An unidentified gull

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

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

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

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: