Is this gull nesting or sharing?

[loripo]

I took the first photo a month ago as I could see the gull visiting the buoy and as I was quite some distance away I havent got a really clear shot of whats going on. Cant get to the part of the bank that is nearer. It appears to have got a piece of yellow plastic. The buoys have a recess on the top and a ring inset to tie up to. Today I tried another from 'my' side of the river as I could see the gull was still there. The other bird looks very dark - I thought at first it was a coot as they go onto the river. Have also added a photo to show how wide it is bank to bank. Can it be nesting there?

[Picidae]

Not sure at what age Herring Gulls start to breed but it's only in it's 3rd summer/4cy (from what I can make out) so still quite immature as breeding HGs go - that said, I don't think it's nesting there. Not sure what that other bird is (is it definitely a bird?!). Gulls regularly 'play' with bits of flotsam and rubbish etc - my guess is that's what it's doing. If there is another bird nesting there, I wouldn't rate it's chances much with a big egg eater standing next to it!

Gulls tend to nest on higher sites/cliffs/roof tops in urban areas - it allows the chicks to practice getting airbourne and keeps them safe from predators - 42 days or thereabouts for a HG to fledge!

[loripo]

Thanks - it looked more like another bird today than the first time. I'll take my binoculars out tomorrow and have another look. The gulls seem to keep off the buoys usually, but this one was bringing bits and pieces onto it. I'll update this if I can see something definite.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Not sure at what age Herring Gulls start to breed but it's only in it's 3rd summer/4cy (from what I can make out) so still quite immature as breeding HGs go - that said, I don't think it's nesting there. Not sure what that other bird is (is it definitely a bird?!). Gulls regularly 'play' with bits of flotsam and rubbish etc - my guess is that's what it's doing. If there is another bird nesting there, I wouldn't rate it's chances much with a big egg eater standing next to it!

Gulls tend to nest on higher sites/cliffs/roof tops in urban areas - it allows the chicks to practice getting airbourne and keeps them safe from predators - 42 days or thereabouts for a HG to fledge!

A pair of Great Black-backs did nest on a buoy on the Thames last year, though agree most of the Herring + LBB Gulls in London breed on roof tops. Also Black-headed Gulls breed on tern raftsin at least a couple of places around the capital.

[loripo]

Thats interesting. Slightly off thread, a green roof area is being installed at the school where I work, about 1/2 mile from the river as the gull flies
Are gulls likely to use that as a nest site?

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by loripo

Thats interesting. Slightly off thread, a green roof area is being installed at the school where I work, about 1/2 mile from the river as the gull flies
Are gulls likely to use that as a nest site?

And a bit more off thread - not sure what you mean by a 'green roof' area - is that a reference to an environmental project or the colour the roof will be?! It's possible, HGs regularly use urban rooftop sites to nest in. Lesser Blacked Backed Gulls more so in some areas than HGs. Sadly, Schools are very wary about encouraging Herring Gulls to nest on their roofs - since they are so protective of their young (they being the Herring Gulls and the Teachers!!!) - this sometimes results in a conflict of interest - when chicks and children come out to play. Chicks ofen end up on the ground before they can fly properly and that's when there's problems for chicks and children alike. Herring Gulls won't 'divebomb' people unless they perceive a direct threat to one of their chicks but it can be very intimidating - although the noisy swoop is far worse than the peck! If HGs do nest in such a place (or any birds for that matter), children should be kept away from the area until nesting has finished and any stray Herring Gull chicks found on the ground round the roof site, placed back on the roof.

[loripo]

It is part of a new build including grey water used for loos, light tubes,energy conservation etc. The roof area isnt that large but there are playground on three sides of the building. Not seen any gulls I thought are herring gulls - if there are that could be very interesting
(I'll pass your comment onto the head!)

[loripo]

Had another look today with my bins, couldnt see the dark shape I thought was anothe bird this time, just the ring. Gulls there tho using the bouys as rendezvous points. I still think it's odd that it was collecting bits from the water to take to the buoy. It chose that piece of plastic that was the same colour as the buoy - it is Chelsea Harbour - perhaps he'd been looking in on the design centre