Have had some fun with the Iceland Gull hanging round Collieston in the last couple of weeks. Having aged it as a 2nd year due to the extent of grey in the upperparts I started to wonder about the possibility of kumlieni when I got these photos last week, in dull, overcast and windy conditions.
It was also puzzling to see an apparently dark eye, and not more pale in the bill including the tip, at this age. Today however , in bright conditions, it was almost like I was watching a different bird. The pictures also look markedly different with the grey tones almost not visible in the brighter sun. Note the pale iris!
Still a very striking tail band, but not offset by a very contrasting white rump. The sandy-buff colouration in the outer primaries was barely visible today in the field or in the photos. Quite an education!
Great to see Smew again on the patch today as well.
Think in future I'll leave identifying and ageing gulls to the professionals :-) Beautiful bird though, and nice photos CB.
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