seabirds

[lastcornishman]

hi all again, just a quickie, your opinions as to what these are, i know what i hope the pairs are,thanks,

[Ferret]

First 2 pics are Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis and without getting bthe books out I would say the Gull is a Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus

Ferret

[Dogghound]

The pairs are fulmars.

The Gull is a 1st winter herring gull. I think.

[lastcornishman]

thanks for that, fulmars was what i was looking for,excellant, single gull not so good, never mind thanks again.

[thebeard]

i'd agree with the last one being lesser black backed

[pressld2]

Definitely fulmars, no question.

Juvenile gulls can be a nightmare so I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and suggest 2nd winter great black-backed. From the books I'm looking at, if it was a first winter herring, lesser or great black-backed its bill would be all black. And the white wing-tips are just beginning to come through too, so my money's definitely on 2nd winter.

Dave P.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

The pairs are fulmars.

The Gull is a 1st winter herring gull. I think.

I agree 1w/2cy Herring Gull. Mantle feathers have been replaced producing typical anchor pattern with contrasting pale edges. Tertials show typical notched edges with centre shaft showing clearly from wear. Tail band is thick. Primaries not so worn and still show the pale tips of juveniles. By late Jan, 1cy individuals start to show pale base to bill. Head is typically pale for a late winter HG.

2cy/1w HG:

Herring Gull - L. argentatus

fuscus Lesser BG 2cy/1w

Lesser Black-backed Gull, first winter

fuscus LBG 3cy/2w

Lesser Black-backed Gull [The Norwegian Gull-page]

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by pressld2

Juvenile gulls can be a nightmare so I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and suggest 2nd winter great black-backed. From the books I'm looking at, if it was a first winter herring, lesser or great black-backed its bill would be all black.

Dave P.

This is the problem with trying to resolve ID requests by relying on books to ID birds rather than field experience. Books don't show you all the variables. Herring Gulls for example, can start to show pale bases in bills by late winter (Jan/Feb) as the links show. Aging young gulls correctly and familiarising yourself with moult changes throughout the year is a first step to IDing them. I agree they can be a 'nightmare' though!!!

[pressld2]

Thanks Picidae. I know books are no substitute for experience but I'm still at the learning stage (and probably always will be with these!)

Dave P.

[Harold Smith]

I have just looked up HGs, LBGs and GBBGs on my BirdGuides DVD ROM. It has some excellent videos of the different stages and I am pretty confident that it is a 1st year stage Herring Gull.

Harold.