Have you ever been attacked by a seagull?

[Tomaszek]

Hi all

Let me tell you first, that I'm no stranger to remote tidal beaches at night. Over the recent years I encountered on the beaches variety of birds, sea otters, dogs and even an odd seal.

Last night I had an odd encounter. I was fishing the mark for about 1.5 hours. It was just about 30 minutes to low water when two seagulls appeared. They started squawking and circling around the place where I was wading. At first I ignored them completely but shortly it was clear that they were not just passing by. I've never encounter seagulls hanging around at this particular mark before. Shortly the noise became really annoying - I guess that was exactly what the seagulls were trying to achieve - annoy me

They lowered they flight a bit but I had no reason to think that they were aggressive towards me. However, prospect of potential dealings with their pointed beaks wasn't encouraging. I was going to get going home soon anyway so they helped me to make that decision sooner. As soon as I walk they were gone too.

Two questions arising from this. Firstly have you ever actually been attacked by the seagull in similar situation? Secondly does presence of two squawking seagulls impacts behavior of the fish?

[robbiekennedy]

me personally no but me and my 2 brothers were walking side by side on a beach maybe 10 years ago when these 2 gulls attacked one of my brothers and left me and the other fella alone they chased him up and down the beach diving at him ,hitting into him and spitting this kind of smelly stuff at him ill never forget it because it was by far one of the funniest things i have ever seen

[nicefish]

I seen a Seagull chase a Jack Russell down the beach on Cross Strand in Mayo so funny the poor dog was knackered.

[eoghanb]

This happens daily in Balbriggan howth skerries etc., the gulls nest on houses where I'm from,they attack all the time,it's a great laugh seeing them chase off door to door sales people,they seem to attack you if your carrying a bag,maybe they think your collecting eggs?

The spitting gulls were probably fulmars they spit oily stuff ,and it really stinks ,like a bait bucket left out in the sun for a week!

[SlackLiner]

[blowin]

Terns and the larger gulls are well known for aggression when they are protecting their nesting area but if you were clear of that I guess they were just p#ssed off with the weather , like the rest of us . .
When I was out on a boat last week I noticed that there were more of the big Herring gulls than usual . Those and the more common type were all particularly bold . Two flew up with my baited jelly worm before it could drop below the surface . Another one flew off with OH's best tea towel which I was using to cover the bait box , then the rest took all of the bait before I could chase them away .
On that same trip the 2 of us fishing with jellies managed to catch the same pollack at the same time . Very unusual , given that the lures must have been at least 20 ft apart and at different depths . I don't think that had anything to do with the seagulls though . They won't affect the fishing , only the fisherman . And possibly his love life if he goes home covered in that smelly stuff
Good luck

[The Austrian]

Tommy, I think they must have recognised you from last years sharking trip where they both got entangled in your lines. Remember, revenge is a dish best served cold or so as the old saying goes

[Tomaszek]

Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking that Martin

So is there any way to fend off them?

[beachbuddy]

Just back from Dingle,never experienced anything like it but the young fella decided he wanted to share his taytos with the sea gulls,big mistake they nearly bit the hand off him and me then proceeded to roar and shout at us,the americans were screaming with terror it was like a gang of them appeared from nowhere next time i'll give them salt and vinegar,nasty buggers.