(4 images) Larus fuscus fuscus 3cy C6WM, July 10-13 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).
C6WM was ringed in Kanala, Finland
(61,45N 24,19E);
ringed as pullus on July 07 2001.
Ring
records at Tampere landfill:
2001-08-18,
2001-08-21,
2001-08-22, 2001-08-24, 2001-08-26,
2001-08-27, 2001-08-28, 2001-08-29,
2001-08-30, 2001-08-31, 2001-09-02, 2001-09-04, 2001-09-06, 2001-09-09,
2001-09-11, 2001-09-13, 2001-09-16, 2001-09-21, 2003-05-29, 2003-05-31,
2003-06-01, 2003-06-03, 2003-06-05, 2003-06-07, 2003-06-14, 2003-06-15,
2003-06-17, 2003-06-20, 2003-06-22, 2003-07-05, 2003-07-06, 2003-07-10,
2003-07-11,
2003-07-12,
2003-07-13, 2003-07-16,
2003-07-20, 2003-07-23, 2003-07-24, 2003-07-26, 2003-08-09.
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.
C6WM was ringed as pullus at Kanala, Finland on July 07 2001, now in 3cy. C6WM is an example of fuscus lacking an obvious division in the outer primaries, indicating primary moult was not arrested. All old primaries appear bleached pale brown. Moult in the primaries has just started, with P1 fully grown and P2 growing. On the wintering grounds, all secondaries and the tail-feathers as well were moulted to 3rd generation, the secondaries now looking very adult-like; the rectrices still with dark markings. Note also the dark iris and the worn, bleached central greater coverts.