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Some of you may remember

(130 Posts)
BlueBelle Wed 19-Jun-24 15:26:00

Some of you may remember my adventures with Steven the baby seagull two or three years ago He came down my bedroom chimney Well the following year Sybil came down this same route, she didn’t stay with me so long as Steven who I kept till I watched him fly off on his maiden voyage (that was magical)
Well this morning I heard a loud calling from my bedroom fireplace opened the trapdoor and pulled a reluctant Cedric down with a plop
I could hear his mum going mad so put him on my flat shed roof for her to settle him and hopefully feed him but he disappeared and I found out he had fell straight into next doors garden, crying his little heart out, silly Cedric

No one was in next door so I put a note through their door and I ve just been to collect him they were panicking not knowing what to do
He’s now in my garden under a big caster oil tree his mum has been down to check him. I ve put water breadcrumbs and cat food out not sure if he can feed himself yet but I hope so
Fingers crossed he’s easier to bring up than Silly Steven who had me on quite a few adventures

Magrithea Mon 24-Jun-24 09:16:01

Perhaps a cowl on top of the chimney would help, unless the nest is inside the chimney stack. We've had birds down our chimneys but managed to rescue and sort them out.

harrigran Mon 24-Jun-24 09:48:05

My sister and BIL live on the seafront and had to have a cage fitted over their chimney to prevent the gulls nesting there. My sister dould not sit in the garden when there were babies as the parents kept swooping down on them.

annodomini Mon 24-Jun-24 09:53:30

When I had to evict jackdaws from my chimney, I got a sweep to come and put a bird guard over it - simpler than a cowl. Jackdaws went off in a huff!

Sparklefizz Mon 24-Jun-24 10:40:10

Love this story. Thanks for sharing it BlueBelle, and I agree, you should write a book.

nanna8 Mon 24-Jun-24 11:02:20

What a lovely person you are BlueBelle I loved reading that. We have some lovely birds here. They are so clever,too. Most days I feed them and if I am late they peer at me from a branch just outside the back door. If I call the cats in they fly across as well, it is quite funny to watch.

BlueBelle Tue 25-Jun-24 06:41:57

So here is Cedric a week on from his adventures
He taps with his beak on my back door early morning
He is fussy though doesn’t like sardines or pilchards but is very partial to tuna, so very cheapo tins of tuna it is
Feeding him three times a day Mum and Dad are very vocal from the rooftop every time, I venture into MY garden but my garden is so enclosed with lots of vegetation there’s no real runway for them to get in and out so they just hurl abuse at me from the rooftops, even though I keep telling them I’m helping
If he stays with me it ll be about a month before he gets his flyers license

(Annodomini and Harrigran and Magritha as I explained further up I live in a very old three storey house which would need scaffolding to fit anything on the chimney and that’s completely out of my pocket )
I could write a book couldnt I ? Don’t think I m clever enough though

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 25-Jun-24 07:44:44

That’s lovely. You’re doing a great job. I look forward to hearing more.

SueDonim Tue 25-Jun-24 13:08:26

Aw, look at his spotty head! ❤️ He’s looking well-fed, Bluebelle.

MissAdventure Tue 25-Jun-24 13:11:42

You could write and illustrate a book, Bluebelle
smile
Simply delightful.

blue14 Tue 25-Jun-24 14:28:49

I love this story about Cedric!
That photo is delightful and I'm looking forward to following his progress.
Thank you BlueBelle.

Grannybags Tue 25-Jun-24 14:36:35

He’s cute!

Well done for looking after him 🥇 and thanks for the updates

BlueBelle Fri 28-Jun-24 08:50:34

10 days on and Cedric is still with me I have to hide his food in the undergrowth as some seagulls (I don’t know if it’s the parents) are trying to come down for his food they must smell it when ever I put it out they are on my flat roof screaming abuse at me, although my gardens pretty impossible for a big bird that needs take off space but occasionally one tries I don’t know if the parents are interested or just jealous he’s getting fed
He still prefers tuna although I m getting away with a bit of sardines if he’s really hungry He ll have to expand his tastes as he gets older and needs more 🤣
He’s got a lovely green garden with loads of overhanging leaves for shade and safety, in fact it’s the life of Riley I feed him morning lunchtime and night, and he’s got a big bowl of water for drinking or paddling in

I ll let you know how he’s doing in a few more days

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 28-Jun-24 09:04:10

Lovely! I look forward to the next instalment!

BlueBelle Fri 28-Jun-24 09:16:39

Here’s a much better photo He was trying to flap his wings and did a little jump but needs his tail feathers first, Silly Cedric

Llamas99 Fri 28-Jun-24 09:16:59

He is so handsome and gosh, just darn cute! Please keep us informed of his progress and more pictures!

pascal30 Fri 28-Jun-24 09:22:42

Why don't you contact your local rock climbing club Bluebelle and tell them about the seagulls. I imagine there would be several member who would be willing to climb up and attach a cowl for you..

pascal30 Fri 28-Jun-24 09:26:58

I remember staying in The far south of France when a bat fell out of the flue of the (unlit) wood burning stove.. It was amazing to see one close up.. we just picked it up and released it outside in the dark..

SueDonim Fri 28-Jun-24 13:12:36

Thank you for the update! His big boy feathers are appearing now.

BlueBelle Fri 28-Jun-24 13:24:38

Gosh Pascal I m not going to be responsible for anyone climbing up the side of my 150 year old house in the middle of a main road 🤣 ….. I ll just keep rescuing one a year

Yes SueDonin there’s a little stub of a tail now too

BlueBelle Mon 01-Jul-24 11:45:42

Cedric has been with me 2 weeks tomorrow I believe he was about two weeks old when he helter skeltered down my chimney so around a month old now He’s doing very well, the fluff is getting less and he s trying to groom himself.
He’s decided he loves grapes and strawberries as well as Tuna

The parents are still about but not at all interested in him they only get interested when I put his food out then they try and find a way down At first I thought they were coming to feed him but no just to try and grab his food and quickly fly away so now I stand guard when I put his plastic plate down he seems less scared of me than them 🤣
I made him a little bed in a secluded spot, but no he sleeps beside it !!!
Today he’s been flexing his wings and jumping up and down a good sign that he’s well on his way to taking off but he needs more than a stump of a tail to do that

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 01-Jul-24 11:49:09

Wonderful progress! Well done BlueBelle.

MissAdventure Mon 01-Jul-24 13:49:37

smile
It's getting to be a day centre for gulls, Bluebelle

How lovely!

blue14 Mon 01-Jul-24 14:01:43

I love these updates and photos.
Thank you BlueBelle for looking after Cedric and giving us all a very good reason to smile!

Callistemon213 Mon 01-Jul-24 14:49:36

Well done Bluebelle

The baby seagulls certainly know whose chimney to fall down.
It's like a 5* hotel!

Bridie22 Mon 01-Jul-24 14:58:48

You are doing a brilliant job oh seagull whisperer 🙂
Cedric is looking rather gorgeous.