Two Cormorants leave the lake: an immature with the pale belly leads a more mature bird – you can see the white ‘chin’ clearly. This bird only shows a hint of the white breeding ‘thigh-patch’ which suggests it might not be a full adult.

An extreme-range record shot of the drake Wigeon from the pair present today. You can make out the yellow crown, the white in the folded wing and the black rear end which identifies this species (the American Wigeon of north and central America is very similar but has a white crown and is often called a ‘Baldpate’).

The usual warning: “don’t try this at home”. Whoops: not quite central! The encroaching mist and low cloud gave me the opportunity to check the sun-spots: here there are three large spots on the 4 o'clock axis, two along the 12 o'clock axis and one or two faint ones at c.10:30.

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Priorslee Flash: 13:37 - 14:14
Map

(4th visit of the year)

Notes
The Swans were chasing one of the Canada Geese: later the cob seen chasing the pen – a likely sign of Spring rather than an attempt to drive her away.
The small Cackling-type Lesser Canada Goose ssp. was present but with a different ‘partner’ – last year it was usually with the only Canada Goose that carries a BTO ring, and that was seen today on the ice at the other end of the pool.
No grebes – too much ice?
Chaffinch heard in song – first of year

No birds counted flying over The Flash

The counts from the water
2 Mute Swans
23 Canada Geese
1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
1 all-white feral goose
52 (33♂) Mallard
1 feral ducks (white one only)
3 (2♂) Shoveler
24 (10♂) Tufted Ducks
10 Moorhens
20 Coots
152 Black-headed Gulls
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
4 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

Two 1st winter Herring Gulls on the ice (with a winter Black-headed Gull behind). Note the size difference. Probably male (the larger) and female, though migrant birds from Scandinavia are larger anyway.

Two fine-looking adult Lesser Black-backs (with 6 winter Black-headed Gulls behind). Note that these have just about lost the winter dark head-markings as they now come in to breeding condition. The legs should get a brighter yellow soon. I think the slight difference in the ‘black’ of the back is an effect of the angle of the light: it was not apparent in the field.

A Coot struggles with the ice.

A drake Shoveler best foot forward on the ice. Now in full breeding finery.

A 1st winter Black-headed Gull. Will soon start to acquire some black feathers on the ‘hood’ but will not lose the brow feathers in the wing until it next moults the wings in August / September.

Five Black-headed Gulls fight for food on the ice: the bird on the right is a 1st winter bird, the others adults.

and again

Well: do you? Act now if you want to protest.

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Trench Lock Pool
Map

Afternoon Update: 12:55 – 13:15

(2nd visit of the year)

Notes
Nothing special

Overhead
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull

The counts
2 Mute Swans only (Blue 7FTY and 7HSZ)
1 Greylag Goose
39 Canada Geese
40 (21♂) Mallard
3 feral Mallard-type ducks
11 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
1 Great Crested Grebe
8 Moorhen
16 Coots
31 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

A Greylag x ? Goose with its Canada Goose companion. Note how the feathers look larger on this bird that is only slightly bigger than the Canada Goose. Canada Goose is the largest ‘wild’ goose in the UK, though rather variable in size with the females averaging smaller: It suggests the Greylag x bird is a gander and the Canada is a goose.

A Grey Wagtail ascends the roof of the Blue Pig at Trench, apparently using one toe to do so! Some pink at the base of the bill suggests this is a 1st winter bird. At this time of year the dark throat worn by the male in breeding plumage would not show on a 1st winter bird.

Midday Update:

1st-winter Caspian Gull again at mid-day. Via BirdGuides

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Trench Middle Pool: 12:55 – 13:15
Map

(2nd visit of the year)

Notes
Nothing special

Overhead
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull

The counts
2 Mute Swans only (Blue 7FTY and 7HSZ)
1 Greylag Goose
39 Canada Geese
40 (21♂) Mallard
3 feral Mallard-type ducks
11 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
1 Great Crested Grebe
8 Moorhen
16 Coots
31 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2014

Priorslee Lake

2014

Velvet Scoter
(David Barnes)

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2013
2nd-winter Glaucous Gull
(Kriss Webb)

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2009
Glaucous Gull still present
Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid
(Jason Buckley/Andy Latham/Paul King)

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2007
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
Common Gull
(Martin Adlam)

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8 Feb 15