Lesser Black-backed Gull L f graellsii

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus graellsii

1: © Mars Muusse, 10-02-04; 2: © Mars Muusse, 28-02-04; 3: © Mars Muusse, 25-03-04; 4: © Mars Muusse, 11-05-04. IJmuiden, Netherlands.

NLA 5.412.154, a local Dutch bird from IJmuiden (52.28 N, 04.35 E), spending the winter in the Netherlands instead of SW Europe or NW Africa. This 2cy graellsii shows a limited post-juvenile moult. Some rearmost scapulars are retained into May. At that time, moult in the coverts has started, e.g. note the renewed inner greater coverts. Such a limited moult is not caused simply by the northern latitude at which this bird has wintered. Green MJ is an example of a similar bird which has wintered in Spain.