18/01/2007: A Gulling Day with Christos Vlachos
On January 18, 2007 Christos arrived early morning to Crete to take some photos of Armenian Gulls in Irakleion harbour. Armenian were not in his gallery as it is a rarity in mainland Greece. Such a good luck! At least 3 adult Armenians where there! But also many other large gulls! We both have the oppurtunity to watch, and Christos to take pictures of every single gull of few hundrends resting in the east part of the port. Some of them are really interesting as the following pictures shown. ID problems still remain for some individuals and a probable "first" for Crete and Greece gull species (or subspecies), the Steppe Gull is including in Christos excellent photos!
Larus cachinnans, Photo by Christos Vlachos
Together Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans in front and Yellow-legged - Larus michahellis beside. See legs length and colour, bills shape, eyes, wing tips and mantles colour.
Mystery Gull, Photos by Christos Vlachos
A mystery gull with "hood" recalling "Atlantic Gull".
Larger and lighter than Armenians but bill like those.
Comments are welcome!
Larger and lighter than Armenians but bill like those.
Comments are welcome!
A possible Steppe Gull. Photo by Christos Vlachos
Steppe Gull [Larus (cachinnans-heuglini-fuscus) barabensis] was my opinion from the first view. Me and Christos were watced that bird for long, it was a small gull of the large white headed group, smaller than Caspians, Yellow-legged and Heuglin's of the group occured on 18 January 2007 on Irakleion harbour. It had the same mantle colour as the three adult Armenians we watched there but longer bill and not a very dark eye. Legs yellow not as bright as michahellis, not very long. I am not sure if it was a full adult individual.
Possibility of being an abberant small female Yellow-legged limited because of its darker mantle and, if it was an adult, the wing formula.
Possibility of being Armenian also limited due to long bill and shape.
Possibility of being a Heuglin's Gull limited due to lighter mantle and to the small size.
If accepted will be the first Steppe Gull in Greece! Photos with better quality are available if somebody want to see.
Larus (f) heuglini, Photo by Christos Vlachos
This Gull with almost orange legs was difficult to ID. Finnaly my opinion is "heuglini" as some experts told.
Larus fuscus. Photo by Christos Vlachos
An individual with moulted wing. Most probably a Larus f. fuscus due to its size and moutling season, although mantle colouration not as dark as in typical Baltic.
A Baltic Gull with a metal ring from Finland, photos by Christos Vlachos
At least 3 Larus fuscus fuscus ringed as pullus in Finland recovered in Irakleio!
This one was firstly seen to harbour October 13, 2006 and left in mid March 2007.
Ringed as pullus by Risto Juvaste on July 1995!
This one was firstly seen to harbour October 13, 2006 and left in mid March 2007.
Ringed as pullus by Risto Juvaste on July 1995!
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