Yellow-legged gull?

DMPRITCHARD · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2010, 02:58 PM

Hi all,

Advice would be welcome on this gull - is it a lesser black-backed or a yellow-legged?

Thanks in advance!

RobS · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2010, 03:47 PM

Hmm, assuming the colours are well produced I'd be sorely tempted to put that down as a YLG it looks way too pale for LBB.

Interested to see what others think.

Have a look here for comparison, looks good:

Yellow-legged Gull - BirdForum Opus

Rob S

RobS · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2010, 03:49 PM

I'm having second thoughts now!!

Maybe it is not as pale as I thought - the sun on it might make it look paler.

Hopefully an expert will be along in a mo'.

Rob S

thebeard · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2010, 10:40 AM

i'm almost 100% sure this is a Y-L gull, if it were a 'LBBG', the dark back would be a lot more obvious

RobS · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2010, 04:01 PM

Certainly looks pale doesn't it?

DMPRITCHARD · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2010, 04:38 PM

Thanks for the input - I'll go for a Yellow-legged then until someone corrects me!

RoyW · #7 (**permalink**) 06-09-2010, 12:57 PM

This does look good for a Yellow-legged Gull, but the upperpart colour is also dark enough for a Lesser Black-backed Gull photographed in bright conditions.
Because the mantle colour of gulls can vary considerably due to lighting conditions and the angle of viewing (as well as photographic exposure & processing) it is best to compare the colour with other species (photograph them together if possible). Photographs showing the open wing are also very useful.

Guinnessman1974 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-09-2010, 05:36 PM

I'd go with YLG too.

Even in dull light conditions it would still seem too pale to be a LBBG.

Has anyone considered Caspian Gull though as another possibility?

aeshna5 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-09-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

I'd go with YLG too.

Even in dull light conditions it would still seem too pale to be a LBBG.

Has anyone considered Caspian Gull though as another possibility?

Structure is wrong for Caspian Gull; I suspect also it's a Yellow-legged Gull.

Picidae · #10 (**permalink**) 06-09-2010, 06:46 PM

It's a Lesser Black Backed Gull IMO. Colour is washed out by over exposure but the difference in grey tones between YLG and LBBG is still clear. YLG have a 'clean' slatey neutral tone to the grey whereas mantle grey of LBBG is 'duller/browner' in tone - more like a pale black (if that makes sense!). Moult is another good indication (if picture taken recently?) - YLGs moult much earlier than LBBG/herring gulls and in August/Sept they are already showing fresh primaries - the picture shows very worn primaries that have not yet moulted (note the worn tips)

I've brought down the highlights on the original photo and brought up the shadow a bit which is probably much closer to the right colour

Compare with adult YLG taken at the end of August (note the fresh growth of primaries - among other things)

Yellow-legged Gull - L. michahellis adult