Heuglin's Gull (L. heuglini / antelius)

(last update: 26-1-2015)

Coordinators:
Amir Ben Dov (Israel)
Chris Gibbins (Scotland)
Hannu Koskinen (Finland)
Mars Muusse (the Netherlands)

Taimyr Gull taimyrensis adult, January 25 2012, Jinzhou Bay, Dalian, China (38°56'N, 121°37'E). Picture: Terry Townshend.

Please visit Terry's blog: BIRDING BEIJING.

Jinzhou Bay landfill. Most common gull here is Mongolian (3-4,000) with Vega Gull also well represented alongside a sprinkling of Common, Black-tailed, Black-headed and Glaucous.  Among them are also a few dark-mantled and yellow-legged large gulls. These are presumed to be the ‘taimyrensis‘ subspecies of Heuglin’s Gull, considered by some to be a hybrid between Vega Gull and nominate Heuglin’s Gull.

Whatever they are, they are smart gulls.  In late January most were sporting significant head streaking, including the typical East Asian ‘shawl’ of patterning on the lower nape.  They were relatively large, on a par with Vega in terms of size with mantle shade in between nominate Heuglin’s and Vega Gull.  Terry estimated that there were around 30-40 of these gulls on site.

This image shows a bird with paler head and streaking as a 'boa' or 'shawl'. Note again late moult: P9 fully grown and note shade of mantle.