Airborne!

...well for a few seconds, which I just missed on camera. For the last few days the chicks opposite us have been hopping up and down the roof, flapping their wings and making a loud whinnying noise (in frustration/fear/excitement? I'm not sure. But it's loud!). Today is the first time I've seen one of them manage to get airborne. Quite exciting.

The chicks on the other side of us are a bit younger and seem unsure of what to do with their wings. Every time they stretch them out, their whole body tips over as if they can't handle the weight yet. Their wings have grown incredibly quickly and are massive already.

This one pictured has quite an aggressive, protective mother. I was watching them from the window and she started swooping down at me! She also followed me along the street once swooping down and ack-ack-acking at me. Do you think she recognises me from watching at the window? There were other people in the street... it felt quite weird to be singled out by a gull like that!