Great Black-backed Gull, 3rd-winter: Southend Seafront, Essex -20th November 2004
Much more adult in appearance. Many of the wing coverts and majority of the scapulars have been replaced by fresher blackish-grey. The tertials are blackish-grey/brown with broad white tips.
The primaries are black with large white spots at the tips whilst the underside of P10 shows a large mirror.
The bills is pale at the base with obvious terminal band.
The eye remains dark whilst the legs have a pasty pink colouration.
Great Black-backed Gull, Private Site, Essex - 31st January 2009
A large white mirror is present on P10 whilst the inner primaries still remain brownish toned. An obvious white trailing edges can now be seen created by large white tips to the secondaries. The bill is pale with broad subterminal band.
Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus
Third-years
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Great Black-backed Gull, Private Site, Essex - 31st December 2011
Many of the greater coverts are replaced, save for a few older plainer dull brown feathers, thus giving a dark, blackish saddled appearance.
Most of the wing coverts are still old generation plain faded and worn brown feathers with a few replaced median and less coverts with a couple of inner greater coverts which lends to a plain winged appearance.
There head is still rather streaked but not the large dark eye and heavy bill giving a powerful appearance.
Great Black-backed Gull, Private Site, Essex - 31st December 2011
This individual shows a paler eye than the bird above as well as more replaced wing coverts and more defined white trailing edge to the coverts.
The primaries show more pronounced white tips.