tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187427772327842602024-03-14T04:56:03.527-07:00UK GullsAndrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-20642346755661138612013-01-17T02:44:00.001-08:002013-01-24T03:26:09.032-08:00Adult Caspian Gulls (2)Recently down on the <a href="http://barlow.me.uk/marshes.html">North Tees Marshes</a> there has been numerous <b>Caspian Gulls</b> of varying ages, with 1st and 2nd winters being most prevalent over a series of weeks, however adults have been noted on at least 4 occasions <i>(RCT/DF/AK/MN)</i>. They have been present since November 2012 and it now appears apparent that <b>Caspian Gull </b>is to become a regular and expected winter visitor, news to delight many I'm sure!<br />
<br />
Here is some poor record shots of 1 of the adult <b>Caspian Gulls </b>from Saturday the 12th.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVEKoPq9K5qoNzQq-kDZvPOwGvR80M0Vcbgfdk_Rk7afqhq5V5q-H4mV-uK5zkKzfV81Kb6lIRQa77cy-FUn2cTUwdJipgAY017EQiwJN_DvWtFJOM0Ul67hCfpjFSUJLIPfYkSphAdFo/s1600/StillCasp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVEKoPq9K5qoNzQq-kDZvPOwGvR80M0Vcbgfdk_Rk7afqhq5V5q-H4mV-uK5zkKzfV81Kb6lIRQa77cy-FUn2cTUwdJipgAY017EQiwJN_DvWtFJOM0Ul67hCfpjFSUJLIPfYkSphAdFo/s640/StillCasp2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Caspian Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghQnmHi_jHGEdvq6RpKHvCvC1lrX8HRS4Z9_nZVx-P-pw_HKaa5t3EFwbSokFTjKg0-9HzamTFP9nVdP5BEV9aFtBGoveXH6c2Jo3d3uu-bfzjjdv0UgYIjaiwG3fhhwd1gqW8W8hmjXa/s1600/StillCasp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghQnmHi_jHGEdvq6RpKHvCvC1lrX8HRS4Z9_nZVx-P-pw_HKaa5t3EFwbSokFTjKg0-9HzamTFP9nVdP5BEV9aFtBGoveXH6c2Jo3d3uu-bfzjjdv0UgYIjaiwG3fhhwd1gqW8W8hmjXa/s640/StillCasp1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Caspian Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here are some more poor shots of the second <b>Caspian Gull </b>found just meters away from the first. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZXToXFQoZ84FXxra9IicQzsSgdthz3nhqIxiKex_ws3OPDEJLpdRFMnQKWYDnbdmYDLIipHUmAYeyU-Ig7hO3euDWKNIMwSj1TedmnVDtm14TwoOnn5aZyOvKTZUcZUxLC-of68HHNOa/s1600/StillCasp4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZXToXFQoZ84FXxra9IicQzsSgdthz3nhqIxiKex_ws3OPDEJLpdRFMnQKWYDnbdmYDLIipHUmAYeyU-Ig7hO3euDWKNIMwSj1TedmnVDtm14TwoOnn5aZyOvKTZUcZUxLC-of68HHNOa/s640/StillCasp4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Caspian Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchy2Eu8IsrhIe-cpjx-0fZioOmEk4gsnIn53DTwjUD8YwEIVdtozYeQAAdpteiMJLeNG2_qZ_qR65ZN9hHcxYaYLcMFg3bi40limcjS3lrw0VXdAuVMAjE3c_l_wz-AeQqJodDfyY5-LJ/s1600/StillCasp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchy2Eu8IsrhIe-cpjx-0fZioOmEk4gsnIn53DTwjUD8YwEIVdtozYeQAAdpteiMJLeNG2_qZ_qR65ZN9hHcxYaYLcMFg3bi40limcjS3lrw0VXdAuVMAjE3c_l_wz-AeQqJodDfyY5-LJ/s640/StillCasp3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Caspian Gull - copyright Andrew Kinghorn)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In addition to these two adults 2 2nd winter <b>Caspian Gulls</b> were present, however due to either briefness of sighting or distance there are no photos or videos of either.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Videos of these two adults in HD can be viewed on my YouTube video channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/FoghornsBirdingVideo">here</a>. </div>
</div>
Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-7818667588405290382012-09-29T12:41:00.002-07:002012-09-29T12:41:43.886-07:00September gulls in Sussex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561127_10152153712550287_74001300_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561127_10152153712550287_74001300_n.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Argentatus</i> Herring Gull- © Jake Gearty<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
September is the time when a lot of winter visitors might be coming back to our shores. Wigeon and Pintail are back in Sussex, and the Little Grebes that only ever spend the winter on my patch are back too. my friend (and co-incidentally this gull's photographer) has just reported the first Redwings of the autumn in Sussex. and gull-finders everywhere can rejoice, as all the gulls are coming back!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wonder when the first white-wingers will arrive, but till then birds like this Scandinavian Herring Gull can give us something to look for. This one was photographed near Shoreham, in West Sussex. Note the diagnostic primary pattern, as well as the stocky, full-chested appearance, the heavy, glauc-like bill and the brutish facial profile. Due to under-watching in sussex this fairly regular race is still a description species, and I'd recommend any sussex gull-er who fancies an easy way to get initials in the next report to keep an eye out for one or two, in any gull flock! If enough get reported the records comittee might actually see sense and accept the regularity of this form (not that I'm complaining about having a 'rarity' be so relatively easy to find!) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jake G has had more luck with the gulls than me so far this year though, my own attempts involved grilling the hundred or so gulls at Cuckmere Haven today and seeing nothing out of the ordinary! One possible <i>Argentatus</i>, but the views in the field were poor, and the photos I managed were horribly over-exposed in the bright afternoon light. There were a few Great Black-backs (with one gorgeous first-year), and plenty of Black-headed Gulls, but surprisingly no Common or Lesser Black-back. The former should have begun arriving for the winter by now, while the latter are normally present in small numbers all through the summer. If the gulling is this dull next time, I've decided to try and examine primary moult, and see how many of the gulls have a completed moult by this time in the year.<br />
<br />
sorry for waffling, and good gulling everyone! </div>
</div>
Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-52840390867963406002012-04-14T08:16:00.002-07:002012-04-14T08:21:00.344-07:00Interesting hybrid causes confusion for the unwary...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following bird was seen at Rainton Meadows DWT in <st1:city w:st="on">Durham</st1:city> yesterday (13th
April) and was put out as a Yellow-legged Gull, it was noticed however that the
bird didn't look quite right and had a few things wrong with it. The
Distribution of black on primaries is wrong for Lesser black-backed Gull and
would also be exceptional for pure Yellow-legged Gull. The upperparts tone
doesn't look right for Yellow-legged Gull and is more like that of a paler
Lesser black-backed Gull. The orbital ring is not as bright as should be for
Yellow-legged Gull and is closer to Lesser black-backed Gull. Therefore it was
concluded this bird is in fact a Herring x Lesser black-backed Gull hybrid.
Thanks to Mark Newsome for comments that were used in this blog post.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pictures of bird <a href="http://djohnson.org/?page_id=315">HERE</a>, also see an additional photograph of
the same bird below:</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cGcbIqp7EK0czNJVYQEqU3gXazDbix5tRXFZgEPYzvEqqZhvKtm6CeORp4Q5R6gPJT8Q5UZgUTwwyS2M44Az7mSRelb8teOroUy9p0xpxCGIg4XzLgxoj5HewrAhR7kdBZGmAVX_Y4fo/s1600/HerringxLesserBBGullHybridDChrarlton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cGcbIqp7EK0czNJVYQEqU3gXazDbix5tRXFZgEPYzvEqqZhvKtm6CeORp4Q5R6gPJT8Q5UZgUTwwyS2M44Az7mSRelb8teOroUy9p0xpxCGIg4XzLgxoj5HewrAhR7kdBZGmAVX_Y4fo/s640/HerringxLesserBBGullHybridDChrarlton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Lesser black-backed x Herring Gull hybrid - © Derek Charlton)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-35309077502522322792012-04-13T03:37:00.001-07:002012-04-13T03:37:40.298-07:00Herring x Glaucous Gull Hybrid - Preston, Lancashire - April 2012Here are some shots of a hybrid <b>Herring <span style="font-size: large;">x</span></b> <b>Glaucous Gull</b> (<b>Viking Gull</b>) which is currently in Preston Lancashire, this is not an uncommon hybrid but its interesting to see nice close up shots of one, allowing for a study of the birds odd plumage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGkKbcBFhOP7IUh9q7P3SLY2ZVoObW792E4hcOQJay2AkrK94H6anoQv_F4eLbcpkpnuEYU4Eu335wPBZM4HjbmtcKhYiZji3JcyYk1HQel0OXVNRrwNVJPVXgsGa6KU0vzp43dXz7RYQ/s1600/JohnnyScraggPic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGkKbcBFhOP7IUh9q7P3SLY2ZVoObW792E4hcOQJay2AkrK94H6anoQv_F4eLbcpkpnuEYU4Eu335wPBZM4HjbmtcKhYiZji3JcyYk1HQel0OXVNRrwNVJPVXgsGa6KU0vzp43dXz7RYQ/s640/JohnnyScraggPic1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Viking Gull - © Jonathan Scragg)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizThgUOM9BR0WqwbF9fqf7u8G0rbSBMLcqM1BiCfOT9T_91tG_1E4G75b4lVLpNvlG5tbzl186B2uS3BtaRU4gsQTsWliOlgJBxV8mb58k-mat4L0Y9tD4Tih1dnmqEQaBwaI5njRIHYCO/s1600/JohnnyScraggPic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizThgUOM9BR0WqwbF9fqf7u8G0rbSBMLcqM1BiCfOT9T_91tG_1E4G75b4lVLpNvlG5tbzl186B2uS3BtaRU4gsQTsWliOlgJBxV8mb58k-mat4L0Y9tD4Tih1dnmqEQaBwaI5njRIHYCO/s640/JohnnyScraggPic2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Viking Gull - © Jonathan Scragg)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Interesting bird indeed.</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-89004554113739692992012-02-29T10:56:00.000-08:002012-02-29T10:56:03.967-08:00What say you?An 'interesting' Gull (all are interesting!) photographed on Seaton Common earlier on this year all photographs are copyright of Mark Newsome. Comments on identification more than welcome; Caspian, argentatus, or hybrid?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORBMXoUUHiN6waE3SN_jifKyTp9l_pPnOsC6czJO0SdqbAO5mKkYFPTEXzAoTVFiqwfPcnmgJBWKU_NRt3cysvkZcB1XgmqaNLadDNYXu6QoF__GQZEz8GWGlON_m82rRVdOeEi5Dnh9i/s1600/Seaton+Common+270112+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORBMXoUUHiN6waE3SN_jifKyTp9l_pPnOsC6czJO0SdqbAO5mKkYFPTEXzAoTVFiqwfPcnmgJBWKU_NRt3cysvkZcB1XgmqaNLadDNYXu6QoF__GQZEz8GWGlON_m82rRVdOeEi5Dnh9i/s640/Seaton+Common+270112+(10).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (© Mark Newsome)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvvBVRWc0IwI1xc0kutk8SXBMUmFaM24jVB5xD2tbOg2py7x2B8r8U8WapSn11mr45g-GwojpsQ4gFutVfXNmid8bBxKi3MCQsc-roveO4IMEYDUtkC44-oV3Hbw6_nF9s129sdiOVsqA/s1600/Seaton+Common+270112+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvvBVRWc0IwI1xc0kutk8SXBMUmFaM24jVB5xD2tbOg2py7x2B8r8U8WapSn11mr45g-GwojpsQ4gFutVfXNmid8bBxKi3MCQsc-roveO4IMEYDUtkC44-oV3Hbw6_nF9s129sdiOVsqA/s640/Seaton+Common+270112+(5).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (© Mark Newsome)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2kIWhWlZoCwN3rxRfHCsk5jTDV87D9CMLFnGQ8BGWEuBDXrjET64MJP4yFENGtFozt_trR5f5iX1YQhmCrhQh8L8CSW-q54AKkZvQyzDYKKDRZO4QV2DvLdBWuw3KQzj2_LmA8PoD9On/s1600/Seaton+Common+270112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2kIWhWlZoCwN3rxRfHCsk5jTDV87D9CMLFnGQ8BGWEuBDXrjET64MJP4yFENGtFozt_trR5f5iX1YQhmCrhQh8L8CSW-q54AKkZvQyzDYKKDRZO4QV2DvLdBWuw3KQzj2_LmA8PoD9On/s640/Seaton+Common+270112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(© Mark Newsome) </div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-6956441503465070252012-02-29T06:40:00.001-08:002012-02-29T06:41:46.910-08:00Glaucous-winged Gull (larus glaucescens) - Winter 2008/2009 - MemoriesSadly for me this was a bad memory, I dipped the bird. I won't go into it as it still hurts now! However for thoose who were fortunate enough to see this stunning larus here are some images to help you reminisce.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5UY5EoAnq7cl805alpsH-sqoJKDpNIYsS3xZxqELpUnf2C-HCop65MsbbhaKos9JKK3cc0x2568JBrNesPbhzrg5_5t2VERnkw-gYiPhyphenhyphenz3mAfSi2iWEwSzijrZqNYOuhju6mWPm7WEJ/s1600/GWGIanF1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5UY5EoAnq7cl805alpsH-sqoJKDpNIYsS3xZxqELpUnf2C-HCop65MsbbhaKos9JKK3cc0x2568JBrNesPbhzrg5_5t2VERnkw-gYiPhyphenhyphenz3mAfSi2iWEwSzijrZqNYOuhju6mWPm7WEJ/s640/GWGIanF1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Glaucous-winged Gull - ©<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21"> Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJwns50gp436C-t39EX-T_B_0A-s_27UQAw16VIwIz35Lomq_uRtlCV1O4kVopIhBBFJtbnTBnOf4PX8V5VpoCfqkfWVRETBkHXlBcTtUvwQInM_f4VRjrYF3Fnt-g6zAnhtI9F7wkkKW/s1600/GWGIanF2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJwns50gp436C-t39EX-T_B_0A-s_27UQAw16VIwIz35Lomq_uRtlCV1O4kVopIhBBFJtbnTBnOf4PX8V5VpoCfqkfWVRETBkHXlBcTtUvwQInM_f4VRjrYF3Fnt-g6zAnhtI9F7wkkKW/s640/GWGIanF2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Glaucous-winged Gull - ©<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21"> Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_RiEknj8zJFKrtOb-tnd8Le3BdaD9_V1WuJrUq5P7RbblHMYZHf5xfetCip0R1fuFxIizzALBmzry48DHbDRuCQZX0PTwn_J5J7ciLkBnb6fHc4YOR21f6Z_p3BihYeMIlFxSeMQrP3Q/s1600/GWGIanF3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_RiEknj8zJFKrtOb-tnd8Le3BdaD9_V1WuJrUq5P7RbblHMYZHf5xfetCip0R1fuFxIizzALBmzry48DHbDRuCQZX0PTwn_J5J7ciLkBnb6fHc4YOR21f6Z_p3BihYeMIlFxSeMQrP3Q/s640/GWGIanF3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Glaucous-winged Gull - ©<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21"> Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguG0TC1RRrxB3b34FkVSwPtNzcczTk3ym2M-BNZ_7SAW0PXqsrDWB4F8VzYQ8ogU9k7musNlDDi44PW89OoCEMyneTtYe220lg22fNcT8DJCES3MW6eXAgvWDq4O93dI1jz6djhoHgWv5I/s1600/GWGIanF4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguG0TC1RRrxB3b34FkVSwPtNzcczTk3ym2M-BNZ_7SAW0PXqsrDWB4F8VzYQ8ogU9k7musNlDDi44PW89OoCEMyneTtYe220lg22fNcT8DJCES3MW6eXAgvWDq4O93dI1jz6djhoHgWv5I/s640/GWGIanF4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Glaucous-winged Gull - ©<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21"> Ian Forrest</a>)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-54583147209375522212012-02-28T13:41:00.000-08:002012-02-28T13:45:30.999-08:00March in Gulls-what to look out forHere's the premise- a brief guides into some of the wonders of the gulling world March will bring. Enjoy!!<br />
<br />
<b>Gull Migration</b><br />
I happen to live near a great sea-watching spot on the South Coast, where on good days in March flocks of the gorgeous Mediterranean Gull stream by. The beginnings of Little Gull migration are also apparent during the month. Other more common gulls may be noted migrating, including Common and Black-headed. Last year on spring migration, an Iceland Gull was tracked along the Sussex coast. And with our fantastic year of white-wingers I believe that by the end of the month there will be a smaller, secondary peak in the north of the UK, as Glaucous, Iceland and Kumlien's Gulls from further south return north to their breeding grounds.<br />
Sea-watching can be a great opportunity to watch gull migration in action. Mediterranean Gulls are mainly a southern speciality (they occur further north but in nothing like the same numbers) but in the south it's definitely worth looking out for a few among flocks of Black-headed Gulls on reservoirs, landfills and anywhere else a migrating gull would be tempted to stop and feed. The same applies for Little Gulls, though their numbers are greater later in the spring in my experience.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre6fh6hTN4N7FWIP5biSAZjG6HY2e7HUPeJeMFnl6GAKzNeg6nhR8fzuvzfiKNIpW9nGMCgVRGSep9ru8372qbCNI3v6vGRcQRi6UKMNbQYvnApCZqqquTivSjLlmv9WJg9Rn0dFbDO0/s1600/mediterranean_gull-00114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre6fh6hTN4N7FWIP5biSAZjG6HY2e7HUPeJeMFnl6GAKzNeg6nhR8fzuvzfiKNIpW9nGMCgVRGSep9ru8372qbCNI3v6vGRcQRi6UKMNbQYvnApCZqqquTivSjLlmv9WJg9Rn0dFbDO0/s640/mediterranean_gull-00114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Mediterranean Gull- © John Bridges)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Gull Moult</b><br />
By the end of the month adult Black-headed, Little and Mediterranean Gulls will mostly have acquired their full hoods, and adult Common Gull and large white-headed gull species (LWHG) will mostly have lost their winter streaking. The moult of all the juvenile ages of gulls is too bewildering for me to detail fully in this post alone, but for a example lets take Herring Gull;<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>first winter into second-winter: </i>generally from April-Oct, head first, body second, then mantle, scapulars, coverts and finally primaries</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>second-winter to second-summer; </i>partially takes place from January to April, including head, most body feathers and scapulars. Coverts begin to moult from mid-may</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>second into third-winter; </i>generally from April-Oct, as for first into second winter moult</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">info from '<i>Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America' </i>by Klaus Malling Olsen and Hans Larsson</span><br />
<br />
I included the two Apr-October moults as, last time I went 'gulling' I saw several first-winter Herring Gulls that had began the moult of their head-feathers, proving not every gull goes by the book and some can moult early. Ageing some gulls can be a challenge at this time of year (though a fun one if you're me!).<br />
<br />
<b>Gulls courting</b><br />
At Rye Harbour, a well-known colony of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls, the birds are already starting to arrive, and by the end of March nest-building will be complete (per Barry Yates, warden of Rye Harbour, posting on the Sussex Ornithological Website).<br />
If you live up North, the gulls in your seabird colony are probably the most boring creatures there. But aside from Fulmars, Rock Pipits and the odd pair of Peregrine and Raven, the seabird colonies in SE England consist almost entirely of gulls. Black-legged Kittiwakes have one of their most southerly colonies at Splash Point, right on my doorstep, and it's always great to see them arriving and beginning their courtship, mainly from March onwards.<br />
And finally, though they're almost universally hated, the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that seemingly nest in almost every city in the country are a seabird colony on a lot of people's doorsteps!<br />
<br />
<b>Target Gull Species</b><br />
MEDITERRANEAN GULL<i>- </i>arrives on breeding grounds, and migrants often appear in good numbers in some areas. The only gulls regularly occurring resident gull species with white primaries, and it's dark black hood, plaintive expression and Eider-like-voice make it a particularly endearing species.<br />
ICELAND GULL- expect a return migration with birds once again concentrated in Northern areas, before their final push towards Greenland.<br />
KUMLIEN'S GULL- the same applies, though they'll be heading for Baffin Island. This is perhaps a chance to connect with one if you haven't already (like me!)<br />
GLAUCOUS GULL- the same as the two above, though they haven't been as numerous as Iceland Gulls this winter<br />
LITTLE GULL-by the end of the month migration of this attractive little species should be beginning, with some in summer plumage. Based on my experience, often seen from sea-watching sites or reservoirs, but can turn up almost anywhere<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaKJhx1d1JoefbCeMGXjFIHqyzrFYskcQRJz-WDaI0t9MMnGpTINrBA0Ro36mkV1tNGpGdVg0ZFaNiH6xc2ukC2lP0b8kdH-KNhDSR25w3VBg4w15CmMG_7daIet6uqaUffngLXrYNB8/s1600/kittiwake-00078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaKJhx1d1JoefbCeMGXjFIHqyzrFYskcQRJz-WDaI0t9MMnGpTINrBA0Ro36mkV1tNGpGdVg0ZFaNiH6xc2ukC2lP0b8kdH-KNhDSR25w3VBg4w15CmMG_7daIet6uqaUffngLXrYNB8/s320/kittiwake-00078.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Kittiwake-© John Bridges)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
KITTIWAKE- look out for this gorgeous gull returning to it's nesting grounds or migrating past sea-watching points<br />
<br />
also, keep an eye out for some ridiculous vagrant. warm Southerly winds and high pressure might waft an Audouin's or Slender-billed Gull up if we're really lucky!Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-26225507862361896272012-02-26T12:09:00.001-08:002012-02-26T12:09:30.449-08:00gulling at Newhavenamong the gazillions of wires, adaptors and things on my floor at the moment, I can't find the one I need to download photos from my camera, so our dear readers will have to make do with me using one of our other photographers far better images (what a shame I hear you say!)<br />
<br />
The bird myself and my Dad went to look for was an adult Iceland Gull, a new age for both of us in the UK. In the end we saw the adult fairly well, if distantly. However, my attention was more drawn to the swathes of Herring Gulls (I'm considering a labotomy for these unhealthy obsessions).<br />
<br />
Among the first-winter gulls, there were at least five or six that were noticeably darker and larger- I'm thinking <i>Argentatus </i>for all of them. There was also one pretty hefty third-winter which I got some OK photos of; it had a big, hooked bill and mean, brutish look, and on jizz I'd call it A<i>rgentatus</i>.<i> </i>Considering this species is description-worthy I wouldn't submit them.<br />
<br />
Spring is also definitely approaching, most Black-headed Gulls seem to be well into their moult, and among the first-winter Herring Gulls were two that have started moulting their head-feathers and nothing else, giving them a marked <i>smithsonianus </i>look. The adult Herrings with pure white heads might have already moulted, but in Seaford I see a good number of birds that never acquire any head-streaking all through the winter, especially among birds that remain on their rooftop nests year-round.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuskcIeGASsBj_nQKQ3KaB7Y1dfkTGJ-uCM_61nkA2w9tCBlrvw5d80eoj7TAln5AyBbJYqvIpAeK8dhxbsyvPXPJdNOtERIPhCy4U0TJwzsKoa0NVC_Ppy0bncLf6RyOWnFCeHU70F3M/s1600/herring_gull-00149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuskcIeGASsBj_nQKQ3KaB7Y1dfkTGJ-uCM_61nkA2w9tCBlrvw5d80eoj7TAln5AyBbJYqvIpAeK8dhxbsyvPXPJdNOtERIPhCy4U0TJwzsKoa0NVC_Ppy0bncLf6RyOWnFCeHU70F3M/s640/herring_gull-00149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Herring Gull-© John Bridges)<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A first-winter Herring Gull, but not one I'd personally want to try and identify. The presence of intergrades between <i>Argenteus</i> and <i>Argentatus </i>can make identifying some especially complicated, especially from a photo. On Johns website he does have a few that to me look like quite nice Argentatus adults though (including one used by Andrew in a post further down). <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /><br /></div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-44378601412074568782012-02-25T15:51:00.000-08:002012-02-25T15:51:47.378-08:00Kumlien's Gull (larus glaucoides kumlieni) - Hartlepool Headland - February 2012The following images were taken by<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21"> Ian Forrest </a>of the 3rd winter <b>Kumlien's Gull</b> that is wintering at Hartlepool Headland in Durham (Cleveland). Some small side notes have been added under some of the images with some comments, a real learning curve for me and a fantastically interesting and educational bird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BOM21xXEzr0mKIo-pZUuPm-TMFD1joU6EzW5w6lZEGvtyOYgINY2Ywbx1LeHaIiTzYDG2wxjxBiT8MY_8b_fzGn1kg6z682hxweDi22Qe1eUF0tOamrUFMS7M8HEqNFMA3giY-6bb1g/s1600/SpreadWingIanForrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-BOM21xXEzr0mKIo-pZUuPm-TMFD1joU6EzW5w6lZEGvtyOYgINY2Ywbx1LeHaIiTzYDG2wxjxBiT8MY_8b_fzGn1kg6z682hxweDi22Qe1eUF0tOamrUFMS7M8HEqNFMA3giY-6bb1g/s640/SpreadWingIanForrest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Kumlien's Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21">Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dark shadowing can be seen on the outer webs of P9, P8, and P7 of the outer primaries. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FbjJJldrVcsqyivGKAQhPMr5GGAnQ02ZCgvjPRBpN5ZkpuZK9BJJbfIfGQ65dCbJDqjlPAm77vaY1kG4pukfJUkrsZ2eAv8GfMLr3RsRNdnuGd8co_782ptT0h_AvkQC7LprasLbaEri/s1600/DownwardwingIanForest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FbjJJldrVcsqyivGKAQhPMr5GGAnQ02ZCgvjPRBpN5ZkpuZK9BJJbfIfGQ65dCbJDqjlPAm77vaY1kG4pukfJUkrsZ2eAv8GfMLr3RsRNdnuGd8co_782ptT0h_AvkQC7LprasLbaEri/s640/DownwardwingIanForest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Kumlien's Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21">Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Again the dark shadowing can be seen on the outer webs of P9, P8, and P7 of the outer primaries which contrast with the inner primaries. The backwards 'J' shape effect of the dark markings bleeding along the tip of P9, P8, and P7 onto the inner web of these primaries can be seen here. However it is perhaps easier to see on the next image. Also the darker and more contrasting secondaries can be seen here on this bird,</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvTOEVICPhqKzqvNHL-J_eeSIAkCv5WItBLfDdLQX62nkZrO50E-BY0vpZPL8bcvA2CZwOKtlt0ilIU1YYTwCS6z4077o4MYnkXyAWgx51pL42jGPI-T-ZKJ36FxlquwsEbsvXmKslIH7/s1600/UpwardwingIanForest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvTOEVICPhqKzqvNHL-J_eeSIAkCv5WItBLfDdLQX62nkZrO50E-BY0vpZPL8bcvA2CZwOKtlt0ilIU1YYTwCS6z4077o4MYnkXyAWgx51pL42jGPI-T-ZKJ36FxlquwsEbsvXmKslIH7/s640/UpwardwingIanForest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Kumlien's Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=21">Ian Forrest</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">The dark shadowing on the primaries mentioned above can obviously be seen here. Outer primaries mentioned look particularly dark and contrasting in this image. The dark contrasting secondaries are again obvious here as is the remnants of what looks like a once broad tail band.</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-68168599578084268392012-02-25T15:07:00.001-08:002012-02-25T15:30:33.692-08:00Sabine's Gull (larus sabini) - South Shields - 2010The following photos are of a juvenile <b>Sabine's Gull</b> taken at South Shields in Durham, the bird wandered during its stay going from North Shields Fish Quay in Northumberland to South Shields in Durham. All photos are copyright of <a href="http://southtynesidebirder.blogspot.com/">Stephen Egglestone</a> and as always are grateful for allowing the blog to use his superb images of this <b>Sabine's Gull</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-erocosQ5vjKL6qUvEgmT1FkE45r1l9sCq3xPvOfG3yOBfbCAOqqCGdwi3IFlbTITfWxegiTZfp8UtpNr7pc59VoqUBt4BcaiQ18dVOjyJuO8EJkD8g45VsfZPHwlYV2ACoO2Al1shnPP/s1600/JuvSabsStephenEgglestone+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-erocosQ5vjKL6qUvEgmT1FkE45r1l9sCq3xPvOfG3yOBfbCAOqqCGdwi3IFlbTITfWxegiTZfp8UtpNr7pc59VoqUBt4BcaiQ18dVOjyJuO8EJkD8g45VsfZPHwlYV2ACoO2Al1shnPP/s640/JuvSabsStephenEgglestone+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Sabine's Gull - © <a href="http://southtynesidebirder.blogspot.com/">Stephen Egglestone</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5i974KA7OW-4Fo2pyE_5ixqPqssYkx-6KEwyNbDC4afa7eWGxCuPzbBJc668RQlznFhyZJgJSa-NREsb2sv3pGgZ48nJO0vFwyafWoiiinx2Do1oC8r7LiyPNCVRQYS6wvo5sp4Rv05/s1600/JuvSabsStephenEgglestone+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5i974KA7OW-4Fo2pyE_5ixqPqssYkx-6KEwyNbDC4afa7eWGxCuPzbBJc668RQlznFhyZJgJSa-NREsb2sv3pGgZ48nJO0vFwyafWoiiinx2Do1oC8r7LiyPNCVRQYS6wvo5sp4Rv05/s640/JuvSabsStephenEgglestone+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Sabine's Gull - © <a href="http://southtynesidebirder.blogspot.com/">Stephen Egglestone</a>)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-223728196109947012012-02-24T13:10:00.003-08:002012-02-24T13:14:30.896-08:00Iceland Gull (larus glaucoides) - Sunderland - February 2012All photos taken by Mark Newsome of an adult <b>Iceland Gull</b> at Roker Pier in County Durham. Many birds noted over here in recent weeks but today only the adult<b> Iceland Gull</b> was noted and it is thought other lingering birds have now moved on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjRqcX4nGQJF3KVvt0W5UgnLkk8eVBnQmQLipIZZqoJsOVphoCHEU1xDb9S2RTW6dsBBM4RjpW7h70Gmc_j1ROb_RIb56VdDvhqmPS744kro1-ZKKWS05cpeVIv9ddfdSoOPD5RsLCLzr/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjRqcX4nGQJF3KVvt0W5UgnLkk8eVBnQmQLipIZZqoJsOVphoCHEU1xDb9S2RTW6dsBBM4RjpW7h70Gmc_j1ROb_RIb56VdDvhqmPS744kro1-ZKKWS05cpeVIv9ddfdSoOPD5RsLCLzr/s640/IMG_0015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6Y0RN_LgsVrLzieuZPXU9T_ajTFDphcrNHY4UjPPjKf_iUNrsMKJ0wqX2_yioBQtXurE08Mw0bNpVXjvF8T1VAcDfRUV-pZb6bY7n50K7UDPsvR8D0JNtriC_2KbJdF6qlq2TtPHBo9Z/s1600/IMG_9921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6Y0RN_LgsVrLzieuZPXU9T_ajTFDphcrNHY4UjPPjKf_iUNrsMKJ0wqX2_yioBQtXurE08Mw0bNpVXjvF8T1VAcDfRUV-pZb6bY7n50K7UDPsvR8D0JNtriC_2KbJdF6qlq2TtPHBo9Z/s640/IMG_9921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Iceland Gull - ©<a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822"> Mark Newsome</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7SUS7cM5_kn92CMU8jyW13MmY7ChW79Y7aCzKtYySJguTOyOwJaQ3lqET0yvTqB8ZoBn_CUzKE2TLPi8xExf5wxTlouVhvINhVRB5nVsQsRGByhhD64qrGegsFCMTE42j7nWdXZ5HVoL/s1600/IMG_9942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7SUS7cM5_kn92CMU8jyW13MmY7ChW79Y7aCzKtYySJguTOyOwJaQ3lqET0yvTqB8ZoBn_CUzKE2TLPi8xExf5wxTlouVhvINhVRB5nVsQsRGByhhD64qrGegsFCMTE42j7nWdXZ5HVoL/s640/IMG_9942.JPG" width="640" /></a>(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-29542997802252637552012-02-22T16:32:00.000-08:002012-02-22T16:32:07.077-08:00Slaty-backed Gull (larus schistisagus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2011 the UK had its first ever record of <b>Slaty-backed Gull</b>, this record was also only the 2nd for the Western Palearctic.<a href="http://www.agamiheron.com/"> Gary Crowder</a> has kindly granted me permission to use his superb images of the species taken in Japan. This is a taster of things to come!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQi4D22wzexNkk2KHmiFBjuq5mrVCynOktSi5rKlKQxvowRnLBm86AypfUBGmuhgjFRMF-bnH-BGbYW7S1l68AfcaFrHMA6u_yDdZtYD6Tfe9NQMX_D-tRzyl7uWeUkmUMs3O_O_tkgGP/s1600/JapanGaryCrowder+(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQi4D22wzexNkk2KHmiFBjuq5mrVCynOktSi5rKlKQxvowRnLBm86AypfUBGmuhgjFRMF-bnH-BGbYW7S1l68AfcaFrHMA6u_yDdZtYD6Tfe9NQMX_D-tRzyl7uWeUkmUMs3O_O_tkgGP/s640/JapanGaryCrowder+(9).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Slaty-backed Gull - © <a href="http://www.agamiheron.com/">Gary Crowder</a>)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-85923160767900047732012-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:002012-02-22T09:07:10.472-08:00adult Ring-billed Gull<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZJJmKavoPjfNG-smlrUq8QJyKofKbLNXjeyUX-H6QsX9c1YymryDkGziVHl6uY934Js2AhppMQIbLzqVk5ljLNUm-blQTaLupfFy_h14ObdjX1MrLgBB70lUqRW69scKWe7eUKu-oTc/s1600/Gosport+ad+MB+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZJJmKavoPjfNG-smlrUq8QJyKofKbLNXjeyUX-H6QsX9c1YymryDkGziVHl6uY934Js2AhppMQIbLzqVk5ljLNUm-blQTaLupfFy_h14ObdjX1MrLgBB70lUqRW69scKWe7eUKu-oTc/s400/Gosport+ad+MB+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ring-billed Gull- © <a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/">Michael Booker</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8d3NKgatRQzI5ZOQWc7rMdQF26AYL_fVHeDXWQO4QyMuTWy0bF5GSlxCvm_rygFPiLBsHRofXj66h0-Vr2E777cNAy2fvxiNQXyjqtyO7fodQs6a3K0gz3ifF4wQg0570VcshXHj4ho/s1600/Gosport+ad+MB+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8d3NKgatRQzI5ZOQWc7rMdQF26AYL_fVHeDXWQO4QyMuTWy0bF5GSlxCvm_rygFPiLBsHRofXj66h0-Vr2E777cNAy2fvxiNQXyjqtyO7fodQs6a3K0gz3ifF4wQg0570VcshXHj4ho/s400/Gosport+ad+MB+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ring-billed Gull- © <a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/">Michael Booker</a>)
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SIaz3Tbv7oab7PyGhQbAOi6kGe-2HiIqZ61V3HpcPmI-S8TtlHZST99lnnKik1czsUV0BUsVc2qBH01IpllVVO-fNCtnqeRQjoT_S9TQFcFOwiaAhS5SGF0rWm0JXE5V7hX8MlDBQ3k/s1600/Gosport+ad+MB+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SIaz3Tbv7oab7PyGhQbAOi6kGe-2HiIqZ61V3HpcPmI-S8TtlHZST99lnnKik1czsUV0BUsVc2qBH01IpllVVO-fNCtnqeRQjoT_S9TQFcFOwiaAhS5SGF0rWm0JXE5V7hX8MlDBQ3k/s400/Gosport+ad+MB+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ring-billed Gull- ©<a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/"> Michael Booker</a>)
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguQDKODy_8tWsQ6cxON0b-QAAUo2dCqQzO_pa2pyPhe9a6RxHqOWy2WoOnpOskM9puH6vZh2lwFGmw7N4KfNX8GUB-n9V6fyGfTmgiBD1DFES6AUZ2ifc2Dx4H8QHxb_VYQuevzqFDJg/s1600/gosport+ad+MB+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguQDKODy_8tWsQ6cxON0b-QAAUo2dCqQzO_pa2pyPhe9a6RxHqOWy2WoOnpOskM9puH6vZh2lwFGmw7N4KfNX8GUB-n9V6fyGfTmgiBD1DFES6AUZ2ifc2Dx4H8QHxb_VYQuevzqFDJg/s400/gosport+ad+MB+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ring-billed Gull- © <a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/">Michael Booker</a>)
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLQZkXGARL7zZth__4almUarlArxdyhhB45Z3PGTVwxhkrKiPgV4IChVyE8eo2uAtR3LRr7WOR3uV-GmhIY67dYfHUoQeXJS3yxMCKe4hGeW2b4Q2h9PFa-oMOz2InB57IWI39jmF51c/s1600/gosport+ad+MB+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLQZkXGARL7zZth__4almUarlArxdyhhB45Z3PGTVwxhkrKiPgV4IChVyE8eo2uAtR3LRr7WOR3uV-GmhIY67dYfHUoQeXJS3yxMCKe4hGeW2b4Q2h9PFa-oMOz2InB57IWI39jmF51c/s640/gosport+ad+MB+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Ring-billed Gull- © <a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/">Michael Booker</a>)
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
some brilliant photos of the regular Gosport adult, thanks to Michael Booker for them. Ring-billed Gulls tend to be given little attention among gulls despite their rarity, but an adult like this is pretty gorgeous in my opinion. The yellow eye and thick bill, with a 'scowling' expression, tend to give them the jizz of a larger gull- when I first got into birds I had no idea this species is actually closely related to Common Gull! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The bill is a good way of picking Ring-bills out, but should you find a bird not showing it's bill with Common Gulls, they appear longer winged and legged, have a paler mantle, and appear more square-headed with a peak behind the eye. Compared to <i>argenteus </i>Herring Gull they appear smaller but with a similar mantle colour, their yellow legs stand out, and when settled have a more delicate shape, similar to Common Gull<br /><br /></div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-87178935013678957922012-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:002012-02-21T16:05:21.318-08:00Great Black-backed Gull (larus marinus)Just a mixture of shots of adult Great Black-backed Gulls, all images taken by <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>. Images show a fairly typical mantle shade and primary pattern of the largest gull in the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGiGrBx-Xlx-2QxuEH_W-SdJxinZrUcFlqMypOTV9iBcP0M8M6Pxe8s-LHQlPv0Z0Nfd9KSi_25uiLfLG6KVkBwJP7zk7BH3pVaYApKg37C5J0FhjdIKchiJCYSp4XRxBfj0oiIc3JSek/s1600/GBBGullPic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGiGrBx-Xlx-2QxuEH_W-SdJxinZrUcFlqMypOTV9iBcP0M8M6Pxe8s-LHQlPv0Z0Nfd9KSi_25uiLfLG6KVkBwJP7zk7BH3pVaYApKg37C5J0FhjdIKchiJCYSp4XRxBfj0oiIc3JSek/s640/GBBGullPic1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Great Black-backed Gull - © John Bridges)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_qnanVu29H2ObaBZlyXMJ-5PchhiE7J1dnoDTiPb15gHAZoxIyRQfgwWOuIf2ZJYyUMV_XLetBThM2qJdtjTjUHglsjyVl8o0xBXYvoLGehBAiJallzYNM2rK57LwXfmb5i5iXUxU2r8/s1600/GBBGullPic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_qnanVu29H2ObaBZlyXMJ-5PchhiE7J1dnoDTiPb15gHAZoxIyRQfgwWOuIf2ZJYyUMV_XLetBThM2qJdtjTjUHglsjyVl8o0xBXYvoLGehBAiJallzYNM2rK57LwXfmb5i5iXUxU2r8/s640/GBBGullPic2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Great Black-backed Gull - © John Bridges)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05a_7HTZM8V3nNlywtMAo4kbbzPCwm90rqSLzZa_MmlzD0h-g2eKyYTpe3UQ5ND5CkfnmpI3xJ0vr1BcQg60IRuQb80HEgfurNADqahgSEjchyqVirz3eGwjjVtVOgfQmvO_u7DNT4uLA/s1600/GBBGullPic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05a_7HTZM8V3nNlywtMAo4kbbzPCwm90rqSLzZa_MmlzD0h-g2eKyYTpe3UQ5ND5CkfnmpI3xJ0vr1BcQg60IRuQb80HEgfurNADqahgSEjchyqVirz3eGwjjVtVOgfQmvO_u7DNT4uLA/s640/GBBGullPic3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Great Black-backed Gull - © John Bridges)</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-48063046279103358552012-02-19T14:04:00.001-08:002012-02-19T14:04:10.819-08:00the early moults of Black-headed Gulls (again!)to run a blog on gulls, you do have to be a bit obsessional. And it's probably fair to say I have been a bit obsessional over seeing summer-plumaged Black-headed Gulls in February! Wellm you'll all be excessively pleases to know I saw another in Stratford-upon Avon over school half-term! Basically, between 1-5% of Black-headed have full summer plumage before the end of February, making them regular but still unusual, and when you're stuck away from a landfill, sewage farm, reservoir or coast and in the middle of some horrible corner of suburbia, they can be one of the few reminders of the wonderful world of gulls, which is why I love them dearly!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX13rJXrkFyuaN4XvJfGcAXsWcxm8H5sm_f5_J-dccxdbo9trHY_b9BRgvZ5qx1BOkoe02WSkYNHYrert7oa12be4k4tFXQzN8nHxjQeEPsH6OX1tqXa3-Nam-yCRg39V5o2N74_PQLqo/s1600/summer+plumaged+B-h+Gull+January+MB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX13rJXrkFyuaN4XvJfGcAXsWcxm8H5sm_f5_J-dccxdbo9trHY_b9BRgvZ5qx1BOkoe02WSkYNHYrert7oa12be4k4tFXQzN8nHxjQeEPsH6OX1tqXa3-Nam-yCRg39V5o2N74_PQLqo/s640/summer+plumaged+B-h+Gull+January+MB.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Black-headed Gull, © <a href="http://www.sussexbirders.blogspot.com/">Michael Booker</a>)<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I thought my first date of 13 February was impressive, but then I found this photo on a friend's blog, and discovered I'd been beaten by two weeks! Michael Booker took this photo on 28 January in Hampshire. To see more of his photos and his blog click on his name above or go to the 'photographers' page on the right-hand side. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other BREAKING NEWS, I've just heard of a potential first Caspian Gull for Wales. The main surprise is that it's the first Caspian Gull for Wales! On a quick google search I found one other <a href="http://webirdnorthwales.blogspot.com/2011/10/caspian-gull-black-rock-beach.html">report from 13 Oct 2011</a>, though as no photo was taken the finder did not, I believe, submit a description. I find it bizarre that Caspian Gull should be so rare in Wales, but then again many areas are underwatched and birds must surely be overlooked. I'll be interested to hear the fate of this bird...<br /><br /></div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-1604049985910760822012-02-15T14:39:00.000-08:002012-02-15T14:40:23.465-08:00Caspian Gull (larus cachinnans) - Seaton Common - January 2012All photographs on this post unless otherwise stated are copyright of <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome </a>and may not be reused unless permission is granted. The photos show a first-winter <b>Caspian Gull</b> at Seaton Common, Durham (Cleveland).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn3VGT19RPRFqbcxgMPnpeAj5fKom8ELHaaCBjyAvVkHfLPcuIlZ2RKzIgfb7db6NFnBTr78zOzcPn69sPB8ZPAYshGftCN4bKJEGjFb5SiEM5Bei9bPSwM9lWJOonx-79c0kTVqEg38h/s1600/IMG_9660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn3VGT19RPRFqbcxgMPnpeAj5fKom8ELHaaCBjyAvVkHfLPcuIlZ2RKzIgfb7db6NFnBTr78zOzcPn69sPB8ZPAYshGftCN4bKJEGjFb5SiEM5Bei9bPSwM9lWJOonx-79c0kTVqEg38h/s640/IMG_9660.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Caspian Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">The white head and underbody with barely any visible markings it obvious here, also note the shawl effect on the nape of this bird which then bleeds partly onto the birds mantle. The small beady eye is evident and a small dark mask is also present encircling they eye. The grey mantle feathers with dark centres are obvious in this photo and this feature is particularly useful to look out for when trying to pick out a first-winter Caspian Gull. Finally the long and obvious parallel sided bill is evident in this image; compare this to the bill on the (presumed 2nd winter?) Herring Gull behind the Caspian.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTyDMyIWmDEqYIijke7iBbEuj30quhxri2iXVFnkO7_PPLeduE8U1KTlWBbdUesujesqFFvLepo5yaas9Zx8_3DC4TMFGrEyOKe-0DA1kqKclmpqhH7D5x0ookWo3H2KlkExLPQyAi-5E/s1600/IMG_9666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTyDMyIWmDEqYIijke7iBbEuj30quhxri2iXVFnkO7_PPLeduE8U1KTlWBbdUesujesqFFvLepo5yaas9Zx8_3DC4TMFGrEyOKe-0DA1kqKclmpqhH7D5x0ookWo3H2KlkExLPQyAi-5E/s640/IMG_9666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"> (Caspian Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">You can see that in flight it shows a white head with small dark eye, the shawl effect on the nape can be seen quite well in this high quality image. The axillaries look greyish/white, but this feature is very variable in Caspian Gull and some can show brownish axillaries. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBFZ_bcV5rbESPFZ_Jb7lnYCC0p22h4fKUokBMAagwne47n7NSxwCcXGC9LOsAFl7YH9PL38IHIqQWMALfbLiNfmfdzJa6fewjftYtlhCtwcxKUJffCIYj6X8CSPREH8KerPMPEHvWL1B/s1600/IMG_9669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBFZ_bcV5rbESPFZ_Jb7lnYCC0p22h4fKUokBMAagwne47n7NSxwCcXGC9LOsAFl7YH9PL38IHIqQWMALfbLiNfmfdzJa6fewjftYtlhCtwcxKUJffCIYj6X8CSPREH8KerPMPEHvWL1B/s640/IMG_9669.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">(Caspian Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Compare to the above image and it can be seen how a birds axillaries can change in the field depending upon lighting conditions. But note the very white head, with black beady eye set far forward in the head and the shawl like pattern on the birds neck extending down onto top of mantle.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfhbJsLnPYIQx3gMHYF9P5gV46W9cdjRNm3qCYKubjkxBV4tmgUNrZSORoroPmbMkgnX8py4zRFC2ON-i1r6tcSbN3126tkHp8RS1XZ-UsOrLJrCjB9B_6QuicpBjmGapLnQAv9DjkipT/s1600/IMG_9680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfhbJsLnPYIQx3gMHYF9P5gV46W9cdjRNm3qCYKubjkxBV4tmgUNrZSORoroPmbMkgnX8py4zRFC2ON-i1r6tcSbN3126tkHp8RS1XZ-UsOrLJrCjB9B_6QuicpBjmGapLnQAv9DjkipT/s640/IMG_9680.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">(Caspian Gull - © <a href="http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=7822">Mark Newsome</a>)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">You can clearly see the broad and solidly black terminal band on the tail contrasting with the fairly sparsely marked rump/uppertail coverts. Nice contrast between the secondaries and the much paler coverts which creates clear cut black and brown areas on the birds upperwing. Also you can see the grey mantle and scapular feathers with dark centres creating a fairly distinctive appearance. Overall first-winter Caspian Gulls are usually four coloured; white, brown, black, and grey. This is particularly evident when a bird is on the deck, compare this to Herring Gulls which can often look less well defined and don't usually show such a sharp contrast throughout the whole plumage at this age.</div></div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-41566786048829502412012-02-15T11:45:00.000-08:002012-02-15T11:45:31.899-08:00more Herring GullsAndrew's below post shows one of the most gorgeous, textbook <i>Larus Argentatus Argentatus </i>you will ever see! and it reminded me of some old photos I took on the local patch. Back then my interest in gulls was fairly minimal but I still thought this looked good for Scandinavian Herring Gull. I never submitted a description (which is required in Sussex) but kept the photos. All photos taken on 30 December 2010 at Cuckmere Haven.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoLisCaK8FvwJ2R7WUaei4mSpXCiytCIkFDRTt3cUkltoWzD2tDFI5Go8Jfqu6ClR-nOr_tvyuzECc3RaiiqAlvDMcOxdxSP55EUChI7SSRjAbwXoqEkV1HCvUPjWd5RrLIDU0E-HlOk/s1600/cuckmere+haven+scandi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoLisCaK8FvwJ2R7WUaei4mSpXCiytCIkFDRTt3cUkltoWzD2tDFI5Go8Jfqu6ClR-nOr_tvyuzECc3RaiiqAlvDMcOxdxSP55EUChI7SSRjAbwXoqEkV1HCvUPjWd5RrLIDU0E-HlOk/s640/cuckmere+haven+scandi+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<i>Argentatus Herring Gull - © </i>Liam Curson)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Note the heavy bill, 'evil'- looking eye and robust, bulky structure. It's not as obvious an <i>Argentatus </i>as Andrew's bird, appearing slightly smaller in build, and is perhaps a female. The mirrors are also smaller than you'd want on a really classic bird. The extensive black on the wing-tip is an off-putting feature in saying this is a definite Scandinavian bird, the black reaching slightly further up the wing than on Andrew's fairly classic <i>Argentatus. </i>I'd call the black reaching up the wingtip intermediate between an <i>Argentatus </i>and an <i>Argenteus, </i>but it has the jizz of an <i>Argentatus, </i>and certainly rather brutish and Glaucous Gull-like in the field.<i> </i>I'd therefore call this bird a small Scandinavian Herring Gull.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB_-WBJnJ9A-lbKSKR3rCUxyRJTxRTiCGGovEGNpp6PBl0mzos7IbMLCweG3TEjRg00WK5lGFsx8h0sOBOt7QY3J0MoX4F3IYNjGPKh8UQP8o8Tvct3KSSXnn9aanIjXuNqmybigCk1I/s1600/for+comparison+with+Scandi%252C+Cuckmere+Haven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaB_-WBJnJ9A-lbKSKR3rCUxyRJTxRTiCGGovEGNpp6PBl0mzos7IbMLCweG3TEjRg00WK5lGFsx8h0sOBOt7QY3J0MoX4F3IYNjGPKh8UQP8o8Tvct3KSSXnn9aanIjXuNqmybigCk1I/s640/for+comparison+with+Scandi%252C+Cuckmere+Haven.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<i>Argenteus </i>Herring Gull - © Liam Curson)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The light is bad, but if you compare the mantle colour of this <i>Argenteus </i>with the bird above it is noticeably paler. The primaries can't be seen here to compare them both sadly, but although this bird also has a sharp eye and heavy bill, it isn't quite as brutish or 'evil' looking. This is also partly enhanced by a pale head, which quite a lot of resident <i>Argenteus </i>seem to retain through the winter in my area. Perhaps it's because they stay on their rooftop nesting sites year-round? </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-1812526452327027822012-02-15T03:05:00.000-08:002012-02-15T03:05:57.400-08:00Herring Gull (larus argentatus/argenteus) - Rainton Meadows DWT - February 2012The photo of the below bird really did make it stand out from the crowd when I observed it in the field around about a week ago, what struck me immediately when I picked the bird up was the very bulky size and almost raised forehead. So is it <i>argenteus </i>or <i>argentatus</i>?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqmmHFrbkexMrN9jwZ6iqk_coIrKf_yZfUmDpG_qCpH9HH4cJD23AXl5JRghmS-4Xmx_GKpKQDNS9Yl0TZokC3b-nyCwjJOP7JNdwjWJFCsxunihL149EdUM3KkxHY06j9hZQzVKrWaPr/s1600/argentatusJohnBridges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqmmHFrbkexMrN9jwZ6iqk_coIrKf_yZfUmDpG_qCpH9HH4cJD23AXl5JRghmS-4Xmx_GKpKQDNS9Yl0TZokC3b-nyCwjJOP7JNdwjWJFCsxunihL149EdUM3KkxHY06j9hZQzVKrWaPr/s640/argentatusJohnBridges.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Herring Gull - © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Looking at this bird standing on the ice its clearly fairly large and bulky, a very deep chested appearance, a lot of white in still visible in the primaries even at rest, the mantle is fairly dark (compare to larus <i>argenteus </i>to the right), I therefore conclude this bird to be an <i>argentatus</i>. Overall the bulk and jizz of the bird are reminiscent to me of a mini <b>Glaucous Gull</b>. What does strike me as a bit odd is the inner greater coverts look like they have a dark shade to them, I have images of the same bird as I was there the time the photograph was taken and this dark shade is still present. Perhaps the bird has been a little oiled in that section of the wing? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I think<b> Herring Gull</b> is a very overlooked bird and I believe are deeply interesting birds and great to study the variation in the field when not many other 'interesting' Gulls are around.</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-45858680215559598292012-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:01:29.474-08:00Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/igSPAmUoTyI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Valentine's Day, traditionally a day of love, and is there really any greater gull-love than this! It reminds me of the Kittiwake colony at Splash Point, Seaford only 100x more awesome!!<br />
<br />
Happy VD everyone, from UKGulls!Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-65975526053595553872012-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:002012-02-16T15:50:36.187-08:00Iceland Gull (larus glaucoides) - South Sheilds - February 2012The following photos (unless otherwise stated) are all taken and kindly supplied by <a href="http://southtynesideccg.org/">Stephen Egglestone</a>. The following photos were taken at Marine Park in South Shields on Monday (13th) and are of an 4th winter <b>Iceland Gull</b>. The bird appears largely in adult like plumage, however Mark Newsome pointed out that I had failed to realise the dark subterminal band on the bill. This feature puts the bird as a 4th winter rather than an adult. South Shields lies in the recording area of Durham and was made famous in birding terms recently by the occurrence of the UK's first <b>Eastern Crowned Warbler</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkqYEwEgreS0ot1WVKINWvLRH2GphAzcEFdo6PAUlpEaJWT3b9MkO4my1LynA-WbBMsdH90j-5_sEEpjiVs9yXiyIcUcZeAX5Tk-22c9FbEeDFosZloQuVipblR-KXQGrzpNJ6mSl1DYv/s1600/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkqYEwEgreS0ot1WVKINWvLRH2GphAzcEFdo6PAUlpEaJWT3b9MkO4my1LynA-WbBMsdH90j-5_sEEpjiVs9yXiyIcUcZeAX5Tk-22c9FbEeDFosZloQuVipblR-KXQGrzpNJ6mSl1DYv/s640/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) </div><div style="text-align: center;">A bird like this can usually leave little doubt on identity, typical size for <b>Iceland Gull</b>; being relatively the same size as surrounding <b>Herring Gulls</b>. All white plumage very evident in a bird like this from both above and below.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOjeBz0AMnlbj_CCLtV4vjyIPkAh30BzXqfllEuXPzX7GVzbVhkQQbYP4B6Sab_JQFWMfGDPOaUFkQFBCtjHtKi5kuFm95BNAn5xNPrY32I4Dx5QnFOBkDJWGxqm_GmMP92eJEHNSBsYw/s1600/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOjeBz0AMnlbj_CCLtV4vjyIPkAh30BzXqfllEuXPzX7GVzbVhkQQbYP4B6Sab_JQFWMfGDPOaUFkQFBCtjHtKi5kuFm95BNAn5xNPrY32I4Dx5QnFOBkDJWGxqm_GmMP92eJEHNSBsYw/s640/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(4).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> (Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mind your step! Showing the translucent effect of secondaries and both inner and outer primaries, clear lack of any grey shading eliminates the possibility of 'standard' <b>Kumlien's Gull</b>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hbv7Id93Li3MrEU1lPajnyzCuI1Vk3TBYs6Hb0kQtCziSXPtwW0UHchn21kintlheg4RDiaUxk1sJ2_uGHXf-sqYQMCmSWIl0DIHSrCeAdr-WUZi8NlwXzOmlCXjX3R-t7nSkmZlPKTd/s1600/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hbv7Id93Li3MrEU1lPajnyzCuI1Vk3TBYs6Hb0kQtCziSXPtwW0UHchn21kintlheg4RDiaUxk1sJ2_uGHXf-sqYQMCmSWIl0DIHSrCeAdr-WUZi8NlwXzOmlCXjX3R-t7nSkmZlPKTd/s640/StephenEgglestoneAdultIceland13Feb2012+(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bit of a stunner or what? Pure white primaries, greenish tinge to bill, small eye creating a 'cute' look rather than 'rough and ready' which is usually more typical of <b>Glaucous Gull</b>. This bird is a classic Iceland Gull in every way. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stephen Egglestone's (Steve) personal blog can be found <a href="http://southtynesidebirder.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>.</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-57711655871413130322012-02-14T05:16:00.002-08:002012-02-14T13:47:48.265-08:00Iceland Gulls - Ageing two birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My thanks to Les Bird for kindly supplying these images, you can see more of them at <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/</a> These two birds are present at Newhaven Harbour, East Sussex, the photos were taken on 23 January 2012.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YhcqYAaKLsS5D2qambbBE53SvlJ_CWhX-uoaTtdIEeRjZGkyPa7VTfXfiYNiKgn_yj2DSssEmfxNxD1bE0Y6zeNP3V-tMgpYRTrROs56QGEAXrRYT0HgEMxda6j06Wq_nTZ2MrPMEek/s1600/file0005-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YhcqYAaKLsS5D2qambbBE53SvlJ_CWhX-uoaTtdIEeRjZGkyPa7VTfXfiYNiKgn_yj2DSssEmfxNxD1bE0Y6zeNP3V-tMgpYRTrROs56QGEAXrRYT0HgEMxda6j06Wq_nTZ2MrPMEek/s640/file0005-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">Les Bird</a> 2012)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygww2d-rSXXJ5dp0QVR-aDX3emn13yvrfkqKzJNu-T0_J9XcJCtCCDM4708aIrpqQPe5wrJE17Bl3wiyomJptReFMsPEI2Gp1vIyfb6mwfhibmR1Uvj4FxUB7vzTR9IDlBYlk2wS99nM/s1600/file0007-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygww2d-rSXXJ5dp0QVR-aDX3emn13yvrfkqKzJNu-T0_J9XcJCtCCDM4708aIrpqQPe5wrJE17Bl3wiyomJptReFMsPEI2Gp1vIyfb6mwfhibmR1Uvj4FxUB7vzTR9IDlBYlk2wS99nM/s640/file0007-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">Les Bird</a> 2012)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUl9Ab1zlm_1exAkcxNiwVykq4DFMHXTRhxzFJv2ZG8b7SW-lwrPvfyCoIdxq5gTg4gVjrASeGGiZJCSM5lDIyNZxmhAVe9upLuOoO6r7hOozYB_D6JUpMNcz3fHGyBhyphenhyphen0IcvWAZHbX8/s1600/pict0007-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUl9Ab1zlm_1exAkcxNiwVykq4DFMHXTRhxzFJv2ZG8b7SW-lwrPvfyCoIdxq5gTg4gVjrASeGGiZJCSM5lDIyNZxmhAVe9upLuOoO6r7hOozYB_D6JUpMNcz3fHGyBhyphenhyphen0IcvWAZHbX8/s640/pict0007-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">Les Bird</a> 2012)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This bird was aged as a second-winter, but is a pale individual. The light eye and pale bill, with an approximately 30-40% black tip, are good pointers to rule out first winter. The lack of strong patterning also rules out most first-winters, but some very pale ones can also look this bleached, and as mentioned above this bird is paler than the average second-winter. Second-winter birds also typically look slightly more brutish than first-winters, the pale eye giving them an expression more similar to Herring Gull, I find first-winters can have more of a cute, Common Gull-like expression. However, the rounder head and fairly slender, long-winged shape, plus their smaller size by comparison, means a second-winter <i>glauciodes </i>is still a lot less brutish than <i>hyberboreus </i>in any plumage.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwd-A43Fw2Np5O-WtMODSEXms-rauN-ZYI6PMWKHm_Pjim4_m5pk0rWUihyvLXwKW-SvdyyRSICVJ9DPdGez6Y6g3Uwd9GJw6xLOGvmz4CJy0xLWH4qk13DAZPrIG5xV8w9Xy5-UtFVY/s1600/file0089-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwd-A43Fw2Np5O-WtMODSEXms-rauN-ZYI6PMWKHm_Pjim4_m5pk0rWUihyvLXwKW-SvdyyRSICVJ9DPdGez6Y6g3Uwd9GJw6xLOGvmz4CJy0xLWH4qk13DAZPrIG5xV8w9Xy5-UtFVY/s640/file0089-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">Les Bird</a> 2012)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3VjRbDELLnUIHrbvkDt2kNHWveGFrHlQ_OqzhyphenhyphenM6tVi3VlJ-GKkQRaHbn64xrCazo0UswRIlvXBhsZeYR8TWNULeJSP2xUgFGLnS9EU3Hbon_lhVpsCFoAdWwRmppcEIyZt6fCgmCs/s1600/file0097-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3VjRbDELLnUIHrbvkDt2kNHWveGFrHlQ_OqzhyphenhyphenM6tVi3VlJ-GKkQRaHbn64xrCazo0UswRIlvXBhsZeYR8TWNULeJSP2xUgFGLnS9EU3Hbon_lhVpsCFoAdWwRmppcEIyZt6fCgmCs/s640/file0097-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Iceland Gull - © <a href="http://cuckmereousebirdblog.wordpress.com/">Les Bird</a> 2012) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>This bird is an easy first-winter. The ratio of black:pale on the bill is greater than the second-winter above, and the dark eye gives it that cute, docile look reminiscent of Common Gull. The brownish patterning on the mantle, coverts and tertials is typical of first-winter Iceland Gull and, rather than being at the pale end of the <i>glauciodes </i>spectrum, this is a fairly average bird.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><div>Separation from Glaucous is fairly straightforward. The wings look longer, extending beyond the tail, and the bill is shorter, weaker and less hooked than Glaucous. Iceland has a rounder head and larger eyes, with a deep breast and short legs when standing. In flight Iceland is more elegant, handling strong winds as well as a Kittiwake, and is proportionately longer-winged than Glaucous. Seen side-by side, or with other gulls, Iceland is normally slightly smaller than Herring Gull, while Glaucous is larger than Herring, almost approaching the size of a Great Black-back Gull.<br />
<br />
And if you want to separate these two from Kumlien's, the flight shots of the second-winter bird show no grey colouring in the primaries, and the first-winter bird has both a bi-coloured bill and very pale primaries. This should probably rule out about 99% of the hybrid swarm, but please don't ask me to write about the 1% that are inseparable from Ice Gull, I still enjoy gulls at the moment!</div></div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-38315283350017611532012-02-12T10:42:00.000-08:002012-02-12T11:13:40.123-08:00Black-headed Gull - (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) - summer-plumagedI saw my first full summer-plumaged Black-headed Gull of the year over Seaford, East Sussex today. I have seen quite a few in the past month or so beginning to get their chocolatey hood but this was the first to have fully acquired plumes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Click to view full size image" height="424" src="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/gallery/albums/fauna/birds/gulls/bhg/black_headed_gull-00257.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Black-headed Gull- © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Black-headed Gulls with a partially developed hood such as this are quite common in winter (e.g out of 200 or so Black-headed Gulls at Arlington Reservoir, East Sussex yesterday I saw at least 10 looking similar to this.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Click to view full size image" height="427" src="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/gallery/albums/fauna/birds/gulls/bhg/black_headed_gull-00218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Black-headed Gull- © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">But birds with a full chocolatey hood are the best of them all! That <i>ridibundus </i>I saw today was my first full-hooded bird since they began moulting at the end of the summer. Moult into winter plumage typically takes place from July-October, with the head feathers among the first be replaced. The return moult typically starts in late January/Early February, but in mild winters (and until a few weeks ago this was a mild winter for most) head moult can begin in late December. The earliest fully developed hoods, according to <i>Malling and Olsen, </i>appear about mid-January, but studies in S Scandinavia have shown only 1-5% of adults have a fully developed hood by the end of February, meaning my bird is still an anomaly this early in the year. </div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-52277473454264438912012-02-12T04:09:00.000-08:002012-02-12T12:43:08.449-08:00Glaucous Gull (larus hyperboreus) - Hartlepool Headland - February 2012 - John BridgesHere are some imaged far better than my own of one of two <b>Glaucous Gulls </b>(larus hyperboreus) present at Hartlepool Headland in Durham (Cleveland) at the present time. I cannot say I have definitely seen both birds as my images seem to indicate I have only seen the same bird on many occasions. I think first-winter <b>Glaucous Gulls</b> like this individual are smart birds and always superbly marked.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGeXKOWCUFD-RyJ_gaD-0-lbjgLDhQM4cZlpbgp7yZVE_0mkpLNHKWv5KdvWFwJgJCW_U3ijrgU6ej2khGhCxdCes5c8fbkxQouh66SJIgwUj3R4tZi7Xn8E8xJvDAR6QpepEvF0JshlH/s1600/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGeXKOWCUFD-RyJ_gaD-0-lbjgLDhQM4cZlpbgp7yZVE_0mkpLNHKWv5KdvWFwJgJCW_U3ijrgU6ej2khGhCxdCes5c8fbkxQouh66SJIgwUj3R4tZi7Xn8E8xJvDAR6QpepEvF0JshlH/s640/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Glaucous Gull - © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A smartly marked bird, size can vary but most approach the size of <b>Great Black-backed Gulls</b> and some may even be larger (or appear to be). The fairly short primary projection is evident and obvious on this perched bird, coupled with the large bill and size this bird should cause little problem for anyone in the field. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzcADAtR-BOv-RTwUEe7NyZT9p668LAvkTYXtUF6Nqlw3pVxTf0o_M3Zw29ahTdrTZlh1rUq-j6MY8C9aw_rMBfW_0EfJPEzqvS1kujP6Bqm-0BXjBWAZ8eGkD3hyphenhyphenGpCdmNxpQGLuyA_H/s1600/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzcADAtR-BOv-RTwUEe7NyZT9p668LAvkTYXtUF6Nqlw3pVxTf0o_M3Zw29ahTdrTZlh1rUq-j6MY8C9aw_rMBfW_0EfJPEzqvS1kujP6Bqm-0BXjBWAZ8eGkD3hyphenhyphenGpCdmNxpQGLuyA_H/s640/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Glaucous Gull - © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nice almost translucent wing effect often evident from both above and below, often creates a sharp contrast between primaries/secondaries and rest of upperparts. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqnxJfHZh9SwyyCnPHEUqImzgu0WgIdPm8GoBxgFyLrNGW2nviQ8w8f8FXHDmRwxyWEsPdYs4xSYrkXHkzxIPK4fA0Wa3PY6SGQIsb-sBEAk211_q18Ix93xuXTlIeMthATG3DCri3O3y/s1600/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqnxJfHZh9SwyyCnPHEUqImzgu0WgIdPm8GoBxgFyLrNGW2nviQ8w8f8FXHDmRwxyWEsPdYs4xSYrkXHkzxIPK4fA0Wa3PY6SGQIsb-sBEAk211_q18Ix93xuXTlIeMthATG3DCri3O3y/s640/GlaucHeadlandJohnBirdges.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Glaucous Gull - © <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">John Bridges</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A nice shot showing the creamy brown underparts, bicoloured bill, and fairly densely barred undertail covets. </div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-32305895227635449802012-02-12T04:06:00.000-08:002012-02-12T04:36:35.052-08:00Ring-billed Gull - Irregularly seen plumages<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6wMRVXUTsZ7ika4uiN_Qnyu_ZQYp1k9MKJQUYak20B0JDaN0OOu6n1nZgm2M_lNaiFJ0Sm5bb9iGbkWONI5wyvzrHRh29EJMZ7kD8XDgay15fgezYm_HXaMwGA79gnvtFGdAC2o46uc/s1600/IMGP2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6wMRVXUTsZ7ika4uiN_Qnyu_ZQYp1k9MKJQUYak20B0JDaN0OOu6n1nZgm2M_lNaiFJ0Sm5bb9iGbkWONI5wyvzrHRh29EJMZ7kD8XDgay15fgezYm_HXaMwGA79gnvtFGdAC2o46uc/s640/IMGP2436.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
1st-year bird, Kenniskis, Canada, 15 August 2010. For a first-winter bird, this individual is relatively unmarked. Given the time of year, it seems likely to be in moult, which would explain the lack of markings. <i>Olsen and Larsson </i>state that moult from juvenile to first-winter plumage takes place from July-September, and from first to second-winter plumage from May (in some extreme cases March)- October.On average, a 1-2nd winter moulting bird would have completed all but it's primary moult by mid-August when this was taken. Without seeing the wings very well in this photo this can be quite difficult to determine, but from what can be seen of the lesser and median coverts they appear to be in first-winter, not second-winter plumage, which would support the idea of a bird undertaking it's first moult. the crescent marks on the sides of the breast are a good sign of a first-winter bird and aren't normally shown on a first-summer/second-winter. Therefore I believe this bird to be a juvenile moulting into first-winter.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwNJas2FQ3GOfUEAmlyYzHCAOL74vayf4U9E1FFrUbw-6mMvzvdgVAietUgE2Bo_h-X4eyMmPa_FsYhlJBNNl37OP4Y7g5t3YkqbD5NN2jw4lGHYRy9Qt-I0-RU5ITBr7VyaNWhTB-lM/s1600/IMGP2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwNJas2FQ3GOfUEAmlyYzHCAOL74vayf4U9E1FFrUbw-6mMvzvdgVAietUgE2Bo_h-X4eyMmPa_FsYhlJBNNl37OP4Y7g5t3YkqbD5NN2jw4lGHYRy9Qt-I0-RU5ITBr7VyaNWhTB-lM/s640/IMGP2654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
An easier bird to age, taken at Niagara, Canada, 31 August 2010. The Mantle has the dirty brown markings of a first-winter bird, and in most respects this bird has 'classic' first winter plumage, the head streaking is lighter than you would get on a juvenile, and it doesn't have the scaly mantle and scapulars you would expect on a juvenile bird. Therefore, personally I would age this as a bird that has almost entirely completed it's moult from juvenile to first-winter plumage, which fits well with the time it was taken. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><u>Identifying first-winter Ring-billed Gull in UK context</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Identifying a first-year Ring-billed Gull in the UK is tricky, but do-able with good views. Despite typically having some brown in the mantle feathers, you can still see (as on the above bird) the paler grey mantle colour than a Common Gull. the grey crescents on the breast-sides and flanks are also a good indicator. In all plumages, Ring-billed is generally larger and bulkier than Common Gull, with a thicker, parallel-edged bill. It's head shape is typically squarer than Common Gull with a distinct peak behind the eye. They are also longer-winged, and have the jizz of a larger gull. Confusion can in fact be caused by second-winter Herring Gulls, but a direct comparison with <i>larus argentatus </i>should show a smaller, longer-winged bird, with a dark eye and more plaintive expression.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is worth noting that the features of structure are often most obvious on a male first-winter Ring-billed Gull, many females can appear extremely similar to Common Gull, being around the same size, with a rounded head and more delicate expression compared to males. Given the number of adult Ring-billed found compared to the number of first/second winters, many, especially females, are doubtless overlooked for their similarity to Common Gull.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>All photos are the copyright of Liam Curson, seek permission before any use, my e-mail can be found on the blogger profile to your left; thank you. </i></div>Liamdanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04433048719356593656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618742777232784260.post-16572852635437431752012-02-11T14:06:00.000-08:002012-02-12T12:24:54.934-08:00Yellow-legged Gull (larus michahellis) - Rainton Meadows DWT - April 2011A couple of an adult <b>Yellow-legged Gull </b><i>(larus michahellis) </i>taken at Rainton Meadows DWT in Durham, bird showing how variable mantle shade can be. However nice primary pattern and custard yellow legs, spot on for typical <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuzORwa3Mk7ZNsj549ROBqZSREhxYWSInrdjpkL-b6-XtGn0q5ArQvZhN428YpRLJU0frQ9-f-hepC1QLAvmv7wyl6ix35gRQH9m88bO8ZBig1WJbJtyGMnVF5DOSq3mpvHh4IOwurPTC/s1600/YLGJohnBridgesPic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuzORwa3Mk7ZNsj549ROBqZSREhxYWSInrdjpkL-b6-XtGn0q5ArQvZhN428YpRLJU0frQ9-f-hepC1QLAvmv7wyl6ix35gRQH9m88bO8ZBig1WJbJtyGMnVF5DOSq3mpvHh4IOwurPTC/s640/YLGJohnBridgesPic1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Yellow-legged Gull - © John Bridges)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Broad black band on P5 typical of Yellow-legged Gull, also custard yellow legs can just be seen here.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdhlHDj0U_isMRhJT9wKkVyITp9OpvjSzYs-2vjjih29n9DIYX1BKPznRJZ7gzdS8Hw_Ao-FOZoa4NuzVTqNqvC7kgg_3MBOJaWsRaKlma7Qd0daeFEycekCiVj7uUq6yp1ittGQsbTNX/s1600/YLGJohnBridgesPic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdhlHDj0U_isMRhJT9wKkVyITp9OpvjSzYs-2vjjih29n9DIYX1BKPznRJZ7gzdS8Hw_Ao-FOZoa4NuzVTqNqvC7kgg_3MBOJaWsRaKlma7Qd0daeFEycekCiVj7uUq6yp1ittGQsbTNX/s640/YLGJohnBridgesPic2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Yellow-legged Gull - © John Bridges)<br />
Yellow-legged Gull mantle shade can vary depending upon lighting conditions and difference between individuals, however this bird is fairly typical in having a dark mantled appearance. Compare here with Herring Gull <i>(larus argenteus).</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
John Bridges has kindly granted me permission to use any of his Gull photos for this blog, so expect to see many more fantastic images taken by John on here. John's website can be found by <a href="http://northeastwildlife.co.uk/">CLICKING HERE</a>.</div>Andrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.com0