Caspian Gulls at Chioggia (NE Italy) and Pusiano (NW Italy)

The photo-collage features two adult Caspian Gulls Larus cachinnans photographed respectively by Marco Basso at Chioggia recently and by Giuliana Pirotta at the Pusiano lake on February 17, 2006. The Chioggia gull (left) shows the typical pattern of the longest primary P10 on the far wing, with the "mirror" that merges with the white feather tip to give an extensive white tip several centimetres in length and a white "tongue" along the inner web (scarcely visible), with a narrow black cross bar and thin black outer web. The P9 mirror is better separated from the white tip, being split by a narrow black bar along the primary shaft, and a best visible white "tongue" along the inner web. Check also the wing-tip of the folded left wing, being visible on the tail of the Pusiano gull (right), that features the typical P9 pattern (the P9 tip covers the P10 almost completely). Moreover, note the yellow legs of the Pusiano gull.

14:04 - Saturday, February 18, 2006 - post comment