Yellow-legged Gull sp (1 Viewer)

[tom tams]

The past few days we have enjoyed a Yellow-legged type Gull present at North Shields Fish Quay which is causing a little debate. Few are touting a pure Yellow-legged Gull mostly based on the band on primary 5, others including myself think it could be a probable Argentatus sp from the baltic region, any thoughts would be most appreciated.

 

[Nutcracker]

Surprised this one hasn't had any comments yet?

 

[jogresh]

FWIW, I also don't think it can be a micahellis.
I was surprised by how many yellow- legged argentatus there are on the Swedish Baltic coast, so this is likely to occur from time to time in Northumbs.
So-called "cactus" hybrids (arg×cachinnans) are relatively frequent in some mixed colonies in Germany and Poland, so this is perhaps an option. That's all I can add I'm afraid.

 

[smiths]

Hi Mike!
It may have been too many years since you were at Sagres , but I think you'll agree that this looks just like one of the local Yellow-legged Gulls there?

 

[tom tams]

Hi Mike!
It may have been too many years since you were at Sagres , but I think you'll agree that this looks just like one of the local Yellow-legged Gulls there?

Who is Mike? I haven't been to Sagres, but regularly visit the Algarve

 

[tom tams]

These are the brutes I normally see in Tavira

 

[Julian Bell]

Wing pattern good for YLG but perhaps too much head streaking for December.

 

[smiths]

3 Dec 2016, Sagres, Portugal, and another one 7 Dec 2016, same location.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

One question to the very experienced people here:
is the amount and intensity of the black spots in the pale eye within variation for a pure YLG? I cant add something usefull and its one of those threads I learn from, but when I first saw these pictures, I thought "why has this Gull so many and large and black (not dark) spots in the iris, if this is a pure YLG?"

 

[smiths]

One question to the very experienced people here:
is the amount and intensity of the black spots in the pale eye within variation for a pure YLG? I cant add something usefull and its one of those threads I learn from, but when I first saw these pictures, I thought "why has this Gull so many and large and black (not dark) spots in the iris, if this is a pure YLG?"

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Morocco, 23 April 2009:

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thank you for the fast reply, Smith!

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Wing pattern good for YLG but perhaps too much head streaking for December.

There are of course exceptions

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