Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Species
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Taken at WWT Arundel, W. Sussex, on August 6th 2024.
Taken at WWT Arundel, W. Sussex, on August 6th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f8. Click image for larger version)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Taken at Flamborough Head, E. Yorks on October 27th 2022.
Taken at Flamborough Head, E. Yorks on October 27th 2022. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). 2nd summer bird. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 13th 2018.
2nd summer bird. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 13th 2018. (© David Hastings)
(1/2000th sec at f/13. Click image for larger version)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). 1st summer bird. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 6th 2015.
1st summer bird. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 6th 2015. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f/14. Click image for larger version)
Herring Gull. Juvenile. Taken at WWT Arundel, W. Sussex, on August 6th 2024.
Juvenile. Taken at WWT Arundel, W. Sussex, on August 6th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f8. Click image for larger version)

Description

L: 54 - 60 cm; WS: 123 - 148 cm

Herring Gulls have light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips with white 'mirrors'. Their legs and feet are pink, and they have heavy, slightly hooked bills marked with a red spot. They gain adult plumage at just over three years of age. Thus, for most of the year, four age-groups are recognizable, but during late summer a fifth age-group (newly fledged birds) can be seen.

They can be found throughout the year around the coast, and inland around rubbish tips, fields, reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter.

As with other gulls, the combination of inland reservoirs and rubbish dumps exactly suits their needs.

Herring Gulls often soar high up in stable air masses, sometimes in large parties.

This species is on the amber list, as over half of their UK breeding population is confined to fewer than ten sites. About 139000 pairs breed in Britain, and around 380000 birds over-winter here.

Sightings

21-Nov-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
02-Nov-2025 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
17-Oct-2025 : Hunstanton, Norfolk
16-Oct-2025 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
05-Oct-2025 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
16-Sep-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
10-Sep-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
05-Sep-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
29-Aug-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
26-Aug-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
18-Aug-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
17-Apr-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
11-Apr-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
09-Apr-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
04-Apr-2025 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
24-Mar-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
05-Mar-2025 : Langstone Harbour NR, Hants (2)
17-Feb-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6)
15-Jan-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
03-Jan-2025 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)

11-Dec-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
04-Nov-2024 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
18-Oct-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
04-Oct-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-Sep-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
03-Sep-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
25-Aug-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (5)
20-Aug-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (5)
06-Aug-2024 : WWT Arundel, W Sussex
02-Aug-2024 : Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex
08-May-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
29-Apr-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
24-Apr-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
17-Apr-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
04-Apr-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
22-Mar-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
15-Mar-2024 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
16-Feb-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
02-Feb-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
31-Jan-2024 : Slimbridge, Glos

26-Dec-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
08-Dec-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
14-Nov-2023 : Cote, Oxon
07-Nov-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos
06-Nov-2023 : Cote, Oxon
05-Nov-2023 : Cote, Oxon
22-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
13-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
18-Aug-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
28-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (8)
26-Feb-2023 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
20-Jan-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
19-Jan-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos (2)
06-Jan-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
01-Jan-2023 : Standlake Common, Oxon

20-Dec-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
27-Oct-2022 : Flamborough Head, E. Yorks
26-Oct-2022 : Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks
08-Oct-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
26-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
19-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
02-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
22-Jun-2022 : Irton Fell, Cumbria (6)
20-Jun-2022 : Ravenglass, Cumbria
21-May-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
08-May-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
29-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
25-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
21-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
13-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
05-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4+)
23-Mar-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
24-Feb-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
23-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
11-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
02-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
30-Jan-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
24-Jan-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
20-Jan-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
04-Jan-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
02-Jan-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
01-Jan-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)

24-Dec-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
01-Dec-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
22-Nov-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
14-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
01-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1+)
18-Oct-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
16-Oct-2021 : Appleford GPs, Oxon
24-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
15-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
12-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (7)
06-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
03-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
31-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
27-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
09-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
23-May-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
18-May-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
10-May-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
09-May-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
05-May-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
05-May-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
30-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
29-Apr-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon
28-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
25-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
23-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
22-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (7)
17-Apr-2021 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (3)
17-Mar-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
11-Mar-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
09-Mar-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
27-Feb-2021 : Appleford GPs, Oxon
18-Feb-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
09-Feb-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
05-Feb-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
31-Jan-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4+)
22-Jan-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
21-Jan-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
12-Jan-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
11-Jan-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
02-Jan-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (3)
01-Jan-2021 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)

29-Dec-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
24-Dec-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
17-Dec-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
14-Dec-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
04-Dec-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
26-Nov-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
16-Nov-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (8)
13-Nov-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
10-Nov-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (5)
06-Nov-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
03-Nov-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2+)
26-Oct-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
23-Oct-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
11-Oct-2020 : Salthouse, Norfolk (1)
08-Oct-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Oct-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
04-Sep-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
10-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
07-Jun-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
22-May-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
19-May-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon
17-May-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
14-May-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
08-May-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
15-Apr-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
06-Apr-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (5)
05-Apr-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
01-Mar-2020 : Lower Radley, Oxon (5)
27-Feb-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
17-Feb-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
05-Feb-2020 : Holkham NNR, Norfolk
12-Jan-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (4)
10-Jan-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
08-Jan-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
05-Jan-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
01-Jan-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon

25-Dec-2019 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
21-Dec-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6)
03-Dec-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
30-Nov-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
29-Nov-2019 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (6)
17-Nov-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
03-Nov-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
04-Oct-2019 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (2)
19-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
08-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3+)
05-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (10+)
31-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
25-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (7)
17-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
11-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
02-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2+)
28-Jul-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
09-Jun-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-May-2019 : Liniclate, Benbecula
20-May-2019 : Ardivachar, South Uist
19-May-2019 : Balnarad, North Uist (2)
13-May-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
21-Apr-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
21-Mar-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
17-Mar-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
05-Mar-2019 : Otmoor, Oxon
23-Feb-2019 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
17-Feb-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
09-Feb-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
20-Jan-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
17-Jan-2019 : Slimbridge, Glos (10+)
09-Jan-2019 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
02-Jan-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)

31-Dec-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
16-Dec-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
09-Dec-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1+)
30-Nov-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
22-Nov-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
30-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
24-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
09-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
02-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
12-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6juv)
24-Jun-2018 : Ravenglass, Cumbria
23-Jun-2018 : Ravenglass, Cumbria
09-Jun-2018 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (4)
02-Jun-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4+)
24-May-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
18-May-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
13-May-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
11-May-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
25-Apr-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
01-Apr-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
06-Mar-2018 : Baulking, Oxon (1)
04-Mar-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
23-Feb-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
15-Feb-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
12-Feb-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
04-Feb-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
28-Jan-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
18-Jan-2018 : Slimbridge, Glos
15-Jan-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
03-Jan-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (6)

26-Dec-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
18-Dec-2017 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
19-Nov-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Nov-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
31-Oct-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
09-Oct-2017 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
20-Sep-2017 : Radipole Lake, Dorset
19-Sep-2017 : Portland Bill, Dorset
12-Sep-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6+)
31-Aug-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
20-Aug-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3juv)
01-Aug-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
28-Jan-2017 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (10+)

02-Oct-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
04-Sep-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
28-Aug-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
19-Aug-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2+)
13-Aug-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
02-Jun-2016 : Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants
01-Jun-2016 : Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants
21-Feb-2016 : Rushy Common, Oxon (1)
16-Jan-2016 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
04-Jan-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6)

06-Dec-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
25-Oct-2015 : Hunstanton, Norfolk
24-Oct-2015 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
13-Sep-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
12-Sep-2015 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
06-Sep-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
30-Aug-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
17-Jun-2015 : Lynton/Lynmouth, Devon
01-May-2015 : Arne, Dorset
30-Apr-2015 : Durdle Door, Dorset
29-Apr-2015 : Lulworth Cove, Dorset
06-Apr-2015 : Stratfield Brake, Oxon (2)
21-Feb-2015 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
02-Jan-2015 : Thrupp Lane, Radley, Oxon (1)

06-Dec-2014 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
09-Nov-2014 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
20-Jul-2014 : Calvert Jubilee, Bucks (2)
01-Jul-2014 : Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks
16-Jun-2014 : Whelford Pools, Glos (2)
25-May-2014 : Otmoor, Oxon (c10)
08-May-2014 : Newport, Pembrokeshire
08-May-2014 : Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
08-May-2014 : Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
06-May-2014 : Skomer, Pembrokeshire
06-May-2014 : Martin's Haven, Pembrokeshire
05-May-2014 : Pant, Ceredigion (1)
04-May-2014 : Teifi Estuary, Ceredigion
04-May-2014 : Mwnt, Ceredigion
30-Mar-2014 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (3)
19-Jan-2014 : Otmoor, Oxon

22-Dec-2013 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
15-Dec-2013 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
14-Sep-2013 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
08-Jul-2013 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1)
24-Jun-2013 : Salthouse, Norfolk
24-Jun-2013 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
25-May-2013 : Otmoor, Oxon
18-May-2013 : Whelford Pools, Glos (2)
06-May-2013 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
30-Mar-2013 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
10-Mar-2013 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

25-Oct-2012 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (12)
09-Sep-2012 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon

20-Apr-2011 : St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
19-Apr-2011 : Bryher, Isles of Scilly
17-Apr-2011 : Isles of Scilly

07-Nov-2010 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (14+)

07-Feb-2009 : Radley Lakes, Oxon

04-Jun-2008 : Farne Islands, Northumberland
02-Jun-2008 : Seahouses, Northumberland

01-Jan-2007 : Radley Lakes, Oxon

08-Oct-2006 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
24-Sep-2006 : Lower Radley, Oxon
25-Aug-2006 : Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks

14-Aug-2005 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk

13-Jul-1999 : Isles of Scilly

08-Apr-1997 : Isles of Scilly