Rare little gulls take to the skies

A PAIR of little gull chicks, which last month became the first ever proven to have hatched in Britain, have taken their first flight.

Born in an RSPB Scotland nature reserve in Aberdeenshire, the youngsters have been closely monitored, and in the past weeks have grown larger. One of the pair was spotted in flight on Monday.

Richard Humpidge, from the RSPB, said: “It was exciting to have the first little gulls ever proven to hatch in Britain on the reserve, but seeing one take flight for the first time is really special.”

As their Latin name Hydrocoloeus minutus suggests, little gulls are the smallest species of gull, weighing little more than a blackbird. Adult gulls have jet black heads and short red legs.

The birds normally breed in northern Scandinavia, the Baltics, Russia and Siberia.