Little Gull - 1894

Larus minutus

An occasional visitor; rare.

Mr. H. Mathias informs us that examples of this small species, that is no larger than a common Pigeon, have been obtained in the county, but can furnish no particulars, and has not included it in his list of birds supplied to Mason's Guide to Tenby.

We are indebted to Mr. C. Jefferys, of Tenby, for telling us of the occurrence of an adult Little Gull in winter plumage, at that watering place, on the south sands, at the beginning of January, 1892. This specimen is now in the Tenby Museum, and we have a very pretty photograph of it, with its wings extended, that was kindly forwarded to us by Mr. C. Jefferys. There were two seen when this bird was obtained, but the other, being only slightly wounded, succeeded in escaping.

As the Little Gull has been observed at Lundy, and has frequently been obtained on the coasts of Devon and Somerset, it is evidently no very great stranger in the Bristol Channel, and we consider that it must sometimes enter the fine harbour at Milford Haven, where, no doubt, some of those mentioned by Mr. Mathias were obtained.

Mathew M.A. 1894, Birds of Pembrokeshire and it's Islands