gulling at Newhaven

among 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!)

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).

Among the first-winter gulls, there were at least five or six that were noticeably darker and larger- I'm thinking Argentatus 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 Argentatus. Considering this species is description-worthy I wouldn't submit them.

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 smithsonianus 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.

(Herring Gull-© John Bridges)

A first-winter Herring Gull, but not one I'd personally want to try and identify. The presence of intergrades between Argenteus and Argentatus 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). 

Iceland Gull (larus glaucoides) - Sunderland - February 2012

All photos taken by Mark Newsome of an adult Iceland Gull at Roker Pier in County Durham. Many birds noted over here in recent weeks but today only the adult Iceland Gull was noted and it is thought other lingering birds have now moved on.

 (Iceland Gull - © Mark Newsome)

 (Iceland Gull - © Mark Newsome)

(Iceland Gull - © Mark Newsome)

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

Iceland Gull (larus glaucoides) - South Sheilds - February 2012

The following photos (unless otherwise stated) are all taken and kindly supplied by Stephen Egglestone.  The following photos were taken at Marine Park in South Shields on Monday (13th) and are of an 4th winter Iceland Gull. 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 Eastern Crowned Warbler.

(Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) 

A bird like this can usually leave little doubt on identity, typical size for Iceland Gull; being relatively the same size as surrounding Herring Gulls. All white plumage very evident in a bird like this from both above and below.

 (Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) 

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' Kumlien's Gull. 

(Iceland Gull - © Stephen Egglestone) 

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 Glaucous Gull. This bird is a classic Iceland Gull in every way. 

Stephen Egglestone's (Steve) personal blog can be found HERE.

Yellow-legged Gull (larus michahellis) - Rainton Meadows DWT - April 2011

A couple of an adult Yellow-legged Gull (larus michahellis) 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 Yellow-legged Gull.

 (Yellow-legged Gull - © John Bridges)

Broad black band on P5 typical of Yellow-legged Gull, also custard yellow legs can just be seen here.

(Yellow-legged Gull - © John Bridges)
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 (larus argenteus).

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 CLICKING HERE.