At first, black-headed gulls were winter visitors to towns and returned to the coast to breed. The species started to nest near to towns some time afterwards but inland breeding colonies have remained small. The inland gull roots and nests in gravel pits, reservoirs and sewage works and commutes daily to feed on farmland and in city parks and gardens. There is a variety of harsh calls, including aa repeated kek of alarm. They circle in upcurrents to catch flying ants and scavenge around dumps and waste ground.
Gulls swoop down for scraps.
The simple nest of grass is built on the ground or, very exceptionally, on buildings. Sixty years ago it started to spread westwards from its native home in southeastern Europe. This tame and attractive bird reached Britain in the 1950s, and is now found over most of Europe. Perhaps because its new home is colder, the collared dove prefers to live in towns and villages, or near farms, where it can find plenty of food. Sometimes, when the collared dove gives only two coos, you may mistake it for the cuckoo.