Sardinia - 1st year Yellow-legged Gulls, and a real oddity.

Just because they're interesting, here's a small selection of 1st year michahellis from Sardinia in early September. I was surprised at the range of variation in moult progression in just a handful of birds.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 7/9/2014

 Above: all scapulars apparently 2nd generation (ginger toned when fresh with broad pale tips), many coverts new/growing.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 7/9/2014

 Above: many 2nd generation scaps and coverts, nice contrast with older worn and faded juvenile feathers.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

 Above: many replaced scaps but coverts apparently all juvenile.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

 Above: new scaps obvious on both birds but no coverts moulted that I can see; interesting difference in colour tone between these two.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

Above: just a handful of 2nd generation scapulars are visible, again no apparent moult in coverts or tertials yet.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

Above: a similar moult stage, just a few new scapulars grown coverts and tertials all juvenile.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

Above: same again, a few new scapulars, no coverts replaced yet.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 7/9/2014

Above and below: the same bird, this one appears to be still in practically full juvenile plumage, possibly one scapular and one greater covert (visible on second photo) are moulted.

Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

Finally a real puzzle, I was too busy taking pictures and trying to avoid spooking the gulls to notice this one until I checked the photos later, now I wish I'd payed more attention at the time and seen it fly.

1cy gull - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014

I'd assumed it was another michahellis but the bill is quite short and deep and the tertials and coverts look just like a Herring Gull.