Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 6th February 2008
This is the long staying bird, since March 2000, that can often be found on the foreshore opposite the Rossi Ice Cream Parlour, hence his nickname 'Rossi'. Several images of this particular bird follow however additional images can be found by clicking here
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 20th January 2008
Note the fine pale grey pencil like flick on the head. This is about as much head streaking as adult Ring-billed Gulls attain in winter, far less than adult Herring Gulls.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 22nd March 2008
By March all head flecking has disappeared, becomes very white headed, and the bare part coloured and tones have brightened. Here note the large white mirror on the underside of P10 on the inner web whilst the white on the outer web extends a little further towards the tip, most clearly visible in the next image. There is no large white tip to P10.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 19th March 2006
Towards the end of the winter the head and neck flecking has disappeared leaving a clean snow white head.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 18th March 2005
Note the Westcliff bird only has the one primary mirror, on P10, which is complete. P5 on the right wing has a complete band whilst on the left wing there is a dark 'spot to the inner web and an even small 'spot' to the outer web which barely constitutes as a band.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex 5th August 2006
In late summer the tips of the primaries are worn off leaving nothing more than bare remnant remains of white tips. This particular bird sheds it's outer primaries usually within two weeks of returning to Westcliff Seafront.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Westcliff Seafront, Essex, 1st December 2008.
A close up of 'Rossi' shows that the head streaking is not much more than pale grey flecking. The orbital ring is deep red whilst the pale yellow eye really stands out.
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
Adults
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Nimmo's Pier, Galway, Ireland 23rd February 2009
A relatively small and slender billed individual. Note the file pale grey pencil line flecking in the crown, crown sides and hind neck. The pale yellow eye has a bold red orbital ring. A gull that is difficult to miss identify.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Salton Sea, California, USA 18th November 2009
This bird, from Western North America has a second, split mirror, on P9 and a dark 'spot' on the inner web of P5 on both wings and not a band as on the Westcliff birds right wing.
Adult Ring-billed Gull, Undisclosed site, Essex, 13th February 2010.
A more heavily head streaked bird with subdued bill and leg tones.