BIRDMAN Martin Cade was left covered in blood after he was attacked by two vicious seagulls as tried to rescue their baby chick on Portland.

Ornithologist Mr Cade, who works at the RSPB observatory at Portland Bill, was asked by his neighbour to help return the stranded gull to its nest on the roof of her house in The Grove.

Mr Cade, 56, was dive-bombed by the baby bird's parents as he attempted to get it to its nest.

One of them used its sharp beak to strike him square on the head, drawing blood immediately. 

The second gull then swooped down and pecked him on the side of his head.

With blood dripping down his face and neck Mr Cade dashed home and cleaned himself up. He was left with two large wounds on his head which did not need stitches.

Mr Cade returned the next day to try and help the chick which was still stranded but beat a retreat when the two seagulls recognised him and began circling.

He said: "My neighbour obviously knows what I do for a living and asked me if could help return this baby gull to its nest. It had fallen out of the nest which was on their roof.

"I picked it up and just worked out how to put it back when the two adults had a right go at me and both hit me in quick succession.

"They saw me as a threat because I had their baby in my hands. They just dive-bombed me.

"The first hit me with a clunk and broke the skin on my head. There was a fair bit of blood. Then the second one did the same.

"I leant my head forward and blood started running down by forehead and neck. I was in a fair bit of pain."

European herring gulls have become the scourge of seaside communities over the years – including in Weymouth and Portland – and Mr Cade is the latest in a long line of victims.

Last week it was revealed the Royal Mail had pulled its postwoman out of Maryport in Cumbria due to the 'dangerous' conditions she face from seagulls.

A concerned dad in Hartlepool took his two sons out of a primary school after he was struck on the head by a seagull in the playground and in Barry, South Wales, grandmother Hayley Selby was knocked off her feet by a gull as she walked through the town centre.

The Echo reported last week how a gull was being nursed back to health after it was injured in Weymouth town centre. It is understood the bird tried to take food from a child when the child's father leapt in to defend him.

Seagulls are a protected species in Britain and are particularly aggressive at this time of year when they are raising young.

Mr Cade said: "Herring gulls are a blessed nuisance to any seaside town.

"They are lazy and next in any old place rather than in the cliffs and have to follow fishing boats for food.

"It is our fault. People leave rubbish lying around for them or feed them."