Ring-billed gull?

[pressld2]

I feel a bit silly even suggesting it but stranger things have turned up on the Thames Estuary.

Saw this at Oare marshes today...



Apologies for the pic, it was a very long way away. If it's not a ring-billed what else could it be?

Dave P.

[Dogghound]

Common Gull for me.

[thebeard]

i'd be inclined to agree there, common gull.

[pressld2]

Thanks guys, I'm sure you're right. Gulls are so confusing! All this 1st winter, 2nd winter, 1st summer, 2nd summer - there's about six different versions of every gull. I know we get ring-billed in the south-west from time to time and wondered if one had found its way to Kent. Would've been nice as the last time I saw one was in Toronto!

Dave P.

[thebeard]

i'm normally rubbish with gull ID, its hard to tell when first looking at them, but i think common gulls have mostly dark eyes whereas many others, including RB gulls have more yellow eyes with obvious pupils, like herring/blackbacked gulls. you're right though, why do they have to be so confusing? normally i just see them and ignore them, though i really shouldn't, i could be looking at a rarity!!!

i did see my first great B-B gull last week though, which was interesting, they're big!!!

[Dogghound]

Funnily enough Dave there is a Ring billed gull on the thames estuary now as well as a caspian.

Another good clue with the common is its bill is not as large and powerful looking. RBG are also larger with a larger head and a paler mantle. The black on the bill is often present in winter common gulls.

[Ukwildlifeo]

There is usually a couple of common gulls at oare mixed in with the black headed, I was hoping it would be a ring billed though as Iwas planning to go there today. In fact I nearly went yesterday but decided to risk a trip to Dungeness instead