(3 images) Larus fuscus fuscus 3cy C8CM, July 09-11 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).
C8CM was ringed in Ruoves, Finland (62,08N
24,12E); ringed as pullus on July 04 2001.
Ring
records at Tampere landfill:
2001-08-30, 2001-08-31,
2001-09-02,
2003-06-07, 2003-07-05, 2003-07-09, 2003-07-11, 2003-07-23, 2003-07-24,
2003-08-12, 2003-08-13.
Larus fuscus fuscus in 2cy often returns
with completely replaced primaries and secondaries. In 3cy, fuscus more
often shows a clear division between fresh inner primaries and older outer
primaries, the inner primaries often showing neat white tips and the outer
primaries often second generation-like with rounded tips and paler bleached
brown. The arrested moult in the primaries is often reflected in the secondaries
and (to a less extend) in the tail-feathers as well. The older tail-feathers
(often R5 is older) still show a broad dark sub-terminal band.
3cy fuscus often have some black markings on the bill, which is otherwise
much adult-like, with a clear red gonydeal spot. The colour of the naked parts
are adult-like as well.
The scapulars in 3cy are often completely adult-like, lacking internal patterns;
plain blackish grey with a mahogany hue on the older feathers. Most wing-coverts
and tertials are adult-like blackish grey as well, but often 3cy birds show some
very bleached pale brown wing-coverts, normally in the greater covert bar and in
the upper rows of the lesser coverts. These bleached wing-coverts accentuate the
jumpy sequence in the last wing-covert moult cycles, as there is often no clear
pattern in location of these bleached feathers. Head and body feathers normally
are snow-white by July.
C8CM was ringed as pullus at Ruoves,
Finland on July 04 2001, now in 3cy. This 3cy fuscus
has the three outer primaries (P8-P10) bleached brown second generation, with the small white crescents worn away.
P10 shows a small mirror. The seven inner primaries have been replaced prior to
northbound migration. Primary moult was arrested at P7 this spring, leaving a
clear division between P7 and P8.
Note the fresh outermost secondary in the bottom image,
showing a grey base and large white tip, the common pattern in 3rd generation
secondaries. Most rectrices appear all white. Note the dark markings on the bill
and the retained
bleached wing-coverts.