The cormorant and the black headed gulls

The cormorant is a familiar sight on Eastbourne beaches especially at Holywell where the fishing is excellent especially around the reef.  I watched the bird drying it`s wings by vigorously flapping them and then extending them out, wing condition is very important for this bird as it spends a lot of it`s time underwater for long periods of time while fishing.
The black headed gulls didn`t seem to be concerned by all this activity until a marauder arrived intent on driving off the cormorant who he probably felt was on his territory, but he failed to do, so after a bit of commotion the cormorant flew off along with the gulls and I went back to the chalet to finish my book.