A quite similar bird from Iceland last March. I believe they´re both within the variation of Icelandic argenteus, but bill shape/colour and primary pattern of course opens the door for speculation..
Another dark argentatus from today, in Simrishamn. Here in southernmost Sweden we regurlarly get such birds in winter. Sometimes you´ll find app one or two per 300 ad argentatus or so. They always looks perfectly fine for argentatus in shape, face expression and proportions (as do Greg´s and Stein´s...
My guess for #1 would be a neat female heuglini. Plumagewise it´s not too far from this bird: http://www.gull-research.org/heuglini-id/heuglini12.html Maybe it´s difficult to completely rule out a late hatched barabensis however. I agree that it seems a bit too fresh and also the overall look is ver...
Nice pics Greg! To my eyes the darker ones seems to fit what would be expected from barabensis. But could the last pair be Caspians after all? Grey tones are always difficult from photos, but they look quite pale and also p10-pattern along with large white tips may indicate cachinnans. Also from the...
I´d put my money on Caspian Gull. Structure both in flight and on the perched bird looks just fine and as Lou states, this primary pattern seems to be regular, although rare. I don´t get any real HEGU impression from this bird. It´s always good to be cautious outside the core range, though, so in a ...
Great work, Alan! This one seems quite pale brown and short-winged - HEGU?: http://picasaweb.google.com/CCBOBS/LesserBlackBackedGull1stCalenderBalticRaceFuscus#5518248814039481058 And this one seems to be the visiting YLG that sneaked in: http://picasaweb.google.com/CCBOBS/LesserBlackBackedGull1stCa...
Great selection, Alan! It´s always difficult without spread wings, but this bird could be a 3 cy?: http://picasaweb.google.com/CCBOBS/ArgentatusHerringGull2ndCalender#5507865741124876754 I guess it´s the same individual here: http://picasaweb.google.com/CCBOBS/ArgentatusHerringGull2ndCalender#551827...
Well, the more I look at this bird, the more I wonder what would exclude a Caspian. I´ve seen very few in this plumage, but the darkness may not really be a big problem. And like you say, Michal, head (and body) shape is fine. The legs looks a bit short maybe, but the colour is spot on. The hybrid t...