Scavengers, Robbers and Hunters of the UK (1 Viewer)

[scuba0095]

great skua may be related to gulls but it is no gull, a great skua could probably kill a gryfalcon

pom skuas are recorded killing adult snowy owls and great skuas in pairs could even kill a golden eagle

VERY dangerous bird even for the most powerful of raptors will stay clear

Skua stoops Golden Eagle



(Undoubtedly the most dramatic account of a skua stoop is that of F. St. Mars, excerpted in Bent [1921], who describes a violent encounter between an adult Golden Eagle and a pair of Great Skuas in Scotland, in which a skua attaches itself to the back of the eagle, forcing a plummet of over one hundred meters.)

 

[scuba0095]

Can someone please tell me the species of gull that was being displaced by the raven? i am dying to know!

ANYone here see those pictures? Any experienced/smart birders catch it? I Pray!

 

[Himalaya]

How defensive are Gulls when predators approach near the nest?

Maybe G BB Gull are better on the ground and eagles somewhat more clumsy as they have talons which cant be good to walk with.

What birds are Herring Gull capabl eof preying on alone?

Having watched Fulmars compete with Great Skua for food, and emerge with the prize, I would have to say that the Fulmars didn't seem to be demonstrating much fear.


As you say Martin the Fulmar have little fear, the fishermen in Vestfjorden have told me that when the Sea-eagle come out when fish remains and small fish drift away,all gull fly fast away,but the fulmar stay,and take not any notice of the Sea-Eagle. In Scotland the Sea-Eagle take regularly the Fulmar as prey.

I once saw a first (maiden) flight by a Sea-Eagle, end up in landing at sea,when attacked by a flock of Herring/Great Black -backed Gull, and not moved at all to get on wing. This time I rescue the bird. But another time I learn that a young SE bird so have landed near a breeding place Herring/GBBG was picked in head and died.
I have notice several time that the Great Black-backed Gull hold immature WTSE away from they food. But I have once seen an adult WTSE taken in fligth a GBBG so fall in sea with a broken wing, a lot of other gull come around, when the GBBG swim to shore, still the ad. WTSE stay and wait, when I left.
Herring Gull is a regular pry up here by WTSE, but also some GBBG, I have found only two Fulmar, but they are not common near the coast of Bodø.
The GBBG/HR take a lot of puffins at Røst, some pair are well trained expert, but they are a part of nature.

Hilsen
Harald

 

[Himalaya]

but such occurences are probably very rare and i doubt it happens regularly.

even with pom skuas im surethey could not kill snowy owls on a regular basis but very rarerly.

great skua may be related to gulls but it is no gull, a great skua could probably kill a gryfalcon

pom skuas are recorded killing adult snowy owls and great skuas in pairs could even kill a golden eagle

VERY dangerous bird even for the most powerful of raptors will stay clear

Skua stoops Golden Eagle



(Undoubtedly the most dramatic account of a skua stoop is that of F. St. Mars, excerpted in Bent [1921], who describes a violent encounter between an adult Golden Eagle and a pair of Great Skuas in Scotland, in which a skua attaches itself to the back of the eagle, forcing a plummet of over one hundred meters.)

 

[scuba0095]

What birds are Herring Gull capabl eof preying on alone?



HErring gulls are not very capable gulls they can't prey on much larger birds then pigeons, similair sized kelp and western gulls are are the same size of herring gulls but more powerful and capable they can take ducks

 

[scuba0095]

I have heard of GBB gulls killing and eating adult herring/lbb gulls which is amazing !!!

 

[Nightranger]

Lets not forget the legendary Turnstone, hunting its live prey under pebbles and picking away at the inside of human tideline torsos. Not too hard to imagine one chasing a Rock Pipit off spilled grain or prawn sandwiches.....

Most birds will employ all these three feeding strategies, its only a question of scale.

John

John, you seem to have followed my interpretation of the original post too.

As far as the behaviour of all animals (not just birds) is concerned, there is no one or the other situation. For example, vultures and hyenas that predominantly scavenge are actually pefectly capable of direct predation. However, most predators will indulge in scavenging when the opportunity presents itself and dominance at a carcase can vary between being a size issue or being one of sheer numbers. I am pretty sure carrion crows could intimidate even a GBB gull off a carcase but they may be a little more reluctant with certain raptors. It is similar (to an extent) with air incursions in that buzzards are often mobbed but pergegrine falcons and harriers are treated with caution. Small birds will sometimes mob kestrels but they keep a discreet distance from sparrowhawks although they will sometimes follow.

 

[Nightranger]

I have heard of GBB gulls killing and eating adult herring/lbb gulls which is amazing !!!

I know of examples of grey herons killing bh gulls but not necessarily in a competitive setting such as at a food resource. Certainly, I know of GBB gulls killing all other species of gulls in a captive setting.

 

[mikfoz]

Carrion Crows and Magpies regularly mob the Sparrowhawks and Kestrels near us. In fact one of the best ways to spot an raptor I've found is to look for a mob of angry crows dive bombing. The Crows are the only ones I've seen trying to take a kill from a Buzzard. They're not above doing a spot of raptor watching and moving straight in if they see one stooping. It's quite exciting to watch.

The Crows seem unable to resist harrassing other birds on general principles and I've seen them even having a go at the water fowl on the lake in what I can only describe as for sport just to keep their eye in. They also play with each other in the same sort of ways described for Ravens but not so acrobatically.

The Herring Gulls are the masters, though, and will pursue an unfortunate Black Headed Gull for minutes at a time if they suspect it has nabbed a meal or even gang up on one of their fellows. I watched them doing it the other day and they only left the poor thing alone when it regurgitated its meal.

 

[Himalaya]

i doubt Carrion Crows unless in large numbers would intimidate G B B Gulls off a carcass when even 2 Ravens would struggle to do that. I have heard of plenty of cases where a G B B Gull alone has kept 2-4 Ravens off a carcass. 2 Ravens were filmed being kept off a carcass on BBC Autumn Watch 2008 when Simon went to North Wales.

But then again stranger things have happened and determined smaller birds have got their way with far bigger and dangerous birds.

Are Harriers a threat to Crows?

Hyaenas are known for hunting and often hunt but they are not birds so thats a different story.

I was actually wondering how birds such as Buzzards, Red Kites, Ravens, Hering Gulls, L B B Gulls, G B B gulls, Skuas behave towarda each other when at a carcass or if one has food.

John, you seem to have followed my interpretation of the original post too.

As far as the behaviour of all animals (not just birds) is concerned, there is no one or the other situation. For example, vultures and hyenas that predominantly scavenge are actually pefectly capable of direct predation. However, most predators will indulge in scavenging when the opportunity presents itself and dominance at a carcase can vary between being a size issue or being one of sheer numbers. I am pretty sure carrion crows could intimidate even a GBB gull off a carcase but they may be a little more reluctant with certain raptors. It is similar (to an extent) with air incursions in that buzzards are often mobbed but pergegrine falcons and harriers are treated with caution. Small birds will sometimes mob kestrels but they keep a discreet distance from sparrowhawks although they will sometimes follow.

 

[Himalaya]

i read online about a raven killing and eating a marsh hawk in captivity. someone had left them together in the same cage for the night. in the morning only the raven was left and some feathers.

I know of examples of grey herons killing bh gulls but not necessarily in a competitive setting such as at a food resource. Certainly, I know of GBB gulls killing all other species of gulls in a captive setting.

 

[scuba0095]

I agree I dont think any crow could a GBB gull off anything, its like a flea on a dog lol

Great skua on the other hand can keep gulls and even large falcons and eagles off carcasses !

 

[Himalaya]

a pecking order? http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/ind...er=tieteellinen,paiva+DESC&sel=&find=find&r=1

 

[Himalaya]

which eagle species is this? is it bald?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64351863@N00/2111796189/in/set-72157594559248783/

 

[Himalaya]

what gull species is this stealing from the raven?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64351863@N00/3091074117/in/set-72157594559248783/

 

[scuba0095]

thats a crow and a herring gull

 

[Himalaya]

r u sure?
the photographer seems to know their ravens form the crows if you look at the set...she has a photo of a raven and a crow together

the corvid does not look smaller than the gull....an a crow would look considerably smaller than the herring gull

the average raven is bigger than an average herring gull but then depends where they are from i suppose..

thats a crow and a herring gull

 

[scuba0095]

you try posting it in the identification section? Iam shocked some of the more experienced bird men are unable to tell us if its a crow or raven? Maybe because this is bird of prey section and people do not know much about gulls and ravens...

Sure as hell looks like a crow to me though!

 

[scuba0095]

that looks like a herring gull and ravens are suppose to be bigger then them yet that gull looks much bigger!

 

[Himalaya]

the crow and the gull look very similar sized....in fact the crows bill looks bigger than the gulls