Herring or Common gull ID please

[Ollie]

Think it may be an immature herring going by the red spot on the bill but not 100% sure. Thanks

[aeshna5]

A sub-adult Herring Gull (3rd winter)in winter plumage.

[Shrike]

I think its an Adult winter Herring Gull , common Gulls eyes are all black.I'm saying Adult as tail is all white but might be wrong.

[Ollie]

Thanks Aeshna and Shrike we are all agreed on Herring gull.

[Ferret]

Yes it’s a Herring Gull Larus argentatuus I would say it’s a 4th winter bird as the tail is all white but there is still some dark marks on the primary coverts. Saying that I am normally wrong on the ageing of gulls.

Ferret

[tigertom]

Herring gull 4th winter full adult would be showing more white on primarys, and this bird is still showing some touches of brown on primary coverts
MIKE

[RoyW]

I would be inclined to agree with Ferret (apart from the bit where he suggests taht he is likely to be wrong!).
I would expect a third winter Herring Gull to show more signs of immaturity, with more brown in the wings, more black on the bill, and at least some black on the tail. This one is probably in at least its fourth calendar year.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by tigertom

Herring gull 4th winter full adult would be showing more white on primarys, and this bird is still showing some touches of brown on primary coverts
MIKE

I can't see anything wrong with the amount of white on the primaries, which should be 'adult type' anyway - by their 4th winter Herring Gulls are basically adult, but often still retain a few immature feathers.
Just to confuse things, a few apparently immature feathers are sometimes seen in older individuals as well, even though they should be fully mature.

[the poacher]

love to have a go at this one and i'm sure your right,interestingly though is the eye colour which along with its beak,which you would expect to change,seems to go from dark to the more yellow ring we see in the adult bird.
eye colour for me is one of the important things to look for when trying to identify birds,especially juvenile birds which are the hardest, i find.

[Ollie]

Thanks for all the quick responses. Without doubt we can say it's a Herring gull which I'm pleased about as that's what I had it down as. Thanks again