3 Feb - A flock of Mediterranean Gulls last w/e at Portland allowed good studies of the different plumages of this three-year gull, one of my favourite birds. The above photos show these variations. The top photo shows 2 adults with characteristic white primaries, one with a more advanced hood than the other; alongside 3 second-year birds with black in the primary tips. The second photo shows adult and second-year birds in more detail.
The third photo also includes a first-year bird (left), with dark bill, dark eye mask and more extensive black on the wings but with a pale midwing panel. It has the typical shape and jizz of Med Gull, and can be seen closer in photo six. Picture four shows the pale wingtips of an adult in flight, when the very pale upperparts and fairly broad wings are also noticeable. Photo five shows another adult bird, with a summer hood developing, and a fairly advanced second-year bird with little black in the primaries.
All in all an instructive group of birds and set of photos.
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