nominate Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. f. fuscus)

(last update: 19-2-2010)

Larus fuscus fuscus C95C July 12 2003 & April 10 2009, Tampere & Nokia, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

Larus fuscus fuscus 14cy C95C, April 10 2009, Nokia, Finland. Picture Hannu Koskinen.

In April, still with a black bill band. P10 seems to fall a bit short, but this is hard to interpret.

Larus fuscus fuscus 8cy C95C, July 12 2003, Tampere, Finland.

C95C was ringed in Kangasala, Finland (61,54N 24,32E); ringed as pullus on July 16 1996. Hand when ringed: 250 mm. 
Ring records at Tampere landfill:
1999: 7 records from 1999-05-05 until 1999-07-07,
2000: 10 records from 2000-04-30 until 2000-08-09,
2001: 14 records from 2001-04-19 until 2001-08-12 & Nokia (61,51N 23,52E) on 2001-07-01,
2002: 11 records from 2002-04-26 until 2002-07-31,
2003: 1 records from 2003-07-20.

Ringed as pullus at Kanala, Finland on July 16 1996, now in 8cy. A representative for the adult fuscus by mid-July. Most striking are the small size (probably a female), the slender bill, the dark upper-parts which turn brown hued when older and worn, the lack of moult in the scapulars, wing-coverts and the primaries and the small white tips on the outer primaries, which wear away quickly. Note the strong brown hue on the scapulars and the the old inner greater coverts and compare with the cold dark grey fresh upper scapulars and the central median coverts.