not be there" thing.
i remember a similarly small female gull also from england with a similar bill pattern and no red in the gonys. here on BF eves ago. it turned out to be michahellis and indeed many of these small oddies are YLG - i think this probably is one too. somehow there was the identical first impression of a dark ring-billed for the one mentioned abov, like in yours. maybe i'll find the thread.

this is another "ringbill", probably YLG:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=129555&highlight=yellow-legged+female+subterminal+bill

 

[snowcap]

Hi lou, yes it reminded me of certain Gulls I`ve seen in the middle east and even further east!!

 

[Cristian Mihai]

So, no comments about the pics with michahellis and cachinnans from post #1062?
Three more pics here:
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/280208/ppuser/54311
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/280206/ppuser/54311
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/280204/size/big/cat//ppuser/54311

 

[JANJ]

Hi Cristian.

Nice images again (and elswhere if you see what I mean).

Regarding the gulls in post 1062 - I see
1. cachinnans - note primary pattern.
2. chachinnans - same as nr 1, p9 is hidden behind p10.
3. chachinnans - primarily the primary pattern
4. michahellis - underwing pattern + bill size/shape. Tailband looks broad.
5. chachinnans - primary pattern

JanJ

 

[JANJ]

Regarding the gull in post 1063 i can only say - the resemblance to a Caspian Gull is slight. Small looking eyes might suggest Caspian but small looking Herring's caan look similar.

http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/118652501

http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/105893599 -

compare with the last one above also structurally differences, head shape and bill lenght.

A somewhat similar pose here:

http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/103420488

All are not so long-billed (females), and has a pale eye:

http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/119055432

Lots here:

http://waarneming.nl/soort/photos/937

In the end, a wing shot is always safer, because some individuals can trick you - hiding it´s characteristic Caspian jizz!

JanJ

 

[JANJ]

snowcap!

Regarding your gull, take a look at the site I mentioned, and see the answer made by Mars there. Bevildering you think? Look at the thread which say's 'Mystery Gull in Madrid' below and you´ll see. Also seen here, especially the last answer page 3.

http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4393

JanJ

 

[snowcap]

View attachment 229526 Hi folks.The attached pics were taken in the Jordan valley,Israel in October 2008.Large numbers of Armenian Gulls were present at a large fish pond complex.During the course of a couple months observation the occasional oddity occurred.The Gull to the right of the Armenian Gull was present for just one day.The local Israeli birders called it a Steppe Gull...I`m not so sure.
Any comments welcome,
cheers,S View attachment 229525

 

[tittletattler]

hi snowcap,

it's a "should not be there" thing.
i remember a similarly small female gull also from england with a similar bill pattern and no red in the gonys. here on BF eves ago. it turned out to be michahellis and indeed many of these small oddies are YLG - i think this probably is one too. somehow there was the identical first impression of a dark ring-billed for the one mentioned abov, like in yours. maybe i'll find the thread.

this is another "ringbill", probably YLG:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=129555&highlight=yellow-legged+female+subterminal+bill

Hi Lou, Snowcap, Janj et al,

Is it possible that the dark band is a sign of immaturity? Attached are two images of 3rd win YLGs that I digiscoped on 9th Dec 07 In Dartford, Kent. Note the dark band on the bill of each bird.

As for size, well many of the females here can look rather small. An image is attached which shows two presumed female adult YLGs.

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[tittletattler]

or at best a hybrid Caspian x Herring Gull.

Steve

And that's being generous....

Out of interest, why would anyone think, after much discussion, that this bird is in any way a Caspian?

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[snowcap]

Hi Tittletattler,yes 4th and 5th calendar year gulls have dark markings on the bill and indeed some adults also regardless of how old.The gull in my pic showed absolutely no signs of immaturity plumage wise.The really striking thing was its short-legged/long-winged appearance as well as its really diminutive size.

cheers,S

 

[snowcap]

Hi JanJ, thanks for the info.Interesting, I wonder how many `Cantabrican` type YLG`s have been photographed or even suspected in the UK??

cheers,S