ColinD
Well-known member
I posted photos of a couple of gulls from Lady's Mile, Cyprus on the Facebook group "Western Palearctic Gulls" yesterday. I realise that some folk on here are also on that FB group, but I thought it might be worth posting the photos here as well for those who aren't. Apologies if you've seen these before.
I identified the birds in question as 3rd winter and adult Heuglin's gulls. A straight forward ID I thought, since Heuglin's gull is the only lesser black back type recorded in Cyprus in winter, and there have been a few reported in the past few days. Baltic gull is also recorded on passage. However it has been suggested that the 3rd winter is a very odd looking Heuglin's, and may in fact be intermedius, a hybrid or something else entirely. Intermedius has never been recorded in Cyprus.
I'd be very interested in any opinions or comments on these birds. The first three photos are the 3rd winter, the last two are the adult.
Thanks
Colin
I identified the birds in question as 3rd winter and adult Heuglin's gulls. A straight forward ID I thought, since Heuglin's gull is the only lesser black back type recorded in Cyprus in winter, and there have been a few reported in the past few days. Baltic gull is also recorded on passage. However it has been suggested that the 3rd winter is a very odd looking Heuglin's, and may in fact be intermedius, a hybrid or something else entirely. Intermedius has never been recorded in Cyprus.
I'd be very interested in any opinions or comments on these birds. The first three photos are the 3rd winter, the last two are the adult.
Thanks
Colin
