When I was young, circa 50 years ago, we'd never see Great Black-backs at the harbour unless in winter when they'd come ashore during storms. Even then twenty birds would be exceptional and they'd disappear when the storm subsided. In those "good old days" Arbroath was a white fish port with many local boats going to sea daily and returning in late afternoon to the market. Now the trawlers have gone and are replaced with a large number of lobster boats and I'm speculating that the Great Black-backs are benefitting from the bait the lobster men throw away, or is it global warming, or maybe people have stopped killing them!
Here's a few found around the harbour.
Surely not a vegetarian
Great Black-backed
and Lesser Black-backed for comparison
Same LBBG and yes it was a grumpy sod and chased the young gulls around
Looks like a burnt bone?
Grey Heron
Into the sun, artistic shot?
Reported to the ringers
