Forum Topic

Seagulls

Has anyone who lives near to the River noted an increase in the prevalence of seagulls in recent weeks ? A flock or two now appears to be partial to being in Putney ! The most obvious aspect of this is the increase in noise. I'd be interested to understand if any particular factors have led to this development and whether this is temporary or, less happily, likely to be permanent.

Rajat Kohli ● 2075d33 Comments

What's the saying? Squirrels are rats with big bushy tails and a good PR agency ...

Michael Ixer ● 2069d

Actually, I think they were here long before we were!  They just want to take back control.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2069d

Completely true, those seagulls are much smarter than you think.I suppose it's our fault for leaving, or dropping, so much food around the place.We all make a fuss about rats, but the seagulls and squirrels and foxes are all the same.We are encouraging them in .....

Bunny Payne ● 2069d

Ha ha ha ha!!!  Excellent!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2069d

Excellent (both times!)

Jonathan Callaway ● 2069d

Back on topic ...

Michael Ixer ● 2069d

Back on topic ...

Michael Ixer ● 2069d

Sense of humour by pass?,😂😂

Andy Pike ● 2071d

Gabrielle, I am sure Vic was joking and it made me laugh.  My husband and I are both Brummies and proud to be from there.  

Martine Guy ● 2071d

I was hoping this was a joke? Are we actually classing one whole group of people as not worthy of Putney? What an absolute joke! I’m not from Birmingham as mentioned above but I have a soft spot for the city of Birmingham and always enjoy my times there. Maybe you should go there and see if you still have the same thoughts...

Gabrielle OMahony ● 2071d

https://metro.co.uk/2016/06/23/thieving-seagull-has-a-love-for-golden-wonder-crisps-5961721/

Philippa Bond ● 2071d

Bath has a serious gull problem and the council has applied for a licence to start an egg and nest removal programme. Without the licence they have limited powers to intervene. Gulls are covered by wildlife legislation though they can fall under the definition of “pest species” which include pigeons, rats and so on. However  you can’t just go out and kill them yourself so if there’s a serious problem the place to start is the council, or a local councillor.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2071d

Good question, Vic!  made me laugh.  I hope the answer is the seagulls, but you never know.  I make a good  “kipper tie” and I don’t think a seagull could do that.  

Martine Guy ● 2071d

Brummies in Putney? Whats worse Seagulls or Brummies?? 😀😀

Vic Condon ● 2071d

"I'd love it if the council could do something about them" - just to be clear, you want to cull (i.e. kill) cats? Is that what you're inferring, to even the score maybe or just get rid of animals you have an issue with? Anyway, don't gulls urinate and deficate wherever they like, including roofs and ledges and make right old racket, probably more than the odd pair of cats?

Freddie Francis ● 2071d

I'd much rather seagulls than cats in my garden Rajat. Cats carry several diseases and just love freshly turned soil in which to defecate - not to mention the caterwauling when they meet another cat . We have 3 visiting and I'd love it if the council could do something about them. Then there are dogs - why is it acceptable for a dog to urinate in the high street for heaven sake? Why should we have to put up with all the faeces and/or plastic bags? It's disgusting - yet I have to put up with it & stand by when people want a cull of seagulls ?

Lynne McNulty ● 2071d

On the other hand, I have noticed there are far less parakeets around than there used to be and I really hope they're not being culled, lovely little things.... although noisy!!Get rid of those awful screechy magpies instead, I watched a bunch of them kill a pigeon the one early morning, the noise was astounding and horrible to see.  But yes I know, nature red in tooth and claw.

Bunny Payne ● 2073d

My daughter lives in Covent Garden.  She is plagued with seagulls .  Her job is dog walking and living where she does they are mostly 'handbag ' dogs..  Has to fend off the seagulls on a regular basis, they really are very aggressive  Her flat has a special prevention mesh at windows, also of course, to deter pigeons.  To be fair she is not far from the Thames  Another link to Putney is when M&S closed down here it did in Covent Garden as well.  We are both wondering what the next coincidence will be!

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2073d

If they persist, may be worth contacting the Council to understand its policy and potential action it could take

Rajat Kohli ● 2073d

They left Brighton to come to Putney to get away from all the Covidiots from London that descend on Brighton like a plague of locusts every time the sun comes out.Brighton would gladly swap.

Andy Pike ● 2074d

I heard the seagulls yesterday, they were really loud.  Simon, yes, they should make their way back to Brighton.
Gabrielle, don’t know Rugby at all.  I am from North Warwickshire.

Martine Guy ● 2074d

Rajat, I am totally on your side!  I hate seagulls with a vengeance!  Noisy thieving little (or big) sh*ts.I've lived by the sea for many years and they were such a pain, they steal food and I've seen them on the roof with their young, teaching them to steal too.  They are fearless, huge, aggressive and constantly hungry.  They will attack you, if necessary..... and they're PROTECTED!!  I haven't seen them much here but beware!!  There are loads where my sister lives in Wiltshire ... nowhere by the sea and they are noisy nuisance.  Personally I think they should stop being protected and start being culled.  Everyone I know who lives by the sea absolutely hates them.On the other hand, of course people will rightly say they feed off our scraps of chips and burgers, absolutely true.  Remember the days when they used to follow fishing boats to grab the scraps....

Bunny Payne ● 2074d

They are also settling on the Exchange roof which is at the back of me, one time there was all crows there but now the seagulls have moved in, I did think there was a nest as two seemed to be there all the time

Maureen Smith ● 2074d

Bloody seagulls. I've seen them sitting on the bench in Lacy Road pooing, weeing and screaming abuse at passers-by.Piss off back to Brighton Pier I say :)

Simon Knight ● 2074d

I'm actually originally from Rugby (a village outside to be precise). Started my career in Birmingham (for 3.5 years) then moved down to London! Actually wen tback to Birmingham twice since lockdown for an overnight stay!

Gabrielle OMahony ● 2074d

Yes I have also notice the seagulls this week. Hi Gabrielle, are you a Brummie?  If so, that makes 2 of us.

Martine Guy ● 2074d

Why should you?

Sue Hammond ● 2074d

I used to have seagulls in Birmingham and would be waken up at 4am. In the height of summer when you want the windows open it is not great. I believe you can't even cull seagulls (or you couldn't in Birmingham).

Gabrielle OMahony ● 2074d

The seagulls have reached Putney Heath and the noise they make is quite something! Between parakeets and seagulls is quite something! There is a very good reason why sailors and seamen dislike seagulls so much.  They can be very vicious at times as well as thieves!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2074d

Let's pretend we're by the sea! We can all have a good old singsong...I do like to be beside the seaside... https://youtu.be/KPQ3cpn-UncGood old Florrie!

Sue Hammond ● 2074d

They often fly inland in search of food, sometimes weather conditions influence their behaviour too.

Clifford Cowell ● 2074d

Rajat, yes they have been flying high in the sky but making a lot of noise. Also I have a pond with fish and they have been chasing a Heron and the noise went on for ages, it was dreadful. They appeared to continually dive bomb the Heron. A neighbour also has a pond and the Heron gets spells of hanging around.

Barbara Stevens ● 2075d

Oh no Seagulls flying over Putney. Best get up a petition. Bloody Council what are they doing about it, that's the problem with a Tory government. They dont have adequate Seagull patrols. or ask them to go to Fulham side of the river.Probably notice them more as there are no planes to moan about.bring back the planes I say.

Andy Pike ● 2075d