Ross's Gull - Mistaken ID??

DanTe · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 10:00 AM

Hello All.
As a fisheries surveyor I've just returned from a Herring survey on the new proposed Shringham Shoal windfarm site around 15+ miles off the N.Norfolk coast.
I'm fairly sure after a trawl (pardon the pun) through Google that I've been seeing quite a number of these birds over the past week. It seems they are quite rare so I may be mistaken?
The Gulls I have been seeing following the trawler we've been working from were smallish, with a distinct black collar and white head, black leading edges to their wings with a 'V' of grey in the middle of their wings.
I've seen these gulls quite a few times offshore and always wondered what they were.
Would I be wrong with the Ross Gull? Anything it might be mistaken for? I'll try and get some photos if there are any about in the Wash on a shrimping survey I'll be doing next week.
Cheers.

Merrow · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 10:08 AM

a juvenile kittiwake?

Jason Claxton · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:16 AM

Ive known juvenile kittiwake go down as Sabines's Gull

solus · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2009, 11:37 AM

At this time of year and with "quite a number" being seen the odds are on juvenile/immature Kittiwakes.

Ross's (and Sabine's) Gulls are quite rare and are, to be honest, unlikely to be seen in groups whereas the timing and location make Kittiwakes much more likely candidates. They are Britain's smallest commonly occurring Gull and would appear much smaller and more delicate than the Herring Gulls and Black-backs which would also following fishing boats.