Here's an interesting first-basic Herring
Gull larus a. smithsonianus that was photographed
by Ted Lee Eubanks at East Beach, Galveston, Texas on February
25, 1990. Note how the "double-anchor" pattern of the
fresh first-basic mantle/scaps is very crisp, and that on some
feathers the distal anchor is thin and very cleanly demarcated;
also take a look at the tertials - they have the white-notched
sides that are considered a feature of argenteus :
