Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus
First-years : page 3
First-winter, Rossaveal, Galway, Ireland February 2009
Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII with Canon 500mm F4 Prime Lens
Aged as a first-winter by dark eye and clear cut dipped in ink bill pattern. A large and heavy looking bill, rather full chested, compared with the more diminutive Iceland Gull.
First-winter, Rossaveal, Galway, Ireland February 2009
Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII with Canon 500mm F4 Prime Lens
Readily stands out from the crowd
First-winter, Rossaveal, Galway, Ireland February 2009
Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII with Canon 500mm F4 Prime Lens
Different bird to the one above. This individual was huge with massive pink bill with black tip. There are still brownish markings in the wing coverts though overall the plumage is white. Note the bright pink legs which seems to be a feature of all white-winged gulls.
Compared with Iceland Gull the primary projection is short, only about equal to the exposed tertials and do not extend far beyond the tail tip.
First-winter, Rossaveal, Galway, Ireland February 2009
Photographed with Canon 1D MkIII with Canon 500mm F4 Prime Lens
A further less massive bird than the one above with more prominent dark markings in the wings, on the under-tail coverts and on the scapulars. It does however retain an overall white plumage quality to it.
As with the bird above note the bright pink legs and primary projection.