Gull ID please

[tich007mt]

Thought this was a Lesser BB Gull (taken this morning) when sitting on water (the Gull not me!) - came to take a pic and it flew off - giving me this view of what seem to be very yellow legs???



Cheers

Tich

[squishy]

no, i'd say it is a lesser BB. they can get quite yellow legs

[Ruth Daniel]

It could be a first year Herring Gull???? they are all very confusing at that stage??? or maybe a Yellow Legged do you think????

[Chris Hawes]

It certainly looks like a Lesser Black Back - the yellow legs and charcoal grey back and wings are diagnostic.

[tich007mt]

What was confusing me was that its back didn't seem as black (charcoal) as usual for a BB and my bird book seems to indicate a dark bill in winter for the BB not bright yellow as this one is.

[Chris Hawes]

The Greater Black Back has a very dark, almost black, back and wings, but the Lesser Black Back is somewhat paler, (although certainly not as pale as a Herring Gull's back).

(I think that's most 'back's and 'black's I've ever put in one sentence).

As for the winter bill colour, I'm not so sure, but I guess there is a level of variability.

[aeshna5]

Definitely a Lesser Blackback of our breeding race "graellsii". I would say it's 3rd winter as it is virtually adult, but the bill + a hint of brown in the wing suggest it's not quite fully mature.