Gulls in NW Europe
(last update: September 25, 2011
Herring Gull adult E261 (argenteus) March 2010 - July 2011, Leiden, the Netherlands. Picture: Maarten van Kleinwee.
Bird ringed by Norman van Swelm, plumage match local birds. Ringed at Scheveningen, The Netherlands on October 03 2007 as 3cy.
below: 7cy E261 (argenteus) July 23 2011, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Seventh-calendar year Herring Gull.
below: 7cy E261 (argenteus) July 20 2011, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Seventh-calendar year Herring Gull, performing the 'Mew call': a long-drawn, plaintive call given with the bill wide open. During this call it can also display a distinctive posture with the head held down, the neck in a characteristic s-bend, and the wings raised from its supporting flank feathers. All this is aimed at intimidating a rival.
Seventh-calendar year Herring Gull, settling an argument with another Herring Gull. Herring Gulls at this time of year are actively replacing their primary feathers and indeed the inner primaries P1 to P5 of the ringed individual on the right have been replaced by fresh, new feathers. No other primaries have yet been dropped though, which could indicate that it has suspended its wing moult to save energy in order to care for its young. PMS=25 (P1=5, P2=5, P3=5, P4=5, P5=5, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
below: 6cy E261 (argenteus) July 30 2010, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Sixth-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to winter plumage: P1-P3 are new and fully grown, P4 is half-size. Moult score: 18 (P1=5, P2=5, P3=5, P4=3, P5=0, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
below: 6cy E261 (argenteus) July 18 2010, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Sixth-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to winter plumage. P1, P2 and P3 are new and growing. Moult score: 12 (P1=4, P2=4, P3=4, P4=0, P5=0, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
below: 6cy E261 (argenteus) July 17 2010, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Sixth-calendar year Herring Gull, moulting to winter plumage. P1, P2 and P3 are new and growing. Moult score: 12 (P1=4, P2=4, P3=4, P4=0, P5=0, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
below: 6cy E261 (argenteus) March 13 2010, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Adult Herring Gull in full summer plumage, apart from the black markings on the bill: a remnant of the winter plumage.
below: 6cy E261 (argenteus) February 27 2010, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Adult Herring Gull in full summer plumage, apart from the black markings on the bill: a remnant of the winter plumage.
below: 5cy E261 (argenteus) August 02 2009, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Interesting to see is that P5 is present on the right wing, but is missing in the left wing. The upper tertials are worn to the base.
Moultscore left wing: 17 (P1=5, P2=5, P3=5, P4=1, P5=1, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
Moultscore right wing: 16 (P1=5, P2=5, P3=5, P4=1, P5=0, P6=0, P7=0, P8=0, P9=0, P10=0).
below: 5cy E261 (argenteus) July 24 2009, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Moulting to winter plumage. P6-P10 have not been moulted yet; clearly visible are the upper tertials that have been worn to the base.
