A relatively typical adult SLATY-BACKED GULL photographed at Hokkaido (Japan) by Jim Lawrence. Note the flaring white tertials and the dark grey upperparts; weakly striated crown and neck and not such an obvious pale iride. There is a distinctive 'gap' between where the dark grey ends and where the line of the nape runs up - the feathering here is white.
As Chris Heard said to me - it's all in the name ''Slaty-backed'' - so why those of us who did see the Rainham bird are worrying about its slate-coloured upperparts is somewhat unwarranted.
