Large Gulls for ID (episode 2) - Bucharest, Romania (1 Viewer)

[Cristian Mihai]

I found two interestings pics, taken also yesterday, in the same place. Thank you again for help. Any comment would be very much appreciated.

 

[sideshow bob]

I'm intrigued by the left-hand, 1st-w bird in pic 1.

It looks like a Caspian, but with a monster bill, much chunkier than normal, more like a YLG. But is it overall far too pale, and too long-winged and small-headed for YLG? Can't see the tertials (maybe I'm not looking hard enough).

I'll investigate further when I get home from work (after all, I might be way off).

Excellent pics again, Cristian, challenging and instructive! BTW how common are Caspian & YLG down your way in winter, and are there plenty of Herring Gulls for comparison?

 

[Cristian Mihai]

I'm intrigued by the left-hand, 1st-w bird in pic 1.

It looks like a Caspian, but with a monster bill, much chunkier than normal, more like a YLG. But is it overall far too pale, and too long-winged and small-headed for YLG? Can't see the tertials (maybe I'm not looking hard enough).

I'll investigate further when I get home from work (after all, I might be way off).

Excellent pics again, Cristian, challenging and instructive! BTW how common are Caspian & YLG down your way in winter, and are there plenty of Herring Gulls for comparison?

In Bucharest, Romania the most common large gull it is the YL Gull. In winter we have also some Caspians (usualy few). There are no Heering Gulls here in the south part of the country.

 

[lou salomon]

neither are there in the north or elsewhere in that country. herring gull is a rare migrant. caspian and YLG breed, caspian only in the eastern part of the country, mostly in the danube delta reserve area. YLG in large numbers in bucharest and constanta and in a few pairs even in transilvania (across carpathians); caspians are regular in migration and as seen by cristian's pics, winter in good numbers in bucharest too.

that first bird irritated me too, bob. it looks worn but prob. pale in ground tone initially. collar and head shape remind much of caspian, but is it one? prob. yes with those plain scaps but we should not forget that some michahellis in that area resemble strongly of cachinnans and often must left un-id-ed. bill fits perfectly a male cachinnans, they often have even more gonys!

i'm even not sure about the lower bird, the 2nd winter one:
- bill with yellowish tingue - could favour YLG
- short looking legs (exception, but happens in both)
- dark eye could fit both, not specially small looking, but many micha develop pale iris now.
- upright stance with hanging hind part is a cachi feature but depends also on situation
- heada squarish and all in all i think it is YLG

so, 1st pic:

1. 2cy cach
2. 3cy mich
3. ad cach
4. 3cy mich

2nd pic:

1. ad (fem?) mich (below)
2. 3cy mich
3. 2cy mich

 

[JANJ]

I think the top gull in image two is the same individual as this cachinnans:

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=125727&d=1202835371

JanJ

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Thank you for your comments Lou.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

I think the top gull in image two is the same individual as this cachinnans:

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=125727&d=1202835371

JanJ

I would say that you are right, JanJ.

 

[lou salomon]

those tertials in the first winter caspian pic 1 are plain grey!

 

[JANJ]

those tertials in the first winter caspian pic 1 are plain grey!

In good line with this one:

http://www.pbase.com/stephaubry/image/91806355

Often moults a few inner tertials. Strong bill though

JanJ

 

[sideshow bob]

Another excellent YLG/CG thread - thanks you three chaps. Always helps me for when I'm scanning through my local roost.