Three different 1st winter Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) with distinct pale fringes to the outer primary tips

These three different 2cy Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) were all photographed on February 9, 2013 in Hirtshals Harbour and they are not very different this on from Hanstholm Harbour .

They document that to a varying extent first winter Herring Gull can also show distinct pale fringes to the outer primary tips; a feature thus not unique to Thayer’s Gull. The degree can vary from narrow pale fringes to broad creamy-white fringes on bleached ‘milky coffee’ coloured primaries. The wing tip may then lack the contrast shown by most Herring Gulls at rest, and in flight such individuals can exhibit a pale underwing (including all the primaries) reminiscent of Iceland Gull as well as pallid upperwing with light brown wing tip and secondary bar.

Some of these gulls can also recall birds labelled as hybrid hyperboreus x argentatus (Viking Gull), but as they lacks a clear influence from Glaucous Gull when it comes to pattern on each feather, they are all considered to be European Herring Gulls with reduced pigmentation, but it will always be a question whether to name such as aberrant/pale end argentatus or Viking Gull-types.

#1: 9 February 2013, Hirtshals Harbour, 5 photos below

#2: 9 February 2013, Hirtshals Harbour, 5 photos below

#3: 9 February 2013, Hirtshals Harbour, 6 photos below

4 cy Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) with partial leucisme

This 4cy Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) with partial colour aberrations was photographed February 9, 2013 in Hirtshals Harbour. However, I also managed to photograph the same individual one year before February 5, 2012. Besides having some pure white feathers other feathers have darker or more brown pigmentation than normal at their age class.

Adult Herring Gull with asymmettric pattern on outer primaries

This Herring Gull with asymmetric black primary pattern was first seen as an adult March 24, 2006 in Vesterø Harbour on the island Læsø and it has been recorded there at the excact same site ever since. Note how the pattern in 2006 is almost identical to the pattern seen in 2013.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 11.2.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 7 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 26.10.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 3 photosilføj billedtekst

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 26.10.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 3 photos.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), ad, 26.10.2013, Vesterø Harbour, Læsø, 3 photos.

Herring Gull with distinct pale fringes to the outer primary tips #1

Distinct pale fringes to the outer primary tips are not unique to Thayer’s Gull; first winter Herring Gull can also show this feature to a varying extent, from narrow pale fringes on darker primaries to brad creamy-white fringes on bleached ‘milky coffee’ coloured primaries. The wing tip may then lack the contrast shown by most Herring Gulls at rest, and in flight such individuals can exhibit a pale underwing (including all the primaries) reminiscent of Iceland Gull as well as pallid upperwing with light brown wing tip and secondary bar.

As we see such extreme individuals among local breeding birds in Denmark one could argue that these are pale extremes of the variation within argentatus Herring Gull. However, some of these gulls with extensive white coloration also recall birds labelled as hybrid hyperboreus x argentatus (Viking Gull). Because the plumage in this gull photographed on December 30, 2013 in Hanstholm Harbour, lacks a clear influence from Glaucous Gull when it comes to pattern on each feather, it is considered to be a European Herring Gull with reduced pigmentation, but it will always be a question whether to name it aberrant/pale end argentatus or Viking Gull-type.

European Herring Gull with an unusual dark eye on both sides

This European Herring Gull with very dark eyes was photographed December 6, 2013 on Aarhus Harbour. Several times I have noted an adult Herring Gull with a dark eye and subsequently noted the other eye was light, but in this individual both eyes were unusual dark and thus worth documenting.

While taking the pictures I came to think of the two blog posts about adult Vega Gull which were published by Chris Gibbins here and here, but besides eye color it was a rather ordinary Herring Gull.

Note the yellowish orbital ring.