Non-breeding adult. Note the whitish eyes and the grey smudges above eye and on cheeks. Hermanus, Western Cape (2020). Body white. Head, back and most of the upper surface of its wings grey. Tips of wings predominantly black, separated from the grey by a white flash. Legs and bill red. Eyes pale, with a red… Continue reading Grey-headed gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)
Category: Gulls
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Two kelp gulls - only one visible - on a rock along the coast. Stormsrivier Mouth, Western Cape (2018) - iNaturalist The largest gull in the region, also called the Dominican gull. Heavily built, with relatively short wings (folded wings do not project well beyond the tail tip), a robust bill, a steep forehead, and… Continue reading Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
Non-breeding adult cruising the rocky shores, in search of sustenance. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Also known as the king gull. Short, thin and dark bill, with deep red legs. Eyes usually dark at all ages, but some birds have whitish eyes. Told from vagrant gulls in flight by grey underwing and mostly black… Continue reading Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
