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Herring Gull

Photograph Copyright © Martin Garner

Herring Gulls are not the most common of the gulls in our area. In the early 1990's numbers had increased, but have since followed a gradual downward trend. Small numbers are seen in the summer months and on passage. But the largest numbers occur in winter, at roosts or feeding with other gulls, especially  at the small number of open rubbish tips / landfill sites that remain in the area. Whereas the summer records are mostly birds of the British race Larus argentatus argenteus, the influx of birds in winter consists mainly of the Northern or Scandinavian race L.a.argentatus, thus a high proportion of the birds seen at our upland roosts such as Broomhead and Langsett, or feeding at landfill sites such as Shirecliffe, Blackburn Meadows or Staveley will be of this race.

Of 400+ Herring Gulls at Shirecliffe Tip on 29th January 2004 for example, probably 90% or more were Larus argentatus argentatus. These birds have slightly darker upperparts than the British breeding L.a.argenteus, usually with more white on the wing-tips. The adult bird above shows these features well. A juvenile of this race is shown below. Both of these photographs were taken at Shirecliffe Tip on 29th January 2004 by Martin Garner. Last updated 1st February 2004

Photograph Copyright © Martin Garner

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