MERRY CHRISTMAS.

It was good to see the birds had reclaimed their habitat from the ice during the week following the thaw. Even better news was, at least 400 Whooper Swan have finally set up camp at Cockersand. I had seen the swans as I drove along Moss Lane on my way to Cockersand, but seeing them again 2 hours later as I left, they were seen in fields at Clarkson's and Tomlinson's Farms and Jeremy Lane from where I noted up to 350 Lapwing.  Last Sunday 4 Bewick's Swan were reported (FBC) on Jeremy Lane.

Almost certainly 28 Twite seen on Plover Scar were the same as seen here 25 October and again on 1 December. I found 4 Stonechat, seen as one in the rough field behind Bank Houses, one along Moss Lane, and two around Light House Cottage. Worth noting is the report of 8 Stonechat at Cockersand 15 December (FBC) seen as 3 male and 5 female, the best ever winter count of Stonechat at Cockersand.

Conder Pool 15 December. Pete Woodruff.

It was good to see everywhere around the Lune Estuary had been reclaimed by the birds again, although 2 Goosander were the only birds to note on Conder Pool, with 8 Little Grebe seen in the creeks.

Black-headed Gull.

On 13 December I found a ringed Black-headed Gull at Teal Bay. The bird was ringed AE44 9 years ago at Ellerbeck Shipyard, Kiel, Germany in 2013, and has had seven sightings, five in the UK and two in southwestern Poland. The history of the bird promptly followed my submitting it, for which I am grateful to the ringer Sönke Martens 

The Port of Kiel is one of the most versatile ports in the Baltic region, although this isn't relevant to the question....Why would a Black-headed Gull ringed in Germany in 2013, want or need to fly huge distances to be seen in the UK on five ocassions, and in Poland twice in 2018 and 2020. What's the purpose, it's not strictly related to migration, and AE44 has been observed in six different winter and summer months of the year in the UK and in Europe.

Black-headed Gull 6CY. Pete Woodruff.

Black-headed Gull 6CY was ringed in Denmark the same year of 2013 as AE44. I found this gull 3 times all at Glasson Dock, in Sept 2014, Nov 2017, Jan 2020. This gull also returned to it's natal site in Gentofte, Denmark twice, in March/April 2015, and March 2016. 

Garden Birds.

A male Blackcap in the garden made our day on Thursday, it was with a Wren for bonus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE