Gulls nesting on my balcony again

leon_heller · #1 (**permalink**) 27-04-2011, 05:11 PM

About this time last year I started a long thread about the pair of Herring Gulls that had built a nest on the balcony outside my top floor bedroom window. They have stayed together as a pair, since their two youngsters left, visiting me a couple of times a day, demanding to be fed, and eating the food I've been putting out for them. About a month ago they started rebuilding their nest, and the female is now spending quite a lot of time on it, so it shouldn't be long before she lays her first egg.

A pair on the house opposite successfully raised one youngster last year, but I haven't seen them for several months.

leon_heller · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 05:46 PM

I just put some food out for them, and saw at least one egg when the gull sitting on the nest left it to eat. They should hatch in about a month.

Their first egg got broken last year, they might get three chicks this time.

I think I might have been wrong about the pair on the house opposite, I've seen one of them there.

htcdude · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 07:13 AM

That's great news! I bet it's noisy once they've hatched

Nige

leon_heller · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 08:30 AM

It's been noisy enough for the last year! For some reason they give their very loud call whenever I put food out for them, it's a bit much when they are about 1 ft away! I'm not sure why they do it, perhaps it's to tell other gulls that food is available. It's not their alarm call, which would seem more logical, as that would keep other gulls away.

Occasionally, another gull lands on the balcony, and gets driven off.

I was able to get a good look at the nest last night when the nesting bird was stretching its legs. There are two eggs.

I'll start taking some photos, like I did last year. They were very popular.

leon_heller · #5 (**permalink**) 30-05-2011, 05:34 PM

I've just seen a discarded egg shell by the nest, so one of the chicks must have hatched. It's less than 30 days since the eggs were laid, perhaps the hot weather sped up development. I put some fresh water and food out for them about 30 minutes ago, and didn't notice the egg shell then, so it must have happened in the last few minutes. I opened the window and poked my head out, and the sitting bird complained loudly, it must be the female as the male is more laid-back. He flew off a few minutes ago, presumably for something to eat. I'll see if I can get a look inside the nest when he returns, if they swap nesting duties.