A 1st calendar year 'micahellis' Yellow-Legged Gull at Fishmoor Reservoir, Blackburn, Lancashire on 22.09.02.
Finding an example of this age of Yellow-legged Gull was my objective for autumn 2002 at Fishmoor Reservoir. Not having any previous field experience of 1CY birds, I had often wondered how obvious this plumage would be if I was to chance upon one?
From the moment I scoped this bird, it was clearly of interest. The bird was moulting from juvenile - 1stw plumage. From a combination of the birds state of moult in relation to age (the grey feathers appearing amongst the mantle and scapulars) and the whiteness of the head, coupled with the head shape and rather striking all dark, blunt tipped Bill, It didn't take long for me to be confident that this bird was indeed what I had been looking for.
Due to the birds position on the roof of 'Corus' steel (it was stood just below a ridge in the roof) I didn't see the length of the legs or the open upperwing. But, the images obtained do show sufficient features to confirm the ID.
1) The advanced state of moult in relation to age. The background colour of the head and underparts were strikingly white. The head showed a shadow around the eye, particularly behind the eye, this shadow extended faintly across the rear crown, forming a faint 'cap' effect on the top of the head.
