www.gull-research.org

The last Wednesday I saw in Madrid this gull.
I belive that can be one Herring Gull of second winter.
It's possible?.
Javier

hi javier,

certain 2cy herring gulls indeed can look similar to your bird. it is however a 1st winter (1cy) - see very pointed primaries with hardly any pale at tips, no yellow tip to bill (in 2cy almost alwys large gulls have a more extended pale tip). the bird is still moulting its coverts. and a 1st winter with such an advanced covert moult can only be a michahellis that's what your bird is, an advanced YLG with many 2nd gen. wing coverts.
most 2nd winter herring gulls also have some grey in scapulars like in this: http://www.gull-research.org/hg/hg2cy/5412501sept.htm , especially argenteus, some with plain grey scaps like in michahellis. some are more retarded and look similar to your 1cy michahellis.

all the best,

lou

Like Lou said, something like this (yesterday, IJmuiden, Netherlands).
She made me believe for a second I was watching a 1cy HG with replaced coverts and tertials ...

yes, she's a good example how a teenager doesn't want to get an adolenscent - and it's the other species. she looks beautiful by the way, mars.
i got badly tricked by a bird i once photographed on gotland, 20.08.2008 i had no actual experience with 2cy herring gulls... this is the one http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures/birds_us ... _Kopie.jpg lou