This photograph was taken on the morning of Sunday, June 6. The three babies are huddled together against the window frame while one the parents guards asleep!

One of the things that Hastings Old Town is renowned for — and I like — is its population of Herring Gulls. Historically, the Old Town has been for centuries a centre for fishing. In fact, Hastings has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. The fishing industry helps to account for the large population of gulls. They are large and very noisy birds who gracefully fly above the Old Town as well as low (eye-level) along the High Street seemingly looking for someone to christen. I will take periodically photographs of this family gulls and post them here so that we can monitor their growth and development together. Last year, most likely the same parents raised four babies on the same roof; however, sadly, not all of them survived.

Here’s a link to a longer piece I wrote for the Grumpy Vegan about the Larus argentatus three years ago during my first summer living in the Old Town. I enjoyed rereading it — even if I do say so myself!