Neil J. Fergusson wrote:


> 2. A Scottish friend told of Greater black-backed Gulls along
> the north Scottish coast taking puffins on the wing, also
> swallowing them whole.


I won't say it can't happen but I think that a Great Black-backed Gull
swallowing a whole Puffin is pretty unlikely. Puffins are about pigeon size
and would present quite a mouthful :-).

Great Black-backed Gulls take Guillemot chicks on the wing as they birds
glide down to the water from the nesting ledges. Perhaps it was this that was
observed. I'm sure they make a tasty snack and are certainly "bite-size".


On a completely side note, anyone noticed Eiders nesting in gull colonies ?
It's a regular feature back home and I'm amazed that the nests survive. I have
also seen this type of nesting behaviour with Wood Pigeons and Kestrels.
Anedotes, observations ?


Stuart MacKay