Moorhen's misfortune

[Tinkerbell]

We popped into Scarborough today and took a walk from the top of Peasholm Park down to the lake. As we emerged from the wooded area we heard quite a commotion coming from the island and then noticed what was happening. A poor moorhen chick had been taken by a seagull and the parent was attempting to retrieve it, but there was no stopping the gull which eventually ate the poor little thing. The gull tried to return to the nest with the moorhen still protesting, and ducks gathered round to try to field off the gull. Eventually the gull gave up, but it was all a rather sad event.

I hadn't realised gulls could be so predatory.

Tink

[eeyore]

Oh yeah, the larger gulls eat just about every thing, they are the main predator on young terns, puffins, guilemots etc etc.

which is why a lot of things will kill gulls if they get a chance, vis the thread the other day where a young gbb gull was attacked first by a flock of terns then kicked to death by a coot. nature red in tooth and claw indeed

[henrya]

I was on Skokholm many years ago, watching an adult Puffin through the binocs when it suddenly disappeared - a Greater Black-backed Gull had swooped in and carried it off with ease!

henrya

[Wolfhill]

I guess its just in their nature, as the gulls that nest at seabird clonies fly along the cliff looking for unguarded chicks or eggs.

[Gareth W]

I was at Hartlepool one autumn seawatching, a Blackbird was flying towards the beach having travelled across the north sea.Then along came a Great Black Backed Gull which plucked it out of the air and swallowed it - Gareth

[Wild-Woman]

I had a bag of chips snatched away from me on Newquay sea front a few years ago by a gull. They are very bold.ww