Gulls flock to Knutsford (From Warrington Guardian)

Gulls flock to Knutsford

GROWING numbers of gulls are flocking to Knutsford.

Birdwatchers are not sure why but say people feeding them on the Moor could be to blame.

"They are ready to exist on what they can pick up because they are an opportunistic bird," said ornithologist Roy Bircumshaw.

"They don't feed off bird tables, but if you tossed a piece of bread into the air a gull will catch it."

Experts have noticed more gulls heading inshore for the past year.

Some species are declining with overfishing and pollution blamed for the changes in their behaviour.

Flocks of gulls have been seen circling over Westfield Drive and are a regular sight on the Moor. Last week Mr Bircumshaw said Knutsford Ornithological Society did not monitor gull numbers because they were so common.

"We used to be told if we saw them it meant there was stormy weather at sea," he said. "Now we see them in summer and there are more than there used to be, but for what reason I don't know." Rostherne Mere is famous in the bird world for a rare sight - more than 10,000 seagulls roosting together in winter.

But they do not cause any problems for their nearest neighbours - the villagers in Rostherne.

"I never hear them and the only time I see them is when the farmer is ploughing his field," said Molly Maughan, 83, who lives in the tiny village.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said last week that many town gulls had travelled to England from Scandinavia.

A licence can be granted to shoot gulls if their numbers spiral out of control and cause a health hazard.

However, last week Macclesfield Borough Council said pigeons were their biggest problem, but would act if residents complained.

"We would respond if there were any complaints about gulls causing an environmental health problem," said a spokesman.

"But we have a problem with pigeons and that is difficult enough to deal with."