Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Common breeding resident in Shetland but numbers of breeding birds have never been high on Foula. Also a passage migrant and winter visitor.

There is not a great deal of data for this species as it is usually logged as present. The following high counts have been made:

800 on the 28^th October and 500 on the 4^th November, 1996.

2000, on the 9^th November and 4000 on the 27^th November, 1997.

The first recorded breeding count was by Jackson in 1960, when 50 pairs were noted (Jackson, 1966).