Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

(last update: July 12, 2015)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2cy: June 14 2002, Le Portel - Boulogne sur Mer, France (50.42 N - 01.34 E).

Primary moult stage: p7 missing. The tail is still completely juvenile. 
The base of the bill has turned pink and the orbital ring shows a hint of red. 
The upper three tertials are second generation feathers, with #3 still growing. The central tertails are missing and the lower tertials are old juvenile.
The greater coverts #1-3 have been replaced as well; a few central feathers are missing. One central greater covert is obviously growing, and maybe next right to this feather there is just a shaft of an old juvenile greater covert retained. The outer greater coverts are growing inwards.
The median covert row is almost closed with only #4-5 missing. Note the inner two medians, which were included in the first phase of the complete moult, now slightly paler based already.
The innermost lower lesser covert was included in the first phase of the complete moult as well. The central lower lessers are fresh second generation, but the outer part of the row is still missing/growing.
The upper rows of the lesser coverts still contains juvenile feathers. The majority of the scapulars (90%) has been moulted to third generation, and can be recognised by the brown buffish hue of the fresh feathers.

Note the pattern on the under-wing coverts / axilaries. Two such loose feathers can be seen in the top picture.  A very advanced bird regarding plumage moult. Soft parts still very immature, juvenile-like.