Sabine's Gull is the only species in its genus. It breeds in
the arctic and has a circumpolar distribution through
northernmost North America and Eurasia. It migrates south in
autumn with most of the population wintering at sea in the
north Pacific although Greenland birds cross the Atlantic to
winter off northwest Europe. It was named after the English
scientist Sir Edward Sabine by his brother Joseph Sabine.
There have been twenty Sabine's Gull reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
2011: (2)
A
juvenile was seen off Severn Beach at 13:30 on September
6th; A Juvenile was present off Severn Beach at dusk on
September 12th and was still present on September 13th.
Juvenile Sabine's Gull at Severn Beach. September 2011.
Brian Lancastle.
2004: (1)
An adult in summer plumage was seen in flight north-east
past Severn Beach over the evening tide on May 4th.
2001: (2)
One, a 1st summer or possible a winter adult was seen on
August 12th off Severn Beach; A juvenile was seen on October
9th off Severn Beach.
1997: (2)
A
juvenile was found off Severn Beach on August 29th and was
followed heading north-east; An adult was watched off Severn
Beach on October 10th.
1996: (1)
An immature was noted at Oldbury Power Station on November
3rd - 4th.
1992: (1)
An adult was seen on April 29th off New Passage.
1988: (2)
A
1st summer was seen on Severnside on May 30th; A juvenile
found on September 23rd on Severnside and was probably the
same individual that was reported again on September 28th.
1987: (1)
An adult was seen off Severn Beach on October 25th.
1984: (1)
An adult was observed off Littleton Warth on September 13th.
1983: (c.6)
Three were seen off New Passage on September 3rd; Five or
six were seen off New Passage on September 4th; Two were
present off New Passage on September 5th; One was seen on
September 6th at Oldbury Power Station.
1980: (1)
A
juvenile was reported flying south off New Passage on
September 13th. This occurrence constitutes the first report
of this species in S. Gloucestershire.