THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
SABINE'S GULL – Larus sabini
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
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 around twenty Sabine's Gull reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1980: (1)
A juvenile was reported flying south off New Passage on September 13th. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species in S. Gloucestershire.
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.
1984: (1)
An adult was observed off Littleton Warth on September 13th.
1987: (1)
An adult was seen off Severn Beach on October 25th.
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.
1992: (1)
An adult was seen on April 29th off New Passage.
1996: (1)
An immature was noted at Oldbury Power Station on November 3rd - 4th.
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.
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.
2004: (1)
An adult in summer plumage was seen in flight north-east past Severn Beach over the evening tide on May 4th.