A holiday with friends to the Black Sea coast in the last week of july, my main focus – spending time with beloved girlfriend and friends… But I hoped I’d find time to see some brand new Caspian gulls. I basically got away with a few mornings and an afternoon of standing around throwing bread, looking deranged and attracting attention from gangs of drunken Romanian teenagers.
Between Mamaia, Constanta and Vadu I saw plenty, Some individuals were incredible, others less typical but but all show how variable they can be. The most constant features were expression, finer fringing to scapulars and coverts, finely patterned greater coverts (with a few execptions) nice dark thumbnail tertials and lightly barred or pure white axilleries, even on most of the darker birds, scroll down and enjoy.
Above, juvenile Yellow-Legged Gull, ringed at Constanta harbour. these birds were generally alot darker with more broad notching to the greater coverts and broader fringing to scapulars etc.
Below are some Adult Caspian Gulls from Vadu beach, most showed a yellowish tinge to the legs but some where dull grey/pink, and a variation in iris tone/darkness
I may go back in winter!!!
PERDIX BIRDER 