Gulls – What a “Mish Mash”

Whilst watching the juvenile Glaucous Gull on Saturday 16th January at Jackson’s Landing, Hartlepool, I couldn’t resist the opportunity of photographing an array of young Herring Gulls, in various ages of plumage. From 1st winter through to adults and also, most probably, of the two sub-species that we get in Britain during the winter. The race that we are familiar with is ssp argenteus, but the Northern European race, argentatus, which is bigger and heavier in appearance, visits our shores during the winter months in large numbers.

Ageing most Gulls is a real challenge and can prove to be an absolute nightmare. Gulls are amongst the most variable of birds in their plumage and there is a large zone of intergrades between birds from northern Europe and those from western Europe and Great Britain. Often it can be impossible to identify them to sub-species.

Identifying gulls is one of the most rewarding challenges in bird identification, a real learning experience on almost every occasion they are encountered. They offer “Cutting Edge” identification opportunities and this was proven very recently, when both Glaucous-winged Gull and Vega Gull were discovered in Ireland, by local observers, who were Gull Watching at the time. Two extremely rare vagrants to western Europe, both first records for Ireland and the Vega Gull, a first for the Western Palearctic, it doesn’t get much better than that!

I’m by no means an expert on ageing gulls, but you only become an expert by spending time with these enigmatic birds and having a go. Yes, plenty of mistakes will be made, but that is the learning curve. Martin Garner wrote, in my copy of his book – Birding Frontiers – Challenge Series “Winter” – “There’s more to be discovered”. He is absolutely right.

I would value any comments on the below.

Herring Gull – adult winter – ssp argenteus

Herring Gull – adult winter – ssp argenteus – angles and light conditions can impact on size, shape and plumage colour.

Herring Gull – 2nd winter – ssp argenteus

Herring Gull – 1st winter – possibly ssp argentatus – above two images of same bird.

Herring Gull – 1st winter – probably ssp argenteus

Herring Gull – 1st winter – probably ssp argentatus – Note white head, heavy thick dark bill, dark solid centres to tertials, dark chocolate brown primaries.                                                      Overall appearance rather like a diminutive Great Black-backed Gull?

Herring Gull – 2nd winter – ssp argentatus – White head contrasting with rest of plumage, pale tip to bill, dark eye, dark centres to tertials, broad white tertial tips

Herring Gull – 2nd winter – ssp argenteus

Herring Gull – 2nd winter ssp argenteus – a really neat and distinctively marked individual, quite unlike the other 2nd winter birds.