Razorbill (Alca torda)

OTHER NAMES: Black-billed Auk, Falk

Latin Etymology: Alca (Alke - Norweigian name for Razorbill) torida (from Gotland dialect name)

Three adult Razorbill (subspecies A. t. torda) at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire - April 2022

Featured Subspecies: Alca torda torda
Weight: 505-890g  /  Length: 37-39cm  /  Wingspan: 63-66cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Near Threatened

The Razorbill is the rarest auk to breed in any major numbers in England (there are a very small number of black guillemot, but that species is mainly confined to Scotland) and thus the hardest to photograph. It also leaves at the end of July, further confounding the problem. Though they are present, I failed to see any on my trip to the Farne Islands, and so it fell to spotting them on the sea beneath the cliffs at Trevose head for initially photographing them. If you have the luck to go over to the Farnes between March and mid-July you'd probably be able to achieve much better photographs - I had seen them on my previous trip. They do however have the benefit over puffins that they do nest on the mainland, and so can often be seen during the breeding season on the sea beneath cliffs.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Alca
Subspecies: A. t. torda, A. t. islandica

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally common Summer breeding species (130,000 pairs)

 - Flocks seen at Trevose Head, Farne Islands, St. Bee's Head and Tintagel in Spring and early Summer.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

OTHER NAMES: Black head, Masked Gull, Peewit Gull, Common Black Headed Gull

Latin Etymology: Chroicocephalus ("stained head") ridibundus ("laughing")

Adult Summer plumage Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) at Summer Leys, Northants - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 200-400g  /  Length: 38-44cm  /  Wingspan: 94-105cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

Probably the most common and easy to see member of the gull family, it is smaller than most of Britain's gulls and in the summer can be easily distinguished from all the other common gulls (but not the little gull or Mediterranean gull) by it's namesake "black head" which is actually brown (whereas the Mediterranean gull's head is actually black). In the winter it has a white head white black blotches, as can be seen in the above picture. It can be found in a very wide variety of habitats - cities, any largish bodies of water, towns, fields and the coast being common ones - really no one should have the slightest bit of trouble location dozens of these birds with ease

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Chroicocephalus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common breeding resident (140,000 pairs) and abundant Winter Visitor (2,200,000 birds)

 - Birds seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

JAPAN - Japanese - ユリカモメ / Yuri kamome ("Lily Gull")

Winter visitor.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A few seen around Kamakura.

SPAIN - Spanish -  Gaviota reidora ("Laugher Gull")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna Navaseca.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

OTHER NAMES: Sea Swallow

Latin Etymology: Sterna (Old English word for Black Tern) hirundo ("swallow")

Adult Common Tern (subspecies S. h. hirundo) at London Wetland Centre, London - June 2018

Featured Subspecies: Sterna hirundo hirundo

Weight: 110-141g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 77-98cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

By far the easiest Tern species to see, if not actually the most numerous - common terns breed at many locations inland, particularly at nature reserves where islands have been made specifically for them to nest. They can also often be seen over more or less any decent sized body of water with some luck. Visually very similar to the Arctic Tern, there are subtle differences, but you can almost guarantee that a tern of this sort seen inland is a common tern.


Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae (Terns)
Genus: Sterna
Subspecies: S. h. hirundo, S. h. minussensis, S. h. tibetana, S. h. longipennis 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally fairly common Summer migrant breeding species (12000 pairs)

 - Seen at various sites including Farne Islands,  Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes and Pitsford Reservoir

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Great Black-Backed Gull (Larus marinus)

OTHER NAMES: Greater Black Backed Gull

Latin Etymology: Larus ("Gull") marinus ("marine")

Adult Great black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) at Anstruther, Fife - February 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 1.5-1.8kg  /  Length: 64-79cm  /  Wingspan: 150-170cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A huge gull - the largest of all gulls globally, and coupled with the distinctive ashy-grey back should be readily identifiable in most situations. While common, it is found in much lower densities than most gulls, and in my experience seems more likely to be solitary or in small numbers when seen. It is also more overtly predatory than many species and I've seen it on various occassions attacking other species. I haven't noticed any particularly compelling pattern to finding them - they are present on the coast year round but otherwise have turned up on inland bodies of water and fields. They are probably a species that you should come across fairly easily even if you cannot specifically plan it.

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Laridae

Genus: Larus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common breeding resident (17,000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (77,000 birds)

 - Birds seen commonly at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir. Farne Islands and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-canto

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European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)

OTHER NAMES: Shag, Green Shag, Common Shag, Green Cormorant
Latin Etymology: Gulosus ("glutton") aristotelis (name for Aristotle)
                             Four European Shag (subspecies P. a. aristotelis) on The Farne Islands, Northumbria - July 2009

Featured Subspecies: Guloses aristotelis aristotelis

Weight: 1.75-2.25kg  /  Length: 68-78cm  /  Wingspan: 95-110cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Unlike its relation the Great Cormorant, the Shag is very much a coastal bird - and can be best sighted along Western and Northern coasts. While at a distance it can be difficult to distinguish it from Great Cormorants by general impression, the main difference is the darker green tinged colouration and lack of any white upon it, plus, when visible, the crest which Great Cormorants lack. For best views, I'd suggest the Farne Islands as you can get some truly close up views of the birds nesting right next to the path, but you can get good views from clifftops in good light on many suitable coastlines.

Related Species: 
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Guloses
Subspecies: G. a. aristotelis, G. a. desmarestii, G. a. riggenbachi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common breeding species (27,000 pairs) and locally common Winter Migrant (110,000 birds)

 - Birds seen in their Summer territories at Trevose Head and visibly breeding on the Farne Islands.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

OTHER NAMES: Boatswain, Surf Tern
Latin Etymology: Thalasseus ("fisherman") sandvicensis (named for Sandwich, Kent)

Assorted age and gender Sandwich Terns (subspecies T. s. sandvicensis) at Farne Islands, Northumbria - July 2009

Featured Subspecies: Thalasseus sandvicensis sandvicensis OR monotypic
Weight: 180-300g  /  Length: 34-45cm  /  Wingspan: 100cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Sandwich Tern is an exclusively coastal tern which breeds primarily along the East and South Coasts during the Summer although it may be seen on passage elsewhere. It is technically our second most common tern after the Arctic, but, both of the above I would consider harder to see on the basis that they are purely coastal dwelling rather than the common tern which breeds inland. Terns are easiest to photograph when on the ground and I would recommend going to the Farne Islands in the breeding season for this species.

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Laridae (Formerly Sternidae)

Genus: Thalasseus
Subspecies: Either T. s. sandvicensis, T. s. acuflavidus, T. s. eurygnathus or monotypic*

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Local Summer breeding migrant (12,000 pairs)

 - Birds seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Trevose Head, Rye Harbour, Oare Marshes and Farne Islands

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto 

*The American subspecies acuflavidus and eurygnathus are split as Cabot's Tern and Cayenne Tern, either as one or two species, which I will treat as separate should I see them, but I mention them here for clarity. 

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Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

OTHER NAMES: Ringed Plover, Bull's-Eye, Ring Dotterel, Shell-turner

Latin Etymology: Charadrius (from the Vulgate Bible) hiaticula ("cleft dweller")

Adult Ringed Plover (subspecies C. h. hiaticula) at Herne Bay, Kent -  February 2011

Featured Subspecies: Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula 
Weight: 55-75g  /  Length: 19cm  /  Wingspan: 48-57cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Similar looking to the Little Ringed Plover, the Ringed Plover is a bird much more common on the coast than it's relative, which is more often found on inland gravel pits. However, the two do overlap so don't go by this alone - look closely in your birdbook to find the differences. At Winter around Herne Bay and Reculver they were numerous and often quite easy to photograph.

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadridae

Genus: Charadrius
Subspecies: C. h. hiaticula, C. h. tundrae, C. h. psammodromus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Resident breeding species (5300-5600 pairs) and locally common Winter visitor (36,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including Herne Bay, Oare Marshes, Farne Islands and Elmley Marshes

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

OTHER NAMES: Blackback, Caudy Maudy
Latin Etymology: Larus ("gull") fuscus ("dusky")

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (subspecies L. f. graellsii) in South Bank, London - April 2010

Local Name (Spain): Gavión sombría ("Dark Gull")

Featured Subspecies: Larus fuscus graellsii
Weight: 450-1100g

Length: 50-60cm

Wingspan: 125cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The same size as a Herring Gull but easily distinguished by their dark grey back and yellow legs, Lesser Black-backed Gulls are one of the more easily seen birds. They frequently mix in with Herring Gulls, but have seemed less numerous away from water. I've personally found the best views to be along the South Bank of the Thames.  While the British subspecies may not look obviously "black-backed" so much as grey backed, the other subspecies better live up to the name.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Subspecies: L. f. fuscus, L. f. intermedius, L. f. graellsii, L. f. heuglini  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common breeding species (110,000 birds) and Common Winter visitor (130,000 birds)

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Farne Islands. Occassional flyover in Geddington.

SPAIN - Locally common.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A fair number around Laguna Navaseca

Further Notes:  Arkive, BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-cano

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Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

OTHER NAMES: Kittiwake, Kittie

Latin Etymology: Rissa (Icelandic name for species) tridactyla ("three toed")

Five adult Black-legged Kittiwakes (subspecies R. t. tridactyla) at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire - April 2022

Featured Subspecies: Rissa tridactyla tridactyla
Weight: 300-500g

Length: 40cm

Wingspan: 90-100cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The name Kittiwake is onomatopoeic based on their calls, and the species is Britain's most exclusively coastal gull - unlike other species it is very rarely found inland, and most of the time it is best seen on it's cliff nesting sites. This unfortunately means that in normal circumstances it is one of the trickier gulls to photograph, however again the Farne Islands come to the rescue and they permit great views of these birds closeup on their nests from the path.  Ordinarily however, you would need to just look around coastal cliffs for suitable habitat, and generally they would begin to see them assuming they are present.  It's also worth noting that more recently they have begun to colonise certain man-made structures such as high bridges and abandoned sea-installations.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Rissa
Subspecies: R. t. tridactyla, R. t. pollicaris 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common breeding species (380,000 pairs)

 - An exclusively coastal bird seen at  Trevose Head and the Farne Islands

Further Notes: Arkive, BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-canto

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European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

OTHER NAMES: Herring Gull, Silverback
Latin Etymology: Larus ("gull") macularius ("ornamented with silver")

  Adult Herring Gull (subspecies L. a. argentatus) at Tintagel, Cornwall - June 2010

Featured Subspecies: Larus argentatus argentatus
Weight: 700-1500g  /  Length: 55-67cm  /  Wingspan: 135-145cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the Black Headed Gull, the Herring is almost certainly the most common of British Gulls. There isn't that much to say about seeing them as they literally are a bird many people will see on a daily basis. The best views of them are probably going to be at seaside towns where they can scavenge from tourists or at landfill sites.  Though a very familiar species, it is actually in decline in the UK - particularly along the coast where it suffers from changing fishing practises. Two other very similar species also exist in the UK and though most pale backed birds you see will be Herring Gull, Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls can also be found.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Subspecies: L. a. argentatus, L. a. argenteus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally abundant breeding resident (140,000 pairs) and locally abundant Winter visitor (740,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at many sites including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Pitsford Reservoir and Ditchford Gravel Pits. Occassional flyover in Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-canto

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Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

OTHER NAMES: Gannet, Solan Goose
Latin Etymology: Morus ("silly or foolish") bassanus (after Bass Rock in Scotland)

                                                                     Adult Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire  - April 2022 

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.2-3.6kg / Length: 81-110cm / Wingspan: 95-110cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A huge distinctive looking bird - there is no other bird in Europe with the same shape and colours. Gannets can be seen along a lot of the coast, but really it is only when the wind conditions are right that they will be seen in close enough to shore to get any particularly close views.  They will occasionally feed more closely in in bays with their spectacular diving being one of the more impressive wildlife sights the UK has to offer, but largely on the mainland coast they are only seen passing by.  The UK is the world's best site for this species in general, with more than 70% of the worlds population living in only twenty sites.

Related Species: 
Order: Suliformes
Family: Sulidae
Genus: Morus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common breeding species (220,000 pairs) and regularly seen on passage.

 - Birds seen on passage from Trevose Head, St Bees Head and Farne Islands.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

OTHER NAMES: Fulmar, Mallemuck
Latin Etymology: Fulmarus (from Old Norse species name) glacialis ("icy")

Adult Northern Fulmar (subspecies F. g. glacialis) - at Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumbria - July 2009

Featured Subspecies: Fulmarus glacialis glacialis

Weight: 400-1000g / Length: 46cm / Wingspan: 102-112cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Out of all the the petrel and shearwater family in the UK, seeing a fulmar is exponentially easier than seeing any other one of that group. It is a purely coastal bird, and despite superficial resemblance to a gull, isn't closely related to them. Personally, my favourite way to view this bird is to stand at the top of a cliff near where they are nesting and get close aerial views as they use the wind along the cliff to swoop or hover. Found among much of the UK coast, they should be a relatively easy target to see.

Related Species:

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Fulmarus
Subspecies: F. g. glacialis, F. g. auduboni, F. g. rodgersii

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An localised resident breeding species (500,000 pairs) and abundant Wintering resident (1,600,000 birds)

 - Seen at Trevose Head and Dunstanburgh Castle.

UNITED STATES 
Primarily off West Coast and very north edge of East Coast
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Dark phase birds seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: Arkive, BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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