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