This is the third of eight white-winged gulls found in Hirtshals Harbour in just one afternoon, with seven Kumlien's /Iceland Gull-types and one 2cy Glaucous Gull.
It has been documented by others with several great photos such as on these from: January 14, January 19 and January 21.
It is considered to be an Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) though this is not to say it is not Kumlien's Gulls. It has without doubt some faint pigmentation along the tip of the outer primaries and the pearl grey colour on the inner web extends further towards the tip of the outer primaries than typically in glaucoides, a few photos even gives the impression of “a string of pearls” which is good for Kumlien’s.
The primary pattern is just about identical to this and this from Hirtshals and this from Hanstholm. The latter has been identified as a Kumlien's Gull by local people due to the faint dark pigmentation along the very tip of the outer primaries.
There were three almost identical near-adult Iceland Gulls in the harbour. Luckily they were all seen at the same time late in the afternoon; however, if you look careful and compare with this and this you will also see that there are slight differences in the extent of their winter shawl.
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| Here seen in front of the fourth Iceland Gull. |
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