Kestrel v. Gull

[matt_xyz]

It was interesting to see a black-headed gull continually harass a hovering kestrel until she eventually had enough and flew off. The gull came some distance to see her off despite the fact that the kestrel seemed to be minding its own business and wasn't causing any problems to the gull. Any ideas why the gull was so keen to get rid of the kestrel?

Sorry for the low quality images, the birds were some way into the distance (hence they haven't been uploaded to the main gallery).





Matt

[aeshna5]

Gulls + corvids generally mob all birds of prey + herons. The Kestrel is certainly no threat to the B-h Gull; often the raptor takes little interest of the mobber. I can often tell when a Sparrowhawk is about by the sound a Crow makes when it starts mobbing + there often follows some interesting manoeuvres as the birds battle it out.

[RobSutton]

Slightly diiferent to mobbing but looking for Otters up in Scotland I've often noticed that gulls - especially Common Gulls - will follow a fishing Otter, trying to pick up scraps I guess.

[mrs fish]

I often wonder why the gulls and corvids mob the local sparrowhawk?

[matt_xyz]

it does seem as if this is common behaviour. I've seen crows do it before and had always assumed the crow was protecting its young, but this gull clearly had no such motive. It seems gulls and corvids just instinctively try to remove birds of prey from their patch.

Matt