3.0°C > 4.0°C: Low overcast and misty. Moderate ESE wind. Moderate visibility.
Sunrise: 06:56 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:54 – 09:00
(41st visit of the year)
Well I did want a cloudy morning: not quite like this though. Very misty
A singing Blackcap in S-side bushes became my 79th confirmed bird species logged from around the lake this year
Notes from today:
- a pair of Shoveler dropped in between 06:30 and 06:40
- perhaps many of the Jackdaws were too far away to see in the murky conditions: certainly they were passing both E & W of my location which, unless you are Janus, is a bit of a problem when visibility is not good
- Goldcrests were up and about early this morning: the first (of three singing birds) started at 06:15
- Reed Buntings do not seem to be singing around the lake as they usually do. I hear calls and see birds well away from the reeds. The only song within the last 10 days or so has come from the fields to the E of Castle Farm Way
and
- still no moths on the lamps
- a clump of Primroses (Primula vulgaris) found lurking deep in cover
- signs the flowering Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) is just opening
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 8 Canada Geese (3 groups) again
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- 136 Jackdaws (17 groups)
- 11 Rooks (10 singles / pairs)
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Goldfinch
- 1 Lesser Redpoll again
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 13 (8♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash 09:05 – 09:35
(30th visit of the year)
Notes
- drake Gadwall still present
- only 1 Great Crested Grebe seen but the bird took a fish to a hidden location behind overhanging bushes – partner on nest here?
Birds noted flying over
None
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 32 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 11 (9♂) Mallard
- 30 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe (see notes)
- 7 Moorhens again
- 14 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
Between the lake and The Flash alongside the path
- single Moorhens on both the upper and the lower pools
- a singing Chiffchaff around the lower pool again
and
- the first Kingcups or marsh-marigolds (Caltha palustris) are flowering around the upper pool.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in ...........
2015Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
5+ Cormorants
31 Tufted Duck
1 Kittiwake
7 Fieldfare
6 Chiffchaffs
c.230 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Cackling Goose
2 Teal
49 Tufted Ducks
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
62 Tufted Duck
Steppe Gull?
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
26 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Cormorants
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Dunlin
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Flash
2 Shoveler
1 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
16 Fieldfares
1 Willow Warbler
4 Great Crested Grebe
4 Herons
4 Gadwall
29 Tufted Duck
c.215 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
16 Meadow Pipits
36 Robins
28 Blackbirds
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
127 Wood Pigeon
21 Wrens
3 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
8 Sand Martins
22 Siskin
6 Linnets
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam, Martin Grant)