Now July is upon us we are getting lots of queries about gulls. At this time of year the parents are being very vocal and protective of their offspring. Most of them will be within a few weeks of taking to the air and will be spending more time moving around and will stray from the nest. Unfortunately for roof nesting gulls this can often result in a fall. Parent gulls will continue to feed them on the ground if they survive the fall so in most cases, its the same old mantra, leave them well alone. If you have cats and dogs its best to keep them away from the young gulls to prevent any accidents occurring. It won't be long until the young gulls figure out how to use their wings properly and take to the skies to join their parents and you then get your gardens back!

Many species can be seen gathering in large flocks at this time of year, starlings, house sparrows and goldfinches are good examples from recent queries. After a busy spring and summer rearing young in multiple nesting attempts, the young are now able to fly with the parents adn these gregarious flock dwelling species can turn up en masse in gardens. In the wider countryside you may see large gatherings of rooks and jackdaws with their offspring now fully fledged members of the flock. On a smaller scale, woodland birds like tits and warblers can often be seen in roving flocks, moving through the canopy in search of insects like caterpillars and aphids that are numerous at this time of year.

Its not just birds that are being seen in large numbers, it's flying ant time again! Lots of birds feed on these creatures as they disperse from their underground homes including swifts, starlings and black-headed gulls, watch out for their erratic flight on warm afternoons.