Many thanks Paul and Simon.

Fascinating to attempt to work out daily movements like this, with observations from different folk.

Sounds entirely possible that the BHGs you are observing feeding during the day on the outskirts of Wiveliscombe are spending the night at Wimbleball Lake and travelling via Chipstable each morning and evening (although I have been missing them for the last two weeks, it seems!).  So extraordinary that they should be doing it this year, but not in any of the previous 22 years.

I suppose it is consistent with the observation that some years, here in Chipstable, we see large daily movements of Herring, and “no” Lesser Black-backs; and other years vice versa.  This year is a Herring Gull year.

Commons only very occasionally pass by, as singles usually.  So, nice to hear of your sighting, Simon.

All the best to everyone for Christmas and 2022!!

I drove past there earlier - not that many black-headed gulls (looked like more may have been in adjacent field) but more surprising was a common gull with them.

Not sure what is going on, but 60 plus Black headed Gulls have been frequenting the sheep field at ST089257 junction to Bathealton on the Wiveliscombe
to Wellington road for the last 2 weeks at least

Black-headed Gulls in tight flocks 8-8.30am today, flying south-eastwards through Chipstable (towards Milverton) from Wimbleball Lake direction.

About 210 in total, in six flocks, the largest of about 60, flying close to the ground.

Typically, we see tiny flocks of perhaps six, once or twice a year, or perhaps a bird tagging along with a Herring flock. So this was completely unprecedented in 22 years, here.

Anyone with an insight into what might be going on?