Most of the gulls have now gone, either they have run out of earthworms, or are sick of being chased around by dogs. Couple of peak counts in last few days:

Common Gull - 326;  L. B.-b. Gull  111. Don't think Herring Gulls got over 25.

One of the German Black-headed Gulls:

Ringed as adult female, breeding, on 30th May 2020 at Riether Werder, Germany (53 42 23 N;  14 16 03 E).

Seen there again 9th May 2021, then seen at Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley on 10th March 2022, next at Turn Moss on 12th January 2023, 1093km. from ringing site.

The other German Black-headed Gull:

Ringed as pullus on 1st June 2020 at Altfriedland, Markisch - Oderland, Brandenburg, Germany (52 38 N;  14 14 E).

Still there on 25th June 2020, but seen once in each of October & November 2020 at Queen's Park, Crewe, then at Sale W.P. in November 2021, February 2022, and four times in Nov. - Dec. 2022, then Turn Moss on three days last week.

Just to add that there is also a 'northern type' adult ssp. argentatus there -- very little black, but a lot of white in wing tip, very big bird as well.

Also an unusual 2cy L. B.-b. Gull -- very white head and breast, very small and long-winged.  Just 74 L. B.-b. & 20 Herring Gulls counted, but likely several more present.

Black-headed G.     Saw a new German bird & a new Norwegian bird. The latter ringed as a pullus on 12th June 2022 near Oslo. Today's sighting was the first since then.

Otherwise:  190 Carrion Crow;  31 Pied & 1 Grey Wagtail;  minimum 300 Starling (flocks very mobile).

Gull numbers build up a bit in the afternoon, so best then. Eastern flood, by Ivy Green, best for large gulls.

Have spent hours gulling at T.M. rainwater floods in the last few days. Best counts:

Black-headed Gull   1850   Read darvics of five Steve Christmas birds, a regular S.W.P. German bird, and a new Danish bird.

Common Gull   100+. Prob. many more, but disturbance by dogs too bad for proper count.

Yellow-legged Gull   1 ad.  - immaculate bird, not a feather out of place, nice pale yellow legs too, flew off towards Salford Q.

                             1 third winter, seen at S.W.P. a few days ago, but not ident. due to distance.

                             1 first winter (also photographed by Joel Tragen).

Herring Gull     19

L. B.-b. Gull     59

General disturbance made it all very difficult! Prob. many more gulls present.

Other species best counts:

Carrion Crow   135

Magpie   42

Redwing   102 early in year, 93 recently.

Starling   280

Pied Wagtail    33

Greenfinch    22 in view at once, but several others hidden in hedge. More than usual.

Got really cold & wet today, and dropped my scope in the mud, but same again tomorrow.

Have been keeping a watch on the gulls over the last couple of weeks, looking for signs of HPAI. Good numbers, all looking healthy, included peaks of 790 Black-headed, and 24 Herring Gulls, the latter more than I usually see here. Also during last week or so, all on school field, up to 56 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Mistle Thrush, and 152 Starling.

One day, I was looking at a single Carrion Crow feeding on a football field when a dog ran at it. Instead of just flying off to somewhere more peaceful, if waited until the dog was very close, then took off and flew low over the grass, keeping just in front of the chasing dog. The crow obviously was putting effort into its flight, and just keeping about one to two yards in front of, and on the same level as the dog's jaws. After about 100 yards of this, the crow suddenly gained height and kept position about eight feet above the dog, the latter leaping up frantically, trying to catch the crow. Five to ten seconds of this ended when the crow set off again, low over the grass, again chased by the dog. Another 50 yards passed, then the crow rose and perched on a goal crossbar, the dog again leaping up towards it. The crow set off low again, but this time the dog was diverted either by another dog, or by its owner's call, and it ran off. The crow then resumed a more normal flight, soon perching in a nearby tree, and looked at me.

Anyone else seen a crow do this?