4th-winter: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - 19th January 2006
Aged as a 4th-year/near-adult on the following points:
- small white tips to the primaries
- pinkish toned legs
- brownish cast to the wing coverts and tertials
- dark markings to the bill
- pasty bill colour
Clearly a Lesser Black-backed Gull based on the upper-part tone and pale eye it was a large bird so presumably a male.
all birds of the race graellsii unless otherwise stated
4th-winter or adult: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - January 2008
The primary tips look small and well spaced and the legs slightly pink hinting that this bird could be a near adult however there is no other indicating on the plumage to support this.
There is heaving streaking on the head and neck.
4th-winter: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - January 2006
Aged as 4th-year/near adult on the similar points as detailed above:
- brownish cast to the wing coverts and tertials
- dark markings in the bill
- small white primary tip spots
There is heavy head streaking and blotching to the neck sides.
Adult: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - 21st January 2008
Here the upper-parts contrast strongly with the black primaries providing identification as a graellsii. The primary tip spots are large and square ended/based.
As with many birds in mid winter there is heavy head streaking which only slightly extends down the neck.
The eye is pale.
The white tertial crescent is broad and the white tips to the rear scapulars really stand out against the grey upper-parts.
Adult: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - 21st January 2008
By contrast this bird, photographed on the same day as the one above, is in virtual full breeding plumage and is a smart looking individual.
The legs are vivid yellow as is the bill with large red Gonys spot which bleeds onto the upper mandible slightly. There is a dark mark just on the front edge of the red spot. It is difficult to determine if it is a bill marking or a spot of mud.
The slate grey upper-parts contrast against the black primaries. The primary tip spots are large and square based with the exception of P6 which extends back slightly into a point. There is a large mirror on the underside of P10 and just visible beneath P9 on the near wing.
Note the lack of any head and neck strecking.
Adult & 4th-winter: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - 29th January 2008
The 4th-winter, right, has smaller primary tip spots than the adult as well as paler yellower legs and subdued bill colour.
Adult: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - January 2008
A heavily head streaked adult. The pale eye is piercing.
The primaries are slightly displaced to reveal a mirror on P10.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Fourth-years & Adults : page 1
4th-winter: Private Site, Essex - 11th April 2006
Very adult like however note the following features:
- Bill is pale horn coloured with dark marks on bill upper and lower mandibles near the tip
- The pale greyish-pink leg colour
The above would indicate immaturity however other aspects of the plumage are as adult:
- The primaries show large well spaced white tips
- There is no hint of brownish feathering in the upper-parts
