Oscar Dewhurst – the great chick predation (1)

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Oscar writes: this was taken at Minsmere, where there are around 1500 pairs of Black-headed Gulls nesting on The Scrape this year. While I was there most pairs had chicks. These are the target of several predators, including big gulls and Marsh Harriers (see next week for this photo). Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls would make slow passes over the colony, on the lookout for any inattentive parents that had left young chicks unguarded. When they spotted one they would dive down and snatch it, pursued by several Black-headed Gulls. On this occasion the hunt was successful.

Nikon D800, Nikon 400mm f/2.8 VR lens, Nikon 2x TC
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1 Reply to “Oscar Dewhurst – the great chick predation (1)”

  1. We have problems with Black-headed Gulls predating on nearly everything up here in Caithness on St. Johns Pool, Dunnet, there’s a colony of approx 500+ pairs, they’ve wiped out what was a very nice colony of Arctic Terns, Dabchicks, Moorhens, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, several duck species and who knows what else.
    [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Black-headed%20Gull%20feeding%20predated%20Arctic%20Terns%20egg%20to%20its%20young..jpg[/IMG]

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