A battle royal

Spent this morning sorting out forms which have to be filled in for the new job. Although I was keen to take the boys out, they were not so interested and the forms kept me busy. eventually we agreed to head out (all of us) with some lunch and then a swim at Algies Bay. I walked along the sand with the camera, and was almost startled by two squawking karoro (Black-backed gulls, also known as herring gulls).

They landed just in front of me and commenced to abusing each other mightily, and then got into a beak grip tussle. This was taken in a brief pause as they separated, and the one on the left started the backdown. It was fascinating to watch as the next stage of their conflict was that each in turn picked up some seaweed in its beak and shook its head vigorously. Then the one on the left backed further away, and the one on the right flew away, seeming to me to be the victor.

No blood was spilt, and no gulls were hurt in getting this photo.