<p>This paper investigates the night-time feeding behaviours of Brown-headed Gull (<i>Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus</i>) and Black-headed Gull (<i>C.</i> <i>ridibundus</i>) in marine environments. It focuses on the influence of artificial illumination from fishing vessel lights on the surface of the water, likely attracting small organisms, and also the discards from the vessels, subsequently drawing gulls towards the fishing vessel. These gulls utilise various feeding techniques, targeting the organisms through swimming and surface pecking, enabling gulls to feed on the prey from the illuminated zones. The research underscores how both species exploit the opportunistic nocturnal feeding behaviour facilitated by artificial lighting from fishing vessels, demonstrating their adaptation to the ‘night-light niche’ created by the anthropogenic light sources.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>