tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089047804797090488.post8855328499280713317..comments2023-10-12T15:20:04.013+01:00Comments on The Two Bird Theory: Never a dull momentTim Worfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081554391725867216noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089047804797090488.post-58404309776725727842014-04-23T10:32:20.927+01:002014-04-23T10:32:20.927+01:00Hi Matt, if you've noticed them before I'm...Hi Matt, if you've noticed them before I'm sure you'd pick them out even at distance down your end of the estuary. But you're right, I suspect many would indeed pass these off as YLG - there aren't too many of us spending much time looking at the things, a blank look or a quick change of subject is the usual response when I mention hybrid large gulls. They could well be locally bred - if I had the time I'd like to do a survey of all the Exeter pairs - but mixed pairs are known from Bristol also. As for younger birds, I've had a couple of 3rd winter types but suspect younger birds are just getting lost among the variation shown by even 'pure bred' birds. And I do wonder at the wisdom of downgrading YLG from a full description bird for Devon, it may be obscuring the hybrid problem.<br /><br />BTW is the Glauc still hanging around the quay? Haven't been down for a couple of weeks and wanted to see how its moult was progressing.Tim Worfolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18081554391725867216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089047804797090488.post-83227818120959172752014-04-23T01:25:59.552+01:002014-04-23T01:25:59.552+01:00Hi Tim - it is amazing you are getting so many. Mo...Hi Tim - it is amazing you are getting so many. Most people would surely pass them off as ylgs. I can remember seeing odd gulls like yours when I birded the north end of the Exe but I rarely encounter any down this end. That said, most gulls at this end of the river are distant and difficult to study. Surely there is an argument that with lesser black backs breeding in Exeter in small numbers the hybrid likelihood is relatively high and would account for the bulk of your sightings. Your posts on the subject are fascinating so please keep them coming. Have you had any younger age classes of these hybrid types?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12005197630915867345noreply@blogger.com