all birds of the race graellsii unless otherwise stated
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Third-years
3rd-winter: Private Site, Essex - 14th March 2009
Note the typically attenuated rear end, long primary projection.
The black primaries have only small white spots at the tip and the bill still has a dark tip proving the bird is not an adult. The upper-parts are dark slaty grey. with broad white tips to the rear scapulars and tertials which contrast sharply.
The eye is pale with red orbital ring whilst the head shows heavy streaking which only just reaches onto the neck sides.
The legs, just visible, are subdued yellowish.
3rd-winter: Private Site, Essex - 4th April 2009
Note the typically attenuated rear end, long primary projection.
The upper-parts are slate grey with a few residual brown feathers. The tertials show large white tips. The primaries are black with a single tiny white spot to an inner feather. The head and neck are still heavily streaked whilst the eye is strikingly pale.
The bill is horn coloured with dark markings more like a second-year bird.
The legs are long and pasty fleshy coloured.
3rd-winter: Private Site, Essex - 4th April 2009
The black primaries show small white tips and there is a mirror on P10. The whole of the upper-parts are uniform slate grey with the tertials showing large white tips. The head, neck and the under-parts are completely unmarked white. The eye looks darkish with bold red orbital ring.
The bill is yellow with a smallish red Gonydeal spot. There is a dark mark nearer the bill tip as well as what looks like mud making the tip look overall darker than is really is.
The legs are long pale yellow.
3rd-winter: Private Site, Essex - 4th April 2009
Same bird as above.
Here the the white mirror on P10 is clearly visible whilst the small white tips to the other primaries are barely noticeable.
