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Larus michahellis

Above: See below (Essex, 07 August 2010)

A very big and robust individual. The scapulars appear to show two different generations of feathers. The primaries and tertials, although already rather worn, are first generation, and the bill is solidly black. If this is a Great Black-backed, then presumably this is a bird that hatched very early in the season, hence the advanced scapular moult? Or is the correct interpretation that this is in fact a rather pale and well-marked Yellow-legged Gull?