Ad. Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus), 16-10-10

Ad. Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus), 16-10-10. Note the active moult on this norwegian bird

1 cy. Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis), 16-10-10

1 cy. Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis), 16-10-10. Note moulting stage by the age and time of the year. Tail and greater coberts are kikely to be lost, but note second generation median coberts.

1w. Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus). 18.10.09.

1w. Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus). 18.10.09. A very patterned individual.

1w. Herring gull (L. argentatus). 18.10.09

1w. Herring gull (L. argentatus). 18.10.09

Ad. Herring gull (L. argentatus). 18.10.09

Ad. Herring gull (L. argentatus). 18.10.09

cy. Yellow-legged or Lesser black-backed gulls (L. michahellis or L. fuscus)?. 04-10-09.

1 cy. Yellow-legged or Lesser black-backed gulls (L. michahellis or L. fuscus)?. 04-10-09.

1 cy. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09.

1 cy. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09. Two pale individuals.

1 cy, Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09.

1 cy. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09. Some examples

Ad. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09.

Ad. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09. Some moulting adults

Ad. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09.

The first three pictures are from the same individual from Belgium. Graellsii

This individual was ringed in winter in Tarragona some winters ago

This is intermedius from Norway.

Ad. Lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus). 04-10-09. Some colour-ringed individuals of known origin and one ringed in winter.

3 cy Caspian looking gull (Larus sp.). 04.10.09

In spite I first identified the bird as a Caspian gull (Larus cachinnans), some comments have allowed to repair the mistake. Many thanks to Chris Gibbins, Visa Rauste and Theo Muuse!!

A short abstract of these comments is written below:

Caspian gull at this age stage should show white mirror on P9 and in this bird this is only visible in P10 (still growing in the 6th picture). In addition, the mantle is dark, the legs are short and the gonys angle is strong. In spite all the big gull species show variation, there are too much “bad” things for Caspian which are more important out of the species range.

However, the pink legs, the dark eye, the head and bill structure neither fit with michahellis. In addition, the extent of black in the primaries (up to P3) and the dark rachis in secondary coverts are also strange.

The final conclusion is that maybe this bird cannot be identified at species level so we left this as an unidentified gull.

1w Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis) and Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus), 19-10-05

1w Yellow-legged gull (L. michahellis, up) and Lesser-black backed gull (L. fuscus, down), 19-10-05. Compare tail patterns

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 YLG

3 cy Yellow-legged gulls (L. michahellis) 17.10.08

Greater coverts are stil brown and the eye starts to be paler.

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.