I get a lesson in Caspian Gull ID

 After the very difficult Christmas and New Year I finally got enough enthusiasm to pick up my camera and met up with Jamie Partridge to lookatthe gulls in the Bay, with the specific intention of looking for Capsian Gulls. Jamie is a Caspain obsessive and very skilled at Gull ID, (and all other species), but itwas several loaves of bread later that a Caspaian Gull appeared amongst the Herring Gull multitudes. 

Herring Gulls.

Eventually Jamie drew my attention to a 2nd year bird. In flight the very white head, broad dark tail band with a very white upper tail were very striking. It settled on the rocks some way off. 

It showed s0me very good features for Caspian Gull. The long parallel sided bill, Dark Eye, Longish legs and very full chest.

The wings are long and the black patch in the tertials is a good character.

 

It isn't all that obvious, but there is a slightly speckled collar. 

The greater coverts are uniformly brown and look very neat.