Gulls in NW Europe
(last update: September 25, 2011
Herring Gull 2cy 5.463.334 (argenteus) August 07 2011, IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Pictures: Maarten van Kleinwee.
Ringed in The Netherlands, probably after taken into hospital and released with ring.
Dark second-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to second-winter (pre-basic, second cycle) plumage. All feathers seem to have been replaced to new generation feathers, but not only are they very dark creating an even-coloured look, some dark-gray coverts can also be seen whereas some light-gray feathers have appeared in the mantle. The outer primaries appear very dark; in flight this individual showed distinct light inner primaries.
The individual in the foreground is 5.463.318.
