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

(last update: 16-11-2009)

Larus fuscus fuscus 10cy CJ 93, July 11-12 2003, Tampere, Finland (61.33N 24.59E).

CJ 93 was ringed in Helsinki, Finland (60,18N 24,98E); ringed as pullus on July 10 1994. Hand when ringed: 220 mm. 
Ring records at Tampere landfill:
1996: 2 records from Sweden (56,90N 18,19E) on 1996-08-28 & from East Germany (54,08N 18,18E) on 1996-09-21,
1998: 2 records from 1998-07-22 & from Jkyläk (62,23N 25,66E) on 1998-06-16,
1999: 2 records from 1999-06-30 & 1999-07-01,
2000: 2 records from 2000-05-25 until 2000-06-28,
2001: 6 records from 2001-05-13 until 2001-08-19,
2002: 24 records from 2002-04-26 until 2002-08-02,
2003: 21 records from 2003-05-25 until 2003-08-09.

Ringed as pullus at Helsinki, Finland on July 10 1994, now in 10cy. A representative for the adult fuscus by mid-July. Most striking are the small size (probably a female), the slender bill, the red gonydeal spot which normally doesn't exceed on the upper mandible, 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 fresh central median coverts.