The Young Ones

Chillier today than I’d become used to lately ;-)  A beach walk this afternoon although the main photo was taken down by the estuary, it’s of a young black-headed gull. 

During summer, it actually has a chocolate-brown head, rather than a jet-black one, which turns white for the rest of the year, with little black spots on either side of the head, which make it look like it is wearing headphones!

The extra image is of an immature herring gull. It takes up to four years for the mottled brown plumage to change to the grey back and white underside for which herring gulls are noted. Also it takes the same length of time for its black bill to turn to yellow with its distinctive red spot.