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Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:29:26 +0100

Note the very typical pattern and coloring of the coverts and tertials. A few scapulars have been replaced by second generation feathers which show a very dark (double) anchor pattern contrasting with the white buffish base.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The first juvenile gulls on the sea dike of Westkapelle are mostly Yellow-legged Gulls, as with this gull. Note the very fresh juvenile plumage. The greater coverts are well barred, but the bill-shape, head pattern, pattern on the tertials, coverts and scapulars, long pointed wing without white primary tips and the dark red-brown base-color of the coverts are good character of a juvenile michahellis.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This male(based on size and build) Yellow-legged Gull have replaced all scapulars to second generation feathers, also a few median and lesser coverts, some inner greater coverts(one in the left wing and two in the right wing) and one new tertial(tt2). Note the dark grey color of the new second generation scapulars and coverts.

Caspian Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:34:24 +0100

Classic view of a 2cy Caspian Gull from Poland, compare with this ringed 2cy from 2007. The same conclusion which I made with the linked 2cy of 2007 is applicable to this bird. But especially note on this individual the atypical build, head and bill shape. The median and lesser coverts show very dark centre and the greater coverts are very fine barred.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:44:05 +0100

A first calender year intermedius from Denmark. Note the fresh condition of the juvenile plumage. The upper scapulars has been replaced by second generation feathers and a few median and lesser coverts are dropped.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:57:11 +0100

A first calender year "Dutch intergrades" which is ringed at the Moerdijk. Most feathers are still juvenile, only a few upper scapulars have been replaced by second generation feathers.

Caspian Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:49:03 +0100

This ringed 1cy Caspian Gull from Poland was rousting in the same group as this classic 1cy Caspian Gull, but note the differences. This one is a typical example from a average 1cy cachinnans from Poland. Note the more prominent barring on the greater coverts, the clearer dark anchors and markings on the scapulars, the dark shins and more fine dark streaking on the head and the V-shape markings on the upper-tail coverts. The inner primary pattern is also a bit atypical because the innner webs are not complete pale and the tips of the inner webs are evenly dark as the outer webs.

Caspian Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:24:52 +0100

A nice male Caspian Gull, note the very broad white tips on the greater coverts. Nearly all scapulars are replaced by second generation feathers and also the inner-most greater coverts and a few median & lesser coverts. The underwing-coverts are dark patterned, some coverts are dropped but most are still old and not replaced by new generation whitish feathers.

Caspian Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:53:17 +0100

In all respects a typical and beautiful 1cy Caspian Gull. In the right wing note the median and some lesser coverts which are replaced by second generation feathers. Some characteristic features on this 1cy Caspian Gull are; the legs which are pale pinkish colored and especially long on the tibia, nearly all scapulars are replaced by second generation, which are dark grey colored with a narrow dark anchor and thin shaft streak, the juvenile wing-coverts are pale brownish and unmarked with only small white fringes, the inner greater coverts show broad white tips. On the third picture you see that most underwing-coverts are replaced by whitish feathers.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:29:52 +0100

Not the best pictures of this individual, but certainly one of the most beautiful 2cy Yellow Legged Gull I have seen on the sea dike of Westkapelle. It was a very large and bulky built male with a powerful head and very aggressive behavior to the smaller Herring Gulls. There's much pale pinkish on the bill, especially on the base and under mandible. Note the nice patterned scapulars, coverts and tertials. In the partial autumn moult a low number of scapulars and coverts are replaced by new grey adult-like feathers. Unfortunately I could not make any pictures of this one in flight or with stretched wings.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:58:27 +0100

A very surprising 5cy Yellow-legged Gull which was ringed as pullus in Belgium. Presumably a male, mostly based on the heavy and powerful bill. The slightly brownish hue in the old coverts and the unclear edges of black on the tongues of the outer primaries indicated the immature old generation feathers. Primary p5 is fully grown which shows the slower moult stage than average.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:16:41 +0100

A difficult individual to age, because of the possibility of a fast moulted 3cy. The most decisive features to age this one as 4cy are the complete adult-like tertials and grey coverts without any dark marking. The under-wing and the tail are also complete white. There�s a mirror on the old p10 that makes it most obvious that this primary is a third generation feather, so the new generation adult-like primaries (the most outers are not yet replaced, missing or growing) fits a 4cy much better. The dull yellowish legs and the bill pattern which show much black on the gonys are more related to a 3cy Yellow-legged Gull but not uncommon on a 4cy!

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:32:22 +0100

Note the relative sloping forehead, the relative long tibias, the barring on the greater coverts and on some inner median & lesser coverts and the pattern on the tail. There are some pinkish markings on the bill especially on the gonys and on at the base of the under mandible. Most scapulars except some lowers are replaced by second generation feathers. The wing-coverts are rich brown colored which is typical for 1cy Yellow-legged Gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:10:28 +0100

Typical very rainy 3cy Lesser Black-backed Gull from Belgium, which returned from the wintering grounds with a contrast between the old brown coverts and the grey scapulars. All tail-feathers and all secondaries are still old second generation. After arrival in NW Europe, the complete moult has started in this individual, p1 is renewed, p2 is growing, p3-4 are dropped, p5-p10 are still old primaries. Some coverts have been replaced recently as well for new generation feathers. The bill is as in adult-ones, only with some black on the top and a pale tip.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:42:17 +0100

Female intermedius from Sweden, unfortunately not ringed as pullus but catched as adult breeding on nest. The primary moult score is relatively low for early October, compared to western graellsii: P4 is full-grown, P7-P10 are still old with a small mirror on P10 (although the white tips are worn). The upper-tertials and randomly some coverts and most scapulars moulted as well, standing out against the brown and worn old feathers. Note the red gonys on the upper-mandible.

Black-winged Pratincole, Oudeland van Strijen

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:21:10 +0100

Baltic Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:07:47 +0100

One of the unringed Baltic Gulls seen by us on the sea dike of Westkapelle this year. 2009 was a very good year for Baltic Gulls on Westkapelle, because we recorded one colour-ringed adult from Finland, two colour-ringed (adult and 4cy) from northern Norway and several unringed individuals. The unringed adult Baltic Gull on the pictures above shown an example with seems fine with typical birds from Finland, the only thing that miss on this individual is a ring!

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:07:41 +0100

After being present in 2008, this Lesser Black-backed Gull returned as a 3cy to the sea dike of Westkapelle on 1 October 2009. This 3cy show some characteristics features; the adult-like colored bill with a black subterminal band on the gonys. The head and neck are heavily dark streaked. The legs and bill are very dull yellowish colored. The outer lesser and some central greater coverts show immature brown markings. Primary p8 is fully grown, p9 & p10 are growing, and the white tips on the outer primaries are reduced.

Yellow-legged Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:06:46 +0100

Sub-adult 4/5cy type Yellow-legged Gull, note immature features on this individual such as the black black subterminal band on the gonys and black on the cutting edges, much dark speckling on the iris, the dull yellowish bill and leg colour and some dark brownish markings on the alula feathers and primary coverts.

Baltic Gull, Westkapelle - sea dike

iesmeulmeester@solcon.nl(Ies Meulmeester) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:34:30 +0100

Fifth calendar-year Baltic Gull from the same area of Norwary as black J781. This individual was ringed as a pullus on E Lislandholmen, Nordhorsvær, Sømna, Nordland, Norway (65°19'24"N 011°36'33"E). Note the immature features in this one, which are very atypical for a 5cy L.f. fuscus! The rectrices shows dark black markings which forms a clear tail band and the dark markings/patterns on the under-wing coverts. Hannu Koskinen commented that 5cy Finnish L.f. fuscus never show a combination of patterned under-wing and blackish markings in the tail-feathers such as this one, only that some 4cy L.f. fuscus show blackish remnants on the tips of the tail-feathers but not forming a decent tail band. We can conclude that these one show a very slow moult stage in their tail and under-wing feathers for a L.f. fuscus!