1st winter
Thayer's Gulls  Larus thayers
February 28th 2012 Choshi Chiba Japan

I counted 16 Thayer's Gulls (including some presumed thayeri-kumlieni intergrades/hybrids) in one day. Gulls in Choshi are decreasing in these years, but strangely Thayer's Gulls clearly seem to be increasing. This page shows 10 1st winter birds.

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A

Dark individual with plain gray replaced spapulars.

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B

Dark individual somewhat resembling smithsonianus.

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C

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D 

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E

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F

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G

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H

Relatively large individual (male?).

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I 


Quite small individual (female?). Looks very fresh,  and close to juvenile plumage. Only a few replaced scapulars are visible.

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J


The smallest individual in center is above-mentioned "I". "J" is standing behind. The large individual in the foreground is Slaty-backed Gull. Thayer's Gulls usually can be picked out by their  "uniform and smallish" looks among Vega and Slaty-backed Gulls.

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