Boring Boring Seagulls.

[Spiritofthewild]

I live near to the coast, and there is nothing more satisfying than waking up in the morning to the sound of seagulls. I love it. But unfortunately that is where the relationship ends. What can I learn from seagulls that might surprise me? Any experts out there that can give me something to investigate when out on my morning and late afternoon strolls?

[solus]

Start with learning to identify the adults of all the common species you see. Then, once you are confident with them, you'll be able to spot anything different, like the odd rarer visitor.

When you are really, really confident you can start on the immatures - the confusing brown jobs!

Right, that should keep you out of trouble for a few years!!

By the way, "seagulls" is generally frowned upon - they are "Gulls", divided into several species. "Sea" doesn't come into it all that much any more with hundreds living inland on rubbish tips!

[Kayleigh]

Hi and welcome,
My little bit of advice would be get a pocket bird-guide like the colins birds guide like solus said get to know the types of gulls you are seeing.

[Spiritofthewild]

Originally Posted by solus

By the way, "seagulls" is generally frowned upon - they are "Gulls", divided into several species. "Sea" doesn't come into it all that much any more with hundreds living inland on rubbish tips!

lol, was waiting for that, thumbs up for winning me a fiver

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into how to identify the adults.

[Spiritofthewild]

Thanks Kayleigh, I wonder if there are gull specific guides like that one?

[Kayleigh]

The Collins lists skuas, gulls, immature gulls, sea turns, and lots of others you are likely to encounter so a good investment.

[solus]

Originally Posted by Spiritofthewild

lol, was waiting for that, thumbs up for winning me a fiver

My pleasure! My fee is 10%....
You can send me a postage stamp!!

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by Spiritofthewild

I live near to the coast, and there is nothing more satisfying than waking up in the morning to the sound of seagulls. I love it. But unfortunately that is where the relationship ends. What can I learn from seagulls that might surprise me? Any experts out there that can give me something to investigate when out on my morning and late afternoon strolls?

Once you have learned to recognize the mature gulls why not check out the pecking order of the various birds within a species, and the overall pecking order among a mixed bunch. You could also try to identify them by their call. There are very many good recordings on disc available today to help you in this I can`t recall seeing one that dealt only with gulls they are generally mixed in with recordings of other birds, good luck...Bob

[aeshna5]

There isn't a gull only book just for the UK but there is a meaty Helm guide to the Gulls of Europe,Asia + North America. It's an essential tome for any larophile, but not really a beginner's book.

I'd go with the 2nd edition of the Collins Bird Guide recommended above. Good luck. The more you learn, the more you realise there is to gull ID.

[Deb London]

They are the most difficult creatures on earth to identify that are possible to identify from sight.

Their relationships with each other are so complicated it would take Freud to work out what's going on in their heads.

Oh, and I never understood what was wrong with calling them seagulls, although since they are taking over the world (well my city at least) they can be called any type of gull you like (sea, lake, pond, park, pitch, rooftop - the world is their oyster, but they'd rather have a plate of chips these days).