21 Mar 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:20
Location

Sunrise: 06:08

-1°C > 6°C: After frost and mist overnight a clear sunny start with low cloud soon spreading from the NW. Light / moderate NW wind. Moderate visibility becoming very good

(44th visit of the year)

Highlights here
- the return of the / a Cetti’s Warbler
- a small but real migration of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits

Notes
- some Coots are well-advanced in nest building and some birds likely buried out of sight in the reeds
- most of the gulls were in tight groups that stayed together. The large gulls at the lake just dropped in for a wash and then left
- the Cetti’s was almost certainly heard on Saturday (19th) but there is a not dissimilar Hedge Sparrow / Dunnock on the same area and I had cause to pause both days. However the Cetti’s eventually became much more voluble and unmistakable. Last positively recorded here on 03 February: has it been lying low? is this the same bird?
- 2 Chiffchaffs around the lake: one singing and the other calling
- Bullfinch heard giving its very quiet and unobtrusive song – I am sure it is more commonly given, but seems to be rarely heard
- 17 Linnets still alongside Teece Drive
and
- 1 March Moth on the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Canada Geese (1 party)
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 36 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons (3 groups)
- 2 Stock Doves (2 groups)
- 64 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Jackdaws
- 2 Redwings
- 6 Pied Wagtails
- 5 Meadow Pipits
- 4 Greenfinches
- 10 Goldfinches
- 4 Siskins

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (2♂) Gadwall
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 18 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 14 Great Crested Grebes
- 18 Moorhens
- 53 Coots
- 93 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 24 Herring Gulls

An adult Herring Gull lifts off after a quick wash and brush up. I do find the leg colour of these large gulls hard to be sure about – it depends upon the light. This seems to have the expected pink legs but the feet are rather more orangey.

Part of one of the groups of Black-headed Gulls that passed low over the lake without stopping.

(Ed Wilson)


Some notes from Woodhouse Lane (08:20 – 08:40)
Location

Also rather quiet
- 4 Sky Larks seen, three of them singing
- 1 Chiffchaff in song near the sluice exit
- 1 Yellowhammer calling in flight

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Priorslee Flash: 09:30 – 10:00
Location

(30th visit of the year)

Notes
A very uninspiring morning with little new
- Tufted Duck numbers declining
- Kingfisher again
- Reed Bunting singing again

Birds noted flying over
- 6 Goldfinches
- 4 Siskin

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 16 (13♂) Mallard
- 13 (7♂) Tufted Duck again
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 12 Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls again

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in .....................
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

 2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon 
2 Gadwall 
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+  Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
7 Swans 
1 Pochard 
1 Greater Scaup 
66 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

 Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)

2011
The Flash 
48 Tufted Duck 

1 Green Woodpecker

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebe 
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)

 Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)