cthomas

8/2/2008
Nam Sang Wai 南生圍
Leica 800mm + 20D
ISO200 f5.6 1/640s, 1/800s

cgeoff

I suspect both these are Heuglin's Gulls. The first a near-adult, the second and 2nd or 3rd winter, though difficult to say for the latter.

Adult Yellow-legged Gulls have pale grey upperparts, very little streaking at this time of year and a large white mirror in the outer primaries.

An immature would, in comparison with the bird photographed here, be largely white on the underparts with a brighter yellow bill base.

Geoff

cthomas

[quote:c8f3a8d336="cgeoff"]I suspect both these are Heuglin's Gulls. The first a near-adult, the second and 2nd or 3rd winter, though difficult to say for the latter.

Adult Yellow-legged Gulls have pale grey upperparts, very little streaking at this time of year and a large white mirror in the outer primaries.

An immature would, in comparison with the bird photographed here, be largely white on the underparts with a brighter yellow bill base.

Geoff[/quote]

Geoff,

  Thanks for your ID!

  Here are another two photos:

  



9/2/2008
Nam Sang Wai 南生圍
Leica 800mm + 20D
ISO200 f5.6 1/500s, 1/1250s

cthomas

9/3/2008
Mai Po 米埔
Leica 800mm + 20D
ISO200 f7.1 1/2000s

cgeoff

Again, all these appear to be Heuglin's. The adult featured in the final three is a classic bird for this time of year. P10 is not quite completely grown, which is characteristic of a number of heuglini at this time of year. Yellow-legged Gull completes before the turn of the year, and vegae completes about the turn of the year or soon after.

Geoff