An individual ringed in switzerland. Nice escapular plane design.
30 March 2009
1 w Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis) 28-3-09
Worn michahellis are typical by this time of the year. A slender-headed individual.
3 (?) w Herring gull (L. argentatus) 29-3-09
Species identification looks obvious, but any comment about the age will be welcomed. Patteren coverts and small white in primaries suggest to be 3rd winter. However, herring gulls moult much slower than southern taxa. It's also interesting to see worn primaries in comparison of how fresh they look in fuscus by this season with a similar timing of the moult
1 w Herring gull (L. argentatus) 29-3-09
Very pale 1st winter individual. The head is fuscus-like, but short primary projection, very pale coverts, tertials scapulars and primary edges make herring gull the best option for this one.
27 March 2009
Larus fuscus ressembling heuglin's 06-03-06
This bird had something strange and recalled us heuglin's for primary pattern and head shape. but after consulting with some experts, primary pattern does not necessary implies a retained mould and the head shape is just strange even for heuglin's. So a nice LBB
25 March 2009
2 cy dark Comon gull (L. canus). 15-08-07
A nice individual because of the dates and because of the darkness
24 March 2009
ad Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis). 14-10-08
2 examples more of the end of primary moult in adult YLG
1 & 2 w Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis). 13-10-08
Normal postjuvenile moult in YLG, some median and other inner coberts.
2 examples more of 2nd winter YLG23 March 2009
3 cy Yellow-legged gulls (L. michahellis) 17.10.08
Greater coverts are stil brown and the eye starts to be paler.
2 cy Yellow-legged gulls (L. michahellis) 27.7.08
Diferent covert patterns, from grey to brown. 0 to 2 old primaries. The eye is still dark.1, 3 c. y. & ad. Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis). 20.7.08
2nd winters show complete brown secondaries, after moulting most of them will look mainly like and adult (out of some dark coverts (mainly primary)). They also use to moult earlier than adults, with have reproductive constraints.
Adult and 1 w Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis). 17.10.08
Note that some coverts are already new.
By this time of the year is not unusual the primary moult to be almost finished.2w Yellow-legged gulls (L. michahellis) 17.10.08
Various 2nd calendary year birds from autumn. Note variation in the ammount of grey coverts.
18 March 2009
Mistery gull (Larus sp.) 28-2 to 5-3-04
Mistery gull (Larus sp.) 28-2 to 5-3-04. Many things have been said but no option looks good enough.
1st w Herring gull (L. argentatus). 15-11-08 to 15-3-09
1st winter Herring gull (Larus argentatus). From 15-11-08 to 15-3-09. (picture Joan Ferrer) The first picture shows a rather fresh and typical individual, however after some weeks the birds looks much more worner.
The same individual than 15-11. 18-1-09.
The same individual than 15-11. 14-3-09. foto by Raül Aymí
16 March 2009
1st w Herring gull (L. argentatus). 17-1-09
1st winter Herring gull (Larus argentatus). 17-1-09. Nice individual with some renewed lesser coverts. In spite renewing coverts it’s not typical in herring gulls, the lack of symmetry in both wings and the sequence makes more reliable a feather renewal due to an accident.
After beeing in Tarragona at least from 6-12-08 to 15-3-09 it was seen in north Catalonia in Solius by Carlos Álvaerz on 22-03-09. You have pictures from his page here:
2d w Herring gull (L. argentatus). 17-1-09
2nd winter Herring gull (Larus argentatus). 17-1-09. This age stage can be the most difficult to separate from michahellis. Subjective features such as head, bill and body structure, primary projection and grey tone can be very useful. In this individual, the lack of black around the eye or the bicoloured bill can also help. Covert pattern is tricky to be used in this age stage.
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