Following clarification of the rules about where and how to take exercise during the Covid-19 restrictions, it is now clear that I will be unable to make any further visits to the lake, so long as the these restrictions are in force. No-one may drive to walk their dog or to a place to take exercise.
This is therefore my last report until the situation changes for the better.
0.0°C > 5.0°C : Clear with an early frost. Calm / light and variable wind. Good visibility if somewhat hazy.
Sunrise: 05:56 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 05:25 – 08:10
(59th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The trio of Canada Geese that flew outbound were presumably the birds that arrived a few minutes later. The cob Mute Swan seemed to single out one of these to chase and pursued it around and around the water for at least 90 minutes. All three geese ended up on the SW grass and the swan backed off.
- After scanning the water numerous times to try and locate either of the Great Crested Grebes normally in the NW area – I never did – I suddenly noted a drake Tufted Duck in the middle of the water. Now where did he come from?
- An adult Black-headed Gull present by 05:30. Flew off SE at 05:45 and was presumably the birds circling overhead for a while c.05:55. The other adult noted flew W c.08:00.
- Two Starlings apparently flew out of a roost. At 06:15 this seemed rather late (and some while after two singles had flown) over. However Starlings are very unusual at the lake except on the ‘football’ field grass.
- An unusual sight of two male Blackcaps together by the Wesley Brook footbridge. Only one of them seemed to be singing.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Greylag Geese (pair outbound; two singles inbound)
- 10 Canada Geese (pair and trio outbound; single and quartet inbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 2 Stock Doves again
- 57 Wood Pigeons
- 15 Jackdaws
- 21 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 2 Starlings (see notes)
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 12 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck (see notes)
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Little Grebes again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- 8 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
Nothing else of note recorded
An unremarkable sunrise – other than the complete lack of cloud.
Another Chiffchaff photo. The right leg is just visible – more orange-toned than black on this bird.
(Ed Wilson)
Note
And thank you to Jodie Rogers for these two lovely sunset photos from The Flash and Priorslee Lake.
The Flash
Priorslee Lake
And also thank you to Heather Bennett for this great video of one of the resident Mute Swans chasing a Canada Goose at The Flash this lunchtime.
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On this day..........
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
13 Cormorants
4 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Duck
5 Sand Martins
6 Redwings
8 Chiffchaffs
>500 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
50 Tufted Ducks
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Mediterranean Gull.
Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull.
>1500 Black-headed Gulls
2 Redwings
65 Magpies
25 Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
6 Swans
2 Pochard
85 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Buzzards
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebe
4 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebe
3 Greylag Geese
32 Tufted Duck
Trench
1 Cormorant
43 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Little Ringed Plover
1 Cormorant
1 Mallard x Pintail
18 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Kittiwake
33 Wren
29 Robin
24 Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
39 Magpie
3 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
1 Snipe
3 Chiffchaff
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Barn Owl
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Shoveler
30 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
321 Wood Pigeons
2 Sky Larks
5 Meadow Pipits
33 Wrens
21 Robins
21 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
3 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
18 Greenfinches
8 Siskins
1 Linnet
6 Reed Buntings
1 Yellowhammer.
(Ed Wilson)