Unable to launch thunderbird main application when other thunderbird windows are open

I have found that if i close or never have opened the main thunderbird application but have new message window open (or any other thunderbird window), the main thunderbird application cannot be launched, left clicking the icon from the launcher or right clicking and selecting Thunderbird mail just recall the open window rather than bring up the main application, and there is no option to bring it up without closing all open thunderbird windows.

for example if you have closed all thunderbird windows or have not yet launched it, you right click the icon in the launcher and select compose new message, you then cannot launch thunderbird from the launcher without closing this new email window

In this situation running the command thunderbird from a console window launches it correctly.