Nominate race is a scarce winter visitor. There are additionally 15 or 16 records of the race kumleini ('Kumlein's Gull').

As with 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 also declined during the early 2000s and the two species were at that time recorded with similar frequency. Both species then increased from 2007 but Iceland Gulls much more significantly. During 2009 an exceptional 64 individuals reached the region but this was followed by a very poor year in 2010.

Annual distribution

The annual distribution of Iceland Gulls between 1986 and 2015 is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Annual distribution of Iceland Gulls in the West Midland Region, 1986 - 2015.

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 2010 is presented in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Monthly distribution of arrival dates of Iceland Gulls in the West Midlands Region, 1986 - 2010.

As with Glaucous Gull, most records fall between December and March (95%), with a peak during January (35%). Comparatively, a slightly lower proportion occurs during January (38% c.f. 41%) and a higher proportion during February and March (44% 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 15 or 16 * individuals of this form in the West Midlands region up to 2019, of which one in 2008 visited both Worcs and Warks while one in 2009 visited all four counties. Thus, between 1980 and 2020, five have visited Staffordshire, six or seven * Worcestershire, six Warwickshire, and three the West Midlands County.

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.

Westwood Pool & Throckmorton, Worcs, February 3rd - 6th 2008, with same individual then at
Draycote Water, Warks, February 6th - 9th, 2008.

A second-winter individual visited several sites in the region during February and March 2009:

• Belvide Reservoir, Staffs, February 20th 2009

• Newton, Warks, March 8th, 15th & 17th 2009

• Draycote Water, Warks, March 14th, 18th & 21st 2009

• Wildmoor Quarry, Worcs, February 23rd & 24th 2009

• Throckmorton, Worcs, March 1st 2009.

• Bartley Reservoir, WMids, February 22nd - 25th 2009

Bartley Reservoir, WMids, adult, December 15th 2011.

Throckmorton, Worcs, adult, February 8th - 14th 2012.

Blithfield Reservoir, Staffs, 'sub-adult', February 28th 2012.

Bartley Reservoir, WMids, 2W, February 2nd 2013.

Draycote Water, Warks, juvenile, January 13th, 15th & 17th, 2015, and also at Bubbenhall, Warks, on January 22nd & 24th and Wyre Piddle / Pinvin area, Worcs, on January 25th.

Walley's Landfill and Silverdale, Staffs, juvenile, February 6th & 7th 2018.

Draycote Water, Warks, adult, February 24th, March 3rd & 9th 2019.

Draycote Water, Warks, 3W, December 31st 2019 and seven evenings between January 2nd & Februray 17th 2020.

(* A juvenile reported from Wildmoor, Worcs, on December 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st & 27th, 2013, was described as 'showing some features of this race', which seems rather equivocal).