Well it had to happen. I've been watching the nest for a couple of weeks or more and today caught the first glimpse of the newly hatched chicks. They're herring gulls, now red-listed as among our most endangered species. This reflects a general population decline and loss of habitat. Locally, however, they are among our most common birds and are the symbol of our local football (soccer) team, Brighton & Hove Albion (nickname, The Seagulls). These chicks were born in sight of the club's new stadium. There are three in the brood. 
Earlier in the morning I'd been down to the pond, where I took this shot of a moorhen on a nest, and a heron.
At luncthime I went out to see one of the local poppy fields. The poppies colonise areas where the soil has been turned, so at this time of year swathes of the rural landscape turn red. It can be quite spectacular. This was a relatively small area in the corner of a local field.
It's raining this evening (much needed), but I did have some success out in the garden during a brief respite. Shutterbug appeared, once again accompanied by the cub. It was slightly bolder tonight, willing to stand out in the semi open and disappearing and reappearing several times. I risked one photo from around 30 feet away.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, except the fox cub which was photographed with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
sanshan
11 Jun 201140? That's amazing. Very elegant looking gull btw.
sanshan
11 Jun 2011Those gulls are so sweet. I've never seen a chick. Herring gulls are abundant here, actually a bit of a pest.
Words
11 Jun 2011Lot's of people regard them as pests here as they tend to pick open rubbish sacks, steal ice creams from the hands of tourists, generally make a noise, and occasionally dive-bomb passers-by. But they are now legally protected. Amazing birds, and they've been know to live to about 40!
gdare
11 Jun 2011Originally posted by Words:
:yikes:
I will remember that if I ever visit England :left:
anonymous
12 Jun 2011Anonymous writes:
Very cool leopard-markings on those gulls 🙂 Also, love the field of poppies!
Words
12 Jun 2011Thanks Anon!
Words
12 Jun 2011Erwin, thanks!
Words
12 Jun 2011Darko, seriously. One day I will have to spend some time trying to get pictures.
SittingFox
14 Jun 2011The gulls are so cute at that age. You'd never guess what monsters they will become 😉
Congrats on catching the cub! :up:
Words
15 Jun 2011Adele, lots more cuteness to come from those chicks I think. I have to walk past them every day, so the temptation to get the camera out is overwhelming. The cub is proving very tricky, though from the trail cam it's clearly very feisty and has no fear at all of adult foxes who it 'attacks' at every opportunity!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Beautiful shots… a great post