Gulls of Crete

Gulls arrived with the North winds...

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:23:00 +0000

October 2009 was not a good gulling month on harbour, possibly a result of ferry "traffic" and absence of good winds. But today I got a typical "winter" gulling day with most wintering species in place. Eight Medirterranean Gulls and 19 Black-headed were seen (first personal observation of both species in harbour this year), also a first-winter Audouni's Gull present:

One heuglini present with 4 adults or sub-adults Baltic Gulls, one of them with noticeable difference in size with the Heuglin's appears here:
Next bird, most possibly a L.f. intermedius in heavy (strange?) moult:
A first-winter unidentified Gull (heuglini?):
No Caspians or Armenians noted, but several immatures of fuscus complex present. Anyway, that was a good winter start!

First autumn observation on harbour - Sep 28

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:42:00 +0000

Few gulls present. Next one, a YLG in primary moult and with a lot of streaks - both give more possibility to be of northern origin:

Two adults LBBGs present, both with no streaks on head. That and mantle colour indicate intermedius. This one in body moult:
And this one more advance - see head:

Four birds in 1st winter plumage gave close views, this one a northern YLG?:

A small birdf with sooty dark markings on mantle, probably Baltic?:

A quite pale bird, but still with dark mantle markings, heuglini?:

And a strange one with a "Caspian" type head:

Late March Gulling

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Rain during the night, north winds - best case of gulling in Herakleion Harbour!
Although late March there are still wintering birds around. At least 15 individuals of the LBBG complex, including the late staying ringed Baltic one, one or two Heuglin's. Also one 2 cal-y Caspian, and several YLG, two Sandwich Terns and one difficult bird as usual!. The strong wind make photography difficult but I try my best!
The well known male Baltic in summer plumage now!:

From left side one Heuglini (lagre with one white mirror on P10, one intermedius type with large white mirror, one LBBG with still wintering plumage, probably subadult, the ringed Baltic and a YLG:

Close view of the two of the previous birds:

And the "suvadult" LLBB again, maybe a female Heuglin's? :

Two more intermedius type adult birds with larhe white mirrors in both R10-P9:

And another LBBG, beside of the YLG with only a small mirror, different bird than previous with long wings and lighter. Probably another Heuglin's? :

The wind plays with the plumage of this presumed as 2nd cal year Baltic Gull:

Caspian I suppose:
And YLG:

Trying to understand the moulting differences between 1st summer Caspian and YLG:

And finally the difficult one! :

From far away was looking as a big Common Gull. Grey/fleshy legs are also remind Common or LBBG cases. The small dark eye reminds a Caspian but look the dark mantle comparing to YLG. Bill too slender for an Armenian Gull. The clean white head with only few streaks, mainly on hindneck looks strange for western LBBG cases in Mar although can be an advanced one. Moult like a Heuglin's but the bird is smaller than a candidate female of that taxon, the head is rounded and the bill is rather slender. So what?

Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls: immature cases

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:26:00 +0000

That picture was taken on Sep 2008 in Herakleion harbour. Some especially the head shape looks quite atypical as 2cy YLG. This reminds more a 3cy Caspian. So, is that a YLG or CG or something else? Usually no Caspians are present in September on Crete:

Most of the local fledged juveniles YLG leave Crete in July-August to unknown areas! The few remaining local YLG in 1stwinter - 2nd winter plumages are pale birds, and this make them difficult to ID in winter together with soame aeging Caspians coming through. Also YLG from unknown origin are coming to winter on Crete (Greece) but their immatures look much darker from locals. Body moults (mandle, covers) and even primary moult seems to be later on such wintering birds.
The next bird is a typical 1st-winter local YLG in January, picture taken in colony of Elafonissi in SW corner of Crete:

The local YLG in 2nd winter (2cy/3cy) are even more scarse on Cretan colonies! Probably because of mortality. Birds of this age are more common on harbours and waste areas but I think they are mostly wintering visitors. The locals may look like this one in November:

And like this one inJanuary:

Possible Caspian in late December 2008, Herakleion:

And another bird in February 2007 with bill and face remind cachinnans, but...:

Finally a bird from February 2001, identificated as an 2cy Armenian:

Mid Winter Gulls, Herakleion-Crete

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Low numbers but good gull diversity this winter.

A candidate female heuglini:

A large heuglini, most probably a male, comparing in size with an "intermedius":

Another adult intermedius type:

Heavily moulted 2nd winter Baltic Gull:

The next 2 birds of type intermedius look different:

Typical michahellis:

Caspian and YLG together:

Adult Armenian:

Slender-billed Gull, a rare visitor in Crete in winter, just the 5th wintering record!:

Apart the YLG there are some difficult cases of immatures.
YLG:

Possible Caspian 1st winter:

Is that a heuglini?:

Most probably a 2nd winter armenicus:

A strange bird, small as an armenicus, darker of michahellis:

Late November Gulls

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:54:00 +0000

After many days with south winds and warm weather this morning, with a north breeze and partly cloudy skies, was perfect for gulling in Heraklion harbour. A good combination of Gull taxa present:

The star of the day was this Baltic Gull, (a male ringed as pullus in Finland in 1995) that came back again to winter here, for 3rd time:

The same bird with a presumed heuglini:

And again with a michahellis and 3 other adults of the fuscus complex, probably all three being intermedius, but what about the one on 1st winter plumage? :

Most probably a heuglini, pink legs, large size:

A nice looking michahellis:

And the most characteristic adult heuglini, a well known individual now!:

Two more of the fuscus complex, probably an intermedius on the back and a (female?) heuglini in front:

A Larus cacchinnans and a presumed intermedius:

Another "fuscus type" with 3 young birds, all probably from the same problematic taxon:

Two different birds in 2nd winter plumage, probably one intermedius, one fuscus:

What about this one? a western type LBBG or a Baltic? something else? any suggestion? :

Michahellis 1st winter:

And michahellis on 2nd winter plumage:

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I also give some picture of difficult cases, pictures taken on Nov 6.

A small-sized and short-billed Gull, a possible Larus armenicus:

An interesting young bird, probable michahellis, see bill:

A sub-adult Caspian?:

And another small-sized bird with a grey mantle lighter for being a heuglini or a graelssii, rosy legs, see it with a 1st winter michahellis:

And alone:

Late October Gulls: armenian, steppe or other?

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:40:00 +0000

More Gulls present now in Heraklion harbour. A morning count give as many as 200 michahellis and several darker birds of fuscus complex, with many problematic cases.

On 27th the picture shows a typical Baltic fuscus with a presumed heuglini, compare sizes! :

On the same date a strange individual appeared among the group of michahellis, have a look the darker bird on the back:

Shape of head and long bill cachinnans type, mantle darker grey than michahellis present, legs not so yellow and longer. Another case of a possible barabensis?

Today, 31st a (female?) LBBG appearing as a typical intermedius came very close to me to be a star:

But next one was the most interesting in the company:

Most probably a 2nd winter armenicus? Compare it with the 1st winter and the adult michahellis at the next picture. Small size, mantle color, long legs. Also characteristic bill.

Late September harbour Gulls

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:58:00 +0000

Adult michahellis:

3rdcalyear michahellis:

2ndcalyear michahellis:

Intermedius type bird, with some body moult:

A possible 1stcalyear heuglini, most probably the same individual of early Sep:

Adult candidate heuglini, a huge bird:

Early September, few gulls but interesting ones!

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:12:00 +0000

Primary moulting season continues for YLGs.

A sec-cal-year, presumed also michahellis:

A candidate 1st cal year michahellis which looks already pale in early September on Crete:

This individual could be a heuglini (dark feathers, whitish head, body moult, longish legs):

And this one an audounii, rare on harbour! (thanks to friends that noticed that!):

First Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:01:00 +0000

Unfortunatelly a dead one found by Apostolis Christopoulos (photographer) on August 21, in Aposelemis river mouth, on north coast of Crete, just 18 km SE of the ringing locality - Dia.

We hope in live birds findings in the near future...

Now, gulls of Crete are almost all gone away, few tens of YLG only seen, we wait the fuscus early September arrivals...

Colour Ringing of YLGs on Crete. Part 4: YLGulls

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:28:00 +0000

Already fledged young, wet or not:

Its first flight:

Fledged one:

Not fledged one:

Still some eggs:

Chick a big one trying to hide:

Parents aggressive above:

Sad:

The colony on Petalidi:

Colour Ringing of YLGs on Crete. Part 3 : Weather

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:15:00 +0000

T-Cu to the north, on early morning of 5/6:

Ac and drops, morning 6/6:

Ac & YLGs in colony:

Sunset, 4/6:

No drops, just moths!:

h stravos einai o gialos...

h stava armenizoume:

Colour Ringing of YLGs on Crete. Part 2 : Team

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0000

The team on Boat:

And on work, Mari searching for chicks:

Mathieu with the first one!!:

Ringer leader Christos teaching and ringing:

Serena:

Elsa:

Myself:

Colour Ringing of YLGs on Crete. Part 1 : Dia island

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Some views from the island of Dia, the site of Colour Ringing. The bay and the small port on the SW corner, June 5 - arrivals of boats for the Ascension Day:

Crete as was shown from Dia on June 6:

The bay on June 4:

And the church on the same evening:

Dia habitats:

The islet of Petalidi, or Glaronissi:

Probably the commonest animal of Dia:

A 2nd summer Caspian?

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:20:00 +0000

No June records are known for Caspian Gulls to Crete. This individual was in captivity with crosscut primaries for unknown time, probably from winter. Looks Caspian to me, because of its head and bill shape and its long legs.

A 3cy heuglini or a 4cy graelsii/intermedius?

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:58:00 +0000

A dark gull, very small in size, compare with the probable Caspian (or YLG?) beside.

The mantle and scapulars colour seems to be good for a 3cy heuglini in Mar but are there females of this race with such a small size? More pictures:

The fuscus complex again...

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:07:00 +0000

Heuglin's Gull:
Here there a series of photos from an individual presumed as an "easy" Larus (fuscus) heuglini taken on Irakleion harbour on 31 Jan 2008.

A large sized gull with yellowish (but not bright yellow) legs:

It was still on primaries moult, see the wing tip:

The head characteristic, see the eye with a "coral red" orbital ring and yellow bill with a red-orange gonys spot on the lower mandible:

Head streaking:

The same individual in flight:

The next picture taken on 30 January shows a Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) to the right, with incomplete primary moult and a possible L.f. intermedius in immature plumage:

Here in zoom, any other suggestion for this one?:

Again seen the ringed Baltic gull from Finland (second year presend) on 6 Feb:

Finally another difficult to me bird to ID, taken on 6 Feb. Is it a L.f. graellsii ?:

Kavala gulls - Aris Christidis pictures

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Two photos from a friend from North Greece both need a solution in ID!

An unidentified gull

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:41:00 +0000

Irakleion, Crete harbour, November 20.
The gull of the next photo, second on the left, beside the normal YLG was bigger than most YLGs with darker mantle colouration, more head markings than usual in YLG and the Caspians of the harbour. Although most probably it is another YLG some more things are strange, like the relativelly long tribia together with a large amount of white in wing tips and the long bill:

The same individual with a LBBG, presumed as L. f. intermedius:

Together with YLG, mantle colouration a bit darker although some rain and heavy clouds made it difficult to be shown on photos. But see different bill shape and the longer legs:

In the same date, most probably the same individual:

The amount of the white in wing tips and the mantle colouration seems unlike the typical L.f.heuglini. One suggestion was an hybrid L. cachinnans x L. (f.) heuglini. Compare with a presumed Heuglin's Gull, also today 20/11/2007:

...and one presumed heuglini the previous day (not unlikely the same individual above):

Arrival of Med. Gulls

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:58:00 +0000

Just 4 pics of Mediterranean Gulls, Larus melanocephalus, in several plumages, taken on November 12, 2007 in Irakleion Crete. The date of their first arrival noticed to Irakleion harbour in Nov, 7 this year. Few Black-headed Gulls were seen there from Nov, 5. Generally late arrivals.

November, 8 2007 - Irakleion harbour

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:39:00 +0000

I put 10 photos of non adults, this time, all shown different individuals.

1. Small size, very dark, presumed as a Baltic.2. One presumed as Heuglin's:
3. One presumed as LBBG of graellsii - intermedius group:
4. One small sized with light appearence"
5. A probable Caspian?:
6. Another LBBG of graellsii - intermedius group, most probably:
7. Once more, a probable LBBG of graellsii - intermedius group:
8. No idea, close to Heuglin's?:
9. Somewhere to the fuscus complex...:
This one looks like a bit strange michahellis:

November, 12 addition, A very dark individual:

November 6, new arrivals to Irakleio harbour

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:03:00 +0000

Today, Nov 6, many new arrivals in the harbour of Irakleion noticed.
Some of them are very interesting making again problems in ID.
3-4 presumed taxa together in the following picture, from the left: heuglini, michahellis, fuscus and the last presumed as an intermedius:
The above presumed L. f. intermedius:
A bird that could probably is a western type LBBG (graellsii)? small for heuglini? See the heavy moult in wing covers:
A ringed Baltic Gull, most probably the same individual from last year:Another Baltic Gull:
A presumed L. heuglini a large gull:
A dark 1st winter individual, probably a Baltic?:
This 1st winter was a heavy bird, what is it?:
A very light one, presumed as a Caspian:
And another difficult case. The gull in the middle is obviously smaller and a little darker than the two michahellis behind it. What is it? Armenian? Steppe? Or a very strange female YLG? Note also the dark shadow of the left bird, what is it?:
The same bird in the right, to compare its face with the YLGs ones:

More YLGs, early October, Irakleio, Crete

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:51:00 +0000

YLGs, Larus michahellis, 3 individuals, moulting in both primaries and secondaries.

3rd winter YLG.

2nd winters YLGs

One 1st winter YLG, Oct, 2.

Another 1st winter michahellis Oct, 5. Most local 1st winters YLG are already replacing their greater coverts.

A sub-adult individual, YLG or Caspian?

Gulls of the fuscus complex, Irakleio Oct 2007

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:59:00 +0000

On October 2, 2007 four gulls of the fuscus complex were seen in Irakleio harbour:

One very dark, certainly a Baltic fuscus, one, the larger one, presumed as a Heuglin's and the other two LBBGs presumed as intermedius/graellsii.

Comparison of the Baltic with one presumed intermedius, 2/10/07.

The presumed intermedius, 2/10/07, large mirror, no moult in wing covers.

Baltic Gull, L. f. fuscus, much smaller than michahellis.

October 5, additions

Above there are 3 pictures of one individual presumed as LBBG of the race intermedius or a very light Baltic, fuscus. Note the relatively large white mirror, its moulting in wing covers and the few head markings.

Pictures of one presumed heuglini, probably same individual with the one on Oct 2, as large as most michahellis present. Note the complete moult, the absence of head markings and the small white mirror (sharply cut).

October 11, addition

Two LBBGs of the fuscus complex with a L. michahelis. The one in the middle probably the same individual from October, 5 but the smaller one had more obvious moult in greater coverts and more head markings.

October 18, additions

The small individual of the previous picture? together with a Baltic and 2 YLGs. The LBBG was looking even smaller than the Baltic, with many head markings and so it is not a heuglini. Any possibility of being a graellsii?

The same LBBG showing heavy moult on its covers.

October 24, additions

New arrivals today, October 24, more dark gulls and more problems to be solved!

A medium-size LBBG, heavy head markings, a new individual, where from?

One, still moulting wing coverts, another intermedius?

Another small-sized individual with few head markings and light colour, too small for heuglini?

1st October in Irakleio harbour

noreply@blogger.com (dretos) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:30:00 +0000

More gulls today in the harbour, few hundreds arrived to the normal dock. Windy and partly cloudy weather, north winds. Some more members of the FUSCUS complex arrived. The first adult Caspian Gull for this season also. Some pictures:

Pictures of YLGs of the eastern Mediterranean populations are uncommon and some people asked me to take as many as possible.

sub-adult YLG

YLG

two individuals looking as "classics" 1st winter YLG

2 YLGs

this one with light colour, is it a Caspian?

Above 3 pictures of a sub-adult individual. Probably heuglini or graeslli/intermedius.
Any suggestion is welcome.

No idea! but suggested as Caspian by an expert.

A YLG with deformed bill.