First-winter Kumlien's Gull, Dingle Harbour, 18th January 2014 (Michael O'Keeffe).
A slightly paler and overall less well marked bird than the Anascaul/Inch bird, particularly, eg, the tips of the greater coverts and secondary coverts.
The fourth of five Kumlien's Gulls in Kerry in recent weeks. For a sub-species which is notoriously variable in appearance, the two adults and three first-winters have been strikingly similar (see several posts below). If it weren't for good quality digital photos, they might have been considered one adult and one wandering first-winter. Could it be coincidence, or is it that the birds all originate from one small part of their range in Arctic Canada?
