>> Seagulls - pah
Perhaps I gave the wrong impression by using the term "sea gull", the seagulls around here are herring gulls and blackbacks. Over 1/3rd of the total UK population of blackbacks reside within a 10 mile radius of here. :/
Both are massive gulls about twice the size of normal cute seagull, and known for their ferocious nature. we dont have any cute seagulls because these larger and more aggressive gulls have driven them all away. These gull types are scary and they can and do attack people and animals... and they go for the head in exactly the same manner as the skua and they do draw blood.
If youve ever experienced a herring gull attack or you would know just how frightening it is.. and how vicious they are.
They dont just do sole attacks, most often they will send out an call when they launch an attack and within seconds a whole flock of gulls can be attacking a target.
Its easy to avoid a skua attack by keeping away from their nest site. Because herring gulls now nest in residential areas ie house roofs, during fledgling period, its very easy for us to inadvertently wander into their attack zone, so they will attack people just going to their own front doors, or walking down the pavement.
Despite numerous complaints, the council shirks responsibility because the herring gull is now listed as endangered in the UK, but unfortunately for local residents, here they are thriving and live in huge colonies around the port. There's so many of them that they have now moved to residential areas to build their nests on the roof of chimneys. This in turn brings them in very close proximity with humans and when the fledglings are young they go into protective mode and will attack anything that comes within a certain distance of the nest.
Around here it has a big impact, kids cant play on a designated council play area. You cant walk you dog there and my cats knew that it was a no go area. Im not talking my current cat cause he's a wuss anyhow, but even Chaz who would stand his ground against Alsations knew the gulls were something to be feared... and yes they have even attacked and killed a dog.
During this time of year it disrupts many things.. roofers cant work in the area, postmen refuse to deliver, kids cant play in the street, people are afraid to walk down their drives or go into their gardens. The guy next door is a big strapping tough guy, but even he ducks when walking down his drive. I've seen some people don hard hats.
They have no fear of size, one gull attacking is bad enough, but once that call goes out to the rest of the flock.. you are in for one hell of a scary time believe me.
Fantastic pic of a herring gull attacking an eagle.. and more info on their aggressive behaviour.
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/11/see-gull-take-on-eagle-in-mid-.html
(pic is true - run though foto forensics and showing edit of the background being cut out and some possible colour balancing/sharpening)
