A fast food joint for gulls

Sandy, Bedfordshire Locals come down to throw out whole loaves of cheap sliced bread for the resident ducks and swans

At daybreak an uptown gull had made it into the market place, where it was fishing in last night's chip wrapper. Here was a bird showing bold timidity: it had the determination to make it down into a soon to be crowded forum, but acted as if it were touching a hotplate.

Its undercarriage came down, feet splayed out in a ready-to-land position, but its trailing legs would dab at the ground then recoil, wings all the while holding it aloft in a panicky flutter. Nevertheless, this black-headed gull was still able to take advantage of its inelegant half-hover. Its beak made lunging jabs to snatch morsels of food. Truly a takeaway.

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