On 10th September 2005 Andrew Stevenson saw and photographed (see below) a near-adult Yellow-legged Gull at Craigston, Barra. The record was submitted to the Scottish Birds Records Committee who forwarded it on to British Birds Rarities Committee as the committe considered it may have been Larus michahellis atlantis (a subspecies not at the time on the British List). Some years later it was accepted by BBRC but not accepted as the official 'first' for Britain by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee, this accolade falling to a bird seen in Cornwall in 2008 (British Birds 110: 666-674). BOURC has now updated 'Azorian Yellow-legged Gull' with the Barra record now becoming the official first record.
This subspecies breeds on northern Atlantic islands including the Azores, Canaries and Madeira.
This subspecies breeds on northern Atlantic islands including the Azores, Canaries and Madeira.