So since the last update, it’s been more of the same. On
Sunday morning, I had a pretty impressive count of four Yellow-legged Gulls by
my flat in Rotherhithe – an adult and three juveniles. I then headed off to
Dungeness and spent an enjoyable afternoon with Mick S and Richard S by the
fishing boats – 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (an adult and 4 juveniles) and a first-summer
Mediterranean Gull the highlights. Having finished for the summer on Tuesday,
baiting the local seagulls (that incidentally haven’t attacked me despite all
the media hysteria) today and yesterday produced a single Yellow-legged Gull on
both days. I also headed to Greenwich yesterday where on the mud by the O2
there were yet more Yellow-legged Gulls – eight in total (two adults, a
first-summer and five juveniles). This included an intriguing juvenile, with easily
the palest underwing I’d ever seen on the species: -
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 22nd July 2015 - the underwing is most atypical for the species but the tail pattern, tailing off in broadness on the outer rectrices, and chequered greater-coverts are both pro-michahellis features along with the notching on the lower scapulars. |
Anyway, some of you may be relieved by what I’m going to say
now. There’ll be no gull focused posts for a few weeks as I’m heading off for a
bit – but for those of you who’ve enjoyed the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull
season here are a few of the highlights since 1st July: -
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 1st July 2015 - first of the season (above two images) |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 4th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 5th July 2015 - note the dark underwing and barred axillaries |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 5th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 5th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Rotherhithe 7th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Rotherhithe 8th July 2015 - note the more heavily barred tail compared to the image above; a way of trying to note different individuals on a daily basis |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 11th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 12th July 2015 - a fairly pale looking individual |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 12th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Greenwich 18th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Rotherhithe 18th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Rotherhithe 18th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 19th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 19th July 2015 |
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| juvenile Yellow-legged Gull Dungeness 19th July 2015 |
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