gull id please

[markbugman]

Can anyone help id this gull taken yesterday at chew valley lake
many thanks
mark

[Dogghound]

2nd Winter Herring Gull.

[faz]

hi markbugman welcome to WAB

as dogghound says

[RoyW]

Although it's not as white headed as many, I don't think that I'd want to rule out a second winter Yellow-legged Gull from these photos (especially as my monitor screen isn't great!).

[stevecurtis]

I have seen this bird at chew is there a chance it is a yellow legged gull? it would be a first for me.

all the best steve

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by stevecurtis

I have seen this bird at chew is there a chance it is a yellow legged gull? it would be a first for me.

all the best steve

These photos don't quite show the best angles, so it is diffiucult to be 100% certain, but after taking another look I would say that there is a very good chance that the bird shown here is a Yellow-legged Gull - I wouldn't like to completely rule out the possibility of a dark Herring Gull (or a Lesser Black-backed though). I don't think that the pale 'window' on the inner primaries is distinct enough for a 'typical' Herring Gull, but it is less distinct that I would expect on a 'typical' Lesser Black-backed, considerable individual variation makes it difficult though - if I was actually watching the bird it would probably be far easier to reach a decision!

It's also worth bearing in mind that unless you were with Mark when he photographed this bird, you may not have seen the same one - there will be second year Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that look very similar.

[Naturenutz]

Also the fact that there can be 50,000 gulls at chew

[markbugman]

thanks for all your comments.
I had one of the local chew birders look at it and his reply was 2nd winter LBB.
arrgh these sub adult gulls are a real pain to id
An easier one yesterday was a full summer plumage med gull.
Regards
Mark

[faz]

Originally Posted by RoyW

These photos don't quite show the best angles, so it is diffiucult to be 100% certain, but after taking another look I would say that there is a very good chance that the bird shown here is a Yellow-legged Gull - I wouldn't like to completely rule out the possibility of a dark Herring Gull (or a Lesser Black-backed though). I don't think that the pale 'window' on the inner primaries is distinct enough for a 'typical' Herring Gull, but it is less distinct that I would expect on a 'typical' Lesser Black-backed, considerable individual variation makes it difficult though - if I was actually watching the bird it would probably be far easier to reach a decision!

It's also worth bearing in mind that unless you were with Mark when he photographed this bird, you may not have seen the same one - there will be second year Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls that look very similar.

hi roy i have had another look still think a 2nd winter herring gull

[aeshna5]

The bird shown standing does seem to have a dark mantle- though appreciate light conditions strongly affect our perception of this. To me + also to some extent the structure of the bird, gives me more the impression of a graellsii Lesser Blackback than a Herring Gull.