Gulls behaving like Swallows (1 Viewer)

[pianoman]

Hi -

This was new to me: there was a large hatch of winged ants yesterday in the warm still air, and at my local harbour a large number of mostly Blackheaded Gulls were wheeling and dodging to catch them in flight. Quite a sight. There were a few Common Gull and even a couple of Kittiwake mixed in, but these weren't quite as skilful, just flying straight and snapping left and right.

I imagine that the relatively large body size and clumsy flight of the ants is what made them worthwhile to chase. I haven't seen gulls take any other insect on the wing.

 

[Nutcracker]

Happens regularly here every summer, but usually quite a bit later on (August), when ants swarm. The sheer density of food makes it worthwhile; mostly Black-heads but Herring and LBB do so a bit too.

 

[honeym]

Happens regularly here in London, too. Massive emergence of flying ants last Saturday during this long spate of very warm weather. A friend described them as "ant fumeroles".

 

[halftwo]

Hobbies & sometimes Kestrels join in too, but Black- headed gulls often catch insects.