Help with gull I D

[Gill Catton]

Ok I'm currently sat in a field near Aylesbury. I think I might be looking at a yellow legged gull but am far from sure. What is the distribution for adults at this time of year? Basically I'm looking at a gull the same size as the lesser black backs around it but it's noticably a shade lighter - but not the silver grey of a herring, it has grey streaking on it's head but only on the White of the head in front of the eyes - the cap and forehead if you like. It does not have rubber duck yellow legs just greeny yellow like Some of the LBs and it's head shape doesn't look that different to my eyes. Can anyone help?!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Ok I'm currently sat in a field near Aylesbury. I think I might be looking at a yellow legged gull but am far from sure. What is the distribution for adults at this time of year? Basically I'm looking at a gull the same size as the lesser black backs around it but it's noticably a shade lighter - but not the silver grey of a herring, it has grey streaking on it's head but only on the White of the head in front of the eyes - the cap and forehead if you like. It does not have rubber duck yellow legs just greeny yellow like Some of the LBs and it's head shape doesn't look that different to my eyes. Can anyone help?!

YL gulls can show fine streaking around the eye and across the forehead in late summer/early autumn, not as coarse as herring gull. An excellent article here (ID on second page):

New Page 1

And you might find this website usefull:

Yellow-legged Gull - L. michahellis 2cy

Cheers
Jonathan

[Gill Catton]

Thank you so much the head streaking certainly matches so I think it may have been a yellow legged- my first so that's good! Sadly I missed it taking flight or I would have seen that nice black wedge of primaries! I shall keep my eyes open when I go back tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Adam Cheeseman]

There are also different regional variants of LBB Gulls too Gill so beware. The Portland Bill Bird Observatory website has good comparatives, but does take some trawling through to find the relevant stuff.

Cheers,

Adam

[Picidae]

Hi Gill


Very difficult to ID a gull species without a photo - both mantle colour and size in field can be misleading but some good links here for you of possible contenders for your bird:

LLB
Iris

YLG (link to same site Jonathon posted but an adult according to your description)
Yellow-legged Gull - L. michahellis adult

I include Common Gull simply because people often confuse CG with YLG due to mantle colour and leg colour although from several aspects of your description, it probably wasn't one. Common Gull coming into winter plumage
Galleriet - Netfugl.dk
A summer adult Common Gull but a good example of how mantle grey tone can vary according to light conditions!

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

No reason why it can't be a YLG on location this time of year.

Btw most adult grey winged gulls start to show signs of streaking on the head this time of year and pattern can vary enormously even between individuals as can mantle grey grade.

[Gill Catton]

Thanks for the help folks! After years of working at glos docks I can indeed understand what variation there can be in LB how light can affect the grey colour how a gull can turn a fraction and look a completely different colour to the bird it's perched next to- put me off gull ID for years! However this bird was amongst about 105 loafing LB and matched many for the way it was facing and the angle it was to me and the grey was quite different everytime I checked. Sorry no photo the group was some distance away and observed through a scope. Definately not a common gull but yes maybe I can't rule out an odd LB. Due to lack of experiance of Yellow legged- I'll probably make my mind up in five years time! For the moment I'm definately leaning toward yellow legged based mainly on the head streaking pattern though I appreciate this can vary coupled with the differing shade of grey

[Hobjob]

How come you've got time to watch gulls Gill, when you
are getting married so soon