PEST NAME : Herring gull (Larus argentatus)

SIZE, SHAPE & COLOUR: Herring gulls are large, noisy gulls found throughout the year around our coasts and inland around rubbish tips, fields, large reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter.

Adults have light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips with white 'mirrors'. Their legs are pink, with webbed feet and they have heavy, slightly hooked bills marked with a red spot. Young birds are mottled brown. They have suffered moderate declines over the past 25 years and over half of their UK breeding population is confined to fewer than ten sites. Loud wails and laughs or more plaintive mewing.

BIOLOGY :   Breeds, often in colonies, on coastal sites around the UK, including cliffs with grassy slopes, shingle beaches, small islands and rooftops in seaside towns. Also breeds on moors.

PREFERRED FOODS :  Omnivorous - a scavenger.

HABITAT : Wintering

Primarily coastal but generally more widespread in winter, ranging inland to feed on rubbish tips and roost on large lakes and reservoirs. Birds from Scandinavia join resident birds.

Herring gulls are widespread and can easily be seen at virtually any seaside town in the breeding season, and inland all year round, especially at rubbish tips, playing fields and reservoir roosts.