4th-Winter: Leigh Cockle Sheds, Essex - 22nd October 2006
Aged as 4th-winter and not an adult due to immature bill pattern. Bird is clearly also not a 3rd-winter due to the virtual lack of brown feathering, with exception of a few dark marks on the inner greater coverts.
The very short primary project, even for a Herring Gull, is do to the fact at this time of year these birds have not yet fully regrown the flight feathers. As can just be seen in the underwing the P10 mirror is still only in line with P7.
One would expect Herring gulls at this age to have an obvious pale eye but a fair proportion retain dark eyes into adulthood which may elicit confusion with either Caspian or Yellow-legged Gulls.
Adult: Westcliff Seafront, Essex - 14th January 2004
Tis is a pretty typical winter plumaged argenteus Herring Gull.
In winter some adults can show, as here, a dark mark on the bill.
The eye is pale yellow; the bill has an obvious Gonydeal angle; the primary extension beyond the tail tip is short; the primary tip spots appear almost as diamond shaped and there is a significant black band between the mirror on P10 and the white tip.
By mid January many British Herring Gulls become very white headed.
Adult: Southend Seafront, Essex - 12th January 2003
A slight variation from the previous bird where there is extensive head streaking which extends well down the neck. The bill is bright yellow with a few darkish smudges on or above the Gonydeal spot.
The legs a short, stout and pink.
Note the diamond shaped white primary tip spots. This bird looks quite long winged.
Adult: Paglesham Lagoon, Essex - 4th January 2009
Probably an argentatus this was a very large bird. It has a rather slender looking bill with very tapered tip and dark smudges around the gonys. The eye is striking pale and it is possible to see the ed orbital ring. There is light head streaking.
There is a lot more white in the tips of the primaries, the underside of the tip of P10 is completely white whilst the bird has a long winged appearance.
Adult: St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly - 30th April 2006
Breeding plumaged British race, argenteus, Herring Gulls are handsome birds.
The bill has become deep orange-yellow with large red Gonys spot; the eye is very pale yellow, almost white, with bold red orbital ring.
The primaries show large white spots at the tips, notice the black band between the mirror on the underside of P10 and the white tip spot.
Adult: Barling Rubbish Tip, Essex - 28th October 2006
Here we have a leucistic adult. A very pale whitish bird with subdued primary colouration. t, and the other Herring Gulls around it, are still regrowing their primaries thus giving a shorter winged impression than normally expected in mid winter.
Such a bird could be claimed as a Glaucous-winged Gull on brief views however there is the typical Herring Gull structure, wing tip pattern and pale eyed.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 31st January 2009
This flight shot shows the primary pattern well: The large white mirror on P10 is split into two, the shorter part of on the outer web and the elongated part on the inner web. The mirror separated from the white tip by a black band.
A white mirror spot is visible on P9. Note the extensive grey tongue along the outer edge of P8 and the black of the band on P6 extending along the outer web as a spur, this is a little unusual as typical P6 pattern would be a band only. P5 has a 'teardrop' shaped black mark on the outer web and a dark smudge on the inner web.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 31st January 2009
This bird shows extensive white in the outer primaries. P10 shows a large white tip extending at least a third of the way along the feather. P9 is virtually all white though there is a very narrow black band separating the large white mirror from the primary tip spot.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 31st January 2009
Probably a small argentatus, note the all white tip to the underside of P10 and the mid grey upper-part colouration.
4th-Winter: Private Site, Essex - 7th February 2009
Basically as adult however note the dark markings in the tail and on the bill. There is the faintests on smudges on the tertial crescent.
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
Adults & Fourth-years
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 14th February 2009
Note the upper-part colouration and tone of this argentatus bird. It's a few shades darker and more 'blue' that on argenteus Herring Gulls. This is also a big bird with long primary projection.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 14th February 2009
Same bird as above showing wing pattern.
The tip of P10 is completely white. There is a large mirror on P9 separated from the large white tip by a broad black band. P7 shows an extension of black along the outer web whilst the inner web has a white half moon between the black and the grey.
P6 has an uneven black band whilst there is only the faintest of faint spots on the white tip of P5.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 14th February 2009
Same as above. This image included to show the underside of P10 pattern which is similar to that of Caspian Gull. There is a grey extension along the inner web which is very similar in extension to Caspian Gull however it is grey and not white and has uneven edges , not clean and well define as in Caspian Gull.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 19th December 2009
This bird has attributes which could lead to it being mis-identified as a Caspian Gull. Note the all white tip to P10 and the long pale grey tongue along the underside of that feather. The tongue extends a similar length of the feather however it is a little ragged, not smooth edged and has black along the inner edge.
The bill looks rather dull and at this angle perhaps rather slender and combined with the unmarked bright white head is a pitfall. However the bill does show a rather large red Gonys spot, is brighter than most Caspians whilst the head shape is typical Herring.
Also here the eye is pale, some Caspians can show pale eyes but this is a typical Herring Gull fierce looking eye. In addition the legs are thickset and pink.
4th-Winter: Private Site, Essex - 27th February 2009
Plumage pretty much as adult however the bill is pale greenish-grey with broad black band.
Most striking is the head streaking pattern restricted to the head, boldest beneath and behind the eye, reminiscent of Azorean Gull.
This is a large bird and most likely an argentatus.
Adults
Fourth-years / Near-adults
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 30th January 2010
As with the previous bird this individual shows a large amount of white in the outer primaries; appears as white with black rather than black with white of a typical Herring Gull.
The primary tips are larger than in standard Herring Gulls whilst the tips and mirrors of P9 and P10 merge.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 30th January 2010
As with the previous bird this individual shows a large amount of white in the outer primaries; appears as white with black rather than black with white of a typical Herring Gull.
The primary tips are larger than in standard Herring Gulls whilst the tips and mirrors of P9 and P10 merge.
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 30th January 2010
As with the previous bird this individual shows a large amount of white in the outer primaries; appears as white with black rather than black with white of a typical Herring Gull.
The primary tips are larger than in standard Herring Gulls whilst the tips and mirrors of P9 and P10 merge.
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Adult: Private Site, Essex - 12th December 2011
This bird could, as the previous individual, cause confusion for the uninitiated and at range could slip by as a Caspian Gull.
A range this bird appeared rangy and dark eyed. This is most likely a northern Argentatus.
Note the similarity to Caspian Gull is head size and shape, long slender parallel sided bill, long slender next and full breast, the pasty coloured long legs, mid toned grey upper-parts with broad white tertial crescent, and trailing edge, and apparent long rear end.
However the bird still hold a Herring Gull fell to it but could there be mixed genes at work?