2010 Photos
Yellow-legged, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Hybrid Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull, adult, Essex 9th January 2010
Hybrid Gull, second-winter, Essex 2nd January 2010
Initially identified as a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull, for obvious reasons, the ring details has resulted in the bird being a proven second generation hybrid: parents were female Herring Gull x male HerringxLesser Black-backed Gull, now that one messed up family.
Yellow-legged Gull, first-winter, Essex 13th February 2010
Mediterranean Gull, moulting adult, Essex 13th February 2010
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Adult, Essex 27th February 2010
This adult is a little odd in that is shows clear pale fringes to the scapulars and wing coverts creating a rather pale scaled appearance to the upper-parts.
Herring Gull, near-adult, Essex 27th February 2010
This large and striking bird is a near adult with bold streaking limited to the head only, giving an almost Azorean Yellow-legged Gull appearance.
Caspian Gull
Kumliens Gull
Herring Gulls
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Large Hybrid Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gull
White-winged hybrid Gull
Small Hybrid Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull, first-winter, Essex 27th February 2010
Compare with the previous 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, this bird had an more 'Caspian Gull' feel to it in the field but it remains a 1st year michahellis.
Same bird above and below:
Yellow-legged Gull?, adult, Essex 27th February 2010
Despite having yellow legs, a good upper-part tone, long primary project with tapered rear end and good wing tip pattern, especially on the spread wing this bird, when it was rung, had atypical amount of head streaking. The head is a little rounded and bill slightly tapered. This could be explained if the bird is a female, it wasn't overly big, but it could also be a hybrid.
Mediterranean Gull, adult, Essex 13th March 2010
Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile, Essex July 2010
Note that this bird has already replaced several scapulars before the month is out
Yellow-legged Gull, adult, Essex July 2010
Same bird above and below
Common Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Mediterranean Gull, juvenile, Essex August 2010
Cracking in juvenile plumage
Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile moulting to first-winter (above) and second year below, Essex 4th September 2010
Note how far advanced the Yellow-legged Gull is in replacing its Scapulars, many of the juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls haven't even started to replace these feathers yet.
Yellow-legged Gull, Adult, Essex 4th September 2010
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