Juvenile: Southend Seafront 18th July 2008: both of the above images relate to the same individual.
Juvenile: Southend Seafront 18th July 2008
Juvenile: Southend Seafront 18th July 2008
Juvenile: Westcliff Seafront, Summer 2007
Mediterranean Gull - Larus melanocephalus
Juvenile
The areas specialty gull. Present virtually the year round the best locations to 'easily' see this beautiful gull are the end of Southend Pier and Westcliff Seafront by Rossi Ice Cream Parlour. In winter the pier regularly holds upto 30 birds which include many colour ringed birds whilst Westcliff can often have between 8-10 birds. Where ever gulls gather, there are a number of favoured parks and playing fields, your are likely to find at least one Med.
In late summer Southend Seafront opposite Esplanade House just east of the Sealife Centre is where the counties largest concentrations gather. Numbers steadily build up from late June and by late July/early August in excess of 130 birds can be present at any one time. By this time at least a fifth will be juveniles with many colour ringed. It is likely that many birds pass through during the summer and it estimated that a minimum of between 200-250 birds use the site in summer.
Juvenile: Southend Seafront, 9th August 2009
Already well progressed towards first-winter plumage though the black mask is yet to develop/.
Juvenile: Southend Seafront, 9th August 2009
Multiple juveniles are likely late summer at the best site for the species in Essex, Southend Seafront
Juvenile: Westcliff Seafront, 15th August 2009
Compare with the fresher plumages juveniles at the top of the page from July. Here this bird is well into replacing the mantle and scapular feathers as well as most of the greater coverts. The head is still brownish but the fine scaling is gone, now perhaps not quite as attractive as a full juvenile plumage.
Juvenile: Westcliff Seafront, 15th August 2009
This shot clearly demonstrates the complex nature of the upper-wing patterning. Note the bold black tail band against a clean white tail and upper-tailed coverts; the obvious grey window on the inner primaries;, the grey greater covert band; the broad grey fringing to the median coverts and the white streaks in the outer primaries, an effect caused by whiter inner webs being slightly exposed by the spreadwing.
Mediterranean Gull, juvenile, Essex August 2010
Cracking in juvenile plumage
Mediterranean Gull, juvenile - Westcliff Seafront, Essex July 2011
Although taken a few weeks earlier at the end of July rather than mid August this bird is more advanced than the bird in the previous image with much more grey in the scapulars and wing coverts and lacks the 'scaly' look.