Subject: Please help ID [Print This Page] Author: tbob Time: 24/01/2009 13:41 Subject: Please help ID
Nam Sang Wai 24th Jan 2009
Is this a Brown Headed Gull, it appears to have a white patch near wing tip & legs are showing red colour
Thanks Author: dick Time: 24/01/2009 16:08
Hi Bob,
you photos always good, no matter by digiscoping or DLSR Author: handrew Time: 25/01/2009 09:23
Bob, Brown-headed gull is only a little larger than Black-headed. This looks like a large gull and the mirror pattern suggests Heuglin's or possibly taimyrensis. The head is partially hidden so the extent of streaking isn't visible but I'd guess this is an adult winter bird although the head seems to lack much streaking. It looks too dark for Vega gull and on my monitor the legs look a dirty pink colour. Winter Heuglins shows less streaking than taimyrensis according to Olsen & Larsson so I'd guess that this is a Heuglins. I am of course no expert so I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong (likely!!). Nice picture, too. Andrew Author: tbob Time: 25/01/2009 11:36
Andrew, Thanks for the help. This photo may help with ID, sorry I didn't post it with the earlier shot.
Bob Author: handrew Time: 25/01/2009 15:00
Bob, I'm still just working from a book rather than field knowledge but Olsen & Larsson says of Heuglin's: "Head: in winter (late autumn - March) slightly dark-streaked with coarser dark spots or streaks on hind neck, creating dark necklace. Pattern sometimes includes crown and ear-coverts. Bare parts duller, bill with irregular dark subterminal bar, thus looking three-coloured, but coloration rarely bright. As a result of late moult Heuglin's Gull has winter head and rather fresh white primary tips well into spring when other large gulls have summer head and moderately worn primaries." This bird seems to have quite fresh primaries. Reading back some of Geoff Carey's comments Heuglins would possibly still be moulting its outer primaries at this time. The other option I considered was mongolicus but the large 2nd mirror on P9 isn't visible. I'd wait for an expert to come along! Andrew
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