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Tried out the new camera again today, able to spend some more time experimenting with the zoom lens. A good subject close by were the 3 gull chicks - chilling on the neighbours roof.
These little ones are following a long line produced from this pair for over 10 years.
On a nearby roof as luck would have it, a pair of Great Black back Gulls stood with a herring gull sandwiched between them. People think a Herring gull swooping down on them is scary, just be thankful it's not the Black back !
This was fortuitous to give all my viewers a scale of size between these birds. Basically the Great black Back is the T Rex of the Gull species, an apex predator, they can easily take a fully grown Mallard duck, so ducklings are easy pickings !
There's only one thing more scary than a great Black Back Gull to ducks on the river ...that's Two Black backed gulls ! During the last few days we have lost some ducklings and young ducks, would not be surprised if it was the Black back. One of our trust Members saw a black back with a young duck which escaped after he clapped his hands to scare it off.
The great Black back is a powerful predator and capable of taking fully grown ducks and rabbits. I witnessed a black back in 2010 taking a fully grown female duck. See above Photos!
Last week I saw a pair of them feeding on a what looked like a sea trout on the riverside.
Even half dozen Hoodie crows are no match for the Great black back. The comparative size to a common herring gull can clearly be seen here.
