Beauty always promises, but never gives anything.

The chips are slow, but the seagulls are patient. Salamanca Square, Hobart. December 2010.

Sometimes it is best to wait and see before committing yourself. These seagulls understand this all too well. Not wanting to reveal their hand wing too early, they are content to hang back and await a change in circumstances.

Have you ever seen a seagull half squashed on a road? They are the ones that rushed in before being in full receipt of the facts…

These are Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae, more commonly known as the Silver Gull or the ubiquitous “seagull” here in Tasmania. These fellows should be eating worms, fish, insects and crustaceans, but I suspect this gang favours hot chips, meat pies, Hawaiian pizzas and the odd chocolate torte.