www.gull-research.org

Hello,

At the "Beringungszentrale" from Hiddensee Germany they haven't answered my question, so I ask it here:

Does anybody know which species and subspecies are involved in the mixed colony near Dresden, Hiddensee? A bird of this project is currently wintering in my region.
It's adult, dark mantled, with a lot of white on the two outer primary tips, a lot of head streaking. I would say it looks very ssp. argentatus-like, but this may not be likely...

If somebody knows, I would like to know as well.

Nico
Belgium

As far as I know, only michahellis breeds there..
Theo

I would be really surprised if this were a 100% michahellis.

As I looked at the bird today, however, the overal structure and head profile seems not so bad for michahellis. But as i stated before, some important features do not fit.

I can only hope that somebody still keeps that project alive there and tells me what it is (ringed as chick or adult, breeding,...)

I'll keep you informed and thanks for your answer!
Nico

Only a few days ago I had asked Ronald Klein about this task, after having seen the first bird in Austria from that mixed colony in Saxony.
The involved species are - like in neighbouring Poland - HG, CG and their hybrids. Concerning the subsp. of HG I believe that in Eastern Germany the subsp. argentatus occurs.

Wolfgang

Yes, sorry!
Mixed up to colonies.
HG and CG seems the correct answer.

Theo

I know this colony personally. It was founded in the 80ies, at first by HG. Some YLG occured, but ever in minority. Now this colony will be overwhelmed by CG.
In ringing-database you will find these guys as "Herring gulls" - it must not be correct, because the identification of chicks and hybrides knows godfather alone.

This bird has often come over to sleep this winter.
Up until half February I suppose. I stopped writing it down as I didn't recieve any answer from the project.

I was able to look at it carefully recently and it had all features of ssp. argentatus (wingtips, dark mantle and pinkish/grey legs). It kept its obvious head streaking up to somewhere beginning February or so.

Thanks for your answers!
Nico from Belgium

Just to let you know that I did get an answer last week on this bird.
Bird was ringed on 12/6/2005; unfortunately, it was named "herring gull (group) (Larus argent./cachin./michah.)".

It was in it's 5th winter, and still gave a certain non-adult impression because of it's bill color and a subtle brownish tone in it's grey upper parts.

Vriendelijke groeten uit Oudenaarde
Nico

Hi Nico,
Any chance of seeing a picture of this bird?
Geert

Yes, you can see it here:
http://img576.imageshack.us/g/xpaw1ka.jpg/

sorry for the delay

The quality is as very often at this roosting place: low