Lesser Black-backed Gull- Kleine Mantelmeeuw (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: 30-9-2009)

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second calendar year: September 

By September all 2cy LBBG are moulting primaries, secondaries and many also moult coverts.

 

Moult in the remiges:

Only a small minority of 2cy LBBG still have old juvenile primaries left in the wing (and this is the last p10, see e.g. picture 2), but many have shed all the juvenile primaries and grow new second generation primaries. Compared to (fresh) juvenile primaries, the top of second generation primaries is rounded. The average moult stage by early September is just above 40, with p7 full-grown, while p8 and p9 are growing. At the end of the month the primary score is over 45, with p7 or p8 full-grown and p9 and p10 growing. 

On average, the outer secondaries (from S1 inwards) are full-grown by September, but in the inner secondaries have been shed. By mid-September, birds can be found with old and new secondaries and gaps of shed feathers. By the end of the month, in most individuals the secondaries have been renewed completely and can be recognized as such by the fresh white tip.

 

Moult in the rectrices:

On average the tail has completely been renewed into second generation. Typically, the contrast is obvious: the base commonly shoes vermiculation on the edge of a broad black tail-band and a small white fringe at the tips. In some individuals, the tail-feathers are abraded already with the tips worn away. Probably, these are the birds that had replaced the complete tail earlier in the season (in spring). The upper-tail coverts normally show broad brown bars.

 

Tertials:

The tertials are missing or have been replaced by second generation feathers. The upper two tertials normally are the last to be moulted. The new tertials have an extensive brown-black centre, a white bar at the tip and a sub-terminal anchor pattern at the tip. Sometimes a (single central) tertial may appear grey-centred with an arrow-head; a faint brown pattern along the fringe and a faded white tip (see for instance image 7). Probably, these feathers are already 3rd generation feathers and have replaced tertials which were included in last autumn's moult.

 

Coverts:
In all the wing covert bars, active moult may be in progress. In several individuals moult to second generation greater coverts and outer lesser coverts have to be finished as late as the end of September. Normally the median coverts are the first to be moulted, early in the season. By September however, it's still possible to find 2cy LBBG which have shed the median coverts, growing new feathers in. These birds are moulting the median coverts again into 3rd generation feathers. In pattern they resemble the anchor or barred patterned 2nd generation feathers (see image 7). Other individuals show the pattern as seen in presumed intermedius LBBGs: plain brown-grey coverts with a pronounced black wedge at the cente (see e.g. image 5 and image 6).

 

Under-parts and head:

These feather groups have been renewed by neat feathers, with fine streaks on the ear coverts and neat vermiculate bars on the flanks (see e.g. image 1). 

Tables

Full-grown primaries in 2cy LBBG Maasvlakte - the Netherlands, August 22 2002

new prims p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10
p8 old 2 2 - - - -
p9 old - 5 1 - - -
p10 old - - 25 2 - -
no old - - 12 16 1 -

Full-grown primaries in 2cy LBBG Dannes - NW France, September 21 2002

new prims p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10
p10 old - - 2 - - -
no old - - - 28 14 2

Full-grown primaries in 2cy LBBG Maasvlakte - the Netherlands, September 28 2001

new prims p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10
no old   - 9 26 61 9

 


2cy LBBG:
graellsii

4816rpzp.jpg (56042 bytes)LBBG 2cy PZP Le Portel, NW France, September 21 2002. The primary moult score: P9 fully grown. 2cy bird from Britain.

2cy LBBG: 'Dutch intergrade'


2cy LBBG in September, ringed in Belgium. (68215 bytes)LBBG 2cy L-51910 Le Portel, NW France, September 22 2002. P9 fully grown.
2cy LBBG in August, ringed in the Netherlands. (52920 bytes)LBBG 2cy LL September 29 2004, Westkapelle, the Netherlands. P9 fully grown.
2cy LBBG in August, ringed in the Netherlands. (70352 bytes)LBBG 2cy IE September 18 2003, Naaktstrand, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands.
2cy LBBG in September, ringed in the Netherlands. (73160 bytes)LBBG 2cy B14 Naaktstrand, Maasvlakte, September 01 2003.
2cy graellsii in October, ringed in the Netherlands. (95974 bytes)LBBG 2cy C95E September 25 2004, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Deformed bill.
LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Helgoland - Germany. (105903 bytes)LBBG 2cy 4285081 Oostende, Belgium, September 04 2005. From Helgoland, N Germany.

2cy LBBG:
intermedius

LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Norway. (54830 bytes)LBBG 2cy JS94 Le Portel, NW France, September 21 2002. The primary moult score: P8 fully grown.
LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Norway. (62075 bytes)LBBG 2cy JV28 Le Portel, NW France, September 21 2002. P9 fully grown.
LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Norway. (71701 bytes)LBBG 2cy JX86 Scheveningen, the Netherlands, September 16 2002. P7 new; P9 & P10 juvenile.
LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Norway. (70267 bytes)LBBG 2cy 4139766 Westkapelle, the Netherlands, September 29 2004.
LBBG intermedius 2cy in September, ringed in Norway. (71701 bytes)LBBG 2cy V241 IJmuiden, the Netherlands, September 22 2009. P7 new; P9 & P10 juvenile.

unringed birds in NW Europe

6187.jpg (96262 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, September 17 2001.
6236.jpg (95414 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Vuurtorenvlakte Maasvlakte, the Netherlands, September 17 2001.
4968.jpg (71848 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Le Portel, NW France, September 22 2002. The primary moult score: P9 fully grown.
6458.jpg (56321 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Le Portel France, September 30 2001.
6505.jpg (83569 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Le Portel France, September 30 2001.
6539.jpg (96040 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Dannes - Le Portel France, September 30 2001.
6561.jpg (91185 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Dannes - Le Portel France, September 30 2001.
6569.jpg (76656 bytes)LBBG 2cy, Dannes - Le Portel France, September 30 2001.