This first-winter, moulting into first-summer Mediterranean Gull has been hanging around the duck feeding platform at Ferry Meadows CP in Peterborough for the past couple of weeks. It doesn't really seem to do a lot, just bobs around on the water, but the other day I managed to get a few shots of it in flight, which show the distinctive wing pattern and also the the partially moulted and re-grown tail feathers marking out its' age.
This species of gull has three age groups ; juvenile, first-winter/summer, second-winter/summer and third-winter/adult. The bird above is aged by its' partial hood on the head, slightly paler upper wing, moulting of its' tail feathers (shown in photos below)and the scaly appearance of the median coverts. A bird that is slightly bigger than a Black-headed Gull with a heavier bill and darker legs.
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| Note the the difference in the tail feathers |
Lovely images John. Unfortunately I probably wouldn't have given this one a second glance, thinking it to be a second year common gull or something.
ReplyDeleteThanks Roy!
DeleteI am sure that's not true! I must admit, it was easier looking for it knowing it was there! (if that makes sense!)
J
The bird looks very different in flight than it does on the water. It's neck seems to disappear!
ReplyDeleteIt is very 'bull-necked' isn't it? A lot of gulls seem to have necks that disappear in flight, don't know why?!
DeleteJ