Slender-billed Gull
Chroicocephalus genei (Brême, 1839)
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Eurasia. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Species not admitted nationally during the period covered (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1914 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, immature female, 26th January.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Walpole-Bond, 1938; E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 292) recording the record in square brackets, says: 'In the Church Street museum, Brighton, from the Crewe collection are two Slender-billed Gulls, Larus gonei Brème, labelled respectively West St. Leonards-on-Sea, January 26th, 1914, and June 24 (same year), Bexhill. There are no other records of this West African and Mediterranean species from Britain; and since Mr. A. F. Griffith (Introduction, 5th ed. (1927), Cat. B. Dyke Rd. Mus., B'ton, pp. xxii and xxiii) did not consider the data...in question satisfactory, I had better, pending further evidence...keep them within square brackets.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex Bexhill-on-Sea, male, 24th June.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Walpole-Bond, 1938; E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 292) recording the record in square brackets, says: 'In the Church Street museum, Brighton, from the Crewe collection are two Slender-billed Gulls, Larus gonei Brème, labelled respectively West St. Leonards-on-Sea, January 26th, 1914, and June 24 (same year), Bexhill. There are no other records of this West African and Mediterranean species from Britain; and since Mr. A. F. Griffith (Introduction, 5th ed. (1927), Cat. B. Dyke Rd. Mus., B'ton, pp. xxii and xxiii) did not consider the data...in question satisfactory, I had better, pending further evidence...keep them within square brackets.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1955 Dorset Lyme Regis, immature, 21st May.
(K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 77: 67).
[K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 77: 67].
History K. B. Rooke (1955) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXXVII. p. 67, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'An observer with previous experience in Sardinia in 1954, saw one in partly immature plumage in Lyme Regis harbour on the 21st May that was probably identified correctly but British Birds considered that it just fell short of certain detail to be allowed for a first for Britain. It was watched at a range of 30-40 yards on the water through x 8 binoculars among c.20 Herring Gulls and 4 Black-headed Gulls. The following description was sent to W. B. Alexander (in litt. 24.v.55): - "Size, considerable smaller and more delicate than Herring Gulls near it, but larger than a Black-headed; at first glance it suggested a Common Gull. Bill, a clear yellow with sharply defined black tip. Head, breast and underparts white. Back grey...wing-coverts rather darker slaty-grey. Primaries...proximal two-thirds or three-quarters white...distal portion dull black with "no mirrors;" white on primaries did not show until the bird was in flight. Tail white, with the remains of a moderately narrow terminal dark bar. I did not have a good view of the feet, which appeared to be a nondescript yellowish-green (J. Carr).'
