Baby Gulls Are Go!

[krizon]

For the past decade or more, a gull couple have raised their young amid the chimney pots of the houses opposite. Last year they begat two, but seemingly only one survived into adulthood. This year's singleton was seen exercising his wings and marching about importantly and then, early last week, disappeared. His parents appeared mystified - they stood, staring north to northwest for two days and paraded up and down the rooftops. I put out some food for them, but they were too distracted to take it.

Then on Friday, there was an enormous barrage of squawks and screams: the parents were welcoming back their adventurous baby, who'd apparently flown off to investigate the bright lights of Brighton. He (or she) is now back in the parents' care, with at least one of them as escort when airborne, joining other baby gulls who are now taking to the skies.

For anyone who doesn't know: the new gulls are an all-over greyish-beige in colour, and have a red 'L' plate on their backs.

 

[simmo]

I have just watched one wandering back and forth across St Vincent St in Glasgow city centre whilst drivers attempt to miss it and other cars. Parents flying overhead squawking "get off the road you silly litle bleeder"!

 

[Triptych]

I have a nest of house martins above my front door. Now the babies have hatched out though, my doorstep is almost constantly convered in sh*t and needs washed away about 3 times a day. To be honest, I don't really mind, its their house too. They don't appear to have had their first flights yet, I'd love to see them when they make their first journeys out into that big scary world.