Larus cachinnans
(last update:
Greg Neubauer
Marcin Przymencki
Albert de Jong
Mars Muusse
cachinnans plumages
Larus cachinnans 1CY PUCZ September 14 2010, Skeppsbron, Sweden. Picture: Alan Dalton.
Yellow PUCZ, ringed as pullus on June 05 2010, at Cherkasy Kreminchuk reservoir, Ukraine (49,4 32,15).
Note the tail pattern, a well demarciated dark tail band as one might find on fuscus of the same age group. Pale inner window on primaries apparent, though not as pronounced as on Herring Gull. Lesser Black Backed shows all dark inner primaries. A classic Caspian Gull. Note the damaged greater covert's on the left wing...
Rather pale on the underwing as can be seen here, another pro Caspian feature on a bird that ticked all the right boxes. The ringed legs can be clearly seen...
Note the bill shape, long and slender without a pronounced angled at the gonys. A slight dark smudge about the eye on a pale, small head. Some markings are obvious on the breast sides and flanks. The anvanced moult is a key feature, this bird was far ahead of the local gulls in this regard. Note the new mantle and scapular feathers, the arrow head centre marking very different to those of Herring Gull. The dark chocalate brown centres to the tertials, with white fringes are classic Caspian Gull.
The bird in flight, note the inner primary window. From certain angles there was an obviously marked breastband...
