Nominate race is a scarce winter visitor. There are additionally five records of the race kumleini ('Kumlein's Gull').

As with the Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull is a regular but scarce winter visitor to the West Midlands Region. Prior to around 1990 it was recorded less frequently than Glaucous Gull but, during the early 1990s, numbers of Iceland Gulls increased at the same time as Glaucous Gull became scarcer. Iceland Gull too has declined during the early 2000s and the two species are currently recorded with similar frequency. In 2005 there were 12 Iceland Gulls compared with 14 Glaucous Gulls. However, unlike Glaucous Gull (5%), a significant proportion of Iceland Gull records during this latest period involves adults (42%).

Annual distribution

The annual distribution of Iceland Gulls between 1986 and 2005 is presented in Figure 1, with the comparative distribution for Glaucous Gull (to same scale) in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Annual distribution of Iceland Gulls in the West Midland Region, 1986 - 2000.

Figure 2. Comparative annual distribution of Glaucous Gulls in the West Midland Region, 1986 - 2005.

For further discussion of the comparative long term trends of these two species see Glaucous Gull.

Monthly distribution

The monthly distribution of arrival dates of Iceland Gulls between 1986 and 2005 is presented in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Monthly distribution of arrival dates of Iceland Gulls in the West Midlands Region, 1986 - 2005.

As with Glaucous Gull, most records fall between December and March (95%), with a peak during January (38%). Comparatively, a slightly lower proportion occurs during January (38% c.f. 44%) and a slightly higher proportion during February and March (42% c.f. 33%). Thus, the monthly distribution of arrivals is skewed rather later in the winter compared with Glaucous Gull.

Kumlein's Gull

The nominate race of Iceland Gull, which breeds in Greenland, is replaced by the race kumleini from Baffin Island to NW Quebec. Colloquially known as Kumlein's Gull, this race differs from the nominate race principally in displaying grey markings, of varying shade and prominence, on p6 to p10. There have been five records of this form in the West Midlands region: two from Staffordshire, two from Worcestershire and one from Warwickshire.

Westport Lake, Staffs, first-winter, December 30th 1979 - January 12th 1980.

Blithfield Reservoir, Staffs, adult, February 14th 1999.

Draycote Water, Warks, adult, January 1st 2001.

Westwood Pool, Worcs, adult, March 1st 2003

Westwood Pool , Worcs, second-winter, November 27th - December 1st 2005; also Throckmorton Tip on November 28th and Hartlebury Tip on November 30th.