Priorslee Lake: 07:10 – 09:50
Location
Sunrise: 08:10 GMT
10°C: Scattered low cloud below high overcast; a few light sprinkles. Light SSW wind. Good visibility
Best today was a Fox at the lake – my first sighting here this year
(168th visit of the year)
Notes from today
- 4 (3♂) Pochard flew off W and were probably some of the birds seen at The Flash later
- 2 of the brownhead Goosanders circled the lake a few times and came within a few feet of touchdown: but did not
- small arrival of Great Crested Grebes since yesterday
- 2 Water Rails heard. Later one (of these?) seen by the Wesley Brook bridge along with single Moorhens and Coots: unusual for Coots to be this far away from the open water of the lake
- the overflying Wood Pigeons included a party of 76 flying E: these are assumed to be some of the >50 birds seen flying off SE from Wards Rough some time later
- Green Woodpecker heard calling from the old Celestica site
- a Blackbird heard in quiet song: my first of the new season here (one has been singing in Newport for over a week now)
- 3 Song Thrushes singing today
and
- single Mottled Umber and Winter Moth on the lamps
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 7 (2♂) Goosander (3 groups)
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Herring Gulls
- 144 Wood Pigeons
- 208 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 2 Ravens
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 7 Fieldfares (3 groups)
- 39 Redwings (6 groups)
- 2 Greenfinches
- 2 Goldfinches
- 3 Siskins
- 1 Linnet
Birds leaving roost around lake
- 47 Magpies
- 9 Redwings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Shovelers
- 7 (5♂) Pochard
- 56 (33♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails
- 9 Moorhens
- 60 Coots
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
I had another attempt, without flash, at ID-ing the strange ‘insect’ on one of the lamps today. Here it has the shape of a lacewing, but lacks either colour or antenna. The veins and spots in the wings ought to be a clue.
This angle does not add much. I do wonder whether it is an exuvia and there is no longer anyone inside. Which leaves the question of who was inside unanswered!
The Flash: 09:55 – 10:10
Location
(126th visit of the year)
Again misjudged my timing and it was an unseemly sprint past here to catch my bus; so numbers a bit suspect – all likely under-recorded
Notes from here
- another large count of Goosander: am amazed there are any fish left
- Song Thrush still in song
Birds noted flying over
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 21 (13♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 53 (29♂) Tufted Ducks
- 46 (8♂) Goosander
- 1 Moorhen
- 11 Coots
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
Location
Sunrise: 08:10 GMT
10°C: Scattered low cloud below high overcast; a few light sprinkles. Light SSW wind. Good visibility
Best today was a Fox at the lake – my first sighting here this year
(168th visit of the year)
Notes from today
- 4 (3♂) Pochard flew off W and were probably some of the birds seen at The Flash later
- 2 of the brownhead Goosanders circled the lake a few times and came within a few feet of touchdown: but did not
- small arrival of Great Crested Grebes since yesterday
- 2 Water Rails heard. Later one (of these?) seen by the Wesley Brook bridge along with single Moorhens and Coots: unusual for Coots to be this far away from the open water of the lake
- the overflying Wood Pigeons included a party of 76 flying E: these are assumed to be some of the >50 birds seen flying off SE from Wards Rough some time later
- Green Woodpecker heard calling from the old Celestica site
- a Blackbird heard in quiet song: my first of the new season here (one has been singing in Newport for over a week now)
- 3 Song Thrushes singing today
and
- single Mottled Umber and Winter Moth on the lamps
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 7 (2♂) Goosander (3 groups)
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Herring Gulls
- 144 Wood Pigeons
- 208 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 2 Ravens
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 7 Fieldfares (3 groups)
- 39 Redwings (6 groups)
- 2 Greenfinches
- 2 Goldfinches
- 3 Siskins
- 1 Linnet
Birds leaving roost around lake
- 47 Magpies
- 9 Redwings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Shovelers
- 7 (5♂) Pochard
- 56 (33♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails
- 9 Moorhens
- 60 Coots
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location
(126th visit of the year)
Again misjudged my timing and it was an unseemly sprint past here to catch my bus; so numbers a bit suspect – all likely under-recorded
Notes from here
- another large count of Goosander: am amazed there are any fish left
- Song Thrush still in song
Birds noted flying over
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 21 (13♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 53 (29♂) Tufted Ducks
- 46 (8♂) Goosander
- 1 Moorhen
- 11 Coots
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in ...........
2015Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
6 Gadwall
4 Pochard
2 Teal
4 Raven
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
3 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
Horsehay Pool
Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe.
3 Gadwall.
6 Pochard.
46 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Water Rail
155 Coots
23 Redwings
6 Fieldfares.
151 Jackdaws
63 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull
2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
c20 Herring Gulls.
(J W Reeves)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull
An adult Little Gull
(Jason/Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
53 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Merlin
3 Buzzards
>500 Black-headed Gulls
234 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
24 Robins
22 Blackbirds
122 Fieldfares
178 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
139 Jackdaws
66 Rooks
12 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)
2005
Priorslee Lake
160 Golden Plover
1500 Black-headed Gulls
400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Little Grebes
13 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
239 Coot
1 Water Rail
142 Jackdaws
251 Rooks
2 Redpolls
47 Siskins
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)