Baltic Gull L f fuscus

Baltic Gull - Larus fuscus fuscus

1: © Mars Muusse, 08-08-02; 2: © Visa Rauste, 03-08-02; 3-4: © Visa Rauste, 17-08-02. Tampere, Finland.

White C5UJ, from Punkaharju (61.86 N, 29.49 E), returned to Finland with all primaries but P10 renewed. The juvenile outer primary shows as a very worn pale brown feathers in 1-2. By mid August, it has renewed P1-3 to third generation feathers, while P5-9 are second generation. It simultaneously is growing in a second generation P10 and third generation P4. This phenomenon is referred to with the German term "Staffelmauser". This bird shows many worn second generation feathers and consequently it doesn't look as advanced as C0XX or C6XV. The head is rather densely streaked for fuscus. It is interesting to note the difference in the colour tones reproduced by the different cameras used to photograph this bird: compare plates 1 and 2. This gives an idea of how difficult it may occasionally be to assess these gulls from photographic evidence alone, given the importance of colour tones in identification.