Footloose and fancy free?

I didn't realise this black headed gull had lost his foot until I saw him on the computer. Poor little fellow but he didn't seem bothered by it all. I wonder whether he lost this in an accident or whether he was born like it. I've seen birds with only one leg before but not one with a leg without a foot

[Taffy]

This is such an interesting capture!

[❀ Lynn]

Since they often stand on one foot while resting, it may not be much loss to them.

[Anne ❀]

looks pretty healthy otherwise, interesting find

[Ann]

Oooh, poor gull. It's pretty amazing how they can survive. Lovely capture !

[Karin Hirsch]

Lovely capture, amazing how he survived, but they are flying and swimming and walking isn't their main type of locomotion

[🐓 Patricia Fletcher]

I have heard that they get their limbs caught in litter which gets twisted around and cuts off the blood supply - eg strips of plastic, elastic bands etc. poor gull.

[Shirley Banford]

Excellent shot.

[Margaret Rogers]

I agree with Patricia but they can also lose a leg or foot to fish biting from underneath while they are swimming.

[Maria]

Awesome shot!

[Rosie Kind]

@tishpics People are so lazy when they can't take their litter home or put it I a bin. they just don't realise how damaging it is to wildlife!

[Rosie Kind]

@merpics Ooh that sounds nasty. I didn't realise fish could be so horrible but then I suppose it's their defence so they don't get eaten!

[Lesley]

It seems like being a gull is a dangerous occupation! Lovely shot.