Great Black-backed Gull, 4th-winter: Southend Seafront, Essex - 10th January 2009

Plumage pretty much as adult but aged as 4th-winter based on bill pattern (subdued colour and subterminal band) and slight brownish cast the wing covets.

Head streaking is minimal, this species should not have head streaking that is excessive.

Great Black-backed Gull (same above and below), Adult: Two Tree Island, Essex - 6th February 2008

This bird didn't look to well which probably accounts for the slightly pale eye and washed out bare part colours.

Note the fine pale grey pencil line head streaking, the short primary projection and the bold white tips to the secondaries creating a white trailing edge.

Great Black-backed Gull, Adult: Radipole Lake, Dorset - June 2005

Adult summer but presumably n:n-breeding. The bill is massive and blunt tipped with large red Gonys spot and angle. The eye is slightly pale with red orbital ring. Upper-parts are blackish whilst there is clear feather wear to the tips of the tertials and scapulars.

Leg colour is a subdued pinkish-grey.

Great Black-backed Gull, Adult, Leigh Cockle Sheds, Essex - 22nd October 2006

Typical adult Great Black-backed Gull moulting into winter plumage. Primary regrowth still not completed giving the very short rear ended appearance whilst only the very minimal pale grey fine streaking is present on the head.

Eye colour in this species tends to be dark though some an show a slightly paler irises, non however ever get as pale a Herring or Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Great Black-backed Gull, Adult: Leigh Cockle Sheds, Essex - 22nd October 2006

Typical adult Great Black-backed Gull moulting into winter plumage. Primary regrowth still not completed giving the very short rear ended appearance. Head streaking is probably at the upper limit expected for this species.

Eye colour in this species tends to be dark though some, as here, show a slightly paler iris, non however ever get as pale a Herring or Lesser Black-backed Gull.

There are dark marking on the bill at the culmen and just above the Gonys spot.

Great Black-backed Gull, Adult: At Sea, Isles of Scilly - 30th August 2006

Included here as an example of mid summer moulting.

- most of greater coverts have been shed revealing the whitish bases to the secondaries

- the inner primaries are in the process of regrowth whilst the outer primaries are yet to be shed.

A number of the greater primary coverts have also been shed revealing the pale bases of the feathers beneath