Final impressions of sand suppletion activities at Noordwijk aan Zee (NL) – 20130623

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 23, 2013 sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

Tomorrow the sand suppletion activities at the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee in The Netherlands are supposedly coming to an end.

Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

I’ve had the chance to visit on 4 separate occasions and the spectacle of seeing (and hearing) thousands of gulls at a short distance never ceased to impress me.

I still have many photos and observations to work through which I will cover in upcoming posts, but let me start by showing some videos and photos of what the scene looked like this weekend.

Enjoy…

Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

Thank you Noordwijk, it was great!

Noordwijk aan Zee, sand suppletion works – 20130615

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 16, 2013 herring gull 2cy lesser black-backed gull 1cy lesser black-backed gull 3cy lesser black-backed gull adult leucism sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

Because I had such a good time visiting the sand suppletion works at the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee on Friday (see Noordwijk aan Zee, sand suppletion works – 20130614), I decided to go back on Saturday as well.

Here are some impressions of the activities over there:

Sand suppletion works on the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Ring readings

Many ringed individuals were present again. I managed to read 37 color rings: 7 Herring Gulls, 29 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull. Countries ranged from Belgium (5), Netherlands (28), Norway (1), Great-Britain (1), France (1), and Spain (1).

Highlight was the Spanish ring on a second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Here are some of the ringed and unringed individuals that I took photos of:

Second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, ringed in Malaga, Spain. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with French ring Red 134K. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull Green K.YAY, ringed in the colony of Vlieland. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Third-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull Green Y.AWA, ringed in the nearby colony of IJmuiden. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Second-calendar year European Herring Gull Green P.R. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Fourth-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull White 2.9. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Partly-leucistic Lesser Black-backed Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Noordwijk aan Zee, sand suppletion works – 20130614

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 14, 2013 caspian gull 2cy caspian gull 3cy lesser black lesser black-backed gull 1cy lesser black-backed gull 3cy leucism sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

Thousands of gulls have been gathering at the Dutch coastal town of Noordwijk aan Zee the last couple of weeks due to the sand suppletion work that is bringing them rich sea food on a platter.

Today I finally had time to go and have a look myself and quite a spectacle it was. At least 5000 gulls were present: mostly Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, together with a hand full of Greater Black-backed Gulls and a couple of Caspian Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Black-headed Gulls.

Gulls at the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

It was interesting to see that about 90% or so were sub-adults (mostly 2nd-calendar years and 3rd-calender years).

Second-calendar year Herring Gull (front left) with second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull (front right). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Second-calendar year Herring Gull (front left) with second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull (front center). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Many ringed individuals could be observed as well, I managed to read 34 color rings: 14 Herring Gulls, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Greater Black-backed Gulls and 1 Caspian Gull. Countries ranged from Holland (22), Belgium (2), Germany (2), Great-Britain (3, including 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull from the Guernsey Islands – my first), Denmark (1), Spain (1), Norway (3).

Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Y.AMN from the colony of nearby IJmuiden. Noordijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Y.AMN from the colony of nearby IJmuiden. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with white greater primary covert. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Third-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull with color ring from Spain. Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Third-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull with color ring from Spain. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Leucistic Lesser Black-backed Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

One nice sighting was Green K.AKN: a third-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull that I last saw in 2011 when we ringed it in the gull colony of Texel, The Netherlands.

First-calendar year Lesser Blacked Gull, Green K.AKN, Texel, The Netherlands 16 July 2011.

Herring Gull

This adult Herring Gull seems to have taken a color bath and a mud bath… Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Caspian Gulls

A few individuals were present, including 2nd-calendar year White C+, which I immediately recognized as and individual that was ringed in February this year in Amsterdam (more photos on Gull Research). It is interesting to see that it is still in the area.

2nd-Calendar year Caspian Gull with ring White C+. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

To end this report, this beautiful 3rd-calendar year Caspian Gull:

3rd-Calendar year Caspian Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

More to come…

Needless to say that I really enjoyed myself today. The plan is to go back tomorrow…

Sand suppletion activities at Katwijk aan Zee off to a good start

By Maarten van Kleinwee October 15, 2013 suppletion Katwijk 2013/2014

After the spectacle in June at Noordwijk aan Zee (see blog posts) we were happy to learn that more sand suppletion activities were going to take place just a few kilometers south at the beach of Katwijk aan Zee, very near to where I live. What’s more, the activities will take place until the end of March 2014 (!). Needless to say we are eager to see what gulls it will bring us this winter.

This week, the activities started and tonight I had my first opportunity to go over there to have a look.

Types of gull present are: Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and possibly Mediterranean Gull.

Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

German-ringed Caspian Gull

Within minutes of scanning the large group I had my first major sighting: a first-calendar year Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans wearing a Green color ring originating from Germany.

First-calendar year Caspian Gull ringed as Green XMDK. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

First-calendar year Caspian Gull (seen here long-calling in characteristic albatros posture) ringed as Green XMDK. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

Unfortunately he was at quite a distance away. Hopefully I will be able to take more photos of him this weekend at a closer range.

More impressions

Thousands of gulls on the beach: a beautiful sight!

Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

Gull behavior

The main area where the gulls are resting is a few hundred meters to the north of where the activities are taking place. I found it interesting to see the gulls moving from one location to the other in a group formation and following the row of houses along the boulevard.

Gull movement up the beach. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 October 2013.

Expect more posts about Katwijk to follow over the coming months! 😉

Ring-reading bonanza in Katwijk aan Zee – 20130915

By Maarten van Kleinwee September 15, 2013 chroicocephalus ridibundus larus argentatus larus cachinnans larus cachinnans 1cy larus cachinnans 2cy larus fuscus larus fuscus 2cy

I spent this weekend ring reading in the coastal town of Katwijk aan Zee where many hundreds of gulls were present, probably because of the high amount of food that is carried towards the beach due to the prevailing strong winds of the last couple of days.

After feeding on the beach, the gulls move to a canal a few hundred meters inland where they can preen and rest while taking shelter from the wind. It is a place where they can be observed well, so I spent 1,5 hours on Saturday and another 3 hours on Sunday reading rings and generally observing gulls.

Katwijk aan Zee, Binnenwatering, 14 September 2013.

On a few occasions, the whole group took flight, giving good views of the number of gulls present. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 September 2013.

On a few occasions the whole group took flight, thereby providing good views of the number of gulls present. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 September 2013.

This video gives an idea of the long stretch of gulls that could be seen:

Ringed Gulls

When I went out there on Saturday I was expecting to see only a handful of ringed individuals. I was pleasantly surprised therefore to return with 12 rings read on Saturday and another 22 on Sunday.

Interestingly, none of the rings that I read on Sunday included those that I had read on Saturday.

The 34 observations broke down as follows:

Countries: The Netherlands 23x, Germany 4x, Norway 3x, Denmark 3x, Poland 1x

Species: Lesser Black-backed Gull 23x, Herring Gull 12x, Nordic Lesser Black-backed Gull 2x, Black-headed Gull 1x, Caspian Gull 1x

Ages: 1st calendar year 21x, second calendar year 5x, 4th calendar year 1x, adult 7x.

Caspian Gulls

My highlights of this weekend were 2 Caspian Gulls Larus cachinnans: a first-calendar year on Saturday in beautiful 1st-winter plumage, and a second-calendar year on Sunday that was ringed in Poland.

First-calendar year Caspian Gull. Katwijk aan Zee, 14 September 2013.

Second-calendar year Caspian Gull, ringed as Yellow PKNN. Katwijk aan Zee, 15 September 2013.

Reacquaintances

Most of the ringed gulls were new to me, but a few of them I had seen before:

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black JM4E, first seen at the sand suppletion activities at Noordwijk aan Zee in June:

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull with Norwegian ring Black JM4E, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

Herring Gull, Yellow E261/Yellow E, a known individual which I have observed in my home town of Leiden on many occasions.

European Herring Gull, ringed as Yellow E261/Yellow E when I last saw it in Leiden on 23 July 2013.

Black-headed Gull, White E8YX, an individual that spends the winter in The Netherlands and which showed an interesting wing pattern in March 2011.

Black-headed Gull ringed as White E8YX, seen here in March 2011, displaying interesting black marks on the alula and primary coverts. I last saw this individual in March this year.

Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gulls at Noordwijk

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 27, 2013 larus cachinnans larus cachinnans 2cy larus cachinnans 3cy larus michahellis larus michahellis 2cy sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, sand suppletion activities.

Yellow-legged Gull

Splendid looking second-calendar year Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

Caspian Gulls

Second-calendar year (same individual)

Second-calendar year Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

Second-calendar year Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

Third-calendar year (same individual)

Third-calendar year Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

Third-calendar year Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

2 Baltic Gulls instead of 1 at Noordwijk – 20130622

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 25, 2013 larus fuscus fuscus larus fuscus fuscus 2cy sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

On Saturday June 22 I photographed a second-calendar year Baltic Gull Larus fuscus fuscus on the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, together with fellow birder and gull enthusiast Martijn Bot.

Twenty minutes later, we again photographed a second-calendar year Baltic Gull, this time just off the beach at the base of a dune but close to where we took our first photos. At the time we believed that we photographed the same bird twice, especially because of the similarities in appearance: a dark brown bird with yellow bill, yellow-tinged legs, and with fully replaced wing and tail feathers.

After posting our photos on our web sites (here’s a link to Martijn’s photos), feedback started to appear on a Dutch forum about the slight variations in plumage that could be seen.

Now, after studying all the photos that I took in more detail, I firmly believe that we did indeed see 2 different individuals!

Comparison

Let me talk you through the differences between bird #1 which we photographed on the beach and bird #2 which we photographed near the dunes.

Overall appearance

Bird #1

Long and elongated appearance with a pronounced breast (male?)
Rather long bill
Dark, uniform looking scapulars and wing coverts (but photos taken in dark conditions and light drizzle)
Distinctive streaking at the top of the head
Tertials with a dark center and broad white fringe

Bird #1. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bird #2

Body shape less bulky, comes across as smaller (female?).
Bill slightly shorter than individual #1.
Most scapulars and wing coverts look lighter in color (but this may be partly influenced by better lighting conditions and a difference in photo processing) and seem more patterned/less evenly colored. They contrast with darker looking (3rd-generation?) feathers.
Only slight streaking is visible on the top of the head.
The tertials are more patterned and have a smaller white fringe.

Bird #2. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Upper wing pattern

The central greater coverts in the right wing of bird #1 are much darker than the inner and outer greater coverts, something which bird #2 does not show (this characteristic is actually what triggered the feedback on the forum and made us look closer at our photos).

Bird #1

Bird #1 showing dark central greater coverts in the right wing. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bird #2

Bird #2 shows no such color difference in the greater coverts on the right wing. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Underwing pattern

Bird #1 seems to display a lighter underwing than bird #2, but because of the different lighting conditions and angles I find it difficult to make a definitive conclusion.

Bird #1

Underwing pattern of left wing in Bird #1. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bird #2

Under wing pattern of left wing in Bird #2. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Upper tail coverts and tail pattern

One of the more distinctive differences between the 2 individuals is visible in the upper tail coverts where bird #1 shows a much whiter and less barred pattern than bird #2. Although difficult to see, the pattern on the outer tail feathers also seems different.

Bird #1

View on the upper tail coverts of Bird #1. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bird #2

View on the upper tail coverts of Bird #2. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Lower body pattern

Another distinctive feature is the pattern on the lower body, especially on the flanks towards the tail. In bird #1 this area is largely unpatterned whereas in bird #2 a dark pattern is visible.

Bird #1

View of the lower body of bird #1. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bird #2

View of the lower body of bird #2. 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Bill coloration and pattern

The bills of both birds seem to be equally brightly colored and with a black tip that is of equal size. In bird #2 slightly more of the gonys spot is visible but because both birds were photographed from different sides it is hard to compare the bill pattern.

Leg color

Again, difficult to judge from my photos but if anything I would say that the legs of bird #1 are more yellow than those of bird #2.

Why did we not spot this ourselves?

I can’t talk for Martijn of course, but up until today it hadn’t occurred to me that we were dealing with different individuals, let alone that I had to look for any differences. And because I wasn’t expecting to see any differences, I wasn’t looking for them. This was also fueled by the fact that both birds were seen from different sides, which makes comparing differences in features more difficult.

When I went to Noordwijk that day, my main objective was indeed to try and find a second-calendar year Baltic Gull, knowing that several individuals had been seen at that location already, but never more than one at a time. The individuals that had been seen up to that moment all looked very different, from pale brown and white-headed to dark brown, white-headed and with a greenish bill base,

I also knew that if I was going to see one I needed a fair dose of luck because we are talking about spotting a single individual in a flock of 5000+ gulls.

When we did eventually spot one and later another which looked very similar, we immediately assumed that it was the same individual, mainly I think because we were expecting to see one of the white-headed individuals.

In conclusion

So it turns out that Noordwijk has given us a nice surprise by letting us see not one but two rare Baltic Gulls that day (albeit with a little help from some friendly directions on the forum for which I am grateful).

References

Martijn’s compilation of the differences

Presumed 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull at Noordwijk (NL) – 20130622

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 22, 2013 baltic gull 2cy identification larus fuscus fuscus larus fuscus fuscus 2cy sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee wing moult

A beautiful second-calendar year (presumed) Baltic Gull Larus fuscus fuscus was present today at the sand suppletion works at Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.

Presumed 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Presumed 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Presumed 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull (center, bottom) among Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Presumed 2nd-calendar year Baltic Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 Jun 2013.

Why presumed?

Baltic Gulls are a rare species and can officially only be determined when a proven background is available (meaning: it has to be fitted a ring and has to have a known background). However, because of their advanced moult sequence compared with Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus intermedius and Western Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus graellsii, Baltic Gulls of a certain age and during a certain time of the year can be determined down to sub-species with a high degree of certainty.

This is certainly true for second-calendar year Baltic Gulls in the month of June. The individual in the photos shows a distinctive yellow bill and yellow coloration in the legs, but this also occurs in similarly aged graellsii and intermedius. What sets it apart though as a pretty much definite Baltic gull are the fully replaced wing coverts, secondaries, primaries and tail feathers.

References

Field identification criteria for second calendar-year Baltic Gull

Second-calendar year Baltic Gull in June (Gull Research)

5CY Lesser Black-backed Gull Green YAWC – 20150615

By Maarten van Kleinwee June 16, 2015 larus fuscus graellsii larus fuscus graellsii 3cy larus fuscus graellsii 4cy larus fuscus graellsii 5cy larus fuscus graellsii adult

Images of Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii (Dutch intergrade) at various ages: as a 5th-calendar year, a 4th-calendar year and a 3rd-calendar year.

It was ringed as Green YAWC in the gull colony of IJmuiden (Forteiland), the Netherlands as a chick in July 2011.

5th calendar year

Gull colony of IJmuiden (Forteiland), the Netherlands, 15 June 2015.

Note the 2 black spots in the tail and the large amount of black in the greater primary coverts.

4th calendar year

Katwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, 27 September 2014. It stayed here for a few days after which it was observed in Belgium at the end of October and in Spain and Portugal at the end of December.

In non-breeding plumage. Note the multi-colored bill, the dull yellow legs and the striation on the head.

3rd calendar year

Noordwijk aan Zee beach, the Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

As a typical 3rd-calendar year in June with much brown in the coverts, dull yellow legs and much black on the bill.

A study of 2nd-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gulls in June

By Maarten van Kleinwee July 5, 2013 larus fuscus fuscus larus fuscus fuscus 2cy sand suppletion Noordwijk aan Zee

A selection of second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus, photographed during the sand suppletion activities at the beach of Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, June 2013.

Individuals were scored on replaced primaries, secondaries, wing coverts and tail feathers. A large variation can be observed.

larus fuscus graellsii types

Characteristics of this type include:

Wing coverts usually completely 1st generation with only a small number of 2nd generation feathers
Tail feathers 1st generation (at the most with an outer 2nd-generation feather)
Body and head boldly patterned
Bill mostly black

Bird #1

Almost all median coverts have been dropped, P1 and P2 are new, P3 and P4 are missing and/or growing, P5 – P10 1st generation. All secondaries 1st generation, tail 1st generation. Primary moult score 12 (5511000000).

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Bird #2

Most median coverts have been dropped, P1 and P2 are half grown, P3 and P4 are missing, P5 – P10 1st generation. Primary moult score 8 (3311000000). All secondaries 1st generation, tail 1st generation.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Bird #3

All wing coverts present and 1st generation, P1 and P2 have been dropped, P3 – P10 1st generation.
Primary moult score 8 (3311000000). All secondaries 1st generation, tail 1st generation.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Bird #4

All wing coverts 1st generation, most median coverts have been dropped, all secondaries 1st generation, all tail feathers 1st generation. P1 – P3 missing and/or growing, P4 – P10 1st generation. Primary moult score 3 (1110000000). White body and upper tail coverts.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Bird #5

Almost all median wing coverts 2nd generation, all other wing coverts 1st generation, all secondaries 1st generation, all tail feathers 1st generation. P1 and P2 fully grown, P3 almost fully grown, P4 and P5 missing and/or growing. Primary moult score 16 (5541100000). Much barring on body and head.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

Bird #6

Some median wing coverts 2nd generation while some of them have been dropped, all secondaries 1st generation, all tail feathers 1st generation. P1 and P2 almost fully grown, P3 – P5 missing and/or growing. Primary moult score 11 (4411100000). Much barring on the body, contrasting with the white head.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

Bird #7

All median coverts 2nd generation, most lesser coverts 2nd generation, greater coverts second generation or dropped, all secondaries 1st generation except S1 which is new and half grown. P1 – P5 fully grown, P6 almost fully grown, P7 missing and/or growing. Primary moult score 29 (5555541000). Much barring on the body and head.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

larus fuscus intermedius types

Characteristics of this type include:

Extensive moult (performed on the wintering grounds), including most/all wing-coverts and tertials
Some/all tail feathers 2nd generation
Tail band black instead of brown (as for graellsii)
Body and head less boldly patterned than graellsii
Bill lighter colored

Black JM4E

Individual ringed in Stavanger, Norway in September 2012 as a first-calendar year.

All greater coverts second generation, all median coverts second generation or dropped, some lesser coverts second generation, all secondaries first generation, P1 and P2 fully grown, P3 half grown, P4– P5 missing and/or growing, P6 – P10 first generation. Primary moult score: 16 (5511130000)

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull with Norwegian ring Black JM4E, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 23 June 2013.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull with Norwegian ring Black JM4E, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 22 June 2013.

Bird #8

All wing coverts replaced, all secondaries replaced except S1 and S2, all tail feathers replaced. P1 and P2 are fully grown, P3 is missing and/or growing, P4 – P10 1st generation. Primary moult score 11 (5510000000).

Second-calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull. Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 16 June 2013.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 14 June 2013.

Bird #9

Inner wing coverts replaced, all secondaries 1st generation, all tail feathers replaced. P1 almost fully grown, P2 half grown, P3 – P10 1st generation. Primary moult score 7 (4300000000).

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

2nd-Calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, 15 June 2013.

Bird #10

More than half of the median coverts 2nd generation, a few lesser coverts 2nd generation, inner greater coverts second generation, all secondaries 1st generation, all tail feathers second generation. P1 and P2 missing and/or growing, P3 – P10 1st generation. Primary moult score 2 (1100000000). Body and head mostly white.