© A. R. Dean

© A. R. Dean

A 3cy (2W) michahellis in early-February. Note the clean and prominent dark grey 'saddle' and relatively dark wings, including plain outer greater coverts and very dark primary coverts. The head is white with limited streaking. The rump and upper tail coverts are also white while dark tail band is confined to the outer feathers. At this age, in flight, Yellow-legged Gulls can recall an over-sized 1W Common Gull. The lower image shows this individual in flight with a similarly aged  (3cy / 2W) Herring Gull (and an adult Lesser Black-back). The Herring Gull shows paler saddle, much less contrasting and more diffuse plumage overall, extensive brown streaking on head and complete tail-band.