Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Species
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 20th 2009.
Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 20th 2009.
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Juvenile. Taken at Fuerteventura on March 11th 2018.
Juvenile. Taken at Fuerteventura on March 11th 2018.
(1/800th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 48 - 56 cm; WS: 117 - 134 cm

The Yellow-legged Gull has only recently been recognised as a species in its own right, having previously been considered to be a race of Herring Gull. Adults have darker grey backs and wings than Herring Gulls, but are paler than Lesser Black-backed Gulls. They have more black in the wing tips than Herring Gulls and smaller white 'mirrors'. The legs are bright yellow, there is a red ring around the eye and the bill is yellow with a large red spot. For most of the year four age-groups can be identified.

This species is mainly found in coastal areas of the Mediterranean but has also expanded along the French Atlantic coast. It is mainly a summer visitor to the British Isles.

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

Yellow-legged Gulls have very similar behaviour to Herring Gulls.

This species has amber status on the British list.

Sightings

07-Nov-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos (1)
13-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
18-Aug-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
06-Jan-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

13-Nov-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
18-Oct-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
02-Sep-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
26-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (30+)
02-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
22-Jul-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
02-Jan-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

24-Dec-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
13-Dec-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
21-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
14-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
07-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
01-Nov-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
24-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
27-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
08-Mar-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Feb-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

08-Oct-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
29-Sep-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
31-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
29-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
23-Aug-2020 : Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts (3)
10-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
11-Jun-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)

17-Nov-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
19-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
15-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
08-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
05-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
17-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
02-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3+)
28-Jul-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (14)
17-Feb-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
02-Jan-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

07-Oct-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
02-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
28-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
19-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (5)
12-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
15-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
14-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
13-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
12-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
11-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
10-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands