Kelp/Lesser Black-backed Gull

[Mark Gurney]

I found this on the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia on 13 Feb. At the time I thought it was a Lesser Black-backed Gull, but other have since pointed out the apparently large size, greenish yellow legs (visible in video), and other features, and suggested that it is a Kelp Gull. I could agree, but the bill does not look very heavy to me.

Here are a couple of heat-hazy photos and some almost uselessly tiny video grabs, but I am afraid they are all I have. There is a bigger photo at:

http://surfbirds.com/albums/showphoto.php?photo=6050&size=big&cat=

If anyone can make anything of them, please let me know.

Thanks

Mark

[Brian S]

Hi Mark

On a brief look and first impressions based on the first image, I'd probably go with Kelp - it somehow seems to be too dark for the larger LBBG forms, and the bill/moult, etc. might fit that better for Feb.

Brian S

[Mark Gurney]

Thanks Brian. That seems to be what most other people have been saying.

[pete]

Hi Mark

I saw what was presumably the same bird in March. I was a little confused as the bill seemed large for a Lesser Black-back, but I dismissed Kelp Gull as the legs seemed pretty bright yellow. In the end, I concluded it was an odd looking Lesser Black-back, but may well be wrong...

I have attached a link below to a photo of the bird that may help shed more light on it, and I have other images if anyone is interested.

Cheers

Pete





http://www.birdquest.co.uk/gallery.cfm?TourTitle=&GalleryRegionID=0&GalleryCategoryID=0&Country=Type+here+to+search..&Photographer=Type+here+to+search..&Species=Lesser+

[pete]

For anyone interested, the identity of this bird has now been resolved, and it was indeed a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Elongated structure, bill shape, upperpart colouration and strong head-streaking in a near-adult winter-plumaged bird were all indicative of LBBG