Sep 2011 first winter arrivals

Two 3rd winter (not 100% sure for aging, probably 4 cal year?) dark gulls, early winter arrivals noticed today, Sep 30, in Heraklion harbour. The one to the right most probably Scandinavian LBBG, the other looks very good for Heuglin's:

This LBBG have problem in feets, injured?:
Finally a 1st winter individual - LBBG type on 23rd September:Waiting for more good ones!

First autumn observation on harbour - Sep 28

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 September harbour Gulls

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!

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!):