Herring gulls in Iceland

[Hans Larsson]

Some argenteus from southwest Iceland:

http://www.pbase.com/hans_larsson/argen ... 0&page=all

By some reason it seems I´ve managed to not photograph any 4 cy birds.. Also, the most interesting dark-tailed immatures were always distant. Despite intense search I could not find any good smithsonianus candidates. In general I felt it was quite difficult to get good views of large gulls during my stay. Low tide, vast harbours and shy birds made gulling very different from the intimate, drive-in conditions I´m used to in southern Sweden .

Cheers,

Hans

[JanJ]

Hans has managed inspite of difficulties he described, to obtain another great set of gulls!

No smithsonianus you say, what about the one in the background here then ?

http://www.pbase.com/hans_larsson/image/123408676

Jan

[lou bertalan]

http://i.pbase.com/o2/12/883912/1/12355 ... nd1482.jpg

nice p6/p7 bajonetts in this one too. well just bajonetts but no p5 mark etc. how many percent of argenteus have such bajonetts according to peter, 6% i remember?

[adriaens]

Lou,
in argenteus, only about 3% have a black bayonet pattern on either P7 or P8 (not P6). If we are counting birds with a 'bayonet' on both P7-8, the percentage is close to zero.
Having said that, I should add that I do not really see distinct 'bayonets' on P6-7 of the bird you refer to.
Instead, it shows a rather thick, oblique pattern that starts from the shaft (especially on P7). There is no obvious step; the shape is entirely triangular.
A good example of a true 'bayonet' can be seen on P7 in this photo by Peter Alfrey: from the shaft, there is a distinct step before a thin, sharply pointed wedge starts to run towards the primary coverts.

I hope I am explaining it well. It is a subtle distinction, but an important one.
Also, keep in mind that the presence of a 'bayonet' does not prove anything. It has to be combined with other characters.

[lou bertalan]

thanks for putting me right, peter. i understood your comment well, didn't know that bayonets literally should show this step (like true bayonets;)). instead i thought longish and very pointed, sharp demarcated extensions towards base were called bayonets. a few michahellis do have such long pointed extensions on inner webs - how should i call them? on this bird p6-p8 show remarkably long 'spikes' (while we get offtopic now...). pic by cristian,7.11.2008 bucharest.

[adriaens]

On the outer webs, you mean ? "Wedge" may be a good word for such a (triangular) pattern, as it implies a broad base that gradually tapers to a thin end.