Gulls in Britain

Various types of gulls (seagulls) thrive along the coastlines of Britain and even as far inland as Bath, where they can prove to be something of a menace.

A common sight on Britain’s coastline – gulls

Gulls are scavenging carnivores but have adapted to eat mostly anything. They nest in large, noisy, and often aggressive colonies.

Gulls in Britain

The two gulls above were both photographed at Lyme Regis in Dorset.

Types of Gulls Found in Britain

There are six types of gulls common in the British Isles. These are the Herring Gull, the Great Black-backed Gull, the Black-headed Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Common Gull, and the Kittiwake.

They are long-lived and usually, a breeding pair will produce between 1 and 3 eggs a year. The birds are also both scavengers and predators. Gulls will kill and eat such small mammals as moles as well as young rabbits. Nowadays, they are a protected species in the UK, though can be culled in the interest of public health.

Though not endangered, a 50 percent decline in their numbers during the latter half of the 20th century has caused them to be red-listed.