Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:30
Location
Sunrise: 06:03
50°C > 70°C: Overcast again. Calm. Good visibility
(46th visit of the year)
Highlight today was certainly 2, probably 3 and just possibly 4 Kittiwakes
- after checking the W end bushes I first looked at the lake at c.07:30 when there were two Kittiwakes circling over the far E end. These had left by 07:45 when I was at that end
- at 08:20 a Kittiwake and 5 Herring Gulls appeared from the SW area, circled for a few minutes, and then flew off to the W. I would surmise that as only one bird was involved this was likely a different individual
- at 08:25 a large party of gulls appeared high from the N with most of the 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading straight through. Most of the 78 Herring Gulls started circling over the lake, but then after a few minutes began to spiral up higher and drifting off SE. At this point I noted a Kittiwake moving away from this spiral and heading N. Was this a different bird? Hard to say as all the birds were full adults
- no gulls on the water at all
However many there were this is my first sighting of multiple birds here; and only the 2nd year I have seen the species more than once on Spring migration
Other notes
- the 4 geese flew straight overhead at 09:10 without calling and therefore could not be reliably identified
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 4 geese sp. (1 party)
- 2 – 4 Kittiwakes (see notes)
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 83 Herring Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Sky Lark
- 6 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 4 Greenfinches
- 7 Goldfinches again
- 6 Siskins
- 1 Redpoll again
- 1 Yellowhammer
Singing warblers around the lake
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler
- 3 Chiffchaffs
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall remain
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 21 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 12 Great Crested Grebes
- 20 Moorhens
- 69 Coots
These are the first two Kittiwakes photographed at the ‘other end’ of the lake at 07:35. Rather distant but sufficient to see the solid black wing-tip.
The start of Spring with these flowers seen alongside the Wesley Brook, an area disturbed when the roadway was reconstructed for the new Academy. They are Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). The leaves of this plant only open after the flowers have been pollinated and the seed set.
Another early-flowering plant: two spikes here of what seems to be Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) though I am not quite sure why the leaves are red. Certainly the stems were square which fits this family and this is the first member to flower.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 09:40 – 09:55
Location
(31st visit of the year)
Notes
A very uninspiring morning
Birds noted flying over
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 19 (14♂) Mallard
- 21 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- no gulls here either
(Ed Wilson)
Sunrise: 06:03
50°C > 70°C: Overcast again. Calm. Good visibility
(46th visit of the year)
Highlight today was certainly 2, probably 3 and just possibly 4 Kittiwakes
- after checking the W end bushes I first looked at the lake at c.07:30 when there were two Kittiwakes circling over the far E end. These had left by 07:45 when I was at that end
- at 08:20 a Kittiwake and 5 Herring Gulls appeared from the SW area, circled for a few minutes, and then flew off to the W. I would surmise that as only one bird was involved this was likely a different individual
- at 08:25 a large party of gulls appeared high from the N with most of the 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading straight through. Most of the 78 Herring Gulls started circling over the lake, but then after a few minutes began to spiral up higher and drifting off SE. At this point I noted a Kittiwake moving away from this spiral and heading N. Was this a different bird? Hard to say as all the birds were full adults
- no gulls on the water at all
However many there were this is my first sighting of multiple birds here; and only the 2nd year I have seen the species more than once on Spring migration
Other notes
- the 4 geese flew straight overhead at 09:10 without calling and therefore could not be reliably identified
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 4 geese sp. (1 party)
- 2 – 4 Kittiwakes (see notes)
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 83 Herring Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Sky Lark
- 6 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 4 Greenfinches
- 7 Goldfinches again
- 6 Siskins
- 1 Redpoll again
- 1 Yellowhammer
Singing warblers around the lake
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler
- 3 Chiffchaffs
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall remain
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 21 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 12 Great Crested Grebes
- 20 Moorhens
- 69 Coots
Here is the bird that arrived with 5 Herring Gulls at 08:20.
This was the Kittiwake heading high N overhead at 08:28.
A close-up of one of the flower heads
A close-up of a better specimen
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 09:40 – 09:55
Location
(31st visit of the year)
Notes
A very uninspiring morning
Birds noted flying over
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 19 (14♂) Mallard
- 21 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- no gulls here either
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in .....................
2015Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee LakeTeal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)