American herring Gull - Part II

Some snapshots taken from 720p video at 120x with the digiscoping method. There are a few strange dark marks and lines on the snaps but they are no more than debris and dust particules in the camera due to heavy field work..... this little girl have a few miles of it!

On the above and below photo, note the heavy structure with squarish and flat head, pencil shaped bill reminescent of Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans and colored like winter adult Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus. The winter head steaking is also restricted to the hindneck and mantle color, although hard to evaluate was paler than any ssp. argenteus I have ever seen, matching Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis and always distinct from the nearby Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis.

On the sequence below note the primary pattern with a few good indicators for American Herring Gull.

From left to right:
1. Visible "bayonet" on P7
2. Visible "bayonet" on P7 and "W" shaped dark band on P5 tip
3. Pattern on P10
4. Pattern on P10
5. Visible "bayonet" on P7, "W" shaped dark band on P5 tip and long pale tongue on P8
6. Pattern on P10
7. P9 pattern and long pale tongue on P8. Black fine line on P10 tip
8. Pattern on P10
9. Pattern on P10
10. Pale tongues on most primaries
11. Pattern on P10
12. Black fine line on P10 tip

Note how the angle of the pale P10 tongue ends in several snaps. It seems to be variable, but the steeply curve on it seems to be intensified by the pattern of the P9 behind.

 

 

 

On most aspects its seems to fit perfectly on American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus, and a few experts on the species agree with the identification...

Now let the 2 and 3cy come!!!!!

Herring Gull at Algés

At southern latitudes than "Brigid" storm, another front is hiting Portugal west coast.

"Stephanie" is at least as fierce, pushing all the gulls inland. At Algés, there were more than 1500 ind. of both Lesser black-backed Gull and Yellow-legged Gull, and thats good numbers!!!! Not seen since the former fishing harbour was turned into a marina.

....gulls trying to feed, hoovering over the sewer exit.....

Herring Gull Larus argentatus, adult.

Lesser black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, HNE ringed by Peter Stewart. Its a winter regular at Algés.

 



Lesser black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 6AC8, ringed by Paul Veron

Lesser black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, 4AX4 ringed by Paul Veron.

Atlantic Storm

The new North Atlantic storm "Brigid" will hit Europe west coast this weekend with  30ft waves and sustained 60mph winds to be expected at southwest tip of Ireland!!

One Ross Gull had already been found in the past hours in Spain NW coast (Pontevedra), what would be the next finding on the Iberian coast?????

Found by Pedro Lopes Moreira at Aveiro harbour today, this thayer/kumlien type gull worths a second check.

Thayers Gull Larus thayeri would be a 1st record for Portugal.

American Herring Gull

Found by Magnus Robb at Sesimbra harbour, this pale Herring could well be the first adult record for mainland Portugal. During this last weeks there as been some effort to scout the beaches and harbours in search of Glaucous and Iceland gulls!!!! This American Herring was without a doubt a good surprise!

 Putative American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus ad.

 

Here with Larus michahellis and Larus fuscus and showing bayonet on P7 and "w" shaped black band on P5.

Kumliens Gull

On the same date at Peniche, 2cy Larus glaucoides kumlieni showing very fresh plumage and darker outer webs of outer primaries.

more solid band on tail than nominate Iceland Gull

2cy Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides glaucoides also at Peniche docapesca.

Glaucous invasion - Part II

Glaucous Gull  Larus hyperboreus, invasion on Atlantic coast is still far from the end....yesterday at Peniche harbour.

 2cy glaucous Gull

 another 2 cy Glaucous Gull.....

 1 adult....

 2 adults.....

5 adults together on the same pier......

At the end of the day: 7 adults, 3 1st winters and 1 2nd winter Glaucous Gull at Peniche harbour. Its certainly not a common sight on our coast!

3cy Herring Gull at Ericeira

Yesterday at Ericeira harbour, a beautiful 3cy Larus argentatus and probably ssp. argenteus.

 here with 3cy Larus michahellis "lusitanius"

 together with 2cy local "lusitanius"