tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7123567846681335443.post2297375472167980822..comments2023-10-30T09:11:54.089+00:00Comments on limerick-birder.blog: Yellow-legged Herring Gull?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03858668590904028540noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7123567846681335443.post-60014395262833860782013-12-19T15:39:53.102+00:002013-12-19T15:39:53.102+00:00Thanks Niall for the feed back, I actually hadn...Thanks Niall for the feed back, I actually hadn't come across a Yellow-legged Herring Gull or even heard about this race until now. I had a look at the other photo and it looks like the same bird alright. Are they rare to these parts? It might be tough to get the ring as I was at the lenses max yesterday photographing it. The next time I'm in Howth I'll try and get a better shot, thats if I can relocate the bird. A bag of chips from Wrights might draw it in ;-) Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03858668590904028540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7123567846681335443.post-42010057814604798772013-12-18T16:37:39.684+00:002013-12-18T16:37:39.684+00:00Hi James,
The structure of this birds head/bill &...Hi James,<br /><br />The structure of this birds head/bill & extent of fine streaking onto the nape as well as the colouration of the upperparts & legs would suggest to me that this is a 'yellow legged' Herring Gull as opposed to a Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis).<br /><br />I have seen a 'yellow legged' Herring Gull such as this on the rooftops at Howth before (7th Jan 2011) and Graham Prole photographed one there recently, see here: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWO_XN13Qic/Uo5qYBiVRwI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/GTWS_1LITO4/s1600/Yellow+Legged+Gull.jpg<br /><br />These birds are often referred to as 'omissus' Herring Gulls and are thought to originate from a population in the Baltic where yellow colouration to the legs occurs on some birds, hence also the darker upperpart colouration too, in line with Scandinavian (argentatus) Herring Gulls.<br /><br />Would be great to get a read on that ring too & find out conclusively where it came from!<br /><br />All the best,<br />Niallnialltkeoghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09475701632759901401noreply@blogger.com