Hi there
I have to admit that I find ID-ing gulls one of the most difficult things to do with bird watching
The Juvs 1st and 2nd year confuse me no end {confused}
I have posted some pictures of gulls some of which are easy to ID and others I struggle with
Love to hear what people have to say about them
Pictures posted next .. when the links are not so slow!
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Blackbird
Opening myself up to complete criticism I reckon you are right on all your calls and according to my booook, I think the juvs are first winter birds!!! know your enemy that's what I say! bet I'm wrong but had fun looking it up!
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Kezmo
Please do not worry as I can tell that Gulls are the hardest bird to ID on this planet as they are!
So I thought this thread would help us as members to work out what species are what!
Just a bit of moral support here so we can help one another any day!
Simple as that - no competition at all LOL {smile}
I agree entirely, I'm not competitive at all, especially with me as I am getting to know more birds than I did before I joined the community these threads really help me and I find them very interesting. When I said "know your enemy", I was referring to my dive bombing experience in that should it happen again I really should know which type of gull is coming at me! LOL - although I do freely admit I can't compare to the rest of you who seem to know so much but I am quite happy to have a shot at guesses even if they are wrong and in my case there will be so many {huge grin}.
Now I'm rambling!, let's get back to the gull, could the juvs be first winter gulls?
Thank for your reply
Lots of Gulls diving, and it is not going to a mess about with a lot of people walking about the erea,
Just lots of combs and Hairspay to kill of the Gull dive bombing.any day! LOL only joking!!
No Kezmo -, you are not rambling just being factual simple as that!!!
What you feel comfortable with counts at the end of the day - no matter what!
Love to help those who are lost, and share information here.
I would love the moderators to assist here with their explanations too!!
Hi All, I haven't a clue which gull is which (yet) but I know that they are thieving little devils. When I was in Jersey a couple of years ago one stole my ice-cream. It flew down and swiped it straight out of my hand. I had only just bought it too. It didn't even let me have a lick first!!!
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Unknown said: Hi All, I haven't a clue which gull is which (yet) but I know that they are thieving little devils. When I was in Jersey a couple of years ago one stole my ice-cream. It flew down and swiped it straight out of my hand. I had only just bought it too. It didn't even let me have a lick first!!!
That was probably a Herring Gull as they are well known for this tactic especially when young children are involved!!
As a species I have never forgiven them for stealing my banoffee pie several years back when we were on holiday in St Ives (Cornwall), I can harbour a grudge for a long while where food is concerned.
We were on the beach and had just got some cakes for dinner and as we were trying to organise 2 young children one of the evil creatures swooped down and had it out of the shopping bag. After flying a few metres away, just far enough so it could still torment me it proceeded to remove the pie from the paper bag and eat it in front of my tear soaked eyes!!!!!!!
I really must try and get over this event, but every time I eat banoffee pie I can't help thinking about the one that got away:-)
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins
Hi ND, Your story did make me laugh and thanks for identyfying my thief. I'll think of you next time I have banoffee pie ;)
Hi ND and Kezmo - me too!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
As a good friend of mine once said
"Waders 5 years, warblers take 10 years and gulls never"...
The only way to master gull identifications is to be out there looking and obsevring them in the field. look for differences in structure and moult.
Some of the larger gull species such as herring gulls have 5 plumage stages or ages i.e. Juvenile, 1st year - all the way up to 4th year birds, difficult enough yet? well within this, different birds moult at different stages dependant on there range in latitude. So pour example, birds breeding further south will generally commence breeding earlier than those further north, and so the post breeding moult will be observed at different times as well. If you were to sight a very tidy brilliant white looking herring gull at the moment its more likely in fact a yellow-legged gull. Our resident herring gulls are still in moult and will be more dusky and tatty in appearance.. hope that makes sense! :)
Clear as mud Lloyd! ;-)
(Joking of course! It makes sense, but doesn't help me much I'm afraid! Lol!!)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr