Cantabrian Gull ~ Ad ~ Larus michahellis lusitanius - Dec' 16

Cantabrian Gull

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Larus michahellis lusitanius

A subspecies of norminate L. michahellis its genes are between michahellis and atlantis.

These birds are from the Basque Country on the northern coast of Spain, photographed at Ondarroa Harbour and Getaria Harbour and beach between 21st and 28th December 2016 ..

Thanks to Antonio Gutierrez for the contact info ..

Thanks to Asier Aldalur for your time given on the two days ..

Thanks to Alfredo Herrero for the ringing details ..

Good to meet Javi Elorriaga, Juan Carlos Andres and Xabi Saralegi ..

L.m. lusitanius are generally smaller, short legged and slightly darker grey mantle tone ..

For images of different ages click links ....
3rd. Winter birds
2nd. Winter birds

Cantabrian Gull ~ Adult

   

Some birds probably females seem to really show off the squart ~ short leg

Ringed in Getaria 2007

Ringed in San Sebastian in 2008

Ringed in Getaria in 2008

Ringed in San Sebastian in 2010

Ringed in Getaria in 2010

This birds P10 mirror is from the larger end of the scale 

Tiny mirror to P9 in inner web ~ Black to P5

Tiny mirror on P9 on inner web of right wing only

No mirror on P9 ~ Tiny black mark on P4 on outer web

No mirror on P9 ~ Tiny black mark on P4 on outer web

Tiny P9 mirror to inner web of right wing

Large mirror to P10 and small on P9

Large mirror to P10 with no sub-terminal band 

Black on outer web of P4

Probable 4cy with No P9 mirrors

No sub-terminal band to P10

P9 mirror on inner web

Over the shoulder look on sand !!

One of my favourite poses ..

Can never have enough images !!

Caspian Gulls ~ 1st. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 31.12.16

Today in dark, overcast conditions it was a good day at The Puddles ...

Nobody about, No disturbance and the gulls stayed settled all afternoon ..

In amougst the feeding frenzy gathered around the bucket of goodies were 3x 1st. Winter Caspian Gulls which were the regular bird, the semi regular bird and a new bird ...

All taken at 3200 iso ...

Regular bird #1

Semi-regular bird #2

New bird #3

Caspian Gull ~ 1st. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 18.12.16

Today was back to dull and overcast with no wind virtually.

Two of yesterdays caspians were about the boats and car park areas with a very brief adult.

Getting set-up today proved a nightmare with the re-shaping of the beach, high tide and a fishing comp meant that the only place to get the gulls settled for least disturbance was the car park area ..

One of todays 1st. W birds ...

Here are the birds for the weekend ..

Casp #1

Casp #2

Casp #3

Caspian Gulls ~ 1st. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 17.12.16

With at least 3 Caspian Gulls around the fishing boats this afternoon in glorious sunshine, and with no wind the sea was flat and took on the deep blue colour of the sky, something i'm not fond of in my images unless the kelvin is adjusted ...

Herring Gull ~ 2nd. W ~ Dungeness, Kent - 10.12.16

 A very dark, overcast day with south-westerly winds.

 A reasonable amount of gulls came in for the offerings, but it was later in the afternoon when this bird showed up ..

First was a rather big 2nd. winter bird that had a slightly dropped wing which didn't restrict its flight but that wing looked stiff as it flew ..
Total got the id of this one wrong, my first impression was cach but a few features didn't quite fit and even though knowing something wasn't right I still stuck to cachinnans.
A few of you steered me in the right direction RB, DS & AB thanks for your input ...

Herring Gull ~ 2nd. W

A big bird when alongside another Herring ...

Here the dropped wing is noticable ...

Just look at that superb tail pattern !!!

Then last thing in came a 1st. winter when the light had completely gone ..