Second-winter Kumlien's Gull, Essex
This bird was photographed in South Essex in early January and show characters that are supportive of it being a Kumlien's Gull; most obviously the dusky wash to the primaries which are paler on the inner webs and the virtually all dark tail.
It was of the Iceland/Kumliens type when found and I feel this is reflected in the images here. It is aged as a second-winter by virtue of the pale eye and pale based bill; the grey scapulars and finely marked wing-coverts and tertials.
A number of features detailed below seem support the ID as a Kumlien's over an extremely dark end variant of Iceland Gull.
Kumlien's Gull - Larus glaucoides kumlieni
second winter
Note here on the outer Primary, P10, the white, albeit faint, mirror which is very supportive of Kumlien's Gull over Iceland Gull, Icleand Gull not having any mirrors at all.
The outer web of each primary is a little darker than the inner web creating streaked pattern which is also a strong indicator of Kumlien's Gull.
The under-wing is very pale with slightly dusky markings on the greater primary coverts.
Second-winter Kumlien's Gull, Essex
- Bright bubble gum pink legs
- Dusky/brownishr wash to the outer webs of the primaries
- Marbled pattern wing-coverts and tertials (second-winter plumage)
- Pale-grey scapulars showing through
- Fairly heavy dusky/brown lower hind-neck though still within range of Kumlien's Gull
Second-winter Kumlien's Gull, Essex
Pay special attention to the pale white mirror on P10 of the right wing and the dusky streaking on the outer and inner primaries.
The tail band is mostly dark with paler bases. The upper-tail coverts are a little more heavily barred/marked for a Kumlien's Gull but this still appears to be with range of the 'form'.
