Birds chasing like Benny Hill

tiadublin · #1 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 08:45 PM

I'm not sure what this was about, but today i saw a black headed gull chasing a starling back and forth for about 10 mins above my garden. I think the starling had a bit of food, a worm or something in it's mouth and the gull wasn't happy at all. I just wondered if anyone would know why this happened? I'm not sure if it caught up with the starling but if nothing else it was hilarious to watch!

david156 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 09:08 PM

Gulls are a bit of a scavenger and this one was probably chasing the poor starling just to nick its food!

Starlings are great and comical on there own let alone being in a situation like that!

tiadublin · #3 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 07:55 PM

Yes i think you're right. I get quite a varied show of birds in the garden having the odd squabble, but was the first time i've seen anything like that.

Thanks

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 08:27 PM

Yes gulls will mug anything for food even take ice cream from kids in pushchairs in St Ives..

a lot of the food they eat is plundered..

daffy66 · #5 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 10:29 PM

on the same thread i saw a wren chasing a blue tit round and round a tree at work yesterday. the tit scarpered after twice round.

tiadublin · #6 (**permalink**) 15-11-2009, 08:39 PM

Ha ha, Yes it probably happens all the time. It was just odd that it went on for so long and the chase was over such a large circuit. There were lots of other birds around, and the birds are fairly well fed amongst the gardens around me.