Fig 1) These are all beautifully marked birds. Note the extensive pale areas in the scapulars and coverts, the tertials patterned like an Iceland or Glaucous Gull, and the interesting arrowheads inside the primary tips. It's almost like a Kumlien's Gull, except the bill and body proportions are too large. Also, the dark areas of the primaries and tail point to a "dark-winged" parent, such as a Herring Gull. Glaucous x Glaucous-winged Gulls may also have these arrowheads, but would lack the dark tones visible here, and usually have an overall messier and muddier pattern to the upperparts. December 7 to 19, 1999. Rhine-Meuse estuary; the Netherlands.

Fig 2) This is the same bird as above, showing off the wing pattern.

Fig 3) This is a different bird, remarkably like the one above, except for a surprisingly dark bill. Again, it resembles a Kumlien's Gull, but the bill is still too large and the head not quite small enough. December 5, 1999. Near The Hague; the Netherlands.