Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans

A bird that occurs regularly at inland rubbish tips and gull roosts, but is perhaps under-recorded due to limited awareness of identification criteria.  A large gull, reminiscent of Herring Gull but with a long, slender bill, accentuated by the sloping forehead. The legs, wings and neck are longer than those of the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). The eye is small and often dark, the legs vary from pale pink to a pale yellowish colour. The back and wings are a slightly darker shade of grey than the Herring Gull but slightly paler than the Yellow-legged Gull. The outermost primary feather has a distinctive large white tip and a white tongue running up the inner web.

First-winter birds have a pale head with dark streaking on the back of the neck. The underparts are pale and the back is greyish. The greater and median wing coverts have whitish tips forming two pale lines across the wing. 

Similar to Herring and Yellow-legged Gulls but has longer legs, wings and neck and other variations (see above)

It typically nests on flat, low-lying ground by water unlike the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) which mainly nests on cliffs in areas where the two overlap.

Recorded in most months with the majority from October to January.

The breeding season starts from early April mainly around the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea but in Europe it has been spreading north and west and now breeds in Poland and eastern Germany.

Traditionally, its wintering areas are from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and western India but increasing numbers now disperse into Europe, into countries such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

The first confimed UK record was in 1995 but Caspian Gull was only formerly recognised as a distinct species from Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) in 2007.  With increasing awareness of the identification criteria of this species, small numbers are now seen regularly in the UK, especially in the south-east, East Anglia and the Midlands.

An uncommon passage and winter visitor, recorded in most months with the majority from October to January.  As many as 30 records annually but this number will increase as birdwatchers become more aware of the identification criteria needed to separate Caspian Gull from the similar Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis).