an informal birding record
tarsiger.co.uk
 
Lesser Black-backed Gull?
 

Larus fuscus?

Above: 1st winter/1st calendar year (Essex, 31 December 2011)

Is this a small, pale and well-marked Lesser, or just a Herring? The anchor marks in the scapulars (and overall structure) are strongly suggestive of Lesser. There's lots of dark in the tail, and the tertials appear quite plain. However, the tertials are worn - just how much notching was there when they were fresh?

 

 

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