www.gull-research.org

Gents, this 2-3cy ylg turned up at Westkapelle, today.
The p10 seems to lack a mirror, the tips to p6-p10 are small, the bill is very dark, the head is obviously streaked,
the legs are pinkish yellow. But looking at the covs I see a 3rd cy bird. So, a very advanced 2cy or a silly 3cy?
Theo Muusse

If the answer to your question Theo - should be a so called standard one, the gull looks like a 3cy type due to the rather large white tips to primaries, slight reddish spot on the gonys and the covert feature you mentioned. This Croation ringed YLG is a 3cy (altough from 20 Dec.), and quite similar regarding the primary pattern and give and take a few other features.

http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/107268462

The same bird on 13 Oct.

http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery ... eid=105547

Another 3cy type, note the mirror:

http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery ... eid=105530

So, can this gull be aged for certain without a full view of a spread wing and are the mentioned features a good indication to the suggested age, 3cy?

JanJ

Maybe Ies has a flight-shot of this bird?

Theo

Theo Muusse wrote:Maybe Ies has a flight-shot of this bird?

Of course Theo... And also no doubts about the age of this Yellow-legged Gull, certainly a 3cy!

Problem solved as I see p10 coming in with an obvious mirror!
Still, not the advanced ever..

Theo

That´s nice Ies,
exellent pic. as usual, (as others here as well)! Also showing cleaner grey inner and wider white-tipped primaries compared to the usual 2cy.

JanJ

Sure, but a 3cy with such a tail-band...

Theo

...a 3cy with such a tail band, back to square one?

JanJ