Bonaparte's Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Ord, 1815) (8, 2)
Photo © Rob Stonehouse - Wansbeck Estuary, Northumberland, 21 June 2016
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
All records as per BOU (1971) who state six between 1848-90 and another five 1948-56.
RECORDS
1). 1850 Clyde Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire, adult, shot, end of April, now at Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow (GLAMG Z.1969.93.62).
(G. H. Leith-Buchanan, Zoologist 1851: 3117, 3118; Yarrell, 1856; J. A. Harvie-Brown, Zoologist 1867: 966; Yarrell, 1871-85; Seebohm, 1883-85; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986; BOURC (2005), Ibis 147: 246-250; BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194).
History G. H. Leith of Clifton (1851) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IX. pp. 3117, 3118, dated 18th March, 1851, says: 'I take the liberty of sending the portrait of a gull, to ask if you can determine the species. The picture is too large, in breadth especially, giving the idea of a much larger bird; but as far as the colouring is concerned, it is correct. the principle points in which it differs from the common black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) are these: - the head in the former is a slaty black, in the common bird brown; the bill is black, instead of reddish brown; the legs are a bright red, like a tern's, in the common bird they are the same as the bill; and the ends of the quills are marked in quite a different way: the whole bird is smaller, and the legs shorter. I shot it about the end of April, 1850, on the shore of Lochlomond, in Dumbartonshire [sic]. An editorial comment on p. 3118, by E. N[ewman], adds: 'Mr. Yarrell...pronounces it to be L. bonaparti.'
John. A. Harvie Brown (1867) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. II. p. 906, says: '... I notice this bird as killed in Stirlingshire, as I believe it was killed over the surface of the loch. I consider it much better to include all birds killed on Loch Lomond as Stirlingshire, than draw an imaginary boundary line up the centre of the loch.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 585, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, adds: 'As regards the occurrence of Bonaparte's Gull in Scotland, there is not the slightest doubt. About the end of April, 1850, Sir George H. Leith-Buchanan, Bart., shot a fine adult specimen, a portrait of which was sent to the Author [Yarrell], and clearly identified; but as some scepticism had recently been expressed in a standard work on ornithology, Sir George sent the bird to the Editor [Saunders], who exhibited it before a meeting of the Zoological Society [of London] on the 4th of March 1884.'
Admitted as the first for Britain (Seebohm 1885 (3): 307).
In a review of the species it was found to be still acceptable as the first for Britain (BOURC (2005), Ibis 147: 246-250), then, two years later it was stated to be in Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow (GLAMG Z.1969.93.62) (BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194).
2). 1865 Cornwall Falmouth, first-winter, shot, 4th January.
(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1865: 9501; M. C. Cooke, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1865: 38; W. P. Cocks, Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society 37: 67; Harting, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 136; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1865) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXIII. p. 9501, dated 8th February, 1865, says: 'I took the opportunity yesterday, when at Falmouth, to examine the specimen of the above small gull which is in the possession of Mr. James Couch, hairdresser, Church Street. It is in fair preservation, and it is as nearly as possibly the counterpart of the bird figured in Yarrell's Supplement: the only point of difference appeared to be that there was no smoke-grey colour over and behind the eyes, which appears in Yarrell's plates: the only spot of this colour was on the ear-coverts, as shown in the plate: there was a sort of sub-tone of light blue on the head, which perhaps denoted the seasonal change to which it is subject. The weight was 7 ounces; length 14 inches; shoulder to tip 10 inches; width, full, 29 inches; wings overtail 1½ inch. The bill is longer than in Larus minutus, and rather less stout. The bird is itself altogether larger, being four inches longer than the Little Gull.'
M. C. Cooke, Editor (1865) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. I. p. 38, says: 'Bonaparte's Gull. - Occurred in Falmouth Harbour on the 4th January. This is its first recorded visit to England. Twice it has visited Ireland., and once Scotland. Its first occurrence was in 1848.'
W. P. Cocks (1869) in the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, Vol. XXXVII. p. 67, says: 'mounted by Mr. Couch, High Street, Falmouth. Fortunately I had the opportunity of examining it previous to it being skinned; Dr. Bullmore's measurement, correct; vide Cornish Fauna (by him); the plumage and markings as described by W. Yarrell, Esq., in the third supplement of his British Birds.'
Harting, Editor (1880: 168) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'The rarest of all the Laridae which have been met with in Cornwall; only two specimens, so far as, I am aware, having been obtained in this county. One was shot in Falmouth Harbour on January 4th, 1865. It had been observed for some hours by the captain of a vessel, flying in company with a Herring Gull, and so closely did the two birds keep together that both were killed at the same discharge. Being in Falmouth on February 8th of that year, I took the opportunity to examine it, and found it to be as nearly as possible the counterpart of the immature bird figured by Yarrell; the only difference being that there was no smoke-grey colour above and between the eyes, as represented by him. A spot of this colour, however, was observable on the ear-coverts. It weighed 7 oz., and the measurements were as follows: - Total length, 14 inches; bill, 1 inch; wing, from carpus, 10 inches; expanse of wings, 29 inches, the closed wings extending beyond the tail 1½ inches. The bill was larger than that of the Little Gull, and rather more slender. The bird itself was altogether larger, being four inches longer than Larus minutus.'
Further, p. 238, under 'Annual Summaries' read to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Rodd adds: 'Mr. Gould when on a visit to me in January, called my attention to the fact that this rare gull had been then recently shot in Falmouth Harbour, and I took an early opportunity of going to examine the specimen, which I found in the hands of Mr. James Couch of Falmouth, in very good preservation.
Further still, p. 311, under 'Appendix', Harting adds: 'The specimen of Bonaparte's Gull which was examined by Mr. Rodd was at that time in the possession of Mr. James Couch of Church Street, Falmouth.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 585, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.
J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 136, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', adds: 'All three Cornish examples were immature.'
3). 1865 Cornwall Penryn, first-winter, shot, 10th January.
(Harting, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 136; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History Harting, Editor (1880: 168) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'The rarest of all the Laridae which have been met with in Cornwall; only two specimens, so far as, I am aware, having been obtained in this county. On the 10th January the same year [1865], a second specimen of this Gull was shot by a son of Mr. G. A. Copeland, near Penryn.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 585, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.
J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 136, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', adds: 'All three Cornish examples were immature.'
4). 1870 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, first-winter, shot, November, now at Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter.
(C. Smith, Zoologist 1883: 120-121; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Witherby, 1920-24; Walpole-Bond, 1938; W. P. Lowe, Ibis 1939: 75; Shrubb, 1979).
History Cecil Smith of Bishops Lydeard, Taunton (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. pp. 120-121, says: 'About the month of July, 1876, I was looking through an interesting collection of birds belonging to Mr. F. Pershouse, of Torquay. Amongst other specimens I particularly noticed a small Gull, which I could not then identify. However, I luckily took some notes of it.
A month or two ago I got an American skin of Bonaparte's Gull, Larus philadelphia, from Mr. Marsden, the dealer at Gloucester. This skin at once put me in mind of Mr. Pershouse's bird, and on referring to my notes of that specimen I found they agreed very closely with the skin which I had received. As Mr. Pershouse was lately making some alterations in his cases, he very kindly took the bird out and sent it up to me for identification, and on comparing it with the skin above mentioned and with another which Mr. Howard Saunders had kindly sent me, I found it to be without doubt Larus philadelphia, in immature plumage, and in the same state of plumage as the centre bird in Yarrell's figure. Nor can there be any doubt about its being a British-killed specimen, for Mr. Pershouse shot it himself.
The following is his account of its capture: - "It is some years since I shot it, and I cannot supply the exact date, but it was early in November, 1870, at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, at the western extremity of the parade. It was with a number of Black-headed and Kittiwake Gulls. I mistook it at the time for Larus minutus, and remained under that impression until your visit". It is a young bird, with some of the dark markings on the wing which probably led to its being mistaken for an immature Little Gull. For an adult Little Gull, with its white primaries, it could never have been mistaken. It is by no means a common Gull in the British Islands. Mr. Harting, in his Handbook, enumerates only six British specimens; and Mr. Rodd, in his Birds of Cornwall, mentions one other Cornish specimen besides the one referred to in the Handbook, but beyond these I have not been able to find another recorded instance of a British-killed example. Mr. Pershouse's specimen, therefore, is only the eighth reported....'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 585, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Three examples of this rare straggler have also been obtained in England...the third, which is in the collection of Mr. F. Pershouse of Torquay, was shot by him early in November, 1870, at St Leonards, Sussex, and has been fully identified by Mr. Cecil Smith (Zool., 1883, p. 120).'
Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 262; Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 264).
Willoughby P. Lowe (1939) in The Ibis, Vol. LXXXI. p. 75, under 'The Bird Collections in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter', says: 'There is an immature example of Bonaparte's Gull in this Museum. It was obtained at St. Leonards, Sussex, in November 1870, and forms part of the finely preserved birds in the Pershouse collection.'
5). 1888 Pembrokeshire Solva, first-winter, shot, spring.
(H. W. Evans, Field 20th Oct., 1888: 556; Lockley, 1949; Donovan & Rees, 1994; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; Green & Roberts, 2004).
History H. W. Evans of Solva (1888) in The Field of 20th Oct., Vol. LXXII. p. 556, says: 'In the spring of 1887 I shot at Solva (near St. David's, Pembrokeshire) what then appeared to me to be a rare gull, but as I could not then refer to any authorities I was unable to identify the bird. Since then Mr. P. R. H. Parker, of Cheltenham, has recognised it as Bonaparte's Gull, and I find that it fully agrees with a description of an immature bird in winter plumage, and also with the figure of this bird in Yarrell's British Birds. So far as I can gather, this is the first of its kind shot in Wales.'
Lockley (1949: 64) says: 'One in the collection of the late H. W. Evans had been shot at Solva in the spring of 1888.'
Donovan & Rees (1994) say: 'Mathew (1894) seemed to be unaware of this record or indeed the collection of H. W. Evans of Solva who possessed this specimen.'
6). 1890 Cornwall Newlyn, first-winter, shot, 24th October.
(J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1891: 35; Clark, 1906; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History J. E. Harting, Editor (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 35, says: 'I lately received from Mr. T. H. Cornish, of Penzance, for identification, an immature specimen, in the last year's plumage, of a small Gull which was shot at Newlyn, near Penzance, on the 24th October last. Its diminutive size, slender bill, and characteristic markings on the webs of the primaries, showed it to be Bonaparte's Gull, Larus philadelphia, Ord. - Larus bonapartii, Swains. & Rich.
This North American species, which in autumn goes southward to California on the west, and North Carolina on the east, has been found at the Bermudas, and on several previous occasions has occurred as a wanderer to the British Islands. It must nevertheless be regarded as one of the rarest visitors among the Laridae. Before returning the specimen I took the opportunity of exhibiting it at a meeting of the Linnean Society on the 4th of December.'
J. Clark (1906 (1): 346) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: 'One near Newlyn by Vingoe, October, 1890.'
7). 1948 Yorkshire Swillington Ings, seen, 11th February.
(K. Dawson & F. R. Allison, British Birds 41: 276-277; R. Chislett, Naturalist 74: 73; Eds., British Birds 43: 62; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).
History K. Dawson & F. R. Allison (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. pp. 276-277, say: 'On February 11th, 1948, whilst we were watching birds at Swillington Ing, Yorkshire, our attention was attracted by a small gull with a very dark-coloured head with satin appearance, and whose folded wings were long and narrow, with black primaries, some of which had small white tips. It was swimming amongst Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls. On closer examination it was seen to be slightly smaller than the Black-headed Gulls which were with it. The hood stretched well down on to the hind-neck and appeared black when using the lower powers of the telescopes, but with the highest power it was seen to be very deep slate-grey.
With this highest power (50x) it could also be seen that there was white on the eyelids, but so far as could be seen this did not encircle the eye, being apparently confined to the posterior half. The bill was jet-black. The mantle, back and wing-coverts were of the same shade of pale grey as in the Black-headed Gull. For the first part of the time we watched the bird it was bathing, occasionally flapping its wings, revealing their pale grey undersides. Later it took off and flew round, enabling the colour of the under wing-coverts to be verified and showing a wing-pattern similar to ridibundus on both the under- and upper-surfaces of the wing, the latter being pale grey with a conspicuous white fore-wing and black primaries. The remainder of the plumage was pure white, and the tail unforked without any black markings. Its flight was exactly like that of a Black-headed Gull.
After circling around it landed amongst the other gulls standing on the mud and started to preen. On land the legs could not be observed very satisfactorily, but appeared to be the same colour as those of the Black-headed Gulls standing near by and may have been deep red, but they were probably discoloured by mud. It was not heard to call whilst under observation. It was watched in good light at 100 yards when swimming and 75 yards range when on land with 6x binoculars and telescopes of the following powers, 15x, 20x, 30x and 50x. Sketches were drawn whilst the bird was in view and notes were made later before consulting any books. The bird was watched for half an hour, after which time it flew off with the other gulls when they were disturbed.
We are quite certain of all the details given and they agree exactly with the description of Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia). We might add that both of us are very familiar with the Black-headed Gull in all stages of plumage. This is the first time the bird has been seen in Yorkshire.'
Ralph Chislett (1949) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXIV. p. 73, under 'Annual Yorkshire Report' for 1948, says: 'K. Dawson and F. R. Allinson recorded one at Swillington Ing on February 11th, 1948, basing diagnosis on size compared with Black-headed Gulls, long narrow wings, black bill, and dark satiny head of slate-grey.'
In an Editorial (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. p. 62, in a Review of the above, they say: 'There are a number of interesting records of more or less rare species elsewhere. Of these might be mentioned, in 1948: A Bonaparte's Gull and a Spotted Crake on Malham Moor in June have already been recorded in British Birds.'
Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 284; Mather 1986).
8). 1948 Sussex Newhaven, adult, 14th November.
(L. P. Alder & C. M. James, British Birds 43: 134-135; Shrubb, 1979).
History L. P. Alder & C. M. James (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. pp. 134-135, say: 'On November 14th, 1948, whilst we were on Newhaven breakwater, Sussex, a gull in adult plumage attracted attention by being somewhat smaller and greyer in general appearance than a single adult Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) which was resting near by on the sea. When viewed through field-glasses (x 12 and x 15) at a range of 15-20 yards it was seen that the bird in question had an all-black bill. On the assumption that we were viewing an unusual visitor, we made detailed notes on the spot.
The bird was of an approximately similar shade of grey on the hack and mantle as the Black-headed Gull, but was greyer on the wing-coverts. The back and sides of the neck were the same colour as the mantle and the whole of the head, except for a white forehead, and a black patch behind and partly below the eye, was streaked grey in appearance. The eye was dark, and no lighter colouring was noticed on the eyelid, while the terminal parts of the primaries were black, the outer two at least lacked the white tips of the remainder, which showed as three very small mirrors on the folded and crossed tipped wings. These were perhaps longer in proportion to the size of the bird than in the Black-headed Gull. The remainder of the plumage was white. The bird flew round several times, but returned to the same position on the sea.
In flight the upper surface of the wing showed conspicuous white leading and black trailing edges, the remainder being grey. The white area was more extensive than the black. The under surface appeared grey with a thin black rear edge, and lacked the dark area as seen in the Black-headed Gull. The tail was of the same colour and shape as in the last named bird. We were unable to obtain a good view of the legs, and while L.P.A. noted their colour as flesh, C.M.J. differed by recording pale yellow. These opinions were derived to some extent by viewing the legs through the water, when the bird was on the sea. The gull could be picked out in flight without difficulty from a number of Black-headed Gulls, probably because it seemed more buoyant, but we cannot say it was tern-like.
On the sea feeding by picking was observed in the same way as that of the accompanying Black-headed Gull, and in addition the bird was seen to immerse the whole head several times, as though taking something below the surface. The bird did not apparently call. On checking the notes with The Handbook we concluded that the bird was a Bonaparte's Gull (Larus Philadelphia) in winter plumage.'
1950-57 RECORDS
9). 1951 Sussex Langney Point, first-summer, 24th June.
(G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1951: 20; D. D. Harber, British Birds 45: 333; Shrubb, 1979).
History G. des Forges & D. D. Harber (1951) in the Sussex Bird Report, p. 20, say: 'On June 24th a first-summer bird was watched feeding at Langney Point (D.D.H.). Details will appear in due course in British Birds.'
D. D. Harber (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 333, says: 'On June 24th, 1951, I saw a Bonaparte's Gull (Larus Philadelphia) in first summer plumage feeding at the sewage outlet at Langney Point, Sussex. I had the bird under observation for more than ten minutes, often at close range, and noted the following particulars: distinctly smaller and slighter than a Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus) ; flight more graceful than that of the latter species and very similar in the motions of wings and body to that of the Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) which were feeding with it; descended to pick food off the surface in a more tern-like manner than the Black-headed Gulls which were present and also feeding in this way. The bird could be picked out from among Black-headed Gulls by these features alone. The head at first glance appeared grey but closer examination showed that this grey was not uniform but was mixed with some whitish. The bill was blackish. The legs could only be seen when the bird dropped them on approaching the surface to feed. They appeared to be dull brownish. The general coloration of the upper-parts was similar to that of first summer Black-headed Gulls except that it was rather paler than was the case with the dozen or so of the latter species in this plumage which were also present. There were black markings towards the tips of the secondaries and the adjoining primaries.
The bird did not particularly associate with Black-headed Gulls, both arriving and leaving alone. This appears to be the first summer record of this species for Britain, all the previous nine known occurrences having been between November and April.'
10). 1955 Northumberland Seaton Sluice, first-summer, 11th July.
(B. Little, British Birds 49: 324-325; G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 11: 198; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).
History B. Little (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. pp. 324-325, says: 'On 11th July 1955, at Seaton Sluice Point, 4 miles north of Tynemouth, Northumberland, a small gull was seen beating up and down the coast at about 50 to 100 yards off shore, where it was feeding with large numbers of adult and juvenile Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus), Common Gulls (L. canus) and Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). It was quite noticeably smaller than the other gulls in its company; but not so small as a Little Gull (L. minutus) seen there a few weeks previously.
The head, nape, neck, under-parts and under-wings were pure white. There was a conspicuous and quite large dark smudge behind the eye. The mantle was like that of a Black-headed Gull, but the inner wing had very fine bars crossing to the carpal joints, as in the juvenile Kittiwakes; but not so conspicuous or broad as in the latter. The wings were more pointed and longer than those of a Little Gull. The primaries showed black when the bird was at rest on the water, but when it alighted on the sea, as it did to feed, the wings were brought up high above the head and the primaries were fanned, so that their pattern could be clearly seen, showing pure white primaries with black leading edges. The tail was pure white, slightly rounded at the tip with a very narrow terminal band, much narrower than that of a juvenile Black-head or Kittiwake. This band was broken slightly by one or two white feathers in the centre. The bill was small, much smaller than that of a Black-head and completely black. The legs were dark, the exact colour being indistinguishable.
The bird's flight was a very conspicuous character, being much more like that of a tern than a gull. The wing-beats were noticeably faster than those of a Black-head. It sometimes hovered, then neatly side-slipped on to the water to pick up food, rising again immediately with rapid wing-beats in the manner of a Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). Its usual height above the sea was from 15 to 20 feet; but once it was seen to dive like a Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) from ca. 5 feet. On the water it was buoyant; in this respect resembling a phalarope (Phalaropus sp.).
It was under observation for two hours (19.20 to 21.20), but was not seen subsequently. I have no doubt that this was a Bonaparte's Gull (L. Philadelphia) assuming its first adult plumage.'
NOT PROVEN
0). Pre 1856 Cumbria Unknown lake, obtained, undated.
(Yarrell, 1856; Harting, 1872; H. A. Macpherson, Field 21st Dec., 1889: 888).
[Saunders, 1899].
History H. A. Macpherson of Carlisle (1889) in The Field of 21st Dec., Vol. LXXIV. p. 888, says: 'The late Mr. Yarrell included in the third edition of his History of British Birds a record of an example of Bonaparte's Gull, said to have been obtained on one of the English lakes. All trace of this specimen has since been lost by ornithologists, and, in the absence of fuller information, Mr. Howard Saunders omitted the record from the fourth edition of Yarrell's work; the record being omitted from the Birds of Cumberland for the same reason. It still stands, however, in Mr. Harting's Handbook, and I am anxious to trace its whereabouts.
A good many of Mr. Yarrell's letters are in my hands, and show clearly that he was careful in receiving evidence, and very unlikely to include a bird in his list on sufficient grounds. As local enquiries have failed, I should be glad to know whether any of the readers of The Field can show where the specimen now exists.'
Comment No further communications noticed. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.
0). 1888 Kent Ramsgate, shot, 4th February.
(Clifton, Field 14th Apr., 1888: 535).
[Not in BOU, 1971].
History Lord Clifton of Dumpton Park, Ramsgate (1888) in The Field of 14th Apr., Vol. LXXI. p. 535, says: 'The occurrence of this small American gull for the eighth or ninth time in the United Kingdom is worthy of notice. I was shooting at some Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) on Feb. 4, as they flew westward over a turnip field adjoining the north wall of Dumpton Park, when a gull dropped somewhat suddenly to a charge of No. 6 shot. It was brought to me with a badly broken wing, so I killed it, and in doing so I at once noticed its small head, tern-like bill, and slender form, also its beautifully variegated markings.
These latter led me at first to conjecture it might be a large specimen of the Little Gull (L. minutus), but the length (fourteen inches) soon dispelled this idea. Yarrell's figure of Bonaparte's Gull comes nearest to it, but it differs materially in the pattern of the primaries and other respects from the published descriptions of both the fully adult and the first-winter plumage of Bonaparte's Gull. Combining as it does many features of each of these plumages it must probably be a bird of the second winter. The head, neck, and back are those of a fully adult bird in winter plumage, as described by Dr. Coues: "Crescent before the eye, and patch below the auriculars, deep slate. Crown and occiput mottled with greyish black and white; back of neck washed over with the colour of the mantle; forehead, sides of the head and throat, white, continuous with the white of the under parts".
The signs of immaturity consist of a brown bar to the tail with pale tips, and in the lesser wing-coverts, tertials, &c., being also brown, with pale tips, the brown being of a shade lighter than the tail-bar, but having a darker earthy gloss in the centre of each feather. The bastard wing has a blackish patch, as in the peewit-gull (immature), but the primary coverts are pure white both above and below, which as Coues and Seebohm point out, is a distinctive mark of this species. Excepting the outer web of the first primary, there is no real black on the primaries, but only a dark brown, a shade or two darker than the tail bar. The pattern of the first three primaries does not agree with Saunders's figure (P.Z.S., 1878) for the young Larus philadephia, but very nearly with his figure of the same quills in the young of the Slender-billed Gull, Larus gelastes. His statement that philadephia of all ages has the exterior portion of the inner webs of the first three primaries entirely white (except at tip) without a dark border is apparently to the inner web of all three first primaries. The secondaries are, as in Yarrell's figure, light grey tips, and sides forming semicircles round dark centres. The tail down to the bar is pure white, in strong contrast to the delicate dove colour of the hinder neck. The bill dull orange, dark at the tip, yellower underneath. Legs dull clay-colour, without any red or fleshy tinge. Length 14in. approximately, wing about 10½in.
This makes the eighth or ninth specimen, as above stated, that has been obtained in the United Kingdom....'
Not accepted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1893 Sussex Chichester Harbour, shot, October.
(Sussex and Hampshire Naturalist 2: 19).
[Walpole-Bond, 1938; Not in BOU, 1971; James, 1996].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 264-265) says: 'Our next bird, never having been scrutinised by a super-specialist in the Gull line, must, I am afraid, stay in abeyance. Its history is as follows. During October, 1893, a small Larus was shot in Chichester Harbour by a Mr. Burrell. This gentleman, whilst not feigning to know its breed, did realise that it was a rarity. Because of this he sent it to Jeffery, of Gosport, for preservation, on whose premises it was seen by Mr. W. T. Pearce, who, after an exhaustive examination, came to the conclusion that it complied with the description of Bonaparte's Gull as laid down by Howard Saunders in his Manual.' Whereupon the matter was made public in the Sussex and Hampshire Naturalist (Vol. II. p. 19).'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1896 Isle of Wight Freshwater, obtained, 7th October.
(W. Watkins, Field 24th Oct., 1896: 655; W. Watkins, Field 31st Oct., 1896: 693).
[BOU, 1971].
History Watkin Watkins of the Wellington Club, London (1896) in The Field of 24th Oct., Vol. LXXXVIII. p. 655, says: 'A specimen of Bonaparte's Gull was obtained by me at Freshwater, Isle of Wight, on Oct. 7. It first appeared during a terrific gale on the 6th, flying about with several Black-headed Gulls. This is the only specimen that has ever been obtained on the island, and I believe is the sixth positively authenticated occurrence in Great Britain.'
[Mistakes have so often occurred with respect to small gulls supposed to be of this species, that it would be well to know on whose authority it has been named. - Ed.]
Watkin Watkins (1896) in The Field of 31st Oct., Vol. LXXXVIII. p. 693, says: 'Referring to your editorial note to my letter in your last issues, I may state that the Bonaparte's Gull referred to was preserved and set up by Mr. Rogers, naturalist, Freshwater, Isle of Wight. You may perhaps remember that he helped Mr. Venables to compile his list of birds printed in his guide to the Isle of Wight. Rogers is now eighty-three. I will place the bird in experienced hands and let you know the verdict later on. I myself am not well enough up in sea birds to say anything for certain about it.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1897 Leicestershire & Rutland Burley Ponds, Rutland, shot, undated.
(Haines, 1907).
[BOU, 1971; Fray et al., 2009].
History Haines (1907: 153-155) says: 'As my duty is to chronicle facts, I simply state the facts connected with the specimen here referred to, and every reader can form his own conclusion. In 1897 C. Masters shot a Gull at Burley Ponds, such as he had never seen before. Mr. William R. Hine, of 339, Lord Street, Southport, and of the firm Messrs. Hine & Sons, Winnipeg, Canada, a competent authority, happening to be with Lord Lonsdale's at the keeper's lodge at the time, positively identified the bird as a Bonaparte's Gull. He took away the wings with him.
On my writing in 1901 to ask him whether he would mind submitting the wings for further identification to a second authority, he informed me, much to my regret, that he could not find them, adding, "However, I feel sure that it was a Bonaparte's Gull, as I remember telling Masters at the time. Having had several of these birds when in Canada, I did not appreciate the rarity of it here".
In reply to a second letter, three weeks later, Mr. Hine said: "I am well acquainted with 'Laughing Gulls', having shot some hundreds while in Canada, also have shot several Bonaparte's Gulls. I judged the one in question to be the latter, by its size and markings. It was in immature plumage, and had slate-black ear-coverts, which is no doubt what Masters remembers. Had it been in full plumage I should have saved the whole bird. If it had been a "Laughing Gull", I should have known it immediately by the feet and legs alone, without looking at the feathers, as the legs are rose-madder in colour, Bonaparte's having pale orange, deepening according to age, &c".
C. Masters gave the following particulars (December 16, 1901): "As regards the Gull, it certainly was not the Common Gull. I killed a Common Gull on Friday last, also the Black-headed Gull about three weeks since, but it (i.e., the latter) had a white head. The Gull which Mr. Hine thought was a Bonaparte's Gull, had a black patch on its head. Of course, I did not know what it was. All I knew, it was a Gull of some sort. Mr. Whitehouse, gunsmith, of Oakham, was with me when I shot it, on a Sunday. I killed a Kittiwake here January 2, 1895".
Mr. Whitehouse, when written to, said: "It had black on its head, grey back, wings crossed with black". As the specimen was handled in the flesh, and identified, by a judge familiar with the gulls, and as reasons have been given why the bird in question could not have been any of the commoner Gulls, which resemble Bonaparte's Gull, I feel myself justified in including this species in my list. At all events it was not one of the common gulls.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1901 Cornwall Marazion, seen, 3rd February.
(Clark, 1906; Penhallurick, 1969).
[Not in Witherby, 1920-24; BOU, 1971].
History J. Clark (1906 (1): 346) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: '...also seen on the Marazion beach by A. W. Hawey, 3rd February, 1901.' Not admitted nationally (Witherby 1920-24; BOU 1971).
0). 1913 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, immature male, shot, 3rd November.
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 7: 235; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 100; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 235, says: 'On November 4th, 1913, I was shown a Gull that had been shot the previous day at the Outfall Pipes, West St. Leonards, Sussex. Upon careful examination I found it to be an immature male Bonaparte's Gull (Larus Philadelphia). This bird is very similar in appearance to an immature Black-headed Gull, but can readily be identified, not only by its smaller size, being intermediate between the Little Gull and the Black-headed, but the primaries are very distinctive. In the Black-headed Gull of the same age the primaries have a white centre with blackish-brown margins to both webs, whereas the Bonaparte's has a dusky brown outer web, the inner web being perfectly white. In the adult birds the same difference occurs, the colour of the margins being black instead of brownish. The terminal band of the tail of this specimen is also only about half the width of that of a Black-headed Gull.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 265).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, four: two seen and an adult male, shot, 20th April and an adult female, shot, 26th April.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 37; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1928) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 37, says: 'A party of four of this American species visited the Sussex coast in April, 1914; an adult male was shot at West St Leonards on the 20th and an adult female on the 26th at Pevensey. Both are now in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, from the Vauncey Crewe collection, and have not been previously recorded in our Journal.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 265).
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1934 Shetland No locality, 28th April.
(Venables & Venables, 1955).
[Venables & Venables, 1955].
History Venables & Venables (1955) recording the record in square brackets: singles seen Whalsay 28th April 1934 and 4th March 1937.
0). 1937 Shetland No locality, 4th March.
(Venables & Venables, 1955).
[Venables & Venables, 1955].
History Venables & Venables (1955) recording the record in square brackets: singles seen Whalsay 28th April 1934 and 4th March 1937.
0). 1944 Isles of Scilly Tresco, shot, 16th December.
(B. H. Ryves, D. Valentine & H. M. Quick, Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report 1945: 46; Eds., British Birds 38: 358; Penhallurick, 1969; Robinson, 2003).
[Eds., British Birds 38: 358; Not in BOU, 1971].
History B. H. Ryves, D. Valentine & H. M. Quick (1944) in the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report, Vol. XIV. p. 46, say: 'The following records of very exceptional interest come from Major Dorrien Smith: - Bonaparte's Gull. On December 16th one was feeding on worms behind the plough and was shot. This is the first record for Scilly. (There is one record for Cornwall, namely, at Penzance on October 20th, 1890. Eds.).'
In an Editorial (1944-45) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 358, they appear to accept this record in a Review of the Annual Report.
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1948 Isle of Wight Newtown Marshes, 9th August.
(Bannerman, 1962)
[Cohen & Taverner, 1972]
History Bannerman (1962 (11): 229) says: 'I have once seen a gull in England which I am reasonably certain was a Bonaparte's Gull. This was in August 1948 on Newton Marshes, Isle of Wight. The bird attracted our attention - my companion is now my wife - among a number of other gulls as it was continually up-ending in the water. When it flew its flight was unlike the Black-headed Gulls present with it, but it was not in summer plumage, and as the underside of the wing was not seen a doubt remained in our minds as to what it could possibly be. Neither my wife nor I had previously seen Bonaparte's Gull. The colour of its legs was not ascertained...and we did not take any notes at the time so we are not disappointed in the fact that it is unacceptable.'
Not accepted locally (Cohen & Taverner 1972).
0). 1953 Dorset Chesil Beach, seen, 20th August.
(G. W. H. Moule, British Birds 47: 272-273; Ash, 1956).
[Not in BOU, 1971].
History G. W. H. Moule (1954) in British Birds, Vol. XLVII. pp. 272-273, says: 'On August 20th, 1953, on the Chesil Beach, near Portland, I saw a group of Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) resting on the pebbles and preening, and among them a noticeably smaller gull. Its bill looked black and was small and slender by comparison with the bills of the other gulls near it. There was a dark mark behind the eye, on a white face, and the top of the head was brownish. The mantle looked greyish brown. Besides the black on the ends of the primaries there was some black on the secondaries. When the bird stood up, its legs were seen to be pale yellowish brown. When it flew it showed a white leading-edge to the wings, broader towards the tips, and a broad, blackish subterminal band on its tail. In flight it was not unlike a smaller and more delicate version of the Black-headed Gull. It left the other gulls and flew over the top of the beach, but soon returned and settled again. Next time it rose I lost it, and though I returned next day, and again five days later, I never found it again. I came to the conclusion that it could only be a Bonaparte's Gull (Larus Philadelphia), in juvenile plumage.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1956 Hampshire Langstone Harbour, 6th October.
(E. Cohen, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 1956: 330; Cohen & Taverner, 1972).
[Not in Clark & Eyre, 1993].
History E. Cohen (1956) in the Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, p. 330, says: 'One in Langstone Harbour on October 6th (P.F.LeB., G.H.R.). First record for the county of this very rare species. Accepted by B. B. which will publish a full description.'
Cohen & Taverner (1972) say: 'One in Langstone Harbour on 6th October 1956 was accepted by British Birds but not published (Le Brocq & Rees).'
Not accepted locally (Clark & Eyre 1993).
