Lesser Black-backed Gull

(313) Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus

Here are the 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls I have seen in South Africa. The Leeupan and Midrand's Glen Austin birds are of the nominate fuscus. The Mkhombo dam gull caused some great excitement as the much more paler grey back pointed to heuglini subspecies and as the bird moulted further the back turned even paler and the general consensus now is that it is a Steppe Gull (subspecies barabensis). Steppe Gull is regarded by some as a subspecies of Caspian Gull. The taxonomy of these gulls is very confusing and this Mkhombo gull may still turn out to be a complete new species for South Africa. Only time will tell.