2009-02-10 Nam Sang Wai (The same individual posted here by Neil, I think, and ID'd by Paul)
ID MKIIN + 800mm
Author: ajohn Time: 12/02/2009 13:03
I'm still very bad at gulls - especially first year birds.
What features make this Slaty-backed rather than Heuglin's? Author: Beetle Time: 12/02/2009 23:32
i also become mad identifying gulls, but i learnt following from ar tung some time before:
1st-winter Slaty-backed Gulls have very obvious dark patch around the eyes (which is very easy to see at a distance), and a very dark bill.
I couldn't see these from the above photos. Author: cgeoff Time: 13/02/2009 14:54
The following features identify this bird: largely dark tail, lack of pale inner primary window, brownish belly contrasting with rather pale head (valid late in winter), relatively short, rather liver-pink coloured legs and rather compact structure.
It's a rather small, lightly-built individual, so I would guess it's a female.
Geoff Author: lpaul Time: 13/02/2009 18:00
I also find the very dark underwing coverts contrasting with rather pale and uniform undersaide to the primaries and secondaries another good SBGull feature. The bill is usually all dark or predominantly dark in SBGull.
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Image Attachment: glaucous gull flight DSC_8917.jpg (10/02/2009 22:02, 79.52 KB) / Download count 449
