Not a Caspian Gull surely | Choshi, Japan march 2020 (1 Viewer)

[HouseCrow]

Choshi harbour, Chiba, Japan | 5 march 2020

records at:

Vega Gull - Larus vegae 2020-03-05 | World

World - All observations from nature online

world.observation.org

Vega Gull (Subspecies Larus argentatus vegae)

Vega Gull from Kawaguchicho, Choshi, Chiba 288-0001, Japan on March 5, 2020 at 02:42 PM by Gerben ter Haar. the gull in the middle is the subject here. I believe bird1 to be Vega, bird 3 a Thayer's (confir...

www.inaturalist.org

I fail to draw a crowd to my gull topics but hey...if i can't try it here....
This was one of many gulls that drew my attention. Most were at a distance, but this one was nearby -next to a probable Thayer's-.
Ok the light is bleaching out the image a bit but the head is whitish, neck finely streaked, so is the breast...
I don't see a dark trailing edge to the secondaries (if you call them that) like in Vega Gull
I would label this gull 3CY but it could also be an advanced 2CY?

What do you think? Vega Gull would be the standard light mantled gull I suppose but I don't think that is what this is, for one the eye is dark, not yellowish/green.
It has a cachinnans look about it. I have heard talk of light-mantled Heuglin's or maybe taimyrensis but I am only just starting to see what Vega is, so...


anti Caspian Gull:
the bill is a bit heavy,
the dark tailband is too broad



what would you say?

hope to read from you
cheers
Gerben

 

[DMW]

I'll leave this one to somebody who knows what they are talking about, but I don't get a Caspian vibe from this bird. The gonydal angle and aggressive expression seem at odds for that species.

 

[lou salomon]

I have no personal experience with all these eastern pacific taxa but i think a 2nd winter-->summer, or in other words, 3cy Mongolian Gull would be the best fit for this bird. it would be way too advanced for a 2nd cycle (3cy) Vega Gull and lack of clear white primary tips also suggests a 2nd cycle bird.

 

[HouseCrow]

thanks DMW and Lou,
I am going to look into it, it would be a nice one to have. Mongolian appear to be common there but I had no acceptable shots yet (only some distant birds which may well be advanced Vega anyway)

Up to now I can't find an example of another argenteus-like light mantled Mongolian.

cheers and thanks again for the quick reply! Much appreciated
Gerben

 

[HouseCrow]

A gullist has spoken, this too is a Vega Gull, a 3CY. ( a Choshi-experienced admin has ID-d the bird at observado.org)

case closed I think

cheers,
Gerben

 

[lou salomon]

3cy vega this advanced in plumage? hm...if vega i'd have aged it as a 4cy. did Peter Adriaens say so?

 

[HouseCrow]

Hi Lou, yes it was Peter A.
Loosely translated:

The bird has a typical dirty brown neck and mainly white secondaries of a 2ndW Vega. Plumage is also still very fresh

Original:
"De vogel heeft de typisch vuilbruine halstekening, witte vleugeldekveren en grotendeels witte armpennen van een 2w Vegameeuw. Erg vers verenkleed ook nog altijd." (https://japan.observation.org/waarneming/view/210272487)



I admit now that i can't follow his line of thinking completely...as a gullist beginner.

In the rest of his comment he seemed to say that Mongolian is probably less frequent in Eastern JP.

Cheers,
Gerben

 

[lou salomon]

thanks...