Seagulls Turn the Tables on Tourists in UK Coastal Towns
Imagine sipping your morning coffee by the sea when, out of nowhere, a seagull swoops in and snatches your entire mug from your hands. Sounds ridiculous, right? But that's exactly what's happening in some of the UK’s busiest seaside towns. Local officials and café owners are warning holidaymakers to keep a close eye on their drinks—the local seagulls have gotten bolder than ever.
It’s not just about losing a flat white. The birds’ new trick of lifting coffee mugs out of people’s hands or straight off café tables has caused more than a few surprised screams and a bunch of spills. It seems these gulls have started associating anything open—tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate—with an easy snack. Apparently, crumbs and leftover pastries aren’t enough excitement anymore.
From Nuisance to Menace: How Seagulls Learn from People
This isn't the first place seagulls have learned to outsmart humans. Over in Sydney, tourists have seen gulls swipe ice creams or chips in split seconds. In Norway, cheeky birds have even snatched full sandwiches straight from hikers’ mouths. The pattern is clear: in spots where tourists are everywhere, birds adapt fast. They watch and learn what humans leave unguarded—and then make their move.
Last summer in one UK town, café owners reportedly lost dozens of mugs in a month. One barista recalled a seagull swooping down to nab a cup right out of a customer’s hand. Another visitor said the gulls seemed fearless—they’d even hop from benches to tables if they saw food or drink unattended for a moment. These stories are making locals and tourists think twice about eating and drinking outdoors.
Experts have a few guesses about what’s changed. First, the gulls now link anything someone’s holding or sipping with a possible food reward. Second, tourist crowds often feed them scraps—so the birds stick around, get used to people, and get gutsier each season. Bird researchers say the more gulls succeed in stealing food, the more they’ll keep coming back and trying new things.
Not everyone sees the funny side, though. Hot drink spills can burn, and a flapping, beaked bandit can send kids scrambling. Plus, broken mugs mean extra costs for local cafés already juggling the pressures of a busy tourist season.
If you’re heading to the coast this summer, you’ll spot warning signs hanging outside most beachfront coffee shops: don’t leave food or mugs unattended, keep an eye overhead, and whatever you do—don’t feed the wildlife. Seems simple, but follow those tips and you can finish your drink without losing your mug to the winged thieves above.
