Harry

It is now not uncommon to see the bodies of birds that have succumbed to the prolonged cold weather lying on the ice. In Copenhagen harbour I have seen several Coots, the odd duck and occasional thrush sp. The local gulls don't need a second invitation to tuck in and I guess, in a way, this is a bonus for those birds higher up the food chain. The photo below shows a young Greater Black Backed Gull getting to grips with a dead Coot.

Meanwhile, 'Harry' the Herring Gull is getting increasingly territorial near to the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. He was ringed as a chick in summer 2006 just a couple of kilometres from here and likes to let the other gulls know who is in charge. Here he is 'long-calling'... a handsome fellow!

Photos: Herring Gull 'long-calling' and a GBB Gull tugging at a dead Coot, a victim of the prolonged cold spell