Wednesday 23 January 2008

Kumlien’s Gull - Larus [glaucoides] kumlieni - Kumliens Måge

Straight forward Kumlien's Gull

Identified as Kumlien’s Gulls because they have dark shading on the outer webs of p6-p10 reaching the the primary tips.

kumlieni, 3cy, 5.2.2012, Hirtshals Harbour

kumlieni, 4cy, 5.2.2012, Hanstholm Harbour

kumlieni, 4cy, 5.2.2012, Hirtshals Harbour


Putative Kumlien's Gull

Identified as a putative Kumlien’s Gull due to the fact that there is subtle dark shading on the outer webs of p6-p10, a faint 'ghost mirror' on P10 and the faint dark shading on p6-p9 reach the primary tips.

kumlieni, 4cy, 4.2.2012, Hvide Sande Harbour


Possible Kumlien’s Gull

Most have rather dark peppered eyes, light gray marbling on outer webs of outer primaries, faint pigmentation along the tip of the outer primaries (subterminal bands) and in several individuals photos give the impression of a diluted version of a “string of pearls”

glaucoides, 3cy, 4.2.2012, Hvide Sande Harbour

glaucoides, 3cy, 5.2.2012, Roshage, Hanstholm

glaucoides, 4cy, 4.2.2012, Hvide Sande Harbour

glaucoides, 4cy, 5.2.2012, Hanstholm Harbour

glaucoides, 4cy, 5.2.2012, Hirtshals Harbour

glaucoides, 5cy, 5.2.2012, Hirtshals Harbour

glaucoides, 5cy, 5.2.2012, Hirtshals Harbour


Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides), 4cy, 18.1-28.3.2003 Aarhus Harbor

Some believe this is a Kumlien's Gull based on the patterns on the outer primaries together with the strong and heavy appearance, relatively strong bill and the extreme nicotine-brown shawl. However, others find that a heavily pigmented Iceland Gull due to the low quality pictures of especially the flying bird cannot be ruled out.

After seeing this Glaucous-winged Gull in the same harbour I felt some déjà vu because of the fine ‘cross hatching’ in the brown shawl. When the glaucescens and this white-winged gull was seen at close range the brownish breast, neck and head was all covered with fine distinct transverse bars, most prominent in the breast streaking.




Kumliens Gull, 1.2.2003, Aarhus East Harbor, 3 photos. Photographer: Carl Erik Mabeck




Kumliens Gull, 4.2.2003, Aarhus East Harbor, 2 photos. Photographer: Peter Nielsen














Kumliens Gull, 6.2.2003, Aarhus East Harbor, 12 photos. Photographer: Peter Nielsen



Kumliens Gull, 11.2.2003, Aarhus East Harbor, 1 photo. Photographer: Henrik Laust Bøhmer

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Common Gull – Larus canus – Stormmåge

Age Class: Denmark

Common Gull 1cy

Common Gull 2cy

Common Gull 3cy


Age Class: Norway

Common Gull 2cy February plumage variation in Norway


Individual observations:


Themes:

Common Gull with white mirror in p10 - 1 cy

Common Gull with juvenile plumage in late winter - 2005

Common Gull with juvenile plumage in late winter - 2005

Common Gull with juvenile plumage in late winter - 2011

Common Gull with heavy structure and large size - 2cy

Common Gull with extensive dusky head-streaking - ad

Common Gull with unstreaked white head in winter - ad


Subspecies heinei:

Larus canus heinei, ad, 8.1.2009, Universitetsparken, Aarhus

Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 17.2.2005, Aarhus East Harbor

This Common Gull deviates from the normal late winter canus with the plumage being dominated by high numbers of juvenile feathers. This could indicate a bird belonging to at late breeding northern most population or one could speculate whether it could be a heinei but at the same time acknowledge that such identification is highly speculative without biometrics.

Note especially in these flight shots the extensive bold chevrons on both upper- and under tail coverts, the rump has some dark streaking and there is barring on the outer tail feathers. Another similar "moult retarded" Common Gull was seen at the same site just few days before.








Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 11.2.2005, Aarhus East Harbor

This Common Gull deviates from the normal late winter canus with the plumage being highly dominated by juvenile feathers. This could indicate a bird belonging to a northern late breeding canus population or one could speculate whether it could be an eastern heinei but at the same time acknowledge that such identification is highly speculative without biometrics.

Features that suite heinei though without being diagnostic are:
1) long-winged appearance where the very long and slender wings are held slightly dropped on standing gull. On folded wing p5 is obviously exposed behind the longest tertials in a degree rarely mirrored by any canus and p10 is the longest primary
2) retarded moult in February with massive presence of juvenile feathers in upperparts only seen elsewhere rarely on late northern canus breeders
3) heavy markings and barring on hind neck, breast and along flanks where canus often has finer markings and a more striated patterns without the washed out appearance of this gull. Underparts heavier marked with massive barring more than on typical for canus
4) extensive bold chevrons on both upper- and under tail coverts, the rump has some dark streaking and there is barring on the outer tail feathers
5) more contrast in upper wing than on typical canus with lesser upperwing coverts darker brown than in canus and greater upperwing coverts darker brownish-tinged with weak dark subterminal spot and gradually darker towards outer coverts (most obvious in flight)
6) axillaries more barred than on typical canus
7) stronger and heavier than the average canus in direct comparison with heavy breast and beer belly in flight.
8) the bill is heavier and more parallel-edged relative to canus in direct comparison

Features not associated with heinei are the essentially sooty brown feather tips on underwing coverts where heinei are known to have paler underwing than canus and this gull actually has broader sooty brown feather edges on the underwing than canus. Photos of another similar "moult retarded" Common Gull that was seen at the same site just few days later are here and on netfugl.

Such a heavy and long-winged bird still in fresh and juvenile plumage this late in winter at least belongs to a late breeding fare northern population








Common Gull (Larus canus) 3cy



Common Gull (Larus canus), 3cy, 10.2.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 3 photos



Common Gull (Larus canus), 3cy, 28.2.2005, Aarhus Harbor, 1 photo





Common Gull (Larus canus), 3cy, 10.4.2007, Ny Frederikskog, Højer, 3 photos, på det øverste af de tre billeder ses fuglen længst til venstre i billedet med en adult Stormmåge foran og en adult intermedius Sildemåge til højre for

Common Gull (Larus canus) 2cy



Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 10.2.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 3 photos



Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 14.2.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 1 photos



Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 14.2.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 1 photo



Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 14.2.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 1 photo




Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 26.2.2006, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 2 photos




Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 3.3.2005, Universitetsparken, Aarhus, 2 photos





Common Gull (Larus canus), 2cy, 7.10.2007, Store Darum, Esbjerg, 3 photos, en usædvanligt mørktegnet fugl for aldersklassen 2. vinter. Bemærk rester af mørkt i centre af tertialer, massiv pletning på brystsider og baghals foruden relativ lang hånd og fint hoved og næb