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

(last update: 26-2-2011)

Larus fuscus fuscus adult C9S0 October 2009, January 2010 & February 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

C9S0 was ringed as pullus on 18 July 1997 at Savonranta, Finland (62.3711, 29.2607) by ringer Petri Palvianen. In 2009, it was in 13cy, and in all respects it is a textbook winter plumage nominate Larus fuscus, with unstreaked head, clean bill, and long slender jizz.

A very dark, brown-black adult. Slender bird with pointed long wings when resting.

below: C9S0 October 02 2009, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

Primary moult stage not described in the field, but bird seen again early January at end of the primary moult (therefore probably P1-P2 already replaced). First inner greater covert, inner median coverts and several inner lower lesser coverts missing, indicating that complete moult may well have been started in this individual. All visible outer primaries old: P5-P10 old.

below: C9S0 January 02 2010, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

P8 fully grown, P9 is growing and at about 1/2th of its final length, P10 is just visible. Active moult in the secondaries, with S1-S5 replaced, S6-S8 growing and a moult gap. Central secondaries still old. The secondary row is moulted from two locations: the first moult wave starts at S1 (outermost secondary, next to the first primary P1). Shortly later, another secondary moult wave will start from the body, outwards. The two waves will meet at about S16-S18. Tail complete and new.

below: C9S0 February 04 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

Moult stage similar as last year. Length of P8 and P9 same, and P10 still to grow a few inches.

below: C9S0 February 26 2011, Ashdod, Israel. Pictures Amir Ben Dov.

Moult stage: P10 fully grown.