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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodElaFcDavR0bJ6DhoiLIIxjYUJQz5RbsNxGtGSto6CzBOZGq2jMFzkPZjLEZ7JJRgDYcah4hprzrFlGAP8SVnh7hjs-ulowpn-Gi3WI9jrUgMrnCqBz3-JT3sx6dfucxA8LhZEUBQNE/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+07+Sardinia+01a.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlYexExAwQBrlMQNvk5tHQf89QwXZMaZ-psu5_h97XmNCaXj80qJILzqEsslBSMdTwv1R-7wmk6i0N3lsJyZjhfrBaEBdWOpwSUYRvvK0CnQ3oBKE8CaaN4742RAAX4WevwxGUtlkbeM/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+07+Sardinia+06.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eH4e7JY2YzQI07Rh_51zul9liHPUfVl60GgkpdYAlVcd-Z6y5-dg7pw_cqScl0nPfAzI6GWwPpWyrdSwlrNe9k_aWgDfB23tk4fwFOYmwp7F0xuySX5YlprNS6nRyngDnutfIydW4L8/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+10+Sardinia+04.jpg) |
Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014 |
Above: many replaced scaps but coverts apparently all juvenile.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4EBiz0IKokawMttC1XACxr6AG5-qB8bXymmwxKkAsLIkXGAdHDRlrGGHbZkUrkOpRJMnltzEIhFtLidnMVChiaZ9stC1Kcs_T-aQkln1tq-Em3-N4eEm236ddwnOXXIKXDNfZ0eqz10/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+10+Sardinia+09.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpMJQK4vamI88ZzppYewkNcK_Cczpv2BJG5v4NfQUNhnFdMNNDvFBj3YFIVMC-hJD1begOT40kWgftef4kkHABQtDE-lyX4g-9_Vgd4-PNpTflDbuXorbKLv48RluvhM3JGNKVrangEc/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+10+Sardinia+10.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDPr8ld_UcOXlVKfy6hYWxE4WRaRfFTeM-5lyGS3hI-9WeCVr_fmm7PHl_pdCYP_6T0lM5hQwU6jTLXS6fKqxJxnhsX8B0KuL5YyF4JcIp6dWL4xYlD3Y_zviLZmtCUuJYcayfPLPrls/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+10+Sardinia+11.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51b8O2j_LkAzq_l5VKkxnTy6_xmgMIh6IwYIwJOFhYiaM5Lti94RAzTEBY-sLgE3N3QzZSdD_ZlCTl-VDISpWz4QBerIXiGarmgukdjApu3jV4g5jvnrWMbS7hJC0Iv4UCXEC4tdqEz4/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+10+Sardinia+14a.jpg) |
Yellow-legged Gull 1cy - Alghero, Sardinia 10/9/2014 |
Above: same again, a few new scapulars, no coverts replaced yet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQ1UAsrEeovI_y3hUCUlTkbUywGg9kpxVFJWtPSd7WR5y8AhfTiq3deles3vyxalEgHVyCTORCiuKgXj_i6f4JzafPDu5sFagc6tWd-6X9FE9JV5I9edC6qYb53TrqfLPt9LmcIlEuRA/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+07+Sardinia+04a.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yY1aplV9GbQKyFjK5y_z_TCOt3aiVfW8_Hh8xbJBuNfx6YBa7BicKOJAPYC2TYUpJlK6ErQNFXV-5-vyIjn_2tAzT01oj5YtqhvzfN_8BlkCN72I-x6dtqyng-K6-88jvFdH3cXkyyc/s1600/Larus+michahellis+1cy+2014+09+07+Sardinia+11.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTz1Fv3RohYIjhmZLZYXIL4B14Eos9tXaeZYH1Ww0hDzbktr5jkPRXikE3TfGZjGBzTP6cNbEPKhq6SDDtKPMOr3Bcm9phjdd2FLuxrzN1b_JIf3N_umyX9r5QJatQZB9rtMWYEkXrfw/s1600/Larus+sp.+2014+09+10+Sardinia+01.jpg) |
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.
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