Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek 7th February 2008
A slightly dingier individual than most. All the classic identification aspects can be seen; the long dark primaries; solidly dark brown tertials with white limited to the tips and outer fringes; solidly dark centred wing coverts with obvious pale tips to especially the greater coverts; note a few inner median coverts have already been replaced. The scapulars are quite unlike Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls, being pale grey with dark diamond centres and pale tips. The head is small and whitish, not as striking as can be seen on some, with a sharp division with the heavily streaked lower hind-neck and greyer breast sides.
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek 25th March 2006
A cracking bird was this one. Note the head shape, long sloping forehead, small isolated dark eye, long, slender and all dark bill giving a distinctive profile.
The bird has a very elongated appearance, a lot of bird behind the legs. Although the bird is already quite worn, the wing coverts look quite untidy, the solidly dark brown tertials with whitish tips and scapular and wing covert pattern show through.
Another aspect often seen by Caspian Gull is the often obvious handing rear belly. Although Herring Gulls can show this Caspians seen to show this far more frequently.
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek
13th February 2008
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek
14th February 2008
Another slightly less obvious individual however note the following characteristics:
Mostly unmarked white head with light streaking behind the eye. The white and pushed up breast; The dark centred tertials long dark primary projection; the wing covert pattern though this bird shows a more hashed pattern. The obvious pale tips to the median and greater coverts. The underside is a little more darkly marked than on most Caspians but still appears a far paler bird than Herring Gulls of corresponding age.
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek
14th February 2008
Wow, what a stand out individual this one is. It's hardly worth going through the ID features but of special note is the small pure, unmarked bright white head with limited pale grey streaking/mottled to the lower hind-neck and breast sides. The strikingly white appearance continues on the breast and rest of underside. The greater coverts are solid and are boarder by the obvious double pale whitish wing bars whilst the tertials are solidly dark brown with neat tips and fringes;
What a stunning bird.
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek
13th February 2008
Slightly against the light here much of the plumage is not visible and is a perfect example of ID on jizz alone. Note the aloof appearance, standing almost bolt upright with long neck held outstretched. The head shape is classic, being rather small compared to overall bulk of the bird with sloping forehead and small dark beady eye and zero streaking.
This bird was also very large and was closer to Great Black-backed Gulls than most Herring Gulls.
Caspian Gull - 1st winter, Hole Haven Creek
14th February 2008
Same bird as above but in flatter light conditions. The lack of head streaking is clear as is the low sloping forehead down to the long slightly pale based, even sided bill. The underside is whitish with brownish mottling on the flanks. The mantle and scapulars are a very pale powdery grey with limited dark internal markings and are two generations. The wing coverts are worn and faded but the pattern is still obvious whilst the tertials are solid dark brown with neat thumbnail tips. Note also the hanging rear belly.
Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans
First-years : page 2
