Glaucous Gull - 1990 onwards

Larus hyperboreus - irregular winter visitor

The number of individuals records per year - as the birds move around, it isn't always possible to be absolutely certain of the number of individuals involved.  Some birds stay for long periods, eg one at Llanstadwell from 20 Feb 1993 to 15 Jan 1995, allowing observers to monitor plumage changes.

2014 and 2017 were good years in Wales for this species, though for the latter year, this is not obvious in the county records.

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports

Glaucous Gull - 1949

Larus hyperboreus

Mathew records one short near Tenby "many years ago" and another threre in the winter of 1891.  One shot Solva about 1870 and one seen same place 24-26 Jan 1913 (H.W.Evans).  One shot Pembroke River by J.Wynne 28 Dec 1899.  One Dale, 10 Feb 1938, and one immature at the Stacks, Flimston, 14 May 1943.

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Glaucous Gull - 1994

Irregular winter visitor. Not recorded in June

Mathew (1894) noted one shot at Tenby "many years ago" and another there in the winter of 1891. Lockley et al. (1949) listed singles at Solva in about 1870 and from 24 to 26 January 1913, at the Pembroke River on 28 December 1899, at Dale on 10 February 1938 and at Elegug Stacks on 14 May 1943.

One or two Glaucous Gulls have since been recorded on about 38 occasions in 16 different years up to 1992. They have mainly been seen around the coast or estuaries, particularly at sewage outfalls, but also feeding with other gulls further inland, as far as Llysyfran reservoir. The majority of the records fall into the period November to February, with usually one or two birds in each year of occurrence but, sometimes more, for example eight individuals were seen in 1983.

A hybrid, presumed to be a Gloucous/Herring Gull cross, was seen at the Gann on 22 July 1984.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Glaucous Gull - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

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