A Nice Little Gull

15th June 2015 - Topsham

 

This time last year Topsham was hosting a Ross's Gull, a couple of Little Gulls and, on and off, three different Bonaparte's Gulls. So far this year on the micro Larid front we've only had one Bonaparte's - a 2cy so additional to last year's - and just this one Little Gull. It's been around a few days, mostly at Bowling Green Marsh where I saw it on Saturday, this morning I caught up with it at the Rec. It posed and flew for a few photos but never came that close.

Little Gull 2cy (with Black-headed Gull) - 15/6/2015 Topsham

Little Gull 2cy - 15/6/2015 Topsham

Little Gull 2cy - 15/6/2015 Topsham

Little Gull 2cy (with Little Egret) - 15/6/2015 Topsham

Little Gull 2cy - 15/6/2015 Topsham

Little Gull 2cy - 15/6/2015 Topsham

As would expected, it's in moult with P4-10 old retained juvenile feathers, P1&2 visible and growing, P3 not showing yet.

Edit: should have noticed this at the time but better late than never and it's worth mentioning; the tail is all white (and the feathers look fairly fresh) meaning all juvenile retrices have been replaced; this is unusual in Little Gull. T1-2 are sometimes replaced in late winter but about 10% have a fully white tail by mid June (Olsen & Larssen 2004).

References

Olsen, K.M. & Larsson, H. 2004. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. A & C Black.