Gull attacking guillemot (1 Viewer)

[Redmist]

I just watched a single GBBG dive onto the water for what I assumed was a fish, but turned out to be a guillemot which was none too pleased. I didn't see the end of the fight but it looked like it was going to be a sad end for the guillemot. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. Is this normal behaviour for GBBGs? It is not something I have seen before and I can find plenty of reference to them feeding on eggs, or chicks but not much reference to adult birds.

 

[Borjam]

Yellow legged gulls here attack other birds perceived as “alien” such as razorbills or little gulls.

 

[Mike Crawley]

I just watched a single GBBG dive onto the water for what I assumed was a fish, but turned out to be a guillemot which was none too pleased. I didn't see the end of the fight but it looked like it was going to be a sad end for the guillemot. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. Is this normal behaviour for GBBGs? It is not something I have seen before and I can find plenty of reference to them feeding on eggs, or chicks but not much reference to adult birds.

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I've seen video footage of Great Black-backed Gulls catching and swallowing Puffins. Pretty gruesome

 

[dantheman]

GBBGs apparently pretty brutal. Some go for adult Rabbits. Remember a story of birdwatchers watching a Kingfisher perched on a bramble thicket only for a GBBG to suddenly drop down and despatch it (sounds improbable - anyone recall a source?!) Any slightly vulnerable bird on the sea sounds fair game.

 

[Himalaya]

They will attack and kill adult Terns, Waders, Duck to the size of Shelduck, small Geese.

 

[Himalaya]

Yellow legged gulls here attack other birds perceived as “alien” such as razorbills or little gulls.

Yellow Legged Gulls seem more predatory than similar species such as Herring and Lesser Black Backed. There was the footage of them chasing the released white doves and lots of stories of their predation on rats during the Covid-19 lockdown period.