S. Gloucestershire from Tog Hill - November 2005

THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

 

BLACK GUILLEMOT - Uria grylle

 

As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

 

In the UK Black Guillemot is a fairly common breeding bird in western and northern Scotland. In the rest of Great Britain they only breed at St. Bees Head in Cumbria, on the Isle of Man and Anglesey in North Wales. These birds often over winter in their breeding areas moving to open waters if necessary but usually not migrating very far south. Some historical names for Black Guillemot include; Tystie (from the Old Norse 'teiste'), Sea Turtle, Turtur, Puffinet and Scraber.

 

There has been one Black Guillemot reported from S. Gloucestershire in;

 

1998: (1)

 

On October 27th an adult still in summer plumage was seen and watched for ten minutes drifting up the R. Severn off Severn Beach. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.