The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Whilst walking home from my voluntary work at Pilgrim Hospital Radio, I noticed that, as I was walking down Spilsby Road, a huge group of Gulls were flying around and about. Almost as dense as those big groups of starlings that swoop around. I am guessing that there must have been 150-200 of them.

Later on, as I was passing the railway station, there they were again, circling around, flying erratically in equivalent numbers as the Spilsby Road lot. Mixed group of Black-backed, Black-headed and Herring. Would the humid weather have anything to do with these bizarre gatherings?

Hi Katherine,

Large gatherings of gulls and other birds can be caused by a hatch of flying insects, particularly ants. A warm and humid day following on from cooler, damper weather can mean huge numbers of insects hatch and take flight at the same time. The birds take advantage of this sudden localised food source.
I can't say for sure this is what caused the gatherings you saw, but it is a strong possibility.


Steve