I was doubtful about this being a Common Gull, largely because when I first saw it I thought it was the much larger Herring Gull. Now it seems it may in fact be a Yellow-legged Gull between its second and third winters (it is lacking the bright red spot on its beak). The following from the RSPB is interesting:
The yellow-legged gull has only recently been recognised as a species in its own right, having previously been considered to be a race of herring gull. Adults have darker grey backs and wings than herring gulls, but are paler than lesser black-backed gulls. They have more black in the wing tips than herring gulls and smaller white 'mirrors'. The legs are bright yellow, there is a red ring around the eye and the bill is yellow with a large red spot. In non-breeding plumage, the head is less streaked and whiter than herring gulls. Juvenile yellow-legged gulls are very similar to juvenile lesser black-backed gulls, but tend to be whiter-headed and start to gain a grey 'saddle' on their backs quickly as they moult to first winter plumage. Immature birds gain adult-like characteristics as they mature over the course of five years with the legs turning yellow and dark grey feathers replacing the brown and black immature feathers.
I am, of course, happy to be corrected by those who know their gulls far better than me.
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| Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/1,000th sec, f/8, 400mm at ISO 250 |
No help from this quarter Tim, I can manage Black Headed but that is my sum total. I have meant, for a long time, to do more investigation into Gulls but I never remember.
ReplyDeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteYour gull certainly seems to have a much more powerful bill than a Common Gull.
Tim, I'm pretty sure this is a Common Gull, the bill isn't nearly heavy enough for a Yellow-legged - pictures on my blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil. I'm sure you're right, but I can't seem to find an explanation for the red ring around the eye, which is I think not a Common Gull marking.
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