Large Gull Challenge - 50 shades of grey!! (1 Viewer)

[madbird]

All birds were seen this week in Madrid:



The first bird is a 2cy LBBG.
The second bird is a 2cy YLG.
The third bird has characteristics of a 2cy HG: Heavy bicolored bill, is the lightest of the three, heavy streaking on the head.

Comments appreciated.

 

[lou salomon]

no doubt about 1 which is a 2c LBBG.
2 - with those dark renewed scapulars should be another 2cy LBBG, but with slightly unusual patterned coverts.
3 - might be a 2cy argenteus (as 3rd generation scapulars look very pale in the pics you have posted with this individual) but I'm far from sure. head would fit a Herring Gull as would the overall appearance with much white in 2nd gen. coverts and tertials. but there exist such retarded looking YLGs, so this is far from being a straightfort HG. especially the very black primaries and primary coverts make me ponder if it is not a L. michahellis. Don't you have any flight shot of this bird, Peter? underparts seem to have some smudges but not as extensive as in most argentatus/-teus and well acceptable for a retarded 2c YLG (c = cycle).

 

[madbird]

no doubt about 1 which is a 2c LBBG.
2 - with those dark renewed scapulars should be another 2cy LBBG, but with slightly unusual patterned coverts.
3 - might be a 2cy argenteus (as 3rd generation scapulars look very pale in the pics you have posted with this individual) but I'm far from sure. head would fit a Herring Gull as would the overall appearance with much white in 2nd gen. coverts and tertials. but there exist such retarded looking YLGs, so this is far from being a straightfort HG. especially the very black primaries and primary coverts make me ponder if it is not a L. michahellis. Don't you have any flight shot of this bird, Peter? underparts seem to have some smudges but not as extensive as in most argentatus/-teus and well acceptable for a retarded 2c YLG (c = cycle).

Hi lou, nothing in flight I`m afraid., yet This is all I have of this specific bird. I am learning a lot here thank you.

 

[lou salomon]

i'm leaning more and more towards a Herring Gull for this bird . that bill does not look like a YLG's bill.

 

[madbird]

i'm leaning more and more towards a Herring Gull for this bird . that bill does not look like a YLG's bill.

I guess I need to go back and get some views in flight...

 

[pianoman]

The second set of images look like they are the same as pic 3 in the first set? Whereas pic 2 in post 1 is the possible candidate for YLG

 

[madbird]

The second set of images look like they are the same as pic 3 in the first set? Whereas pic 2 in post 1 is the possible candidate for YLG

Hello, yes, the additional pictures are of the suspected Herring Gull (pic 3), scarce in central Spain. I agree that picture 2 was a good potential candidate for YLG, common in Spain but less so away from the coast.

 

[lou salomon]

Hello, yes, the additional pictures are of the suspected Herring Gull (pic 3), scarce in central Spain. I agree that picture 2 was a good potential candidate for YLG, common in Spain but less so away from the coast.

but YLG breeds also in the interior of Spain! it should not be rare at all in Madrid. probably less numerous as the wintering Larus fuscus but not really scarce. As for that specific bird, it's a 2cy LBBG (pic 2 in post 1).

 

[madbird]

but YLG breeds also in the interior of Spain! it should not be rare at all in Madrid. probably less numerous as the wintering Larus fuscus but not really scarce. As for that specific bird, it's a 2cy LBBG (pic 2 in post 1).

Thank you lou, on the river today there were about 150 LBBG and 2 or 3 Yellow Legged. In Madrid, as you know, the scarce one of the three is the Herring Gull.