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Larus michahellis

Above: 1st winter/1st calendar year (Essex, 19 December 2009)

The combination of white-tipped (but otherwise all-dark) tertials and patterned greater coverts suggest Yellow-legged rather than Lesser Black-backed. However, considering the date, there is surprisingly little moult in the coverts and no first generation tertial has yet been replaced. (And is the scapular patterning right for a michahellis?)