Daily seagull commute SW London

[torchiegore]

I live in surbiton and have noticed each day as the sun is coming up there are a large number of seagulls heading towards central London in groups. Then again also as I return home they are flying back in the opposite direction, it sounds crazy but almost like they are commuting.

Has anyone else noticed and / or can explain what they are doing?

Thanks
TG

[htcdude]

I've seen the same, large flocks of Black-headed Gull flying over Staines Reservoirs.

The gulls will roost somewhere outside of London and then fly in to spend the day, and fly back to roost in the evening.

Not sure of your area where they might roost, but probably a reservoir or lake of some sort.

Nige

[torchiegore]

I think they must be heading Thames ditton way as there is some reservoirs there i think.

Thanks for your reply!

Leigh

[aeshna5]

Yes they are commuting- from their roosts on the larger reservoirs around London to wherever they spend the day- parks, playing fields, rivers, rubbish tips, etc.

[Wild-Woman]

The gulls do the same here in N Kent. They leave their roost on the estuary, mudflats and head across country SW to feeding areas and do a return journey at dusk. The wood pigeons tend to do the same thing except they go west.

[thebeard]

i see this often too, back when the light was fading around 330-400, when i'd be on my way to work, they'd be seen flying in their hundreds from the trent to the east of nottingham, i presume they'd be on their way to some large roost somewhere over the other side of the city. amazing to see, especially when there's a dramatic sunset.

[Adam Cheeseman]

They are commuting in a sense from their roost sites at QE2, Queen Mary and Queen Mother Reservoirs and others across to places such as Beddington Sewage Farm. Thousands of birds are involved including Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-back, Great Black-back, Herring and also the odd Caspian, Yellow-legged, Glaucous, Iceland, Mediterranean gulls and Kittiwake.

Cheers,

Adam