Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
Second-years
Moulting 2nd-summer - 3rd-winter: Private Site, Essex - 8th August 2009
Heavily worn and abraded individual, many greater coverts missing. Note the tone of the grey upper-parts, the now pale eye, large heavy bill.
Second-year: Rainham, Essex - February 2005
Note The mid to dark grey saddle and the newly replaced central Median Coverts and inner tertials.
Compare the plumage characters and grey tones with the Herring Gulls which show paler wing coverts and tertials.
The legs are a pasty pink colour compared to the brighter pink of the Herring Gull to the right.
Of special interest in this bird is the head streaking which forms a complete hood which contrasts sharply with the white neck and under-parts; 'atlantis' ?
Second-year: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - March 2008
The dark blue-grey upper parts are obvious here. The inner greater coverts, some of the central median coverts and the inner tertials have been replaced with grey. The older generation tertials are dark brown with fairly neat fringes though by this age it has become a little marbled on the outer edges.
The legs are clearly yellow and the bill is more adult like with the exception of the dark tip.
Also note the long rear ended appearance of this bird.
Second-year: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - February 2008
Structurally a large bulky square headed bird with deep blunt tipped bill.
The scapulars have been fully replaced with most of the median and lesser coverts, inner greater coverts and inner tertials.
Interestingly this bird shows a faint masked/half hooded appearance.
Second-year: Hole Haven Creek, Essex - February 2008
Note the long rear end of this small individual. The head is large and almost looks disproportionate in size compared to the rest of the bird.
The bill is quite short but is deep and shows a distinct blunt tip and broad dark band.
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Moulting 2nd-summer: Private Site, Essex - 4th September
Note the jizz of the bird, the large squarish head shape, the heavy streaking on the neck sides contrasting with the whiter head and under-sides; the heavy blunt tipped bill which is paler based, the long legs, darker blue-grey fresh scapular and mantle feathers, the vedry dark, almost blaskish based tertials and the diluted wing covert pattern.
Great looking bird
Secodd-year: Private Site, Essex - 26th March 2011
An incredibly detailed bird.
The blue-grey upper-parts still show older generation anchor marked feathers.
The central median coverts are mostly replaced and appear as diffuse grey with subterminal bands. Only the inner most greater and lesser coverts are next generation.
The upper tertials are new whilst the older lower are still mostly dark first generation feathers.
The legs are long and thin and only have a pale yellow tone whilst the bill is mostly yellow with dark tip.
Second-year: undisclosed site, Essex - 23rd July 2011
Note the typical amount of head streaking for the species, giving the bird a rather fierce expression.
The bill is largely pale greenish-grey with slightly yellower tip with small developing red Gonydeal spot.
The majority of the scapulars have been replaced, as have the median coverts. Many Lesser Coverts have also been replaced though as yet no Greater Coverts. The inner tertials are new grey whilst the older dark brown tertials can still be seen.
The outer greater coverts have been dropped to reveal the very dark secondaries whilst the primaries are all still worn brown feathers, lacking the black, white tipped appearance of third year birds.
Second-year: undisclosed site, Essex - 23rd July 2011
Similar to the previous bird however note the more adult like bill being brighter yellow with larger red Gonys spot. The head is clean white and lacks and streaking.
The wing coverts are of similar mix as with the previous bird whilst the legs look longer and more yellow.
This bird displays a fairly elongated appearance.
Second-year: undisclosed site, Essex - 23rd July 2011
Bill is large and deep and brightly coloured with obvious blunt tip.
This is a large bulky bird which has replaced nearly all of its scapulars. Most of the median coverts are new whilst a few lesser coverts have also been replaced, older deathers appear as darkish brown with broad pale fringes.
The greater coverts are yet to be replaced.
The primaries are still old brown feathers.
Second-year: undisclosed site, Essex - 23rd July 2011
An interesting bird.
The upper-parts are a little darker grey than typical michahellis whilst the light blotching on the neck and breast sides would also also suggest possible hybrid.
The bill is large and heavy with a bulbous tip and the legs are long and slender with a fleshy tone.
The old dark brown tertials have large whitish tips and finely notched edges. Is this bird within range of michahellis with some lighting having effect on the image or perhaps an argentatus x graellsii hybrid?
Second-year: undisclosed site, Essex - 23rd July 2011
Another slightly curious bird.
The bill is longer and more slender than typical michahellis but does has have a rather bulbous tip. The head, neck and under-parts are completely unmarked.
All of the scapulars are replaced and there is good progression on the median coverts whilst a few lesser and greater coverts have also been replaced,
The primaries are darker and there is a mirror on the underside of the far wing.
SUMMER BIRDS : April - September
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WINTER BIRDS
Second-year: Private Site, Essex - 26th November 2011
Already the bill is taking on a yellowish tone and is typically stout and blunt tipped.
The head is pale and although there is light streaking, as to be expected of for a bird of this age, the contrasts with the heavier streaking and blotching the neck and breast sides.
The legs are pale yellowish.
Most of the median coverts are next generation whilst the greater coverts lack the solid appearance of first-year birds and is more 'marbled' on the outer to central feathers, the inners are fairly well barred still.