There have been increasing incidents of gull attacks in Britain in recent years in scenes that recall Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds".
Two people have already died of heart attacks caused by gulls that have left the coast to cause trouble in inland towns.
Several have been seriously injured after being knocked to the ground by gulls, which have a wingspan of up to 5ft, weigh around 2lb to 3lb and can reach 40mph in a dive.
The wildlife is not always a nuisance. As they make their way around the course, spectators have a rare chance to hear the unusual sound of the skylark. Once common over much of Scotland, they are now one of Britain's most endangered birds.
Swallows are often seen darting over the 18th green and swifts have also been spotted in acrobatic flight there.
