Seagulls

Torquay has lots of seagulls. The local football team are called 'The Gulls'. Holiday makers on the sea front feed them fish and chips and say how majestic they look as they glide in to take the offered chip; Them an other hundred turn up and all want a slice of the action. Gulls are strong, aggressive and permanently hungry birds and that beak is very sharp, so feed them at your own risk.

Many locals dislike them for many reasons. They are noisey,crap all over the place and rip rubbish bags open for the food inside and make a mess. Several years ago, when I had just moved to the Bay I was driving down New Rd in Brixham when a young gull hit the windscreen of the bus. The only person on the bus was a little old lady and I, being new to sea side living though she would be upset. "Oh good, an other of the buggers dead." was her coment. I was quiet shocked, at the time.

At this time of year the young gulls have flown the nest and are fending for themselves, poor things. Unfortunately they don't get taught the Green Cross Code and some of them get run over. Yesterday was a bad day for the gulls. I counted 8 dead gulls in the road between Torquay and Brixham. This is a lot more than usual which must mean either there are more gulls about or local drivers are get better in their aim.