Monday, 23 May 2011
Second calendar year Herring Gull
This second calendar year Herring Gull caught my eye today at Alnwickhill. Not often I see one of these with such a well-patterned and stripey tail combined with such a strongly bi-coloured bill. It is progressing its wing moult (primaries 1-4 dropped), but there is only a little grey in the mantle or scapulars and the coverts look like first generation feathers.
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2 comments:
Primary moult seems right on schedule by gullresearch table:
http://www.gull-research.org/hg/HG2CY05.htm
Stripey tail vaguely reminiscent of this striking bird:
http://www.coastside.net/chucao/gulls/HMBgulls.htm
Possibly caused by similar (dietary deficiency) issues as some of our stripey crows?
Wow, rthat Willet-winged gull is pretty odd. I think these HG tails are fairly regular but I had not considered a diet link which is an interesting idea. It certainly seemed at odds with the bill pattern?...
Geoff
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