Laughing Gull - 2005 - first for Pembrokeshire

Larus atricilla

After having spent the morning of the 4th of November 2005 checking the estuaries of north Pembrokeshire, looking for a possible Franklin's or a laughing gull, aware that an influx was under way in south west Britain and Ireland, due to hurricane Wilma, I decided to check Fishguard.

Whilst walking from Fishgard Square to Goodwick, I received a phone call from my good birding friend Clive Jones, informing me that a laughing gull had just been found at Porthcawl, Glamorganshire.  My initial reaction was that of despair, having had no luck myself, but I dcecided to press on anyway.

Shortly after arriving at the flagpoles car park, Goodwick, I began to scan the assembled gulls with my binoculars and to my utter amaement, out on the beach in front of me was a cracking first winter laughing gull.  I simply could not believe my luck.  I then set about trying to contact local birders and Birdline Wales to share my superb find with others.

I managed to contact local birders Cliff Benson and Adrian Rogers.  Adrian was the first to arrive as he worked close by, followed by Cliff.  Both looked at the bird through my telescope and both agreed it was indeed a first winter laughing gull.

We decided to try and entice the gull close by throwing bread to it, so record "shots" chould be taken.  Unfortunately the bird flew when this was done and it was not relocated again, depriving most local birders from seeing a first for the county.  However, more laughing gulls were discovered in Pembrokeshire in the weeks that followed, so nobody missed out in the end.

Paul Grennard

Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2005

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The first county record of this species following an influx into Britain in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.  The three different ages involved all stayed long enough for many to enjoy and learn the salient identification features.  The number of individuals involved was a minimum of five.  All records are summarised as follows: 1st winter - singles Fishguard Harbour 4 Nov (PKG), Nevern Estuary 11 & 15 Nov with 2 there on 21st, Gann 10 Nov and 4 Dec; 2nd winter - Pembroke Dock 11-22 Nov.  The same bird was at Llanstadwell 12 & 19 Nov; Adult - Gann to Dale Fort 6 - 19 Nov probably the same bird was at Broad Haven north on 10 Nov.  Also Haverfordwest 28 Nov - 6 Dec.

Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2005

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