Gulls & Terns in Cambridgeshire

10 species matching this filter.

All birds in CambridgeshireView family page

Cambridgeshire's extensive wetlands, gravel pits, and reservoir complexes make it a rewarding county for observing gulls and terns. With 10 recorded species in this group, birders can enjoy breeding Common Terns at sites like Grafham Water and the Ouse Washes, while scarcer visitors such as Black Tern, Little Gull, and the striking Iceland Gull add excitement during passage and winter months. The county's inland waterways and farmland also attract large winter gull roosts, offering excellent opportunities to pick through flocks of Common, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls for rarer species like Yellow-legged Gull.

Black Tern
Black TernSmallest · 22cm
to
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed GullLargest · 79cm
Ranges from the Black Tern (22cm) to the Great Black-backed Gull (79cm)5 year-round residents
Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaeaLC

A rare spring passage migrant in April and May, occasionally seen over gravel pits and reservoirs heading north.

Apr–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black Tern

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

A rare breeder and passage migrant, historically nested in the Fens and still seen hawking over lakes in spring and autumn.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Gull

Common Gull

Larus canusLC

An uncommon year-round resident, frequenting playing fields, reservoirs and farmland, often mixed in with other gulls.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Tern

Common Tern

Sterna hirundoLC

A common summer breeder from April to September, nesting on rafts and islands at gravel pits and Fen reserves.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
European Herring Gull

European Herring Gull

Larus argentatusLC

A common year-round resident found at landfill sites, reservoirs and urban areas, with numbers swelling in winter.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinusLC

An uncommon but year-round presence, often seen at landfill sites and reservoirs, dwarfing other gulls in mixed flocks.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoidesLC

A rare winter gull, occasionally found among flocks at landfill sites and reservoirs in January and February.

Jan–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscusLC

A common resident found year-round at landfill sites, playing fields and gravel pits, with peak numbers in summer.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Little Gull

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutusLC

A rare spring passage visitor in April, sometimes seen dipping gracefully over gravel pits and reservoirs.

Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellisLC

Uncommon but present year-round, often mixed in with other large gulls at landfill sites, reservoirs, and gravel pits.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Frequently Asked Questions