Herring Gulls

laika

laika

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Since we've been in Brighton I've been noticing that the majority of herring gulls we see around the marina are juveniles. This surprises me as I understand they can live for nearly 50 years and they've lost their brown plumage by the age of 4. I'm sure I remember Brighton seagulls as being mainly big adult bruisers you wouldn't argue hard with if they demanded a chip.

Was there a gull blight a few years ago? Or is Brighton largely for young gulls these days and the older ones migrate to Peacehaven?
 
I suspect the demographics you mention are an indication that being a herring gull isn't all cocktails on the poop (or whatever analogy better fits them). What you write about plumage and potential longevity is right (although 50 seems a tad high), but the relative preponderance of juveniles is mirrored in my home town.
 
I take your point but I just remember the majority of herring gulls in Brighton being adults when I used to visit a few years back. The herring gulls in camden (where we resided until moving aboard) seemed to be mostly adults but that's a different environment: the young ones were presumably dying their feathers black, wearing eyeliner and being easily mistaken for crows.
 
laika said:
Since we've been in Brighton I've been noticing that the majority of herring gulls we see around the marina are juveniles. This surprises me as I understand they can live for nearly 50 years and they've lost their brown plumage by the age of 4. I'm sure I remember Brighton seagulls as being mainly big adult bruisers you wouldn't argue hard with if they demanded a chip.

Was there a gull blight a few years ago? Or is Brighton largely for young gulls these days and the older ones migrate to Peacehaven?
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By coincidence, a few days ago SWMBO remarked exactly the same thing in Dover. Many don't look that young. I wondered if perhaps herring-gull plumage is changing as they become more land based, scavenging around town bins and behind the plough rather than from the disappearing fishing fleet.
 
Around here they queue up on the roofs of shops waiting for someone to walk out of a shop with a take away. Swoop and steal.
 
I've been attacked by a large Herring Gull leaving Peters Fish Factory in Ramsgate. Swooped in from behind, its feet grabbed most of the fish and left me wondering if I dare eat what was left :-(

I thought they only targeted children's ice cream!

Daily Mail headline....... 'Man hospitalised by killer Gulls in chip shop tragedy!'
 
Cymrogwyllt said:
Around here they queue up on the roofs of shops waiting for someone to walk out of a shop with a take away. Swoop and steal.
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On Granville Island, Vancouver, the rats have got in on the act. Any tourist foolish enough to walk out of the food hall with a takeaway to eat at the outside benches will be immediately dive-bombed by the herring gulls waiting on the roof. Meal hits the deck ... and straight away rats appear like magic from the rocks, rush out and grab a share, disappear. The gulls are lucky to get any.

They are the fattest, healthiest looking rats I've seen. Must be the diet.
 
Yes in Brighton they are all youngsters nearly , I have one on my finger pontoon that is very tame , how long does it take before they get adult plumage ? ........
 
xyachtdave said:
I've been attacked by a large Herring Gull leaving Peters Fish Factory in Ramsgate. Swooped in from behind, its feet grabbed most of the fish and left me wondering if I dare eat what was left :-(

I thought they only targeted children's ice cream!

Daily Mail headline....... 'Man hospitalised by killer Gulls in chip shop tragedy!'
Click to expand...

Unfortunately that is the reality: a woman in Torquay was attacked and ended up in hospital some years ago. Nowadys some S Coast Councils have had to put up notices warning of Gull attack if you feed them. There's no way of telling or convincing them you havent got any more food. Same with New Forest ponies - feed them, they may demand more when you stop. Again several people hospitalised, and I did hear of a woman killed by one not so long ago, though that may have been Daily mail reporting...

They are big strong birds, and capable fo doing quite a lot of damage.
 
I watched a precision attack in Exeter's Cathedral Green a few weeks ago.

The gull attacked from behind and flew in like a missile; quite something to watch.
 
Budgieboy said:
Yes in Brighton they are all youngsters nearly , I have one on my finger pontoon that is very tame , how long does it take before they get adult plumage ? ........
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Interesting, over here on Hove seafront they're mostly adults. Maybe the kids just prefer hanging out at the marina.
 
Herring Gulls a just wee birds. The Black Backed Gulls up on the west coast are the big guys. I used to feed them chips in Oban they would take them right from my hand. If anyone thinks they are dangerous they must have seen to much Hitchcock.

Like any wild critter. When fed they loose there fear and learn how to score an easy meal. I enjoy eating ice-cream and fish and chips at Granville Island. Never been harmed by a seagull yet. Or seen a rat. Do worry about being bombed though.

Of course as a sailor I regard them all as the Greater or Lesser Sh!te Hawk.
An old fellow I know from Masset tells me there are 17different varieties here on the west coast. None as big as a the Black Backed. They all look the same to me. I enjoy watching how excited he gets about spotting a rare one.

As for longevity. An old friend used to run a tour boat on a Loch in Scotland I used to crew for him as boy back in the 70’s. There used to be a sea gull (herring I think) which would come and land on his head every day. And get a bit of his sandwich.

He is long gone and so is his boat. I fished the loch for years and my brother still does. In the same location there is still one Gull which will come and sit on my Brothers head and wait for a bit of his sandwich.
A gull came for his piece, last time I was there 2 summers ago.

The chance of it being the same gull 40 years latter are rather slim and they all look alike. We like to think it is.
 
Hi Banana



I was in Brighton this summer and completely disagree with the comments, I saw loads of adult birds around the town, on the pier etc! There are no government sanctioned culls of gulls around this area.



Kind Regards,



Ben Andrew
Supporter Adviser (Wildlife)
UK Headquarters, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL
Tel 01767 69 3398
rspb.org.uk

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I am an Ornery- thologist and there is very little I dislike in the avian world but these damned birds drive me to distraction and loath that I am to recommend and encourage extinction, these creatures deserve extermination.
I sit back now awaiting Exocet missiles from all quarters :)

BUT I shall not revisit for I am a delicate soul and ill equipped to cope with your censure :)
 
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Gin said:
I am an Ornery- thologist and there is very little I dislike in the avian world but these damned birds drive me to distraction and loath that I am to recommend and encourage extinction, these creatures deserve extermination.
I sit back now awaiting Exocet missiles from all quarters :)

BUT I shall not revisit for I am a delicate soul and ill equipped to cope with your censure :)
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I get rather annoyed hearing that the birdie-huggers think herring gulls are in need of conservation: if you want some come and take ours in Falmouth, starting with the ones that nest on our roof. We are infested with the aggressive, destructive things. RSBP call them "red status" - ie "the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action".

And I like most birds.....
 
I have a sentimental view of herring gulls, from seeing them soaring over the Cornish cliffs, but they can be alarming close-to. They are actually a very interesting species biologically because the distinction from the similar lesser black-backed gull is not constant. At our longitude, they are clearly separate species but on the other side of the world they merge to become virtually indistinguishable and interbreed. this is a good illustration of why we mustn't regard species as representing definite entities, something that Darwin was aware of but many people choose to ignore.
 
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