gulls (4 Viewers)

[lou salomon]

it's a 3-4cy michahellis, ody.

 

[ody]

it's a 3-4cy michahellis, ody.

Thank you very much ,Lou!

 

[snowcap]

Hi folks,
comments welcome on this Gull , taken today in the UK,

cheers, Pete.View attachment 355539

 

[lou salomon]

hi pete,

looks like a 2nd cycle argenteus with all dark bill and tertials (and white head). can't think of any other sp. with such a covert pattern (both YLG and cach look totally different and would be more advanced). that's my two pence - but surely a striking bird! bit a of a melanin-monster

 

[snowcap]

Thanks Lou, I was wondering if it could be an Argentatus? the grey mantle feathering looked a tad dark for argenteus.Also maybe that might explain its white-headed look and dark tertials etc.In the UK we seem to get some very extreme looking Argie type Herring Gulls in the winter!
cheers, Pete.

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

Which one?

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

i mean from here

two gulls

 

[lou salomon]

yeah, jj, definitely looking good for an argie: structure (plump), leg colour, head striation, large apical spots (primary tips) and late primary moult - good find! B

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

what abot this one

almost same time, same place

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

these ones

this bird I've meant

 

[lou salomon]

check your mail, jj.
probably the first photographic documentation of heuglini from romania. but could be a hybrid. i'm a bit worried about the advanced primary moult.

 

[lou salomon]

ok, klaus malling says it's probably a graellsii. if it's 4cy this may account for the pale flesh coloured legs. but apical spots (white priamry tips) are large for a 4cy and pale tongue on p9 (underside), visible in the first pic here is suspect. adult heuglini excluded by moult score! but check these 4cy from november: http://gull-research.org/heuglini/04cynov.html

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

Still, there are two chances: hybrid and/or graellsii/heuglinii (3 chances), still we don't know why we cannot exclude a 4cy graellsii which would explain the the presence pale spots and leg color and markings bill. Maybe because it's a large white-headed gull??
J

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Are these pics taken (today) on the Black Sea coast (in Romania)?

 

[lou salomon]

Still, there are two chances: hybrid and/or graellsii/heuglinii (3 chances), still we don't know why we cannot exclude a 4cy graellsii which would explain the the presence pale spots and leg color and markings bill. Maybe because it's a large white-headed gull??
J

hard to exclude a 4cy graellsii since an odd vagrant bird could well show the combination of large apical spots and flesh coloured legs (slight yellow tingue i see?). probably because it's a LWHG

yes, cristian, at mamaia, today.

http://www.talk.gull-research.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=621

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Dambovita - November 16th 2011

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

hard to exclude a 4cy graellsii since an odd vagrant bird could well show the combination of large apical spots and flesh coloured legs (slight yellow tingue i see?). probably because it's a LWHG

yes, cristian, at mamaia, today.

LWHG = Light Weight Hand Grenade???

 

[Cristian Mihai]

LWHG = Large White Headed Gull

 

[Szabo Jozsef]

LWHG = Large White Headed Gull

yes a hand grenade, but LWHG are, sometimes,out of hand

 

[Cristian Mihai]

yes a hand grenade, but LWHG are, sometimes,out of hand

:t: