This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the paddock
next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one but this many?
Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa 9 miles away? They
are not especially noisy though they have crapped over my campervan. In fact
they hardly ever screech. The flock soars very high at times and it seems to
be getting bigger. Are they on their holidays :-) Resident jackdaws seem to
have been spooked by the invasion and have moved away from the house.
Housemartins are also increasing in number from recent years.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

On Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at 9:19:22 AM UTC+1, wrote:
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the paddock
next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one but this many?
Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa 9 miles away? They
are not especially noisy though they have crapped over my campervan. In fact
they hardly ever screech. The flock soars very high at times and it seems to
be getting bigger. Are they on their holidays :-) Resident jackdaws seem to
have been spooked by the invasion and have moved away from the house.
Housemartins are also increasing in number from recent years.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

All camper vans should be crapped upon. They are a blight on the roads. As for the seagulls. Great. Means there's fewer on the coast. 😎

This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in
the paddock next to my house. In previous years I have seen
the odd one but this many? Is this special? Why are they here,
the coast is circa 9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which
commonly nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly
colonising urban areas, including this street, where they have
become a nuisance.

Anne

"Anne B" wrote in message
...
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the
paddock next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one but
this many? Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa 9 miles
away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which commonly
nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly colonising urban areas,
including this street, where they have become a nuisance.


I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey yellowish. The
birds look very white in flight. They do seem smaller than some of the
monsters you get in Torquay (the ones who steal fish and chips and frighten
children).

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

On 08/06/2016 10:43, Eskimo Will wrote:

"Anne B" wrote in message
...
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the
paddock next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one
but this many? Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa
9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which commonly
nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly colonising urban areas,
including this street, where they have become a nuisance.


I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey yellowish. The
birds look very white in flight. They do seem smaller than some of the
monsters you get in Torquay (the ones who steal fish and chips and
frighten children).

Will
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure to be honest Will especially without knowing what species of
Gull they are. But with birds, food is generally the key. We have
thousands of Black Headed and other gulls inland round here where there
are waste disposal sites. Also reservoirs of course. Are there any
landfill sites within a mile or so or is there anyone putting out
scraps. Back to food, could there be a good source of worms in the paddock?
Dave

"Dave Cornwell" wrote in message
...
On 08/06/2016 10:43, Eskimo Will wrote:

"Anne B" wrote in message
...
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the
paddock next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one
but this many? Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa
9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which commonly
nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly colonising urban areas,
including this street, where they have become a nuisance.


I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey yellowish. The
birds look very white in flight. They do seem smaller than some of the
monsters you get in Torquay (the ones who steal fish and chips and
frighten children).

Will
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure to be honest Will especially without knowing what species of Gull
they are. But with birds, food is generally the key. We have thousands of
Black Headed and other gulls inland round here where there are waste
disposal sites. Also reservoirs of course. Are there any landfill sites
within a mile or so or is there anyone putting out scraps. Back to food,
could there be a good source of worms in the paddock?

There are no landfill sites and people are very tidy with scraps. There are
also no reservoirs. But yes this morning the birds were pecking at the
paddock and my garden is full of worms normally. (Have to keep moles at bay
with scarers). They do have black heads.
Thanks.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence
in the paddock next to my house. In previous years I have
seen the odd one but this many? Is this special? Why are
they here, the coast is circa 9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which
commonly nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly
colonising urban areas, including this street, where they
have become a nuisance.
Anne

I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey
yellowish. The birds look very white in flight. They do seem
smaller than some of the monsters you get in Torquay (the ones
who steal fish and chips and frighten children).
Will

Whitey yellowish legs and smaller than the fish-stealing
monsters does sound like Common Gull.

Anne

On 08/06/2016 12:08, Anne B wrote:
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence
in the paddock next to my house. In previous years I have
seen the odd one but this many? Is this special? Why are
they here, the coast is circa 9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which
commonly nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly
colonising urban areas, including this street, where they
have become a nuisance.
Anne

I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey
yellowish. The birds look very white in flight. They do seem
smaller than some of the monsters you get in Torquay (the ones
who steal fish and chips and frighten children).
Will

Whitey yellowish legs and smaller than the fish-stealing
monsters does sound like Common Gull.

Anne


------------------------------------------------------------------
Most likely Black Headed gulls now Will has spotted the black heads ;-)
These are actually much more common than Common Gulls, at least in the
South.
Dave

"Anne B" wrote in message
...
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence in the
paddock next to my house. In previous years I have seen the odd one but
this many? Is this special? Why are they here, the coast is circa 9
miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which commonly
nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly colonising urban areas,
including this street, where they have become a nuisance.
Anne

I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey yellowish. The
birds look very white in flight. They do seem smaller than some of the
monsters you get in Torquay (the ones who steal fish and chips and
frighten children).
Will

Whitey yellowish legs and smaller than the fish-stealing monsters does
sound like Common Gull.


I think you are right Anne, the head is white actually in the main flock and
having googled common gull it fits.
Many thanks.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

"Dave Cornwell" wrote in message
...
On 08/06/2016 12:08, Anne B wrote:
This past week a flock of 40+ seagulls have taken residence
in the paddock next to my house. In previous years I have
seen the odd one but this many? Is this special? Why are
they here, the coast is circa 9 miles away? Will

What colour are their legs? They might be Common Gulls, which
commonly nest inland on moorland, but are increasingly
colonising urban areas, including this street, where they
have become a nuisance.
Anne

I'm not that observant Anne but I think they were whitey
yellowish. The birds look very white in flight. They do seem
smaller than some of the monsters you get in Torquay (the ones
who steal fish and chips and frighten children).
Will

Whitey yellowish legs and smaller than the fish-stealing
monsters does sound like Common Gull.

Anne


------------------------------------------------------------------
Most likely Black Headed gulls now Will has spotted the black heads ;-)
These are actually much more common than Common Gulls, at least in the
South.
Dave

They *are* common gulls Dave, just had yet another close look whilst they
were feeding. First a vulture, now a less common gull, what next? :-) I did
see a buzzard circling right over my house too a few days ago, probably
after rabbits which are increasing unfortunately. There are ring ouzels
around too I'm told by keen spotters. Thanks again for advice.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------