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

Little Auk or Dovekie is a small Auk and the only member of the genus Alle. It is the only Atlantic Auk of its size around half the size of Puffin. It breeds on islands in the high Arctic. There are two subspecies: A. a. alle breeds in Greenland, Iceland, Novaya Zemlya and Spitzbergen; And A. a. polaris on Franz Josef Land. The Glaucous Gull and Arctic Fox are the main predators of Little Auk and in some cases the Polar Bear has also been reported to feed on their eggs. Auk is derived from the Norwegian 'alk' and from the Old Norse 'alka' (the original meaning of which is neck) and 'alle' which is probably a reference to the huge numbers that are sometimes counted in millions.

Around twenty Little Auk have been reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1841: (Several)

Some: In October on Severnside, being recovered after a violent storm.

1953: (1)

On October 4th one was seen on the Severn Estuary below Aust Cliffs.

1962: (1)

On January 12th one found at Charfield was picked up unharmed and released at Slimbridge WWT.

1966: (1)

On February 6th one was found at Severn Bank near Oldbury-on-Severn, it was picked up alive but died soon after.

1970: (1)

A female found somewhere in S. Gloucestershire on November 12th was taken into care at the WWT Slimbridge where it subsequently died.

1972: (1)

One was found alive at Hanham on January 26th, it was taken into care at Bristol Zoo but died the following day.

1979: (1)

One was found exhausted at Tockington on December 17th and was taken into care but died the following day.

1984: (2)

One was seen on January 13th at Aust and presumably the same bird was seen a New Passage later in the day; One was seen on January 18th at Oldbury Power Station, it was picked up alive but died soon after.

1988: (1)

On February 10th two were identified off New Passage.

1990: (2)

On November 4th one was picked up unharmed under a hedge near Marshfield and was released at CVLake; One was seen on December 27th at New Passage.

1991: (2)

On January 5th one was found at New Passage, with additional singles recorded on January 6th, 9th and 10th; One was found on November 2nd at New Passage.

1998: (2)

One was noted drifting south-west at 10:50 on January 2nd off Severn Beach; One was recorded on October 28th at Severn Beach seen in flight north-east the south-west.

2001: (1)

One was seen in flight south-west then north-east on October 25th at Severn Beach.

2006: (1)

One was seen in flight and briefly on the water off Severn Beach at 07:45 on October 22nd.

2007: (1)