Despite its name, the Iceland Gull does not breed in Iceland. Most of the birds which we see in the UK breed in Greenland with other rarer forms (thayeri and kumlieni) breeding in N Canada. It is an uncommon but regular winter visitor to the UK. Most birds which appear during a Scottish winter will be juvenile/1st winter birds with a smaller number of 2nd winter birds. Adult birds are much less common so appear to be less prone to vagrancy. The adult bird photographed on the River Ayr in Ayr town centre has returned to winter on this same spot for many consecutive years now.

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