www.gull-research.org

hi,

a bird jörgen posted on svala. the standing bird looks like a cachi with quite vivid yellow legs: http://www.artportalen.se/artportalen/g ... 448942.jpg
but even considering a 4cy - that amount of black on p10 and lack of clear dorsal tongues makes a pure caspian gull "impossible" i think. http://www.artportalen.se/artportalen/g ... 448941.jpg and http://www.artportalen.se/artportalen/g ... 448945.jpg
so what could it be? polish cachinellis?

maybe jörgen can provide us with more pics of this bird where structure and underwing pattern can be seen better?

lou

Hi all!
Yes, this gull was quite puzzling! I´m afraid these are the best photos I got before it took off. From distance it was identified as a cachinnans in a line with argentatus based on jizz and overall white appearance. In the field the mantle colour felt a shade darker than the argentatus, lacking bluish tinge, very much like michahellis. Iris yellowish, also very much like michahellis but the eyes looked slightly smaller than on argentatus. Posture somewhat intermediate between cachinnans and michahellis but breast held "high" unlike the more "normal" LBBG posture of mich and more in line with cachinnans. Colour of legs vivid yellow unlike most cachinnas matching michahellis. Unfortunately the pattern or tongues of the underwing was never seen. I really have no clue to this bird´s ID and maybe it´s some kind of hybrid of western taxa, cachahellis proposed, an odd michahellis or argentatus? However - in my opinion it also matches a few of the odd looking "eastern" cachinnans/barabensis types from the Kazakhstan section here at gull-research and also from Gibbins blogg. The pattern og P8-10 and black markings downt to P3 is sligthly odd for any combination? Any suggestions welcome!