© A. R. Dean

A first-winter graellsii. Head and bill-shape typical, as is the dull brownish-grey base colour of upperparts with coarse anchor marks occupying up to 50% of the visible area of each scapular feather. Note also the predominantly dark tertials with fine fringes. On standing bird, outer greater coverts tend to be rather uniformly dark, forming a dark bar. On swimming bird, disposition of wing generally reveals only the inner greater coverts, which are usually more variegated, as here, and the pattern is then less distinct from Herring Gull of similar age.