There are several species of "seagull" but the one that attracts most attention in the UK is the herring gull. Lean over and cover your pasty and you should be OK. One day, a gull snatched half of my prawn sandwich from my hand in Lemon Quay in Truro, clean as a whistle. They are extremely intelligent and interesting birds. In the UK their numbers have plummeted by half in the last 25 years and they are on the conservation Red List. I love them for their cleverness, their persistence and their feisty behaviour. We are responsible for making them "nuisances" by dint of our own careless behaviour. Generally, they are inclined to thieve but they will only shit on you if they see you as a threat.

Steve (Al fresco pasty-eater and seaside dweller)