Another First-Winter Caspian Gull

On my way back from Northampton yesterday I called in at Shawell A5 Lagoons and there was plenty of gulls there. Amongst them was a Caspian Gull in first-winter plumage or probably more accurately in post juvenile moult.

It wasn't the one I've seen on three occasions recently - see previous post. That one had a blacker bill and a different looking set of wing coverts.

The greater coverts are a bit fussier on this one than some examples, but well within the normal variation. Previously the thinking was that they should be very plain muddy brown. However, why would Caspian Gulls be different to the other large gull species, which show a great deal of variation.

First-Winter Caspian Gull

First-Winter Caspian Gull