iceland gulls - the dark side

[marsmuusse]

There already is a topic on white winged gulls:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10

However, it seemed to me to be better to split this subject, albeit related.
As for many countries, winter 2011-2012 proved to be extremely good for Iceland Gulls with number of birds at various places. Several safe kumlieni have been observed as well, but, quite problematic, dark glaucoides as well.
Would it be nice to get sets of images here of various age classes showing the darker end in glaucoides?

Please add images as much as possible, including the link to the original location on the web and photographer's name please. To me it would be nice to see if we can safely ID 'resting' birds with closed wings, or if moderate-high quality images of open wings are necessary to clinge kumlieni ID.

[marsmuusse]

And the kick off:

Bird in 2nd winter (3cy January bird) with rounded primary tips and much markings in tail. First observed and photographed as resting on the beach; one day later photographed flying and for a while still believed to be dark enough for kumlieni. However: no dark lines on outer-webs of outer primaries matching colour of primary coverts.

Photo's by Jaap Vink, 14-01-2012, Terschelling, Netherlands.
Original link: http://waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/62627710





Photo's by Arie Ouwerkerk, 15-01-2012, Terschelling, Netherlands.
Original link: http://waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/62659168



Maybe the same bird was photographed at another location (50 km to the east):
Photo's by Henk Hiemstra, 13-01-2012, Lauwersoog, Netherlands.
Link: http://waarneming.nl/waarneming/view/62608366

[marsmuusse]

And the 1st winter by Geoff of course:
Any comments on this 1CY Iceland Gull that I found today in Edinburgh, Scotland? Obviously it is a dark individual and shows some Kumlien's characteristics. My assumption is that it is a dark glaucoides rather than kumlieni... but that is based on an expectation that kumlieni should show distinctly darker outer webs of the outer primaries compared to inner primaries. On the other hand this bird certainly does not seem to show the white flight feathers that I have seen in other nominate Iceland gulls. However, I have little experience of the nominate form and no experience of kumlieni and wonder whether anyone else can confirm as either form or as unidentifiable. Note that the photos were taken in bright sunshine. Apologies for poor quality.

Many thanks

Geoff
A couple of other shots on my blog: http://morgithology.blogspot.com/

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10&p=2724#p2724