Another tricky 1cy gull from Denmark

[RSNaarhus]

What do you think of this 1cy gull photographed 18/9-2011 at Hirtshals, Northern Jutland, Denmark?

Best wishes, Rune Sø Neergaard

[JanJ]

Hi Rune!

Looks like quite an ordinary Herring to me, with good structure, wing lengt and inner primary pattern - give and take with worn upper tertials and a few 2:nd generation inner median coverts. The juvenile scapulars have clean pale edgings and the greater coverts looks rather uniformly patterned. However, we are talking Herring Gull, the master of variability!

Wahat where your own thoughts Rune?

JanJ

[marsmuusse]

Agree with JanJ
Mars

[RSNaarhus]

What made me think that this bird did not look like most juvenile Herring Gulls were especially the lover scapulars. They are very dark-centrered with only thin light edges and virtually no notches. This is reminiscent of juvenile Caspian Gull.

Furthermore the bird has moulted a few of the median coverts which is somewhat early for Herring Gull in Denmark.

Third the bird has smudge around the eyes like in 1st winter michahellis - also a character more rarely seen in Herring Gull.

But you are probably rigth.

Best wishes Rune