North-west Gull News

National round up of Gull News

General Gull snippets

May

11th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1st Iceland Gull, 2nds Yellow-legged Gull, 2 1sts Med Gulls (1 with Green Ring on), 2 1sts Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

10th

Cheshire and Wirral

2 1sts Iceland Gulls at Arpley Tip (no access).

Anglesey

2ndw Glaucous Gull near Menai Bridge off A5025 in fields next to tip.

Ad + 1sts Med Gulls at Cemlyn Lagoon.

April

24th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1st Med Gull at Heysham Harbour, and Ad Little Gull.

15 Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Cheshire and Wirral

Ad Little Gull at Carr Lane Pools Hale.

16th

Lancashire and Merseyside

11 Ads Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

2 Little Gulls at Stocks Resr at 16.44.

8 Little Gulls at Brockholes LWT.

Gtr Mancs

6 Little Gulls at Salford Quays (all ads).

Ad little Gull at Pennington Flash CP.

17 Little Gulls Audenshaw Resr (permit only).

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull near Menai Bridge off A5025 in fields next to tip.

Med Gull at Cemlyn Lagoons.

Conwy

Little Gull at Conwy RSPB.

15th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1stw-s Yellow-legged Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only), and 14 Little Gulls.

Ad Kittiwake at Brockholes LWT.

Conwy

Little Gull at Conwy RSPB.

Iceland Gull at Caerhun.

Ad Med Gull at Old Colwyn.

Anglesey

1stw Med Gull at Beddmanarch Bay.

13th

Lancashire and Merseyside

20+ Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Gtr Mancs

2 Ads Med Gulls at Elton Resr.

Ad Med Gull at Pennington Flash CP.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

12th

Lancashire and Merseyside

17 Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Gtr Mancs

3 Ad Little Gulls at Pennington Flash CP.

Cheshire and Wirral

10 Little Gulls off Hilbre Island.

11th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1sts Iceland Gull showing Kumlieni features at Seaforth NR at 14.30-15.25 then flew South, also 11 Little Gulls (10ad + 1 1sts).(permit only).

2 1stw Med Gulls at Heysham Harbour.

Cheshire and Wirral

2 Juv Iceland Gulls at Moore NR on Birchwood pool.

10th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Juv Iceland Gull at Bispham near Blackpool on beach west of A584 Queens Prom.

Ad Little Gull and 1stw +Ad Med Gull Heysham Harbour off outfall.

6 Ad Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

1stw Med Gull at Southport Marshside RSPB.

3rds Yellow-legged Gull at Glasson on Lune Estuary.

Anglesey

2 Med Gulls at Cemlyn Lagoons.

9th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Juv Iceland Gull off Fleetwood flew towards Jameson landfill site.

1stw Little Gull off Heysham Harbour.

Cheshire and Wirral

Possible 1stw American Herring Gull , Juv Iceland and Juv Glaucous Gull at Sandbach flash on Elton Hall Flash.

2 Ad Med Gulls at Inner Narsh Farm RSPB, and Ad Kittiwake.

8th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2 Adw Little Gulls at Prescot Resr (permit only).

7th

Lancashire and Merseyside

30 Little Gulls off Formby Point.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland and Juv Glaucous Gull at Sandbach flash on Pumphouse Flash.

Gtr Mancs

2 2nds Med Gulls at Elton Resr.

Ad Little Gull Pennington Flash CP.

Denbighs

1stw Med Gull at Ryhl on River Clywd near railway bridge.

6th

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland Gull at Chester city centre at handbridge by Weir.

Gtr Mancs

Ad Little Gull at Pennington Flash CP.

Conwy

Ad Med Gull at Colwyn Bay

 5th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR again early morning and again mid afternoon, 52 little Gulls.

Denbighs

1stw Med Gull at Ryhl on River Clywd near railway bridge.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

4th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR again mid afternoon on long bank, also 8+ Little Gulls.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland Gull off Hilbre Island and 25 little Gulls.

Gtr Mancs

Ad Kittiwake at Audenshaw Resr (permit only).

3rd

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR again mid afternoon, 20 Little Gulls, (permit only).

Ads Ring-billed Gull Seaforth NR 3rd April 09

Cheshire and Wirral

2 Juv Glaucous Gulls and 4 Juv Iceland Gulls at Richmond Bank.

2 2ndw Med Gulls at Frodsham Marsh.

Gtr Mancs

1stw-s Iceland Gull at Pennington Flash CP. at 13.10 then flew West, also 2 Ad Med Gulls.

Denbighs

1stw Med Gull at Ryhl on River Clywd near railway bridge.

Conwy

Ad Med Gull at Colwyn Bay opposite The Dingle.

2nd

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR again same as yesterday, also 1 Ads Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Juv Glaucous Gull, 1st Caspian Gull, 18+ Little Gulls. (permit only).

Ads Ring-billed Gull Seaforth NR 2nd April 09

1stw-s Glaucous Gull Seaforth NR 2nd April 09

Cheshire and Wirral

2 Juv Glaucous Gulls and 5 Juv Iceland Gulls at Richmond Bank.

Conwy

Ads Med Gull at Old Colwyn at stream outfall.

Denbighs

1stw Med Gull at Ryhl on River Clywd near railway bridge.

1st

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR (different and new bird No6*) also 1stw-s Med Gull and ads Yellow-legged Gull (permit only). (*seperated by size, and variation on P5, Primary tips).

Ads Ring-billed Gull Seaforth NR Merseyside 1st April 09

1stw-s Med Gull Seaforth NR Merseyside 1st April 09

Ads Med Gull Leighton Moss RSPB.

Cheshire and Wirral

2 Ads Med Gulls over Frodsham at Weaver Bend.

Juv Iceland Gull at Moore NR y'day.

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull North of Menai Bridge in fields next to tip.

March

31st

Lancashire and Merseyside

1sts Iceland Gull and Ads Ring-billed Gull (new bird 5th this year), at Seaforth NR  (permit only).

2 Ads Med Gulls at Marton Mere LNR Blackpool.

3 Med Gulls at Wyre estuary at Skippool Creek.

3rds Yellow-legged Gull at Glasson on Lune Estuary at Fishnet Point.

Conwy

Ad Little Gull at Conwy RSPB

30th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1sts Med Gull and 2 little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull North of Menai Bridge in fields next to tip.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland Gull at Sandbach Flash on Elton Hall Flash.

Conwy

Ad Med Gull at Old Colwyn at stream outflow.

29th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Ads Ring-billed Gull Seaforth NR Merseyside 29th March 09 P.Kinsella.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

Anglesey

1stw Med Gull at Beddmanarch Bay.

2ndw Glaucous Gull North of Menai Bridge in fields next to tip.

28th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2 Ads Med Gulls at Marton Mere LNR near Blackpool.

1stw Ring-billed Gull at Stocks Resr on spit by hodder inlet at 16.40.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Glaucous Gull  at Sandbach Flash on Elton Hall Flash.

Anglesey

2ndw Glaucous Gull North of Menai Bridge in fields next to tip.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

27th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2ndw + Juv Iceland Gull + Ad Yellow-legged Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Juv Glaucous Gull at Weld rd car park Birkdale Beach.

130 Little Gulls off Rossall Point Fleetwood.

6 Ads Med Gulls at Marton Mere LNR Blackpool.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

Cheshire and Wirral

Kittiwake at Marbury CP on Budworth Mere.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

26th

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Glaucous Gull  at Sandbach Flash on Elton Hall Flash.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

Flints

Juv Glaucous Gull flew past Point of Air.

Anglesey

2ndw Glaucous Gull North of Menai Bridge in fields next to tip.

25th

Conwy

Ad Yellow-legged Gull at Conwy RSPB.

24th

Lancashire and Merseyside

1stw Little Gull at Brockholes LWT.

8 Little Gulls past Formby Point.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland Gull at Sandbach Flash on Elton Hall Flash.

Gtr Mancs

1stw Little Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only), Juv Iceland Gull at 06.40 then flew NE.

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

23rd

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

22nd

Lancashire and Merseyside

1stw Ross's Gull seen off Slipway at Lytham St Annes at Seafield RD then flushed and flew along shore, 17.10-1730.

4 Ads Med Gulls at Marton Mere LNR near Blackpool.

1stw Med Gull at Rishton Resr.

Cheshire and Wirral

2nds Yellow-legged Gull at Sandbach Flash on Elton Hall Flash.

Juv Iceland Gull at Moore NR at Pumphouse pool.

21st

Lancashire and Merseyside

2 Ads Med Gulls at Marton Mere LNR near Blackpool.

Ad Yellow-legged Gull at Fleetwood marsh on CEGB pool.

Cheshire and Wirral

30+ Little Gulls off Hilbre Island.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

20th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2nds Med Gull and Ad Little Gull at Heysham Harbour.

Denbighs

3 Med Gulls at Rhyl on River Clywd (Ad + 2 2ndw).

19th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Juv Glaucous Gull and Juv Iceland Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only).

18th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Med Gull Plex Moss.

2ndw Med Gull at Marton Mere LNR near Blackpool.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

Gwynedd

Iceland Gull on Bardsey Island.

17th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ads Med Gull Plex Moss.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

16th

Cheshire and Wirral

2nds Med Gull at New Brighton marine lake.

Ad Med Gull on River Weaver near Frodsham.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

15th

Lancashire and Merseyside

3 Ad Yellow-legged Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only), Ad Med Gull and ad Little Gull Crosby Marina.

2 Ad Med Gulls at Southport Marshside RSPB.

Ad Little Gull Heysham Harbour off outfall.

2 Ad Med Gulls at Glasson.

Cheshire and Wirral

6 Little Gulls off Hilbre Island.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

14th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ad Med Gull Marton on playing fields at Lawson Rd.

4thw Yellow-legged Gull and 1 ad Kittiwake Seaforth NR (permit only).

Cheshire and Wirral

2 Juv Glaucous, 2 Juv Iceland Gulls at Arpley Tip (organised visits only).

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

Ad Little Gull off caernarfon golf course.

13th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Adw Little Gull at Heysham Harbour outfalls.

2 Med Gulls at Southport Marshside RSPB (ad +2ndw).

Cheshire and Wirral

Ad Iceland Gull SE of Nantwich at Stapeley in field by A51 end of First Dig lane.

Ad Med Gull at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

Anglesey

Juv Glaucous Gull NNW of Menai Bridge by A5025.

12th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Ad Med Gull at Southport Marshside RSPB.

2 Ads Med Gulls at Fishmoor Resr Blackburn.

11th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Juv Iceland Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only) from 13.45-14.05.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Iceland Gull at Sandbach on Pumphouse Flash.

Juv Glaucous Gull at Birchwood Pool Moore NR briefly at 11.53.

Gtr Mancs

Juv Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr (permit only) on No3 Resr.

Anglesey

1stw Med Gull Penrhos Coastal Park car park.

10th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2 Ads Med Gulls at Albert Dock by Tate Liverpool.

34 Little Gulls past Formby Point.

Ad Med Gull at Southport Marshside RSPB.

1 Ad + 1 1stw Med Gulls at leighton Moss RSPB.

2 Ads Med Gulls roosted at Fishmoor Resr Blackburn.

Cumbria

Juv Iceland Gull Carlisle at Brackenridge on roof.

Cheshire and Wirral

Juv Glaucous Gull, Juv Iceland Gull and Ad Yellow-legged Gull at Sandbach on Pumphouse Flash.

Ad Ring-billed Gull at Moore NR on Pumphouse pool at 15.30 and Ad + 1stw Med Gulls.

Gtr Mancs

2ndw Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr.

Conwy

Ad Med Gull Kinmel Bay near railway bridge.

Gwynedd

Juv Glaucous Gull at Foryd Bay.

 9th

Lancashire and Merseyside

2 Ads Med Gulls at Fishmoor Resr in roost near Blackburn.

70 Little Gulls off Crosby Beach this morning.

Gtr Mancs

2ndw Iceland Gull at Audenshaw Resr and Ad Med Gull in roost (permit only).

8th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Adw Ring-billed Gull flew in again at 16.30, Ad Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Little Gulls at Seaforth NR (permit only).

Ads Med Gull at Southport Marshside RSPB, also 1 ad y'day here.

5 Ad Med Gulls at Downholland Moss on Altcar lane.

Cheshire and Wirral

Ad Med Gull at New Brighton marine lake.

7th

Lancashire and Merseyside

Adw Ring-billed Gull at Seaforth NR (permit only) flew in at 14.25, and 2 Ads + 1 1stw Med Gulls.

Cheshire and Wirral

4 Iceland Gulls (2ndw and 3 Juvs), 1 Juv Glaucous Gull, 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (3rdw + 4 Ads) and 2 Med Gulls (ads + 2ndw) at Richmond Bank.

6th

Cheshire and Wirral

3 Juv + 1 2ndw + 1ad Iceland Gulls, 1 Juv Glaucous Gull, 3 Ad Yellow-legged Gulls and 3 Ads Med Gulls at Richmond Bank/Arpley Tip/Moore NR area.

Juv Iceland Gull at Maw Green Tip, and later on Sandbach Flash on Pumphouse Pool and Ad Yellow-legged Gull.

 

On Scilly, an adult summer BONAPARTE'S GULL was a nice surprise on Porthloo Beach, St. Mary's on 5th and on 6th, a summer LAUGHING GULL was found on Foula (Shetland) - the Solitary Sandpiper appearing half an hour later! A first-winter CASPIAN GULL was at Dungeness (Kent) and was the only record of the week. Only 35 or so ICELAND GULLS were noted this week, with half a dozen seen around the Outer Hebrides, at least three on Orkney and three at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway) as well.

An adult KUMLIEN'S GULL was again at Loch Ryan (Dumfries & Galloway) on 2nd-4th. The week's haul of GLAUCOUS GULLS just managed to make it to double figures, with three birds at Ullapool (Highland) on 6th. Two first-winter RING-BILLED GULLS (one of them a new arrival) were at the marina in Antrim on 30th-1st and a first-summer Ring-billed Gull was at Cuskinny Marsh (Co. Cork) on May Day, with two birds there on 6th.

The only CASPIAN GULL of the week was a second-summer reported at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea (Northumberland) on 24th. This week saw a slight hike in numbers of ICELAND GULLS: up from 45 to at least 65 birds, including 10 still at Killybegs (Co. Donegal) on 23rd. A juvenile KUMLIEN'S GULL was seen at the southern end of mainland Shetland on 23rd-26th with another Shetland juvenile on Whalsay on 28th. The third juvenile of the week was at Shawbost (Lewis) on 26th and it or another juvenile was seen at Loch Barvas, also on Lewis, on 29th.

An adult Kumlien's Gull was on Loch Ryan (Dumfries & Galloway) on 28th.The second-winter "Kumlien's Gull" was seen again at Blackborough End (Norfolk) on 25th, but photos of the bird show it to be closer in appearance to a Herring Gull (albeit an oddly marked one, or possibly some sort of Herring Gull hybrid); it certainly isn't the county's first Kumlien's Gull. Only around 20 GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen during the week but did include one with four Orcas off the Butt of Lewis (Outer Hebrides) on 26th while, also on the Hebrides, four birds were seen at Rubha Ardvule, South Uist on 27th. An adult RING-BILLED Gull was seen at Ballyheige Bay (Co. Kerry) on 25th and the second-winter was still at Lamby Lake (Glamorgan) on 28th.

The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 16th-18th and another was seen at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) on 18th. Two first-summer CASPIAN GULLS were seen at the London Wetland Centre on 17th.

Around 45 ICELAND GULLS were seen around Britain and Ireland this week, including five at Kinnegar Pools (Co. Down) on 18th. The only KUMLIEN'S GULLS of the week were the second-winter seen again at Blackborough End (Norfolk) on 18th (some three weeks after it was last reported there) and the first-winter at Rossaveal (Co. Galway) on 22nd. Numbers of GLAUCOUS GULLS fell to just above double figures this week. Just three RING-BILLED GULLS were reported over the week: a first-summer was at Loch Beg (Mull) on 18th and a first-winter was still in Northern Ireland, in Antrim, on the same day. The second-summer RING-BILLED GULL was still at Lamby Lake (Glamorgan) on 20th.

There were three adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS to report this week: one remained around Peninerine, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) to 10th, when one was noted on the Swords Estuary (Co. Dublin) and these two were followed by a great find at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 11th (the fourth record for the county and the site and all within the last decade). The latter bird went missing for day, but appeared again on 13th-15th. In Cheshire, at Sandbach Flashes, a possible first-summer AMERICAN HERRING GULL was seen on 9th-10th. Photos taken show a less-than-impressive beast which may be difficult to ever prove as smithsonianus - if it is one, it's at the less-than-classic end of the scale. As it stands, just three CASPIAN GULLS was reported this week: a first-summer seen at the London Wetland Centre on 12th (and again on 15th) with a second first year bird appearing at Dungeness (Kent) on 14th. A second-summer bird was at Livermere Lake (Suffolk) on 15th.

Numbers of ICELAND GULLS, as you may expect, continued to fall away this week, with around 65 birds reported from Britain and Ireland. Five at Ullapool (Highland) on 9th was the largest group noted, while three at Stranraer (Dumfries & Galloway) on 11th was of note (at least five birds were seen in the county this week). Up to five birds were also noted in Cheshire and the Outer Hebrides as well. The only KUMLIEN'S GULL was the juvenile still around Rossaveal (Co. Galway) on 14th. GLAUCOUS GULLS were even less in evidence: around 25 birds were noted countrywide, with up to five birds on the Outer Hebrides the only tally of note.

The first-summer RING-BILLED GULL was still at Helston (Cornwall) this week, while the first-year bird was still in Antrim too. Further young birds were at Cross Lough on the Mullet (Co. Mayo) on 13th and Loch Beg, Mull (Argyll) on 15th. A second-winter was also in Antrim this week, seen at Larne Lough on 11th, while the county's third bird of the week was an adult at Portrush on 12th. Two birds (an adult and a first-winter) were found at Quilty (Co. Cork) on 11th and an adult was at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway) on 12th.

European News

Mega

Slaty-backed Gull in Latvia, still at Riga Tip 16th April.

European News

Mega

Slaty-backed Gull in Latvia, found at Riga Tip.

The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was still at Peninerine (South Uist) until 3rd, while CASPIAN GULLS included three birds at the private site at Pitsea (Essex) on 4th, two at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 2nd, and singles at Holland Haven (Essex) on 2nd, Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 3rd, Orford Ness (Suffolk) on 4th and Rainham Marshes (London) on 7th.

ICELAND GULLS continued to drift away, but over 85 birds were still on offer, around 55 in Britain and at least 30 in Ireland. Ten were seen at Ullapool (Highland) on 5th, with five seen at Richmond Bank (Cheshire) and at the Shetland Catch factory, near Lerwick, all on 2nd. Four birds were at Elgin (Moray) on 3rd. In Ireland, there were six each for Castletown Bearhaven (Co. Cork), Rossaveal (Co. Galway) and Killybegs (Co. Donegal), with three in Dingle harbour (Co. Kerry). The second-winter KUMLIEN'S GULL remained around the Stewartby Lake (Bedfordshire) area from 2nd-4th and a juvenile was still at Rossaveal on 4th. GLAUCOUS GULLS struggled to make it into double figures this week, with just 30 or so reported across Britain and Ireland.

RING-BILLED GULL numbers fell away fairly sharply this week, with just nine birds reported. The adult at Seaforth (Lancashire) was seen again from 2nd-5th while the second-summer was again at Lamby Lakes (Glamorgan) on 7th. New birds included an adult at Helston (Cornwall) on 5th and a first year in Cardiff on 8th. In Ireland, adults were noted in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Sligo and Wicklow. Also in Ireland, a first-winter Ring-billed Gull was seen in Donegal on 3rd.

On 30th, a BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen on South Uist (Outer Hebrides) for the third year in a row (and the fourth year in the past five). Last year, an adult was noted from 4th April onwards and it seems highly likely that it is the same bird returning. In Glamorgan, the adult Bonaparte's Gull was still around the Taff Estuary and Cardiff Bay to 30th. The only CASPIAN GULLS this week were two birds (both first-winters) at Southwold (Suffolk) on 28th, two more (a first-winter and third-winter) at Swillington Ings (West Yorkshire) on 31st and a single bird at Ditchford GPs (Northamptonshire) on 29th.

A dozen ICELAND GULLS were still at the Shetland Catch factory near Lerwick on 28th and they were among some 55 birds seen in Britain this week. Ireland almost matched the British tally, with at least 47 birds noted. Rossaveal in County Galway led the way again with 11 birds on 28th. Up in Donegal, Killybegs scored nine on 29th, while at Nimmo's Pier (Galway) eight birds were present on 28th. Five young birds were at Baltimore (Co. Cork) on 27th.

Four KUMLIEN'S GULLS were reported this week. A second-winter was at Blackborough End (Norfolk) on 28th (the same bird as last week, but it was noted as a third-winter then). Also on 28th, single second-winter and third-winter birds were at Nimmo's Pier and a third-winter was again at Newtownards (Co. Down) on 29th. On 31st a second-winter Kumlien's Gull was seen in the roost at Stewartby Lake (Bedfordshire), reappearing the following evening.

Numbers of GLAUCOUS GULLS fell again this week, with only around 35 reported. Three were seen on North Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 27th and two juveniles were together in the harbour at Southwold (Suffolk) on 28th. On South Uist, six birds were seen on 1st.

An adult RING-BILLED GULL was reported belatedly from Newnham (Gloucestershire) on 25th. This week saw the first-winter remain at Helston (Cornwall), the second-winter again at Ferryside (Carmarthenshire) on 31st and regular adults still at Westcliff-on-Sea (Essex), Oban (Argyll) and Dingwall (Highland). In Lancashire, a first-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Stocks Reservoir on 28th and an adult was at Seaforth on 29th and 31st-1st. In Ireland, two adults were seen throughout the week at Nimmo's Pier with two more at Cuskinny Marsh (Co. Cork) on 29th. In Cork City, a first-winter was seen on 27th and another first-winter lingered in County Antrim to 30th. Single adults were also noted in Timoleague in Cork, as well as in Wicklow and Limerick but it was, once again, Sandymount in County Dublin that fared best with six birds (five adults and one second-winter) present on 30th.

A first-winter ROSS'S GULL was watched for 20 minutes late in the day of 22nd at Lytham St. Anne's (Lancashire) before flying off along the shoreline and being lost to view. It is almost a year ago that the popular (but ill-fated) adult Ross's Gull was seen in the same area; this year's bird was a rather shorter stayer. The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL lingered around the Taff Estuary, Cardiff (Glamorgan) from 19th-23rd, while the first-winter AMERICAN HERRING GULL on the Otter Estuary NR (Devon) was seen again on 20th, but not since.

Numbers of CASPIAN GULLS this week fell away to around ten birds. On 19th, two birds (a first-year and third-year) were seen at Rainham Marshes (London), while a first-winter was at Minsmere (Suffolk) and an adult was at Shawell (Leicestershire). In Essex, a third-winter Caspian Gull was at Pitsea tip on 21st when an adult and first-winter were at Blackborough End (Norfolk) and a first-summer bird was at the London Wetland Centre on 23rd. On 24th, back at Shawell, a fourth-winter was reported, and a second-winter was at Minsmere on 25th.

The total of ICELAND GULLS seen in Britain, like Caspian Gull, fell away this week, with around 60 birds recorded. Ten birds were still at the Shetland Catch factory near Lerwick on 21st, while five birds were at Richmond Bank (Cheshire) on 19th and four were at Throckmorton (Worcestershire) on 20th. In Ireland numbers held firm, even up a touch, with just under 60 birds recorded there. Eleven birds were at Rossaveal (Co. Galway) on 21st (with at least 14 birds recorded there during the week) and up to 18 birds were seen in County Cork, seven of them at Castletown Bearhaven on 23rd. Up to eight KUMLIEN'S GULLS were reported; the second-winter remained around Leicestershire and Warwickshire until 24th while a juvenile was still at the Shetland Catch factory to 22nd. At Swillington Ings (West Yorkshire) a second- or third-winter was seen on 24th, while a confirmed third-winter (a first for Norfolk) was seen at Blackborough End on 20th. In Ireland, single juveniles were on Inish Mor (Co. Galway) on 20th-21st and at Rossaveal on 22nd, while a third-winter was again at Newtownards (Co. Down).

Following on from around 85 birds last week, fewer than 40 GLAUCOUS GULLS were registered over the past week. On 24th, at least six were seen on South Uist (Outer Hebrides) and three were on North Ronaldsay (Orkney). At least three different birds were in Cleveland and Highland during the week, while two birds were seen in Suffolk, Northumberland, Glamorgan and Argyll.

RING-BILLED GULL also saw a fall in numbers over the past seven days: three birds in Britain and eleven in Ireland. An adult was at Dingwall (Highland) on 19th-21st while the adult at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) was present to 23rd at least. An adult was seen at Sturt Pond (Hampshire) on 21st while in Cornwall the first-winter was again at Helston on 25th. Irish birds were an adult and first-winter still at Six Mile Water (Co. Antrim) to 19th while four adults were at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway) and five more were seen at Sandymount (Co. Dublin) on 25th.

The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was still seen daily in Cardiff (Glamorgan) from 12th-17th at least, while the first-winter AMERICAN HERRING GULL on the Otter Estuary (Devon) was seen each afternoon between 13th and 16th. The adult smithsonianus remained in Galway to 15th at least.

The tip at Pitsea (Essex) produced three CASPIAN GULLS on 14th (a third-winter and two first-winters), while Suffolk's Minsmere RSPB reserve hosted three different birds during the week, a first-winter and two third-winters. Elsewhere, it was two birds each for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and London, along with a further single for Essex, as well as loners in Kent, Norfolk, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

After a huge week last week, ICELAND GULLS slumped markedly over the past seven days. Around 80 birds were noted in Britain, with around 50 in Ireland. Five birds were still at the Shetland Catch factory near Lerwick on 13th, while the highest count of the week was of 14 at Killybegs (Co. Donegal) on 14th, a total that included 10 juveniles. Numbers of KUMLIEN'S GULLS also fell away this week: single juveniles were seen on Scilly and at Rainham Marshes (London), with the second-winter seen last week at Shawell (Leicestershire) remaining to 18th but also making appearances near Rugby (Warwickshire) on a couple of occasions during the week. Another second-winter bird lingered at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway), while two birds, a juvenile and third-winter, were still in the same county, at Clifden on 16th.

GLAUCOUS GULL numbers also fell away this week. Around 55 birds were recorded in Britain, with five at Balranald (North Uist) on 12th and four at Marwick (Orkney) on 15th the highest totals noted. In Ireland, up to 30 birds were seen, including seven (six of them youngsters) at Killybegs on 14th.

Just as last week (and a few weeks before that as well), Ireland was firmly in charge of all things RING-BILLED GULL. Cream of the crop were the six adults at Sandymount (Co. Dublin) on 18th, with a first-winter again at Bull Island on 14th. Two adults were at Nimmo's Pier during the week and two sets of two adults were in County Cork, at Cuskinny Marsh and Tivoli Docks. Three further singles were noted around the county during the week. Adults were seen again at Tramore (Co. Waterford) on 14th and Bray (Co. Wicklow) on 16th, while a second-winter was at Belfast Lough RSPB (Co. Antrim) on 15th. In Cornwall, single first-winters were still at Helston and Dinham Flats, while further first-winters were reported for half an hour at Pegwell Bay (Kent) on 14th and Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) on 18th. Otherwise, it was familiar adults in Hampshire, Essex, Argyll and Clyde.

An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was a neat find in Cardiff (Glamorgan) on 8th, the third adult seen in the area since 2004, and the bird continue to pop up on 9th-11th. The much-discussed possible second-winter AMERICAN HERRING GULL was seen again at Seaforth Docks (Lancashire) on 5th and was followed by the reappearance of the first-winter on the Otter Estuary (Devon) on 6th-7th and again on 9th. A new first-winter American Herring Gull was found at Castletown Bearhaven (Co. Cork) on 8th and the adult was at Nimmo's Pier from time to time to the week's end.

It was a poor week for CASPIAN GULLS, with around eight birds noted. In Kent, Dungeness scored at least two, while in Essex the tip at Pitsea did likewise. Another Essex bird, a first-winter, was seen at Mistley on 8th, with further first-winters appearing in the roost at Stewartby Lake (Bedfordshire) on 6th, at Rainham Marshes (London) on 9th and on Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 10th.

ICELAND GULLS continued to impress with the numbers present across the UK and Ireland: at least 100 birds in Britain and around 80 in Ireland this week. The Irish tally included eight birds at Nimmo's Pier on 11th, nine in Dingle (Co. Kerry) on 8th, 10 at Castletown Bearhaven in Cork and 11 at Reenard Point (Co. Kerry) on 7th, with 11 at Rossaveal (Co. Galway) on 11th. However the week's highest count was of 12 at the Shetland Catch factory, near Lerwick, also on 7th. Four birds at Swillington Ings (West Yorkshire) on 10th were also of note. Following probable KUMLIEN'S GULLS in West Yorkshire and Devon, confirmed birds this week were single juveniles on Scilly, at Rossaveal and Castletown Bearhaven, single second-winters at Shetland Catch on 7th and Shawell (Leicestershire) on 10th-11th, third-winters at Clifden (Co. Galway) and Reenard Point (Co. Kerry) and an adult seen in the roost at Stewartby Lake (Bedfordshire) on 8th. Two birds (a second-winter and third-winter) were still at Nimmo's Pier to 7th.

Numbers of GLAUCOUS GULLS peaked at around 90-95 birds this week, with at least 16 still on the Gualan spit, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) on 5th and 9th. On 9th, perhaps as many as 29 birds were seen around South Uist, while the previous day had seen a confirmed 23 around the island group, a figure which included seven at Aird an Runair on North Uist. Up to seven birds were also on Orkney this week, while in Ireland, Castletown Bearhaven managed seven on 7th and five were seen at Ferriter's Cove (Co. Kerry) on 8th.

As with Cattle Egrets, it was Ireland that was dominant where RING-BILLED GULL was concerned this week. At least 23 birds were seen during the week, with four adults at Cuskinny Marsh on 8th and four further adults at Sandymount (Co. Dublin) on 11th the largest groups noted. Cork boasted at least eight birds in all, including a first-winter at Bantry on 7th. Three birds were in County Kerry, including two at Blennerville, and an adult and first-winter were seen in Antrim on 8th-9th. A new first-winter was on Bull Island (Co. Dublin) on 6th-7th. Singles were also in Galway, Sligo, Limerick and Wicklow. At least eight birds were seen in Britain this week, including the second-winter bird again at Ferryside (Carmarthenshire) and notable adults again at Strathclyde Loch (Clyde), Seaforth, Moore (Cheshire) and Lytchett Bay (Dorset). One was reported from Brightlingsea (Essex) on 10th.

Breaking news  Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan.

Ad at Cardiff on River Taff on West side of Taff Estuary at end of Jim Driscoll Way + 50yds South of pontoons.

There are 159 accepted records of Bonaparte's Gull in Britain and 41 in Ireland.
The most recent published record for Glamorgan was in 2006.

European News

Juv Thayer's Gull at Eysturoy at Runavik Faroe Islands for 2nd day.

The adult AMERICAN HERRING GULL was still being seen around Nimmo's Pier and Galway Docks to 3rd and a late report of a second-winter bird at Seaforth (Lancashire) on 25th was backed up by a number of impressive-looking photographs - it has a lot going for it and is no ordinary "Herring Gull". Over 20 CASPIAN GULLS were noted this week. An adult was again at Albert Village lake (Leicestershire) early in the week, and another Leicestershire adult was at Eyebrook Reservoir on 26th. First-winter birds were seen at Paxton Pits (Cambridgeshire), Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) Willen Lake (Buckinghamshire) and again at Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire), while a near-adult was at Westbere GPs (Kent) and adults were at Swillington Ings (West Yorkshire), Leadenham (Lincolnshire) Blackborough End tip (Norfolk) and Dungeness (Kent). Two birds were at Pitsea tip (Essex) on 28th and Rainham Marshes (London) on 2nd and 3rd.

The 2nd also saw four Caspian Gulls (an adult, two third-winters and a second-winter) appear at Hockwold Fen, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. ICELAND GULLS remained in three figures this week, with at least 95 birds seen around Britain and 40 or more over in Ireland. On 28th, nine birds were counted at Nimmo's Pier with 10 birds (an adult, two second-winters and seven juveniles) across at Rossaveal. The only KUMLIEN'S GULLS this week were two birds at Nimmo's Pier (the adult and a third-winter) from 26th, the relocating (from Clifden) dark juvenile at Rossaveal (Co. Galway), a second-winter over Throckmorton Tip (Worcestershire) and on St. Mary's (Scilly), the juvenile was present all week.

The number of GLAUCOUS GULLS on the Gualan spit, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) hit a fantastic 19 birds on 1st and 3rd. These were part of some 100 birds seen in Britain and Ireland this week, with up to eight seen around the Mullet (Co. Mayo) on 2nd. Elsewhere it was largely singles or twos, although four birds seen at Ballycotton (Co. Cork) on 1st and four more at Liscannor (Co. Clare) on 3rd were also of note.

Ireland was still dominant in the RING-BILLED GULL stakes this week. Three adults were at Sandymount (Co. Dublin) on 2nd, and three adults were at Cuskinny Marsh (Co. Cork) and in Co. Derry on 3rd (where there were two together on the Faughan Estuary). Earlier in the week two adults were still at Nimmo's Pier and two birds (an adult and a second-winter) were seen at Cuskinny Marsh (Co. Cork). Further birds in Cork, both adults, were seen at Lough Aderra and Cobh, while elsewhere in the country, single adults were at Bray (Co. Wicklow) and in Limerick City. A first-winter was found in Donegal on 4th. Two first-winter birds were still in Cornwall, the usual bird at Helston and another was again at Dinham Flats on 1st. A first-winter Ring-billed Gull was a great find at Rainton Meadows (Co. Durham) on 28th, reappearing on 1st, and adults were found seen at Seaforth on 28th and Strathclyde Loch (Clyde) on 1st. Regular adults remained in Essex, Hampshire, Argyll and Angus, while the second-winter popped in again to Lamby Lake (Glamorgan) on 2nd.

An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was again at Cobh (Co. Cork) on 20th (having last been seen here on 1st February). Last week's first-winter AMERICAN HERRING GULL at Budleigh Salterton (Devon) was seen again on 20th, while the adult at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway) was noted again on 21st. With no news from Pitsea tip this week, numbers of CASPIAN GULLS took a bit of a nose-dive, with only 17 birds recorded. Three (two adults and a third-winter) were seen at Albert Village lake (Leicestershire) on 20th and two (single second- and fourth-summer birds) were at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 23rd, with three birds the following day (including a third-winter and adult). Two singles were in Northamptonshire and Staffordshire, with one each for Berkshire, London, Oxfordshire, Kent, Derbyshire, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, along with another single in Suffolk.

ICELAND GULLS pretty much held their own this week - again, some 90 birds were recorded around Britain this week, while at least 55 were seen in Ireland. Six birds were counted at Moore NR (Cheshire) on 21st, while three juveniles were seen at Seaton (Devon) on 22nd. At least four individuals were at Albert Village lake in the early part of the week and at least five birds were seen at Mallaig (Highland) on 25th. In Ireland, up to nine birds were seen in County Down, seven birds were at Nimmo's Pier on 20th and 10 were at Killybegs (Co. Donegal) on 22nd. Second-winter KUMLIEN'S GULLS were recorded at four sites around the Midlands this week: at Priorslee Lake (Shropshire) and Belvide Reservoir (Staffordshire) on 20th, at Bartley Reservoir (West Midlands) on 22nd-25th and Wildmoor Sand Quarry (Worcestershire) on 23rd-24th. The juvenile remained on St. Mary's (Scilly) throughout the week. Two birds, an adult and a third-winter, remained at Nimmo's Pier during much of the week and, also in County Galway, third-winter birds were seen at Clifden and Rossaveal, with a juvenile at the latter site on 24th. An adult Kumlien's Gull was still at Killybegs on 21st.

With numbers of Iceland Gulls much as they were, GLAUCOUS GULLS in Britain saw numbers fall to almost half of last week's total, from 80 to around 50. At least 16 were still around the Gualan spit, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) to 22nd, while Irish numbers remained on a more even keel, with at least 41 seen, including nine at Annagh Head, the Mullet (Co. Mayo) on 20th (with three more at nearby Cross Strand) and eight at Killybegs. RING-BILLED GULLS mustered up to 20 birds this week, with half of them in Ireland, including four (an adult and three second-winters) at Cobh on 20th, a couple of adults still at Nimmo's Pier to 21st and an adult was also seen at Killybegs (funnily enough this is one of the scarcer gull species for the site). Two new birds were noted in Cornwall (a first-winter at Dinham Flats on 20th and a second-winter at the Hayle Estuary on 23rd). A second-winter was at Ferryside (Carmarthenshire) on 21st-22nd - this site was, of course, where Britain's first Glaucous-winged Gull was relocated - and notable adults were at Wareham (Dorset) on 20th, in Cheshire, at Sandbach Flashes on 21st-22nd and, on the cusp of Merseyside and Lancashire, at Seaforth on 23rd.

In Devon, a first-winter AMERICAN HERRING GULL was seen at Budleigh Salterton on the afternoon of 13th, but further searches proved fruitless. Numbers of CASPIAN GULLS fell away to only 20 or so this week, with three first-winters at Pitsea (Essex) on 14th, two more first-winters at Sandbach Flashes (Cheshire) on the same date, while three birds in Suffolk were also of particular note.

 ICELAND GULLS reached nearly 90 birds (from at least 53 counties) in Britain this week, while Ireland scored at least 55 birds from just nine counties, helped by the big scores of 20 at Killybegs (Co. Donegal) on 15th and 12 at Nimmo's Pier (Co. Galway) on 14th. Both sites (perhaps unsurprisingly) also held KUMLIEN'S GULLS this week: an adult at the former site on 15th and an adult and second-winter at the latter site on 14th.

 Also in County Galway on 14th, a third-winter was again at Clifden. Juvenile Kumlien's Gulls remained on St. Mary's (Scilly), at Forfar Loch and Kirriemuir (Angus) and at Stornoway, Lewis (Outer Hebrides). GLAUCOUS GULLS too managed comfortably to keep numbers in three figures this week with a split of almost 80 birds in Britain and just over 50 in Ireland. On the Gualan spit, South Uist (Outer Hebrides), at least 12 birds remained to 13th, while on Tiree (Argyll), perhaps as many as 13 birds were noted around the island during the week (with two dead birds as well). Killybegs' haul was 13 on 15th, while on the Mullet (Co. Mayo) 15 birds were seen on 14th.

RING-BILLED GULLS this week included regular adults in Hampshire, London, Essex and Angus, the second-winter in Glamorgan and the first-winter in Cornwall, at Helston. An adult was seen again in Cheshire, at Richmond Bank on 14th and Moore NR on 16th, and an adult was at Lamby Lake on 14th (the third bird at the site this winter). Another Welsh adult was at Llys-y-fran Reservoir (Pembrokeshire) on 17th-18th. In Ireland, at least 13 birds were seen this week, including four adults at Nimmo's Pier on 14th and three at Cuskinny Marsh (Co. Cork) on 12th.

Killer whales can teach each other new skills.

Gull-trapping killer whales show learning skills

Gull Sets Arctic Pollution Record for Birds

Eggs of the ivory gull, which has a population of about 14,000 from Siberia to Canada, were found to have the highest known concentrations of PCBs, long used in products such as paints or plastics, and the pesticide DDT.

"Environmental poisons are threatening ivory gulls," the Norwegian Polar Institute said in a statement of eggs collected off northern Norway and Russia. "Levels of PCB and DDT are higher in ivory gulls than in other Arctic seabirds."

The long-lasting chemicals, swept north by prevailing winds and currents from industrial centres, often end in the Arctic where they build up in fatty tissues of animals, fish and birds.

A 2001 UN convention outlawed most uses of 12 so-called persistent organic pollutants after the chemicals were found in the breast milk of Inuit women and in polar bears. Levels of many of the "dirty dozen" in the Arctic have been falling.

"Ivory gulls are top predators, that's a main reason why they have high levels of contaminants," said Hallvard Stroem, of the Polar Institute. The gulls eat cod and other fatty fish and also scavenge dead seals or polar bears for a fat-charged diet.

"We're not sure why the levels are higher than for other birds," he told Reuters, adding there were no known local sources of the pollutants to explain the high concentrations.

PCBs, at up to 0.02 percent of the egg weight, were comparable with those found in some polar bears 20 years ago.

Previous studies show that the chemical pollutants can have effects on birds such as shortening lifespans or thinning of eggshells. Ivory gulls can live about 10 to 20 years.

The shrinking of Arctic sea ice in recent years, apparently because of global warming, also threatens the birds by reducing the size of their habitat. The gulls feed most around the fringes of the ice, where fish and plankton thrive.

"Climate change is an added stress -- the ivory gull is dependent on the sea ice," Stroem said.

The survey was carried out after reports that numbers of ivory gulls had plunged by 80 percent in Canada. Stroem said population trends elsewhere were not clear.

The fact that obese people have fertility problems is a well-known fact. Obesity raises the risk for C-Section, impedes breastfeeding, while these children are more prone to high birth weight and childhood obesity and chronic disease. More than half of the overweight and obese women get excessive weight during pregnancy. The same problem is also faced by our pets.

All these problems appear in our society due to our diet based on junk food, which is rich in carbohydrates (sugars) and fats (lipids).

But if you thought that junk food affects only human sex, learn what researcher Heidi Auman of the University of Tasmania found out: Seagulls gorging themselves on greasy junk food can also get overweight and have breeding problems.

Auman has discovered that silver gulls (Larus novaehollandiae) feeding on fatty scraps thrown to them from seaside cafes in Hobart have turned morbidly overweight. She has been comparing city birds to those from wild populations on the remote Furneaux Islands, off Tasmania's north-east, as part of her doctoral thesis for almost four years. "The urban gulls were about 10 % fatter and had higher cholesterol, which was leading to poor-quality eggs and a possible nosedive in their populations.", said Auman, who has investigated human impacts on sea birds for 20 years.

"The roly-poly gulls were still able to fly but the junk food was having the same effect on them as it does on humans."

Still, another Harvard research shows that fat shortage in the food also impairs fertility. A low-fat dairy diet inflicts anovulatory infertility, by preventing ovulation. Anovulatory infertility was found to present much higher percentage in women who ate only low-fat dairy products (like skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurt). The researchers are puzzled as other fat types than the ones to be found in diary products do not have the same effect.

Man cited in beating of ice cream-stealing gull

 

Heermann's Gull attacked Kansas couple eating ice cream at Laguna Beach; the bird was later euthanized.

LAGUNA BEACH – A rare Heermann's gull that attacked a Kansas couple and tried to steal their ice cream at Main Beach was euthanized after being beaten with a stick, police said today.

Dragan Djuric, 50, of Wichita, Kan., was cited and released on suspicion of animal cruelty in connection with the New Year's Eve incident, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jeff Calvert.

Djuric was eating ice cream with his wife about 2:53 p.m. when several birds attacked, Calvert said. One bird hit Djuric's wife in the head and tried to grab the ice cream, Calvert said.

The couple dropped their ice cream on the boardwalk, and Djuric, who had been defecated on, began waving a stick and hitting the birds, Calvert said.

The Heermann's gull, which had a broken wing, was taken to the Wetland and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, where it was euthanized. It was unclear what day the gull was euthanized.

A second bird believed to be attacked made its way back to the ocean, Calvert said.

Heermann's gulls, an unusually aggressive species of Pacific Coast gull, are on the Audubon Society's watch list for endangered or threatened birds, according to the society's Web site.

"Heermann's gull is a unique bird of the Pacific Coast,'' the site says. "Almost the entire global population of this species breeds on one island group off the coast of western Mexico; following breeding season, these gulls disperse northward along the coast as far as southern British Columbia.

"Surprisingly aggressive for birds their size, Heermann's gulls steal fish from the pouches of brown pelicans and actively chase other birds to dislodge prey items."

December 5, 2007

BOURC taxonomic changes - better news for gull enthusiasts

The latest (fourth) report of the Taxonomic Sub-committee of the BOU Records Committee has finally recognised American Herring Gull and Caspian Gull at the species level.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus, Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis, Armenian Gull L. armenicus and Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus

The recommendation that Yellow-legged Gull L. michahellis and Armenian Gull L. armenicus should be treated as separate species from Herring Gull L. argentatus was communicated previously (Sangster et al. 2005. Ibis 147: 821–826). Phylogenetic evidence based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences indicates that the large white-headed gull complex consists of two main clades: (1) an 'Atlantic' clade consisting of Yellow-legged Gull, Armenian Gull, most individuals of Herring Gull, and including Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus and Palearctic individuals of Glaucous Gull L. hyperboreus; (2) an 'Aralo-Caspian' clade consisting of L. a. cachinnans, L. a. barabensis, L. a. heuglini, L. a. taimyrensis, Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus, Kelp Gull L. dominicanus, some individuals of L. a. argentatus, and including an 'Arctic/Pacific' grouping of L. a. vegae, L. a. smithsonianus, L. a. mongolicus, Slaty-backed Gull L. schistisagus, Iceland Gull L. glaucoides, Glaucous-winged Gull L. glaucescens and Nearctic individuals of Glaucous Gull (Crochet et al. 2002. Auk 119: 603–620; Crochet et al. 2003. Evolution 57: 2865–2878; Liebers et al. 2004. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 271: 893–901). Western Gull L. occidentalis is not included in these clades and forms an outgroup. Genetic structure between the taxa is generally well-defined, except within the Arctic/Pacific grouping of the Aralo-Caspian clade, for which the taxa are poorly separated with some shared haplotypes (Gay et al. 2005. Auk 122: 684–688).

Morphological and genetic variation in Lesser Black-backed Gulls L. fuscus fuscus, L. f. intermedius and L. f. graellsii is clinal (Liebers & Helbig 2002. J. Evol. Biol. 15: 1021–1033). These taxa are closely related to the West Siberian taxa L. a. heuglini, L. a. taimyrensis and L. a. barabensis with evidence of continuing low levels of gene flow in spite of apparent ecological separation of L. f. fuscus and L. a. heuglini in parapatry (Filchagov et al. 1992a. Zool. Zh. 71: 148–152; Rauste 1999. Limicola 13: 105–128; 153–188; Liebers & Helbig 2002; Liebers et al. 2004). It is recommended that these taxa be treated as a single species L. fuscus. Variation in heuglini is slight (Buzun 2002. Br. Birds 95: 216–232) and the validity of taimyrensis has been questioned (Filchagov et al. 1992b. L'Oiseau 62: 128–148; Yésou 2002. Dutch Birding 64: 271–298).

Caspian Gull L. a. cachinnans is diagnosably distinct from all other taxa on the basis of plumage and vocalisations (Panov et al. 1991a. Zool. Zh. 70/1: 76–90; Panov et al. 1991b. Zool. Zh. 70/3: 73–89; Garner & Quinn 1997. Br. Birds 90: 25–62; Klein & Gruber 1997. Limicola 11: 49-75; Liebers & Dierschke 1997. Dutch Birding 19: 277–280; Jonsson 1998. Alula 3: 74–100; Yésou 2002). It forms a discrete genetic grouping and is probably most closely related to the West Siberian gulls heuglini and barabensis. However, introgression between cachinnans and the West Siberian taxa is restricted and probably unidirectional (Panov & Monzikov 2000. Br. Birds 93: 227–241; Liebers et al. 2004). Recent range expansion has led to widespread hybridization with argentatus Herring Gulls in Central and Eastern Europe which may partly underlie the apparently large intrataxon variation in cachinnans (Klein & Gruber 1997. Limicola 11: 49–75; Liebers & Dierschke 1997; Panov & Monzikov 1999. Russ. J. Zool. 3: 129–141). However the hybrid zone is reported to be narrow in relation to the potential dispersal distance of the parental taxa (Neubauer et al. 2006. Vogelwelt 127: 11–22; Yakovets 2006. Vogelwelt 127: 23–30). Based on this evidence, it is recommended that Caspian Gull be treated as a monotypic species L. cachinnans.

Genetic evidence suggests that East Siberian and American Herring Gulls, L. a. vegae, L. a. mongolicus and L. a. smithsonianus fall within the Arctic/Pacific species group of the Aralo-Caspian clade (Liebers et al. 2004; de Knijff et al. 2005. Birding 37: 402–411; Gay et al. 2005). There are sharp genetic and morphological boundaries between vegae and the parapatric or partially sympatric West Siberian taxon heuglini (Yésou 1994. Alauda 62: 247-252; Liebers et al. 2004; Yésou 2002). Many individuals of vegae, mongolicus and smithsonianus can be identified to subspecies (Lonergan & Mullarney 2004. Dutch Birding 26: 1–35), but diagnosability with respect to each other has not been demonstrated. Although many individuals can be identified, smithsonianus is not fully diagnosable from European Herring Gulls on the basis of plumage alone (Lonergan & Mullarney 2004; Adriaens & Mactavish 2004. Dutch Birding 26: 151–179) but is clearly differentiated on the basis of mtDNA (Crochet et al. 2002, 2003, Liebers et al. 2004, Gay et al. 2005). In addition, European Herring Gulls are reported to respond poorly to calls of smithsonianus (Frings et al. 1958. Ecology 39: 126–131). Based on current evidence, American Herring Gull L. smithsonianus is best treated as a separate species. Given their lack of diagnostic differences, vegae and mongolicus are considered conspecific with L. smithsonianus.

We recommend recognition of the following species to better reflect recent advances in knowledge of the evolution and systematics of large gulls:

• • 

  Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans (monotypic)
• • 

  Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus (polytypic, including fuscus, intermedius, graellsii, heuglini, taimyrensis, barabensis)
• • 

  American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus (polytypic, including smithsonianus, vegae, mongolicus)
• • 

  Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis (polytypic, including michahellis, atlantis)
• • 

  Armenian Gull Larus armenicus (monotypic)
• • 

  Herring Gull Larus argentatus (polytypic, including argentatus, argenteus)

A manuscript explaining these decisions has been submitted to British Birds.