Herring Gull (argentatus & argenteus)

(last update: February 11, 2013)

Herring Gull (argentatus) KV48 1CY-10CY, 2006-2015, Oostende (Belgium), Boulogne/Mer (NW France) & Terschelling (Netherlands).

1cy argentatus, ringed as pullus in Kandalakshskiy Reserve, Murmansk, N Russia (67.05 N, 32.29 E).

RING NUMBER Moskwa ES-009 967
plus markers white plast. ring KV48
SPECIES Larus argentatus
SEX, AGE pull
RINGING DATE 01.07.2006
PROVINCE Russia, Murmansk O.
RINGING PLACE Kandalakshskiy Nature Reserve, Severnoe lesnichestvo, isl.
Irvasikha
COORDINATES 66.59 N 32.42 E
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DISTANCE 2494 km DIRECTION 225 degrees

Recoveries:
26.11.2006 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Visserskaai, Oostende, MM, TM, RJB, RA
06.12.2006 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Oostende 51.13 N 2.54 E
31.12.2006 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Oostende port
08.01.2007 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Oostende 51.13 N 2.54 E
08.02.2007 France, Nord, Blaringhem, local rubbish dump 50.41 N 2.24 E
21.02.2007 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer 50.44 N 1.35 E
24.11.2007 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Oostende 51.13 N 2.54 E
13.12.2007 France, Nord, Blaringhem, local rubbish dump 50.41 N 2.24 E
22.12.2007 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
15.01.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS 
20.02.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
26.02.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
03.03.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS 
05.03.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
08.03.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
27.11.2008 Belgium, West-Vlaanderen (Flandre Oc), Oostende 51.13 N 2.54 E
05.12.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
19.12.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
27.12.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
30.12.2008 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
01.01.2009 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS et ES
14.02.2010 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer 
05.03.2011 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
11.01.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
14.01.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
17.01.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
11.02.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer JMS
10.12.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer 50.44 N 1.35 E JMS
14.12.2013 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer 50.44 N 1.35 E JMS
16.03.2014 Netherlands, Friesland, North Sea beach, Terschelling Is. 53.25 N 5.18 E
26.01.2015 France, Pas-de-Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer harbour 50.44 N 1.25 E
28.02.2015 Netherlands, Friesland Paal 8, Terschelling Isl. 53.27 N 5.29 E

Below: Herring Gull (argentatus) KV48 1cy, November 26 2006, Oostende, Belgium.  

The partial autumn moult in argenteus (moult from juvenile plumage into so-called "first winter" plumage) includes the body and head feathers. This moult starts as soon as the nest is abandoned (late June) and continues until January. In general, the head turns paler on throat and forehead. The breast will turn paler as well. The feathers on belly and vent will still be juvenile in most 1cy argenteus by November. From July onwards, the mantle and upper scapulars are moulted to second generation feathers, showing an anchor pattern and a dark base. The lowest row of scapulars are still juvenile by March in most 2cy birds (contra e.g. michahellis). The notched pattern of the juvenile scapulars is repeated on the juvenile lesser, lower lesser and median coverts, although the medians have paler centres. The juvenile greater coverts show a 'piano-key' pattern; on the outer greater coverts as well. The tertials have an obvious notched pale fringe and transversal bar. 
The juvenile wing-coverts, rectrices and remiges start to bleach and show wear in the fringes from September onwards. The secondaries, primaries and primary coverts are dark with a small white tip, but the juvenile inner primaries show an obvious pale window, prominent from below and above. The under-wing is rather uniform grey-brown patterned. The tail has a broad sub-terminal band and isolated dark bars on the basal half. The iris is dark, the bill is blackish, sometimes with a paler base, and the legs are flesh-pink.

Below: Herring Gull KV48 1cy (argentatus), December 31 2006, Oostende, Belgium (picture F. Roland).  

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), January 15 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), February 26 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), March 03 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), March 07 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), March 08 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), March 25 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Below: Herring Gull KV48 3cy (argentatus), December 05 2008, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

P9 fully grown. Adult-like pattern on secondaries.

Below: Herring Gull KV488cy (argentatus), January 11 & February 11 2013, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Composed image to show KV48 changing the head pattern within just a month: left streaked head on January 11 and right clean white head on February 11 2013.

Below: Herring Gull (argentatus) KV48 8cy, December 14 2013, Boulogne, NW France (picture J.M. Sauvage).

Again enjoying a nice time at Boulogne...

Below: Herring Gull (argentatus) KV48 8cy, December 27 2015, Terschelling beach, the Netherlands. Picture: Jacob-Jan de Vries.

Really dark grey on upperparts.