My son and his girlfriend had just walked out of a chippie on Brighton Beach promenade when a seagull divebombed and stole half the fish they just bought.
My encounter was a bit further afield - and a bit weirder.
I was on Enoshima (island peninsula south of Tokyo), trying the interesting “apple & camembert” softserve ice cream. Delish.
At the counter, they helpfully pointed out a warning sign, mentioning kites or hawks, and cautioning that they were ‘looking to steal your food!’. Wasn’t going to be outwitted by a birdbrain, no sirree.
The apple + camembert was really nice, good combination of sweet fruit and creamy cheese (not an overpowering blue cheese flavour). Parked myself by a railing right next to a palm tree, figured the birds wouldn’t risk flying that close. Had finished most of the ice cream above the top edge of the cone, when I heard a whooshing noise and a powerful downdraft of air hit my head – and the whole top section of the cone disappeared, carried away in the beak of a big bugger, must have been a metre wingspan easy.
Looking around, he must have made a pinpoint bombing raid, dropping low between palm trees behind me – most impressive. Had to admire my winged bandit.
