Lesser black backed gulls return

[Amoeba]

I've grown so fond of these birds, and I've missed them so much!

They're back early this year! *excitement* When I hear them first thing in the morning, a few hours before I get up, I don't know why but it's such a comfort. It's like the other indicators of seasonal change, it gives me goose bumps.

But they're awful early aren't they? Last year they didn't return here (Edinburgh) until late March early April, and even then they were sparse for a few weeks. They've come back late Febuary this year in great numbers. I've seen six or seven individuals at any one time here, and all day long they can be found hanging about the building just outside and just chilling there.

I haven't really been noticing them for that long (about four years) so maybe this is just normal?

EDIT: I thought rather than making anouther thread I'd just include in this one... when I first joined here I made a post about a canada goose that had grown attached to a pair of swans with their cignits. If anyone actually remembers (there weren't many replies or views so unlikely) it's still following them around about half a year on, even after the young swans have left. I am still absolutely puzzled by this (though we hardly ever see ganada geese so it's a treat to see it regularly) and I'm no closer to understanding their relationship.

[aeshna5]

It's interesting how their status varies around the UK. They nearly all used to go to Morocco, etc for the winter, but certainly here in London large numbers are now present throughout the year, so we don't notice any seasonality. I know they still leave some of their breeding sites on coastal islands where they breed such as Scilly + Skomer.

[Amoeba]

Interesting, I didn't realise just how varied it was.

[G HUNT 2]

Birmingham too, seems to have a loose resident population of L.B.B. Gulls.Like yourself I have noticed they have become very vocal over the last week or two.

[Jason Green]

My favourite gull. I've noticed the seasonal thing too - only during the spring/early summer...

[John]

Like aeshna5 we also seem to have a fair few LBB's throughout the year here in Coventry and where I work in Leamington Spa so I must admit to not noticing a seasonal trend.

I can't say that I have noticed them becoming more vocal but must admit that I am not too much of a Gull lover so probably just ignore it without realising the significance.

John

[Amoeba]

The gulls seem to have vanished again for some reason.

Strangely, so too has the goose. Well, maybe not so strangely. I noticed the swans trying out a few spots for nesting, maybe they finally drove it away.