Caspian Gull? Southwestern Poland, June (1 Viewer)

[D Halas]

Hello,

I've got one last bird I saw on my trip to Poland this summer whose identity I'd like confirmed. I saw this gull at a hydroelectric dam on the Bóbr River in southwestern Poland in late June. Based on its yellowish-pink legs, and the shape of its head and bill, I decided it was a Caspian Gull. Is this correct? Unfortunately I couldn't get any better pictures, as it was perched on a lamppost on the other side of the dam, and there was no way to get across.

 

[lou salomon]

on head and bill structure and pale iris it looks more like a herring gull. but in SW poland mostly caspian gulls are breeding (june!). to be sure you'd need a view on its wing tip pattern. large mirrors on p10 and p9 can be shown by both cachinnans and argentatus. leg colour is not decisive as many HG in poland/balticum have yellowish legs. might even be a hybrid.

 

[D Halas]

Thanks for the reply! It's a bit chastening to know how difficult gull ID in Europe can be!