Caspian Gull - Juvenile, Paglesham Lagoon, Essex

27th August 2005The most uncommon age to be seen in Essex with probably less than 6 county records; three of which are from this location.

The pear shaped head is classic and even at this age the head is already extremely white and lacking in streaking. The bill is long, slender and parallel sided and tapers off towards the tip. It has the classic upright stance and white under-parts with streaking concentrated on the lower neck sides. The wing coverts are pale brownish-grey with very fine pale fringes giving a crazy paving impression. The greater coverts are more darkly solid on the inner feathers creating a dark wedge across the wing. The tertials are very dark plain brown with clean and neat white tips. The under-tail coverts lack extensive barring showing nothing more than isolated spots. A number of mantle feathers have already been replaced by greyer feathers. It is unlikely Herring Gull would have even begun to replace its scapulars before Caspian Gull is even half way through replacing its.

Caspian Gull - Juvenile, Paglesham Lagoon, Essex

20th August 2006

Typical Caspian Gull structural features can be clearly seen:

The pear shaped head; long sloping forehead

The neck is long and slender

Long parallel sided bill will virtually none existent Gonydeal angle. The tip is blackish whilst the basal two thirds are paler grey.

The eye is striking

The head and neck is whiter/paler than the rest of the body

The mantle, scapulars and wing coverts are milky brown with fine pale fringes, appears quite uniform

The tertials are almost black with neat white thumbnail tips

The under-tail coverts are relatively unmarked with only isolated brown 'spots'