Young Black-Headed Gulls at Warnham Local Nature Reserve – A Morning of Behaviour and Action

On 4th October 2025, I enjoyed a fantastic visit to Warnham Local Nature Reserve, one of my favourite places for wildlife watching and photography. As autumn settles in, the reserve is alive with activity, and this particular morning didn’t disappoint.

I spent a good while observing a lively group of young Black-headed Gulls as they repeatedly dived into the water. They were full of energy — constantly on the move, squabbling, splashing, and displaying all the playful behaviour that makes this species so enjoyable to photograph. Moments like these remind me how much you can witness when you simply take the time to stop, watch, and let the wildlife come to you.

It turned into a wonderfully peaceful and rewarding morning out with the camera, made even better by the dynamic action of these young gulls testing their flying and feeding skills.

Below are a few of the images captured during the session — a small glimpse into the behaviour of these spirited birds at one of Sussex’s best nature reserves.