COMMON GULL 



Larus canus 



Common Gull is a resident in the British Islands. It 

 breeds in various localities in Scotland and Ireland, both 

 inland and on the coast, and is found breeding on the 

 Hebrides, the Orkneys, and Shetlands. During the 

 winter it wanders further south, and is a common visitor 

 to the greater part of the English coasts, wandering far 

 inland in mild open weather. 



The Common Gull is more or less gregarious in its habits, and is usually 

 seen in flocks, but single pairs may occasionally be met with, feeding by 

 themselves. Some of its breeding colonies are very large, whilst others 

 consist of only a few pairs, and in some localities single nests may be found 

 at intervals along the coast. It breeds just as readily inland as on the coast, 

 but seems to have a decided preference for rocks or stones on which to stand. 

 When its colonies are very large, it chooses flat open ground. A colony in 

 Morayshire was situated on a patch of bare sandy ground, covered with dead 

 sticks of whin and broom. In Shetland I found a few pairs breeding on 

 a low grassy island in company with many Richardson's Skuas. In many 

 places it breeds in large numbers on the grassy ledges of cliffs, both on islands 

 and on the mainland, and often nests on the little bunches of sea-pink growing 

 among the rocks on the shore. 



Its call-notes are loud and harsh, sometimes resembling the syllables 

 ' keee-yo^lkl or ' kyaah' perhaps more often a whistling ' keeeeaa! It has also 

 a habit of calling like the Herring Gull, ' kee-ouk, kee-ouk, eyouk, yotik, youk, ouk 

 generally when sitting on some rock or mound. It feeds both inland and on 

 the sea, sometimes following the plough for worms and grubs, sometimes 

 catching fish in the sea, or picking up refuse on the beach. It is especially 

 VOL. in. N 49 



