Birdspotter
Well-known member
Does anyone have an idea as to why Iceland and particuarly Glaucous Gulls have become so scarce in Britain in recent years.
In Lothian Glaucous gull was generally recorded around 10-20 birds per year.
The 1992 Lothian bird report states that with 12 birds that year it was " a quiet year ".
However in the last few years the status of these two gulls has changed for the worst in my area,has this been noticed elsewhere ?
I think that there was 1-2 Glaucous Gulls recorded last year, with none at all this winter and only one Glaucous and no Iceland this spring which used to be the peak time of year for these species as they passed through heading north.
Has there been a shift in the wintering grounds of these species or is it tied in to the EEC policy of raping the British fishing fleet ?
Its a shame we dont see many of these superb gulls so often in Lothian now, I remember fondly of finding both species within seconds of each other at Musselburgh one day, will this happen again?
Any ideas Larid buffs ?
In Lothian Glaucous gull was generally recorded around 10-20 birds per year.
The 1992 Lothian bird report states that with 12 birds that year it was " a quiet year ".
However in the last few years the status of these two gulls has changed for the worst in my area,has this been noticed elsewhere ?
I think that there was 1-2 Glaucous Gulls recorded last year, with none at all this winter and only one Glaucous and no Iceland this spring which used to be the peak time of year for these species as they passed through heading north.
Has there been a shift in the wintering grounds of these species or is it tied in to the EEC policy of raping the British fishing fleet ?
Its a shame we dont see many of these superb gulls so often in Lothian now, I remember fondly of finding both species within seconds of each other at Musselburgh one day, will this happen again?
Any ideas Larid buffs ?