all birds of the race graellsii unless otherwise stated
Adult: Westcliff Seafront, Essex - 7th August 2004
Primaries show little in the way of white tips as they have all but been worn off. P10 has a large mirror on the underwing.
The upper-parts show a brownish cast probably due to fading.
Feather wear is also evident on the rear of the crown and around the eye making the eye ring look more prominent,
Adult: Two Tree Island, Essex - 30th December 2007
A typical adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull of the race graellsii. dark slaty grey upper-parts contrast with the black primaries. The primary tip spots are large and obvious. The underside of P10 is visible on the far wing: a large white mirror is present with the right edge extending up to and joining the white tip. This 'white tip extension' is boarded by black.
The long wing give an attenuated rear ended appearance.
There is fairly heavy streaking on the head and the eye is pale yellow'.
The bill is quite slender with tapering tip and is bright yellow with large red Gonys spot.
Adult: Two Tree Island, Essex - 30th December 2007
Note the outer primary pattern; P10 has a large white mirror that just about reaches the white tip but is boarded by black. There is not mirror on P9. P6 has a broad black band.
Adult: Two Tree Island, Essex - 30th December 2007
Note the outer primary pattern; P10 has a large white mirror that just about reaches the white tip but is boarded by black. There is not mirror on P9. P6 has a broad black band.
There are also obvious white trailing and leading edges to wing.
The underwing coverts are bright white contrasting with the greyish secondaries, inner primaries and bases to the outer primaries.
The black of the outer primaries gradually extends along each feather until P10 almost reaches the wing coverts.
Adult: Golf Course, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly - 30th April 2006
Completely whitehead with no traces of dark streaking of mottling anywhere.
The bird is attenuated; long primary projection and lack of tertial step add to the swept back impression.
The black primaries contrast markedly with the slaty grey upper-parts.
Adult: Golf Course, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly - 30th April 2006
Broad white trailing edge to the secondaries.
P5 has a small dark mark on the outer web
P6 has a broad black band
The mirror on P10 does not merge with the white tip
No mirror on P9
Adult: Radipole Lake, Dorset - early June 2006
The adult is showing a brown cast to the wing coverts due to fading and the primary tips are small and insignificant due to wear.
The there are no other indicators to suggest this could be a 4th-year/near adult bird.
Adult: Two Tree Island, Essex - 30th December 2007
As Above:
Note the outer primary pattern; P10 has a large white mirror that just about reaches the white tip but is boarded by black. There is not mirror on P9. P6 has a broad black band.
There are also obvious white trailing and leading edges to wing.
The underwing coverts are bright white contrasting with the greyish secondaries, inner primaries and bases to the outer primaries.
The black of the outer primaries gradually extends along each feather until P10 almost reaches the wing coverts.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Fourth-years & Adults : page 2
Adult: Private Site, Essex - 11th April 2009
The bare parts are brightly coloured with the yellows having an almost orange quality. The eye is pale yellow and the orbital ring is bright red.
The primary spots on this bird are already worn.
Adult, intermedius: Undisclosed Site, Essex - 8th July 2010
Note the very long and attenuated appearance of this bird, the primaries are heavily worn.
The upper-parts are slaty-dark blackish rather than greyish as in graellsii.
Adult: Undisclosed location, Essex - 24th February 2010
A rather slender bird which is already very clean headed by the end of February.
The most interesting aspect of this bird is the presence of extremely fine pale fringing to the scapulars and wing-coverts giving an overall rather scaly appearance rather than a uniformly smooth dark impression.
Adult, intermedius: Undisclosed Site, Essex - 8th July 2010
Same bird as above, note the heavy wear on the primaries has removed nearly all traces of white feather tips whilst the white of the tertial and scapular crescents are likewise much reduced.
Adult, intermedius: Undisclosed Site, Essex - 8th July 2010
Same bird as that above however here in direct comparison with graellsii Lesser Black-backeds.
In comparison the intermedius is smaller and of slighter build, more attenuated, flatter backed and 'blacker' on the upper-parts.
Adult: Undisclosed location, Essex - 18th December 2010
A heavily head-streaked mid winter bird giving an almost hooded appearance. This bird may even be a near adult due to the amount of dark markings on the bill though this could be an extreme for this bird given the amount of head-streaking.
Adult, probably intermedius: Undisclosed location, Essex - 2nd April 2011
This bird is almost certainly an intermedius, far to sooty black above to be a graellsii. Possible confusion would be with fuscus however the upperparts do show a little contrast with the black primaries.
Either an adult or near adult this bird shows a small white mirror on P10 bit no other discernable white primary tips creating a nearly uniform black looking, and long, wing.
A striking bird
Adult, probably intermedius: Undisclosed location, Essex - 13th August 2011
With only a little contrast between the upper-parts and the primaries it would seem likely this bird is an intermedius.
The head is small atop a slender neck which combined with the long primaries and attenuated rear gives the bird a rather elegant appearance.