Britain's first Little Gulls take to the sky

The first British-born Little Gulls have survived to take their first flight, RSPB Scotland confirmed today (27 July). After the adults started nesting in June, the two youngsters made ornithological history earlier this month by becoming the first Little Gulls to hatch in this country.

The nest, which is at the RSPB's Loch of Strathbeg reserve in Aberdeenshire, has been carefully monitored for the past three weeks as the chicks started to fledge. Then on Monday (25 July), the wait was over and a chick was seen as it took its first flight, making the parent birds Britain's first-ever successfully breeding Little Gulls.

One of the fledged juvenile Little Gulls at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, Aberdeenshire (Photo: Tim Marshall)

Richard Humpidge, RSPB Scotland Sites Manager, commented: "We are delighted that they have taken to the air for the first time. 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. I'm sure their choice to make their home on the tern island has helped and we are thrilled that the terns seem to have had a good year, too."

The young birds had been spending all their time around the nest in deep vegetation and only the adult birds could be seen. Visitors to Loch of Strathbeg RSPB should now increasingly see the young birds as they fly around building up strength and improving their technique.