Vincent Lowe Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Can one of you experts confirm that this is a Glaucous Gull in 1st winter plumage. That's the nearest I can get to the images on the RSPB site but the tail feathers look darker. Taken at Mallaig, Scotland, in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Robinson Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 It looks like an immature herring gull to me. I think the wing tips rule out the glaucous variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Nice picture. And you're right: it looks almost totally like a Glaucous, except for the tail, which should be white. I find it hard to believe it could be the lighting. Phil, doesn't a Herring gull also have a white tail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Robinson Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I think what looks like the tail is actually the wingtips - which suggest herring gull to me. If it is a glaucous, I may have to do some re-captioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelich Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Cripes Ed, you reached 666 posts on Halloween. Gulp. Nice picture. And you're right: it looks almost totally like a Glaucous, except for the tail, which should be white. I find it hard to believe it could be the lighting. Phil, doesn't a Herring gull also have a white tail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Ohmygod . . . the sign of the beast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I think what looks like the tail is actually the wingtips - which suggest herring gull to me. If it is a glaucous, I may have to do some re-captioning. I see what you mean, Phil, but aren't the wingtips on both boids also white or light grey? I'm going to bow out, since I'm sure there are far more knowledgable people on birds in this forum, including you and Vincent. (668 now . . . see, I'm not really the devil, just occasionally devilish.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Lowe Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 since I'm sure there are far more knowledgable people on birds in this forum, including you and Vincent. Ha, not me when it comes to birds. They're all 'seagulls' to me.... However, I think Phil's correct with the Herring Gull. There's photos of a both types together on this page and the herring gull looks closer. The photos are about half way down... http://avconline.avc.edu/cyorke/fieldnotes/CoastalSanDiegoBirdSurveys.html Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Thompson Images Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Vincent, My vote goes to.....a first Winter Herring Gull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulstw Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I vote juve herring gull too. They are everywhere in Glasgow. Calling out to their parents every two mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broad Norfolk Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Just to put a spanner in the works, have you looked at a juvenile Great Black-backed gull? Beak doesn't look right to me for a juvenile Herring Gull.... Jim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Lowe Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 Hmmm, possibly, but on this picture of the Great Black-backed, the beak looks more rounded to me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broad Norfolk Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Yes, I see what you mean. My ID books give juvenile Great Black-backs in various different states of plumage which doesn't help much. The beak is certainly more like a Glaucous which brings it back to your original ID. Jim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Lowe Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 Yes, I see what you mean. My ID books give juvenile Great Black-backs in various different states of plumage which doesn't help much. The beak is certainly more like a Glaucous which brings it back to your original ID. Jim. But, as Phil pointed out, the tail/wing feathers are too dark, so I'm still inclined to go with the Herring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Lowe Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 Thanks Phillippe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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