4th September 2016 - Topsham
If walking the dog and staring at gulls counts as effort, I've been putting some in and seeing good numbers of big gulls at the Rec in recent weeks - someone's got to do it. The resident hybrid, a couple of colour-rings and a nice
intermedius Lesser Black-backed have helped to pas the time but there's been no more
michahellis since my first juv of the year on 13th August. I thought it was about time I had another and today was the day. This particular stunner behaved impeccably, preening, flying around and loafing; generally showing off and shouting; "look at me, I'm special!"
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
It stood out immediately: a slim, long-winged and small-headed bird and so presumably a female; a striking white head with a strongly-marked neck, breast and flanks on a white background; at the back end a clean white vent and undertail and it's obvious from just this view that the outer tail feathers are largely white. There's a lot of new moulted scapulars while the wing coverts and the tertials are quite worn - in contrast Herring and Lesser Black-backed juvs are still looking pretty fresh.
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
Classic
michahellis tail pattern and arguably quite safely identifiable on this view alone.
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
A better view of those moulted scapulars with thin dark anchor subterminal anchor marks, just a few juvenile scaps left and contrasting with the dark wing - thin fringes to coverts mostly worn off now.
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
That classic tail pattern again - sharp black band narrowing at sides contrasting with stark white base and upper tail coverts and rump. The inner primaries only a little paler than the outers and solidly dark outer greater coverts.
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
Tail pattern just as marked from below.
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
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| Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - 4/9/2016 Topsham Rec |
I don't expect it will reappear, they hardly ever do, and without a colour ring there's no way of telling where it came from - the Med, Central/Eastern Europe or perhaps it's a
lusitanius from Portugal?
OK, it's not a rarity (but a lot scarcer in Devon than 'up country') but it'll do til the real rarity gets here.
Hi Tim - great photos of an absolutely stunning bird. I really hope it pops up down this end of the river. All the best.
ReplyDeleteMatt
Thanks Matt, sadly probably long gone, no sign today, as you know they don't tend to stick around these parts long. cheers, Tim
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