Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii & intermedius)

(last update: May 17 2015)

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM 2CY - 5CY, January 2012 - July 2016, Norway and The Gambia.

Black ring J2TM and metal Stavanger 4262965, ringed as pullus Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius on July 15 2012 at Håvik, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway (59°18'37"N 005°18'45"E), by ringer Oskar Kenneth Bjørnstad, Dag Leonard Fjeldstad, and Jarl Skrunes.

Recoveries:

14.11 2012 Tanji Beach, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Barlow, Clive Richard & Roizer, Dean (is 5421 km travelled km)
17.11 2012 Tanji Bird Reserve, Western Division, The Gambia (13°22'36"N 016°47'45"W) - Barlow, Clive Richard Wilson, Martyn
01.12 2012 Tanji Bird Reserve, Western Division, The Gambia (13°22'36"N 016°47'45"W) - Barlow, Clive Richard Wilson, Martyn
20.01 2013 Tanji Beach, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Breistøl, Arild Helberg, Morten Lome, Carsten Mjelde, John Martin Nilsson, Anna
22.01 2013 Tanji Beach, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Hansen, Tor Oddvar
23.01 2013 Tanji Beach, The Gambia, (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Burgess, Bob
25.01 2013 Tanji Beach, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Breistøl, Arild Helberg, Morten Lome, Carsten Mjelde, John Martin
18.03 2013 Tanji Beach, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'50"W) - Zorgdrager, Jan
03.02 2014 Tanji Bird Reserve, The Gambia (13°22'43"N 016°47'39"W) - Hatsell, Ciaran
07.02 2014 Tanji village, The Gambia (13°21'45"N 016°47'49"W) - Slaymaker, Matthew
17.11 2014 Tanji, The Gambia (13°22'16"N 016°47'03"W) - Barlow, Clive Richard Dalquist, Kim Hamilton, John
06.07 2016 Skjørsand, Fusa, Hordaland, Norway (60°11'02"N 005°35'57"E) - Solberg, Sindre
18.02 2018 Cape Point, Bakau, The Gambia (13°28'36"N 016°39'37"W) - Dobbs, Geoffrey

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM 5CY, July 06 2016, Skjørsand - Hordaland, Norway (60°11'02"N 005°35'57"E). Picture: Sindre Solberg.

Adult plumage. Rather dark grey upperparts, nice match to intermedius.

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM 2CY, March 18 2013, Tanji Bird Reserve, The Gambia (13°22'43"N 016°47'39"W). Picture: Jan Zorgdrager.

Active primary moult with the outer primaries growing and maybe a second moult wave present in the inner primaries.
Note the simultaneous replacement of several coverts to 3rd gen.

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM 2CY, January 22 2013, Tanji Bird Reserve, The Gambia (13°22'43"N 016°47'39"W). Picture: Tor Oddvar Hansen.

Probably due to the wintering grounds being close to the equator, a rapid and extensive post-juvenile moult changed the plumage dramatically, showing overall 2nd gen plumage already by January.

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM 2CY, January 20 2013, Tanji Bird Reserve, The Gambia (13°22'43"N 016°47'39"W). Picture: Arild Breistol & John Martin Mjelde.

Last stage of the rectrices moult, with inner tail-feathers replaced, R4 still growing, R6 missing and R5 still old. Secondaries still old juvenile.
Wing-coverts replaced, and upper tertials as well (TT1-3) with lowest tertials still juvenile.
Active primary moult with outer primaries ((P7-P10) still old juvenile. Central primaries P5-P6 missing/growing and inner primaries replaced for 2nd gen with neat white tip. Exact moult strategy not easy to ascertain, in the left wing maybe P1 old, P2 new growing 2nd gen, P3 old juvenile, P4 growing 2nd gen. This pattern may be mirrored by the right wing as well.

Lesser Black-backed Gull intermedius J2TM migration.