Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: May 17 2015)

LBBG 2cy January 05 2001, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. 

First winter LBBG is rare in January in the Netherlands. In December 2000 a presumed intermedius was present, which still had not moulted any scapulars or coverts. But this seemed to be a weakened bird, and as the individual in the picture shows, the mantle and all scapulars are moulted by January. Sometimes, first winter LBBG may suspend the moult well into March (but this probably refer to odd birds). The other extreme are juveniles in August, already replacing median coverts. In the picture, the juvenile feathers are abraded with the fringes worn off.