The LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL

Smaller than HERRING GULLS (see page 94), but just as
numerous, these equally superb fliers will put on a display
of wonderful acrobatic wheeling, complete with mid-air
changes of direction and airborne squabbles. Along with
BLACK-HEADED GULLS (see page 30), lesser black-
backed gulls are among the seabirds you're most likely to
encounter, after the herring gull. They are seen all round
Britain, mainly on the coast.

In 1956 the government passed the Clean Air Act, which
prevented rubbish-tip owners from burning waste. As a result,
all the stuff we chucked out every day ended up on tips, or
buried in landfill sites. Gulls take full advantage of this chance
for a free meal and move in, hanging out around rubbish tips
or household bins. Like all our commonest gulls, they are
scavengers, pure and simple.

Gulls are understandably seen as the oiks of the bird
world, loud and aggressive, jostling for a scrap of discarded
chicken kiev on a foul-smelling rubbish tip. But to me, they
are also exceptionally beautiful. Particularly on a windy day
or when there's a grey, heavy sky, the sight of them in full
mastery of the elements is entertaining and actually uplifting.
Birds have that habit of raising the spirits. They look at us,
cowering indoors, as if to say, 'Well, you might not like it, but
we're having fun, wheeeeee!'

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