Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis3cy, late-May & early-June 2010, Warwickshire |
© A. R. Dean
Note smooth, dark grey mantle and scapulars, with new grey feathers emerging also in median and greater coverts. The innermost primaries and an outer tail-feather have been dropped, signalling the onset of moult into third-winter plumage. Note also: pattern of tertials (with solid blackish base); black tail-band contrasting with clean white base to tail and tail-coverts; dark mottling on underwing; pale 'window' on inner primaries (intermediate in prominence between LBB and Herring Gull); clean white head and underbody; powerful bill and rather flat-topped head-shape; red orbital ring surrounding iris. Bare parts are quite advanced, with strong yellow component in legs and rich yellow bill with red spot developing on gonys but prominent sub-terminal black band retained.
On several dates in May and June, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Yellow-legged Gull appeared to forming an association. See lowest image.
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