Keeping a beady eye....

[John 2]

An immature Black Headed Gull (I think?)

cool black baby boy names

[Urbanflyer]

What are the identifying features for a black headed gull? I find the gulls so confusing!

[John 2]

Judith, I've called it a Black headed Gull when I meant to say Black Backed Gull. The image below is a fully grown bird and the reason for the name is obvious. For this one, I had to go by the shape of the head and beak in looking it up in my reference book which tells me that the birds are brown flecked when young and (I'm guessing) haven't developed a yellow beak. Not a lot to go on, hence the uncertainty.

[Geoff F]

Greater and Lesser Black-backs look similar and can be difficult to tell apart. The lesser form is noticeably smaller if they are seen together; but the greater form also looks small when further away.

Adult lessers have yellowish legs compared to the pink legs of the greater. But that doesn't help when they are sitting on the water! Wing tips tend to be more strikingly marker with the greater; which makes me suspect this second image is actually a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Good shots whatever the identification.

[John 2]

Thanks Geoff. You learn something every day. The RSPB handbook only covers the Great Black Backed Gull in detail although (I've just noticed) there is an aside that acknowledges the existence of the Lesser Black backed Gull.

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[joebranko]

Nice capture.

[1claire]

S/He looks snooty, but you did a good job capturing a photo of your subject.

[pschlute]

Nice capture

[John 2]

Thanks all for the additional comments.

[tbob]

A great character study. Really conveys the mentality of these birds.

[John 2]

Thanks tbob. It was very wary - and so was I.