2 Gulls for ID please.

[Little Sparrow]

Help with Gull ID's please.


Pic 1. Are they two 1st winter B H Gulls?

Pic 2. Herring Gull?

[MIKE THROWER]

1. 1st Winter Black headed Gull

2. Lesser Black-backed Gull

[PeterB]

Re the BHG Is it the brown bits on the side and tail that give it away as first winter?

[Dave Appleton]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Re the BHG Is it the brown bits on the side and tail that give it away as first winter?

Yes, it has brown wing-coverts (the feathers near the bend of the wing), brown tertials (the ones nearer the tip of the wing) and more orangey (less red) bill and legs than on the adults. In flight you'd see a dark tail bar too.

[Winterkoning]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Re the BHG Is it the brown bits on the side and tail that give it away as first winter?

Good observation Sir..................never noticed that before..........I work round the head!!

[Little Sparrow]

Thank you very much for the ID's Mike! very much appreciated.

A good question Peter and answered well by Dave. Thanks both for your input!

A learning curve for those of us who 'don't do gulls' or struggle to ID them Mike!

[PeterB]

I've just noticed something else. In the first pic of the BHG's there is one top right which still has his black head while the others are in full winter regalia. Is this a recent pic? What's going on?

[Little Sparrow]

Originally Posted by PeterB

I've just noticed something else. In the first pic of the BHG's there is one top right which still has his black head while the others are in full winter regalia. Is this a recent pic? What's going on?

Watcha mean what's "going on"...lol!!

The photo was taken yesterday Peter. The B H Gulls will now be starting to get their black (which is actually a dark chocolate brown) summer plumage heads!
British Garden Birds - Black-headed Gull

[PeterB]

Yes, that wasn't what I meant!!

OK, so this is earlier than I would have guessed for them to start loosing winter plumage.

None of these guides say when winter becomes summer and I am surprised they are orange status. BHG's are nearly all I see around here. If they have declined they must have been all over the place.

[Little Sparrow]

Don't forget that Spring is just around the corner Peter and the birds have to look their best!