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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you don't like seagulls don't move to the coast

86 replies

WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:15

I know i am not BU, I am just venting.

Last summer a family member of DHs's moved to their 'dream house' which is on the coast and under a minute walk to the beach. They can see the sea from almost every room. Wonderful. Gorgeous place. Large detached gardens. Idyllic. We went for their housewarming and the husband was moaning hard about the 'bloody seagulls' which are everywhere and 'fly over the house'. At one point (admittedly he was well into a bottle by then) he went out with a towel and started flapping hysterically at the seagulls flying over. Since then every time we see them or have a conversation with them on the family whatsapp etc he moans almost constantly about the seagulls and how they are doing his head in. He ranted on at our family Christmas dinner etc. We are having lunch there tomorrow and I feel like saying the above- did you not think seagulls would be at the sea? What did you expect? I know they are loud and can be noisy but the fixation on the fact they 'fly over the house' is a bit baffling.

I will confess to being a bit biased on this- I'd love to live where they do. And I don't like this family member much anyway- he's always been a bit of an arrogant 'I know best' sort.

OP posts:
Original poster
WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:16

Actually- I should probably have titled it something along the lines of 'AIBU to think you are going to get seagulls when you move the coast'. Much better title. Loads of people don't like seagulls, fair enough.

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 15/03/2025 16:17

DH would love to live right by the sea but I won't because of the seagulls. I know they would be a complete pain and it's the only thing that stops me living near the sea. Well, that and the overcrowded resorts in summer.

shellyleppard · 15/03/2025 16:17

Op its part of living by the sea.....tell him to house swap with you lol 😂

SherlockHomies · 15/03/2025 16:18

Look, everyone moans about seagulls even when they're born and bred in a seaside town.

It's a human right to complain 🤣

Original poster
WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:20

shellyleppard · 15/03/2025 16:17

Op its part of living by the sea.....tell him to house swap with you lol 😂

😄I might!

I envy hard their place. Maybe that's why I eye roll so much.

I might send DH on his own tomorrow. The DCs have had a busy week and he won't mind.

OP posts:
Verdansk84 · 15/03/2025 16:22

id ask it anyway especially as its logical sea side + seagulls, personally i like the sounds of them

Verdansk84 · 15/03/2025 16:22

or a joke in the message group what do you get at the sea side = seagulls

ObelixtheGaul · 15/03/2025 16:27

I live in a coastal town and there are, of course, seagulls. TBF they can be a problem, but there's things you can do to stop them nesting on your roof, etc. Complaining about their existence, though, is a bit like moving next to a railway line and moaning about the trains.

The birds are part of coastal life. You can't stop them flying over your house. You can't stop them mugging tourists on the beach for their food either. There's warning notices everywhere, here, but the seagulls are experts. They do it in teams. DH and I once witnessed a man subjected to a gang mugging in which they got away with the sausage, then the bread of his hot dog.

Verdansk84 · 15/03/2025 16:29

ObelixtheGaul · 15/03/2025 16:27

I live in a coastal town and there are, of course, seagulls. TBF they can be a problem, but there's things you can do to stop them nesting on your roof, etc. Complaining about their existence, though, is a bit like moving next to a railway line and moaning about the trains.

The birds are part of coastal life. You can't stop them flying over your house. You can't stop them mugging tourists on the beach for their food either. There's warning notices everywhere, here, but the seagulls are experts. They do it in teams. DH and I once witnessed a man subjected to a gang mugging in which they got away with the sausage, then the bread of his hot dog.

they are very crafty, although the puzzlement is some members of the public expect the food sellers to give them another item of what ever it was just because the bird nicked it, its like once you pay then its upto you to be careful

Novotelchok · 15/03/2025 16:30

WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:16

Actually- I should probably have titled it something along the lines of 'AIBU to think you are going to get seagulls when you move the coast'. Much better title. Loads of people don't like seagulls, fair enough.

you're definitely going to get seagulls if you move the coast! #IStandWithTheGulls #CoastInThePost

InSpainTheRain · 15/03/2025 16:32

I'd ask him out right "Did you not expect to get seagulls living this close to the sea?" However, aside from the eye-rollingness of it... is he ok? I mean any rational person would realise this, it seems so unreasonable and illogical (especially flapping at them with a towel) that there is perhaps something wrong with his mental state?

Novotelchok · 15/03/2025 16:32

Change your message alert to a seagull squawk and get a pal to text to you during dinner to really annoy him

Nowvoyager99 · 15/03/2025 16:32

I have lived by the sea my entire life and find seagulls very entertaining.

Watching them steal tourists food is hilarious. They are part of the life.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 15/03/2025 16:33

I feel the same way about people moving to London but hating noise, petrol fumes and late night venues, honestly. Yanbu x

bozzabollix · 15/03/2025 16:34

I love seagulls, he sounds like a knob.

BadgerHawk · 15/03/2025 16:35

Awww, I like seagulls. When I lived down the coast there was one who used to peck on my window every morning. Also one flew in my living room and my boyfriend at the time had to catch it in a towel and throw it back out.

Anyways, why bother arguing with him about it? Just let it it go over your head. Or just yawn every time he mentions it.

Echobowels · 15/03/2025 16:36

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 15/03/2025 16:33

I feel the same way about people moving to London but hating noise, petrol fumes and late night venues, honestly. Yanbu x

Agree!

And people moving to the country then complaining about manure smells, tractors in lanes etc.

shellyleppard · 15/03/2025 16:36

@WishILivedOnAFarm i would dodge it if possible.... I'd be saying something otherwise Lol

Original poster
WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:36

InSpainTheRain · 15/03/2025 16:32

I'd ask him out right "Did you not expect to get seagulls living this close to the sea?" However, aside from the eye-rollingness of it... is he ok? I mean any rational person would realise this, it seems so unreasonable and illogical (especially flapping at them with a towel) that there is perhaps something wrong with his mental state?

That's a good question. He's always been a little bombastic arrogant and difficult. His wife handles him really well and sorts of jollies him along and makes him fit for human consumption, so to speak.

But, it's so bonkers IMO that maybe there is something else going on.

OP posts:
TurtlesDoNotPetsMake · 15/03/2025 16:37

We live in a coastal town. We have a tame gull who taps on our upstairs window when she's hungry. She disappears for a few months at a time, and always returns. We are overjoyed when she returns and all rush to the window whooping. She loves it.

Couldyounot · 15/03/2025 16:38

SherlockHomies · 15/03/2025 16:18

Look, everyone moans about seagulls even when they're born and bred in a seaside town.

It's a human right to complain 🤣

100% this. Born 800 yards from the sea, grew up on the coast, still live on the coast, seagulls are a regal nuisance. Bless them, but they are.

Original poster
WishILivedOnAFarm · 15/03/2025 16:38

TurtlesDoNotPetsMake · 15/03/2025 16:37

We live in a coastal town. We have a tame gull who taps on our upstairs window when she's hungry. She disappears for a few months at a time, and always returns. We are overjoyed when she returns and all rush to the window whooping. She loves it.

AAAh I love that. x

i WANT that. Now i want to live on a farm by the sea.

OP posts:
ObelixtheGaul · 15/03/2025 16:39

Nowvoyager99 · 15/03/2025 16:32

I have lived by the sea my entire life and find seagulls very entertaining.

Watching them steal tourists food is hilarious. They are part of the life.

It's the way they do it. It definitely looks planned when it's a gang mugging. I reckon they get together at dawn.
'Right, lads, it's another nice day. Dave, you're on distraction. John, you're on operation bread. Adrian, you did well on burger/sausage last time, you're on that. Remember, we share the loot.'

Bet they've got nicknames like Johnny 'beak' Malone' or Adrian 'chipraider' Wilson.

Waitingfordoggo · 15/03/2025 16:40

I live a short distance from the beach and I genuinely like seagulls and don’t find them to be a nuisance at all. If they’re noisy, I’ve obviously got used to it as I never notice them.

Foxes on the other hand are a nuisance where I live; they’re much noisier and messier than the gulls!

Dearg · 15/03/2025 16:41

I love the sound of seagulls, it takes me back to childhood holidays at the beach.

That said, they can be extremely noisy during nesting season, especially if the nest is close to your house, or even on your roof.

Tell your BIL to invest in a decoy hawk or a kite which tends to keep them away from the vicinity. ( Though the noise of the kite flapping can be quite loud too )