1st-winter larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 27th October 2007
This could just be a pale tipped Herring Gull however the primaries are a milky brown colour rather than dark brown matching the equally 'washed out' toned tertials. The primaries also extend quite a long way beyond the tip of the tetials with at least six primaries tips visible. The tertials appear to have an oak leafed pattern indicating Herring Gull or at least strong Herring Gull influence.
1st-winter larus sp. Pitsea Tip, Essex 18th February 2008: 2 images
A bird similar to that in October 2006 though here the bird has a marked pale base to the bill, probably due to being at least 4months older.
The primaries are milky brown with obvious pale fringes. The well patterned tertials help rule out Kumliens Gull. As with the above this could just be a pale winged variant of Herring Gull though there may be some Glaucous Gull in there somewhere.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 29th February 2008: 2 images
An example of a probable Herring x Glaucous Gull hybrid. Structurally the bird is as Herring Gull however the plumage tones are rather pallid, most notably the tea coloured whitish tipped primaries. The whitish tips are extensive and appear to cover the entire tip of each primary rather than fringing it.
The tertials are also pale, more whitish with washed out brown patterning. The wing coverts are pale washed out brownish. The legs are quite bright pink recalling Glaucous Gull, compare with the leg colours of the surrounding gulls.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 21st February 2008: 3 images
A similar looking bird to the one above however here the primaries are even paler with brownish marks towards the primary tips.
Structurally the bird is as Herring Gull, large head, heavy bill, and along with well pattern, albeit pale, wing coverts and tertials rule out possible confusion with Kumlien's Gull.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 23rd February 2008: 1 image
Putatuve Herring x Great-black-backed Gull
An intriguing bird and a difficult one to pigeon hole. The scapulars, wing covert and tertial pattering and short primary projection seem to indicate a Great Black-backed Gull influence whilst the head, bill and underparts suggest Herring Gull.
Identifying most gulls is challenging at the best of times but when there is also the specter of hybrids as well then things can often get a little troublesome. The following images are of what can be seen as clear hybrids as well as some birds that may simply be aberrations or variations within known ranges of a standard gull.
1st-years- click on the links to go directly to the bird
Unknown & Hybrid Gulls - Larus sp.
First-winters : UK
1st-winter larus sp. Pitsea Tip, Essex 18th February 2008: same bird as above
This angle demonstrates the extent of the pale fringing. The entire tip of each feather, P10 through to the inner primaries is pale with extension down the sides creating a pale 'chevron'. Again the primaries appear pale brown rather than dark brown and the tertials are obviously, though not boldly patterned.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 29th February 2008: (same bird as above)
The tail band is milky chocolate brown with pale tips. There are darkish brow bars out from the tail band but become paler and less obvious onto the upper-tail coverts.
Again the tertials are very pale and poorly marked, compare with the came aged Herring Gull immediately infront.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 21st February 2008: 3 images
Same bird as above. Possible Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid.
Generally appears as a pale Herring Gull though the primaries and the overall pale milky brown wing covert pattern indicate possible Glaucous Gull influence. From this angle the wing tips look especially pale which could illicit possible confusion with an extralimital Kumlien's Gull however the birds structure exclude such a bird.
1st winter Larus sp. Hole Haven Creek, Essex 21st February 2008: 3 images
Same bird as above. Possible Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid.
Confusionly this wing spread shot shows a darker outer primary colouration than displayed on the closed wing. Here there is marked contrast between the mid brown outer primaries and the pale inner primaries which could again allow for possible confusion with a Kumlien's Gull, click here for a 1st-winter Kumliens Gull wing pattern.
1st winter Larus sp. Undiclosed Site, Essex 27th February 2009: 4 images
This looks like a Herring Gull in general appearance apart from the very pale wing tips.
The Scapulars are very pale grey with bold blackish anchor marks whilst the wing coverts are typically pattern for a first-winter Herring Gull. The tertials however are more boldly patterned than on a typical Herring Gull.
The belly to the breast is heavily marked with with brown however there is a visible division on the breast with the paler/whiter upper-breast and neck.
Most striking are the pale primaries. These are sandy buff towards the bases becoming paler towards the tips however strangely the tips are boldly marked with dark brown arrowheads.
1st winter Larus sp. Undiclosed Site, Essex 27th February 2009: 4 images
Same bird as above.
The primaries are very pale recalling a true white-winged gull, perhaps even Kumlien's Gull. The primaries are paler at the tips and in the inner webs. Note the tail pattern does not match that of a typical Herring Gull and is also 'washed' out. In flight the bird has a generally pallid appearance.
1st winter Larus sp. Undiclosed Site, Essex 27th February 2009: 4 images
Same bird as above.
This image included to show the outer primary pattern. P1 is plain pale sandy buff with whiter fringes whilst the decending primaries show increasingly dark arrowhead markings at the feather tips, most prominent P6-P3.
1st winter Larus sp. Undiclosed Site, Essex 27th February 2009: 4 images
This looks like a Herring Gull in general appearance apart from the very pale wing tips.
Tail pattern of the bird depicted above, almost has a Glaucous Gull quality.
1st winter Larus sp. Undiclosed Site, Essex 26th February 2011
Unusual bird showing a likely Glaucous Gull influence, its seems possible that this is a GlaucousxGreat Black-backed Gull hybrid; Glaucous due to the pale milky brown tertials, primaries, wing coverts and scapulars and Great Black-backed Gull based on overall structure, large block shaped head, heavy and bulbous bill with reddish pink base, large centrally placed eye, short primaries and wing covert pattern.
Comments welcomed.