Both LBB and Herring have pink legs at this age.
gull research linked on my blog.
Cheated by the weather today with a nice fresh cloudy morning and showers whilst I was at work but by the time I got to Fly Flatts late afternoon the clouds broke and out came the sun yet again on a very light SE>3.
Only 2 LBB gulls across on the east banking along with 9 Black Headed on the water. A walk to the NW corner just produced the usual Common Sandpipers whilst a Buzzard soared over the distant moors, a rare sight so far this year for this location.
Things otherwise were quiet so on to Ogden to check the gull situation.
Around 40 Black Headeds were on the east bank along with 1 LBB and 2 Commons whilst around 50 big gulls were on the water and west bank including 2 adult Herrings. A real mix of Lesser Black Backed with just about every stage of age group possible.
A couple of birds stood out, one being a near adult still with pink legs and a very pale possible 2nd summer with bright yellow legs. The bird was pale enough to be Herring but either way, Herring or LBB it should have pink legs at this age, back to the bible on this one. I wish these gulls would stick to the way they,re suppose to look it the reference guides.
Unfortunately very few birders in this area, and elsewhere, are interested in gulls, the reason being that they are the hardest species of bird to identify with several big gulls having a 4 year span of different plumages before adulthood as well as taking moult into consideration as well as hybrids. Juveniles can be near impossible and even have the top gull experts baffled on several occasions .
I myself love gulls but am by no means an expert, Im one that just muddles through using the 2 gull bibles, shown above, as well as the gull i.d. link from my blog.
Watching them over the years gives you an eye for them enough for anything unusual to stand out and being able to identify most, with plenty mistakes and not including juveniles but I enjoy it all the same. One day I may become an expert but with 50 years birding behind me Im rapidly running out of time.
My one saving grace with gull identification is my back up team of experts that I know I can always fall back on. Thanks to Mick Cunningham and Keith Moir for always being there, these two gullers have forgotten more about gulls that what I,ll ever know.
BS