Wednesday, 22 February 2012

adult Ring-billed Gull

(Ring-billed Gull- © Michael Booker)

(Ring-billed Gull- © Michael Booker)

(Ring-billed Gull- © Michael Booker)

(Ring-billed Gull- © Michael Booker)

(Ring-billed Gull- © Michael Booker)
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! 

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 argenteus 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

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