Berry-picking gulls (1 Viewer)

Phil Andrews · Nov 16, 2015

I quote the below observation from a seasoned birder at Upton Warren NR, Worcestershire; has anyone ever noted something similar?

upstarts1979 said:
This evening a flock of Black-headed Gulls were hovering over the north end of the 1st Flash. Initially I though a fox was walking along the bank, but they never dipped down to mob anything. Then we noticed that they were picking something off a bush. I have seen them doing this over the Oak tree in the autumn when they were picking flying insects off he leaves. But closer inspection revealed that they were picking sloes from the blackthorn bush on the bank. They were then landing on the water to wash them before swallowing. I have never witnessed this behaviour before. :t:

Stephen Dunstan · Nov 16, 2015

I am fairly sure I have read of Black-headed Gulls doing this before.

Stephen

Nutcracker · Nov 17, 2015

I've seen them picking elder berries (which they swallowed on the spot), but not sloes. That can't be easy for them as they're (a) usually quite deeply placed within the branch structure, and (b) firmly attached, needing a strong tug to get them off.

Berry-picking gulls (1 Viewer)

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