madcat 10/04/2011 18:29
Gull ID please...
2011-04-06 Mai Po
Is it a 1st winter Saunders's gull??? The dark legs have put me in doubt.
[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JaCjG8LWEsQ/TZ1MUKBi1jI/AAAAAAAACTM/GKbgE3DkRR0/s800/20110406-P4065259.JPG[/img]
[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JaCjG8LWEsQ/TZ1MTqos5zI/AAAAAAAACaE/3-rpUdHYIuE/s800/20110406-P4065303.JPG[/img]
ddavid 10/04/2011 20:17
Yes, Saunders's Gull changing from 1st-Winter plumage to 1st-Summer plumage. Structure & plumage are clearly indicative of this species.
Leg colour can be pretty variable in gulls & waders, and I think most experienced birdwatchers would generally use leg colour as a supporting (rather than a diagnostic) identification feature after first taking plumage & structural features into account.
david