*Mediterranean Gull, Ribchester 27 December 2020*

DECEMBER HAS BEEN HEAVY GOING with mostly dull, overcast and very damp weather. That combined with bad news very close to home of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant a rather subdued Christmas in Ribchester. The leaden skies persisted but at least the throng of Black-headed Gulls attracted by the slurry spraying in the fields along Boat House Lane had up to two adult Mediterranean Gulls in tow. The green concrete is good for something, although the slurry is not great for the environment, the nearby brook ran dark and stank of it all weekend. Among the hundreds of gulls were a few Common Gulls and almost 100 Herring Gulls, which is way more than we usually see on the ground around the village. Two Great Black-backed Gulls patrolled the river on Christmas Day, maybe the same adult and second winter that have been around for a couple of weeks now and three Little Egrets on Boxing Day was another local highlight. An influx of lapwings has been noticeable over the holiday period too, with maybe as many as 37 on Boxing Day. A flock of 23 oystercatchers at Hothersall was also maybe very early returnees, encouraged upstream by the mild weather? There were several hundred starlings in the fields too, almost enough for a murmuration! However, we have yet to see a goldeneye this winter and Goosander is all but absent. Little Grebes continue on the river at Red Bank and a kingfisher was along the river at the ‘promenade’ in Ribchester today. I am stuck on 103 for the year as time runs out, maybe I will be able to add one more by New Year’s Eve? It has also been interesting to see that some folks lack the common sense not to mix at the moment. Seven cars was the maximum on one drive, the owners of the property usually have two on it. Maybe if they had family members in hospital they would change their minds? No wonder the pandemic rumbles on.

DULL