Gull ID.. sugestions please.

actionfinch · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2011, 08:41 PM

The good lady came home today and during the normal 'how was your day ' talk she said her boss see a gull today , on its own but beggining with B.. she couldnt remember.Out came the book but nothing jogged her memory.Her boss said it came from the mediterranean, rare to these shores .how he knew im not sure.
Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be please.
cheers

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2011, 08:47 PM

Only gulls with a B that come to mind is a Bonaparte's Gull, but that's American, or a Baltic Gull, which also isn't from the Med.

The only Med seabird I can think of is Balearic Shearwater, which isn't a gull.

On the other hand there is Bonxie (Great Skua) which isn't rare here and also isn't from the Med.

Cheers,

Adam

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 04-12-2011, 08:56 PM

Black headed gull?
ha ha, sorry, couldnt resist.
Sounds like a cock up on the gull front at sunshine desserts.

Med gull? Slender billed? Audouins?
Go back and ask...............
Cheers
Ken

Adam Cheeseman · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggleken

Black headed gull? Cheers, Ken

D'oh? Based on the OP that one didn't even enter my head?

I would hope that it isn't the answer based on what we've been told.

Cheers,

Adam

actionfinch · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 07:41 PM

I hope not too.... let me put them names to her ..brb.
Baltic gull sounded familiar but she wasnt sure.. ill guess we will have to wait till weds when her boss is back.
I will let u know.
cheers for the ideas.
Why cant i find a baltic gull in my collins guide

htcdude · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2011, 07:44 PM

I've always understood Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) to be a subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull?

Nige

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-12-2011, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htcdude

I've always understood Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) to be a subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull?

Nige

Depends on your taxonomist!

Adam Cheeseman · #8 (**permalink**) 06-12-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

depends on your taxonomist!

:d:d:d

diggleken · #9 (**permalink**) 06-12-2011, 06:53 PM

yeah, tough one this, there are a few ssp, 4 I think we could see in UK, but there are intermediates too - needs a gull expert/nerd to be certain.
Interesting - looking at different publications over the last 50 yrs or so shows our knowledge of the races/subspecies is increasing, but its still complicated, tis to me anyway.
Leave well alone, stuffing mushrooms comes to mind.

Cheers
Ken

actionfinch · #10 (**permalink**) 13-12-2011, 06:40 PM

Silly me , i have an update and sorry for the delay, but when my missus see her boss a day or so later, it turned out that he see a Franklins gull

from the states not the med as i was told.
Nothing had been reported, as nige done a bit of investigating , so as i was pointed out and after lookin at some pics, could have been confussed with a BHG.
( thanks nige for the info.)