Laucous Gull/Iceland Gull ??

[John 2]

I've used my 150 -600mm Tamron quite a lot but mainly for motor sport. I really acquired it because I was impressed with some of the nature images on this forum and found that I could not get close enough with the 70-300mm I had before. We just don't have the abundance of birdlife here that some clearly do. Went onto some marshes yesterday determined to find something. Not much variety but I managed these BIF. With the help of much of the advice on camera set up passed on through the forum, I'm beginning to get the "How" right but it's the "Where" and "When" that I think is emerging as the problem. Am I right in thinking that the best time for seashore wildlife is on an incoming tide when the birds are in effect driven towards you as the tide covers their feeding ground.

Not sure what this is. The nearest I can get is either a Glaucous Gull or an Iceland Gull both of which are found in the UK. Comments/advice very welcome.

[Barbara Ponder]

John, not sure what kind they are but great shots!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[JohnRostron]

These are all nice pics and a more competent ornithologist should be able to identify it from them. How big was your bird? The Iceland Gull is slightly smaller than a Herring Gull, and the Glaucus Gull rather larger. Your bird is clearly a sub-adult from the plumage, which will make identification more difficult. Both are typically winter visitors, but BirdGuide gives recent records for both Iceland Gull and Glaucus Gull. I saw an Iceland Gull last June in the Isles of Scilly!

I hope that you enjoy your 600mm Tamron.

John

[Brownbear]

Thanks for sharing your experience with BIF with that lens. They all look sharp and beautifully detailed (except #2 seems a little off)

I'm not sure which gull that is but perhaps this link will help. It states that the Glacous Gull has a yellow bill with a red spot on its jaw.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/id

[Ziggy]

Well done BIF shots, enjoyed viewing.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice , sharp and detailed shots

[davidedric]

My money is on an Iceland gull.

- black tip to mandible not clearly defined, and on lower mandible spreads halfway along
- suggestion of eye stripe behind the eye

If a real ornithologist stands up I would be happy to be overruled.

Great images btw

Dave

[IzzieK]

All nice clear shots, John2....I like the pose of #3 and #4 most of all primarily because it seems that it has spotted you and looked straight on . .. sharpness is very good too...It would have been hard taking shots on BIFs because of that blue sky...but it is better than very white skies.

[John 2]

Thanks all for the comments and ID info. Also found this:

http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-...glaucous-gulls

but from the images that I managed to capture, I can't see enough of the defining characteristics to make a definitive decision. The only certainty is that there is no sign of red on the jaw line and since they didn't seem particularly large, I would go with your thoughts on it being an Iceland Gull. Thanks all again.

[davidedric]

Just read a bit more. With 1st year sub-adults, which is what we have here, my book reads:

"Glaucous invariably has bill two thirds pale with sharply demarcated black tip. Iceland has more extensive black tip, shading often into only slightly paler base"

I think you have enough to nail it as Iceland. Note to self - must get out more

Dave

[John 2]

Thanks Dave. The trouble is that on close inspection, the bill on these birds is covered in mud. None the less I think that on balance, you are right. I would go up and have another look (Lune estuary near Glasson dock) but it's heaving it down today ....