Moerdijk Field Research 2005-2006

(last update: 14 August 2010)
coordinators: 
Roland-Jan Buijs
Theo Muusse
Mars Muusse

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Introduction
Methods
Age, origin & sex
Retrapped Birds
Upperparts Greytone
Black on Primary Coverts
Black on Primaries
P10 and P9 Patterns
P5 Pattern
Red & Black on Bill
Iris & Orbital Ring
Primary Moult
Discussion
References

 Larus argentatus argenteus & Larus fuscus graellsii - Moerdijk, the Netherlands

Acknowledgements

This paper is a contribution of the Gull Research Organisation in the Netherlands. We thank Tetra Pak Moerdijk and Shell Moerdijk for granting access into the colonies. Many thanks for a helping hand in ringing to: Stef Waasdorp, Job ten Horn, Jean-Pierre Leys, Fred Cottaar, Harry van Vugt, Jan Benoist, Johan Siemons, Camille Duponcheel, Corne Balemans, Patrick Balemans, Greetje Hiemstra, Charlotte Sanders, Suzanne Halters, Esther van Loenen, Senne van Eekelen and students of Prinsentuin College Breda. Thanks to the ringing groups: Eric Stienen & Norman van Swelm.

And a special thanks to mr. J.A. de Vries (Zwaagwesteinde) and Prinsentuin College (Breda) for financial support of our research. An earlier draft of this paper was commented by Visa Rauste and Peter Adriaens and we are very grateful for their suggestions.

Summary

The authors describe 7 phenotypic characteristics and moult commencement in an inland colony of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. All features were checked for difference between sexes and, when possible, known-aged birds were described.

Both taxa show wide variation in single characteristics. This was most apparent in the range of upper-part grey tone, iris speckling and the pattern on P10 and P9. Both Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull from this Dutch colony show considerable overlap with birds from Scandinavia and birds from Britain, which justifies the name ‘Dutch intergrade’, which is sometimes used for breeding Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the Netherlands.

References

Adriaens P. & Mactavish B. 2004. Identification of adult American Herring Gull. Dutch Birding 26: 3.

Barth E.K. 1968. Geographical variations of mantle colour, body measurements, and eggs data in Larus argentatus, L. fuscus and L. marinus. Zoological Museum, University of Oslo. Contributions No 78, 79, 81 & 86.

Barth E.K. 1975. Moult and taxonomy of the Herring Gull Larus argentatus and the Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus in Northwestern Europe. Ibis 117: 384-387.

Buzun V.A. 2002. Descriptive update on gull taxonomy: ‘West Siberian Gull’. British Birds 95: 216-232.

Chabrzyk G. & Coulson J.C. 1976. Survival and recruitment in the Herring Gull Larus argentatus. J of Animal Ecology 45: 187-203.

Coulson, J.C., Thomas, C.S., Butterfield, J.E.L., Duncan, N., Monaghan, P. & Sheddon, C. 1983. The use of head and bill length to sex live gulls Laridae. Ibis 125: 549-557.

Drost R., Focke E. & Freytag G. 1961. Entwicklung und Aufbau einer Population der Silbermowe, Larus argentatus argentatus. J fur Ornith 102: 404-429.

Goethe F. 1961. Zur taxonomie der Silbermowe (Larus argentatus) in Sudlichen Deutschen Nordseegebiet. Vogelwarte 21: 1-24.

Hario M. 1984. Onset and pattern of primary moult in the Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus f. fuscus – a comparison with the Herring Gull L. argentatus. Ornis Fennica Vol 6: 19-23.

Harris, M.P. & Hope-Jones, P. 1969. Sexual differences in measurements of Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Brit. Birds 62: 129-133.

Harris M.P. 1971. Ecological adaptations of moult in some British gulls. Bird Study 18: 113-118.

Jonsson L. 1998a. Baltic Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus – moult, ageing and identification. Birding World vol 11-8: 295-317.

Jonsson L. 1998b. Yellow-legged gulls and yellow-legged Herring Gulls in the Baltic. Alula 3, Vol 4 : 74-100.

Liebers D., De Knijff P. & Helbig A.J. 2004. The hMayr, E. 1942. Systematics and the origin of species. New York: Columbia University Press.

Mierauskas P., Greimas E. & Buzun V. 1991. A comparison of morphometrics, wing-tip pattern and vocalizations between Yellow-legged Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) from Eastern Baltic and Larus cachinnans. Acta ornithol. Lituan. 4: 3-26.

Niethammer G. 1937. Handbuch der deutschen Vogelkunde. Leipzig.

Sibly R. M. & McCleery R. H. 1983. Increase in Weight of Herring Gulls While Feeding. Journal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 52-1.

Stewart P. 2006. The primary moult of the Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus. Special publication No 1, The Severn Estuary Gull Group. See: http://www.gull-research.org/indexelements/LBBGUMoult.pdf.

Stresemann E. & V. 1966. Die Mauser der Vögel. Journal für Ornithologie, Sonderheft band 107: 224-232.

Verbeek N.A.M. 1977. Timing of primary moult in adult Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Journal für Ornithologie 118, Heft 1: 87-92.

Vercruijsse H.J.P. 1999. Zilvermeeuwen uit de duinen van Schouwen. Ibn-dlo Wageningen.

Yesou P. 2002. Systematis of Larus argentatus-cachinnans-fuscus complex revisited. Dutch Birding 21: 23-26.

Gull Research Organisation:

M. Muusse,
T. Muusse,
R-J Buijs ,
R. Altenburg,
C. Gibbins &
B-J. Luijendijk
Known age Lesser
Black-backed Gulls
Known age Herring Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 7cy KJ, 05 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 4cy-5cy 6T, 21 May 2005 & 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy VH, 08 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 4cy E4, 02 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 3N, 06 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 5cy-6cy 13, 05 May 2005 & 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 5A, 08 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 5cy HK, 04 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 6W, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 5cy HT, 05 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 7L, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 5cy J2, 05 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 9W, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 5cy NU, 23 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8-9cy J4, 16 May 2005 & 08 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 6cy 3T, 14 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy CW, 04 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 6cy J7, 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy E6, 04 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 6cy K4, 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy JH, 05 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 7cy 3E, 14 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy MA, 13 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 7cy 18, 05 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 8cy 14, 04 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 7cy 42, 16 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 9cy TT, 21 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 7cy 4T, 16 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 9cy AH, 02 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 7cy K2, 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 9cy KK, 05 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 8cy 2Z, 06 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 9cy NL, 13 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 8cy 59, 21 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy 0U, 05 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 8cy KU, 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy 38, 04 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 8cy JX, 06 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy 9U, 05 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 8cy NE, 16 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy 64, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 9cy 64, 21 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy 67, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 9cy P3, 16 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy A7, 05 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 9cy LN, 13 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 10cy BX, 06 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 10cy KL, 09 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy 68, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 11cy H2, 05 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy 9K, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 11cy HL, 04 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy AZ, 05 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 11cy JK, 06 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy EX, 14 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 13cy 10, 05 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy K9, 16 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 14cy C0, 06 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 11cy LA, 16 May 2005. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 14cy & 15cy VE, 21 May 2005 & 16 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 12cy 65, 09 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 17cy 1A, 04 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 12cy AF, 02 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 19cy S0, 06 May 2005.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 12cy ET, 04 May 2006. Herring Gull L.a. argenteus 24cy PL, 07 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 12cy P8, 16 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 12cy PB, 16 May 2006. Known age Lesser
Black-backed Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 13cy CK, 06 May 2005. Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 14cy C5, 08 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 13cy J3, 16 May 2005. Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 14cy UX, 15 May 2006.
Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 13cy T4, 21 May 2005. Lesser Black-backed Gull L.f. graellsii 14cy ST, 21 May 2005.