Grey Heron being mobbed

[ian_g]

My partner and I witnessed a somewhat extraordinary event yesterday - we were alerted to it when we heard a commotion of distressed seagulls (I think they were Kittiwakes).

The next thing we knew, a Grey Heron landed on the rooftop across from our house and within seconds of landing, the poor thing was being mobbed by several seagulls.
I have a sequence of six shots from when it first landed to it being mobbed and then finally taking flight, having had enough. I'd post them on here but it would take far too long to upload them all.

Both my partner and my Mum (once I'd told her about it on the 'phone) have said that it's probably hunting down the seagulls eggs which surprised me, for I always thought they ate fish and amphibians, yet I've since read that they'll hunt down and eat mice and voles.

Please would somebody put my mind at rest as to what it may have been doing? As a matter of interest, I live on the outskirts of Havant town centre in Hampshire, if that helps to piece the story together.

Many thanks,
Ian

[Dogghound]

Ive seen herons been mobbed by gulls and corvids before, I think they feel they are a threat as they are such a large bird. Since kittiwakes nest on ledges its highly unlikely a heron would ever feed on their chicks. Herons do feed on chicks of waterside birds.

[rossy]

yes herons will eat the likes of young moorhens, mallards, and other birds that venture to close , herons get mobbed all the time by crows a lot round here ,i think the sheer size other birds feel threatend, rossy.

[aeshna5]

Herons in flight regularly get mobbed by gulls + corvids. Around London I've also witnessed Ring-necked Parakeets mobbing them (+ raptors) when they are flying.