2022 Winter Birds on Jeju: Gulls

One final winter post for now, here are various gulls I saw on Jeju the past winter season. 

Vega Gull, with the pink legs, medium grey mantle, and light streaking on the head. These were some of the most common gulls seen.

Saunders' Gull, my favourite local gull and endemic to the region (Northeast Asia). A few of them were seen on the east coast this winter. 

This one is a little confusing to me, but I think the smaller build, pink bill, and medium grey mantle makes this a Vega Gull.

Another Saunders' Gull, this one working on some sort of burrowing worm in the tidal zone.

A Taimyr Gull, also confusingly known as a Heuglin's Gull or a subspecies of Lesser Black-backed Gull. Taimyr Gulls were fairly common this winter as well, with a good number always mixed in with groups of Vegas. The yellow legs, darker grey mantle, and streaking around the neck are features I looked for when identifying a Taimyr Gull.

Black-headed Gull, this was the only one I saw this winter. I don't know if they're rare on Jeju but they're somewhat common on mainland coastal areas in Korean winters.

Another Taimyr Gull, this one with a more intense yellow colouring for the legs. Note the thinner bill and light streaking on the head and neck.

Another Saunders' Gull, strolling down the beach.

Black-tailed Gull, and looks like not quite a fully mature adult either. This one was seen from the ferry to Biyang-do. This gull species is the most common on Jeju and live here year round.

Slaty-backed Gull, seen on the east coast. Usually I found one or two mixed in with large groups of gulls throughout the coast, but not often I would get such a close look at them like this individual. Note the deep pink colour of the legs, dark grey mantle, lighter eye, and heavy streaking on the head.

This one is also a Slaty-backed Gull, but a full adult it seems and pretty much in breeding plumage I'm guessing. Note the heavy build, and dark grey mantle. This was on Chuja-do in late February (an island between Jeju and the mainland).

Another Taimyr Gull, yellow legs, dark grey mantle, light streaking on the neck.

A Glaucous Gull, this one was a real prize to find. Found earlier in the winter, it took me a couple visits to come across it. A large gull, pale colouration, very light grey mantle, white wingtips, pink legs, and light coloured eye. Not very common on Jeju from what I've heard.

I think this one is either a Vega or a Mongolian Gull. I'm sort of leaning towards Mongolian simply because of the deeper pink of the legs, small dark eye, lighter streaking, and heavier build. But it could be a larger Vega I suppose?

Black-tailed Gull, another immature. Plenty of adults were seen but I liked the closeness and detail of this photo.

Once again a Vega Gull, lighter pink legs, more streaking on the head and neck, and medium grey mantle.