nominate Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. f. fuscus)

(last update: 26-2-2011)

Larus fuscus / Larus heuglini U0JD March 2010 - March 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Barred 2cy Baltic Gull Larus fuscus or Heuglin's Gull L. heuglini red "U0JD" in active moult by March. Controversal bird, as it developed into a very pale-grey backed bird, while pattern on 2nd gen scapulars and coverts, jizz and streaking on head may better match fuscus. Alternative option: bird born in N Norway where dark-backed and pale-backed Larus fuscus meet and may form mixed pairs.

below: 2cy U0JD March 30 2010, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Wing-coverts and scapulars very barred, lacking plain dark grey feathers.

below: 2cy U0JD March 26 2010, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Wing-coverts and scapulars very barred, lacking plain dark grey feathers.

below: 2cy U0JD December 31 2010, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

More adult-like feathers turn out to be pale grey. A small minority of Finnish birds become this pale. See e.g.: CYHP.

below: 3cy U0JD February 12 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

After replacing the two inner primaries, moult didnot continue after December.

below: 3cy U0JD February 26 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Two inner primaries replaced in the right wing; outermost secondary (S1) and P2 replaced in the left wing.

below: 3cy U0JD 'look-alike unringed', March 08 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

U0JD, being very coarsly patterned on the head, and pale grey on the mantle, is not the only such an individual that can be found at Ashdod. Sometimes Air photographs look-alikes; unringed but quite similar birds. Below, some images of such birds, which may be either pale fuscus or heavily pattrned heuglini (or hybrids?).

First image below: bird in the background, asleep.

Bird below, same date, 08 March. Probably heuglini.

below: 3cy U0JD March 08 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Bird in active secondary moult.

below: 3cy U0JD March 12 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Bird in active secondary moult.

below: 3cy U0JD March 25 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures: Amir Ben Dov.

Bird in active secondary moult.