American Herring Gull
Larus argentatus smithsonianus
First Winter:
October 27th 2005: an unusual bird, still in Juv. plumage. Could this bird be from western North America?
6 shots of the bird flying and standing.
September 24th 2005: Another young (this time very young) Herring Gull with a very large pale tailband.
4 Flightshots showing the upperside and the underside, along with the tail.
November 23rd 2003: a very strange presumed Herring Gull with yellowish feet and a pure yellow bill.
One poor flight shot.
December 28th 2004: A large bird with a large bicoloured bill.
4 shots of the bird standing and in flight.
December 30th 2005: a slightly smaller and slightly paler bird.
2 shots. One standing and one taking off (showing the underside of the wing).
February 1st 2004: a very strange bird showing several unusual features. Why is this bird like this?
Two shots, of the bird standing and with its wings raised.
February 13th 2005: a fairly large, and darker (chocolate brown) bird.
4 shots of the bird standing and flying. Hopefully showing every feather.
March 13th 2005: an example of a very pale-tailed smithsonianus?
3 shots showing the upperwing, the underwing and a profile shot.
Second Winter:
February 13th 2005: a seemingly average bird for the time of year.
2 Flight shots, showing the upperside and the underside.
Frbruary 13th 2005: another bird from the same day. More advanced than the above bird.
3 shots. 1 standing and 2 flying showing the upperside and the underside.
March 4th 2005: a fairly large bird, with nothing too unusual about it.
2 Flight shots, showing the upperside and the underside.
Third Winter:
December 28th 2005: taken on a gray sky day.
3 shots of the bird standing and in flight.
February 13th 2005: a large billed bird, chasing Ring-billed Gulls for bread.
3 shots of the bird standing, wings slightly raised, and topside in flight.
4th Winter/Adult:
February 19th 2005: a bird with a bill deformity. In a snow storm.
March 13th 2005: an adult with bright yellow legs, and pink feet. The mantle was also slightly darker than other Herring's around it.
4 shots.
Misc.
Young Herrings with Paler Eyes A page showing how young first winter Herring Gulls can develop paler eyes. This seems to become noticeable from January onwards.
All photographs at this website are copyrighted by Brandon Holden and cannot be used for any purpose other than viewing here, without prior permission.