9 Dec 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:25 – 09:35
Location

13°C > 14°C: Scattered low cloud below medium overcast; a few darker bits and a light shower. Moderate SW wind. Good visibility

A small movement of large gulls heading S early; later Redwings heading W over the lake and The Flash

(167th visit of the year)

Early watch from the NE area this morning checking whether Redwings were using this traditional site – they did not seem to be, though I may have been a little late ‘on site’. The 7 I noted leaving roosts were around the Teece Drive area

Notes from today
- at least 35 Black-headed Gulls were just getting up from the water when I arrived and these seem likely to have roosted here
- very few Wood Pigeons: just 9 overhead and only 5 more in trees around lake
- the mild weather tempted two Song Thrushes in to song today
- largest Redwing group was 52 birds: several singles as well
and
- 3 Winter Moths on the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 28 Black-headed Gulls
- 191 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeons (2 groups)
- 9 Wood Pigeons only
- 104 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 120 Redwings (13 singles / groups)
- 1 Skylark
- 5 Goldfinches
- 4 Siskins

Birds leaving roost around lake
- 35 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 24 Magpies
- 7 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Shovelers
- 5 (3♂) Pochard
- 51 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 52 Coots
- c.130 Black-headed Gulls
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls

Just enough to identify this aberrant individual ...

Yes: just a Robin with white in the primaries. The white was, as far as I could tell, symmetrical – the same on both wings. Blackbird is the species most prone to albino patches and such white areas are usually asymmetrical (sorry its not sharp – not much light this morning).

Rather bemused by this: it might be a Sallow Button (Acleris hastiana) moth. On the other hand ... apart from it having eyes I am rather at a loss.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:10
Location

125th visit of the year)
All counts subject to possible error: the very many – close to a record number – Goosander were in several groups moving around to avoid dog-walkers and continually diving

Notes from here
- Kingfisher head
- Song Thrush in song again

Counts of birds flying over
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 76 Redwings (5 groups)

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 30 (22♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 38 (24♂) Tufted Ducks
- 43 (10♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens again
- 13 Coots
- 68 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in ...........

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Little Egret
3 Gadwall
3 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
169 Coots
c.233 Wood Pigeons
6 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
c.800 Jackdaws
137 Rooks
16 Siskins
2 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
39 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
162 Coots counted again
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebes
38 Swans
34 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
c.1800 Black-headed Gulls
210 Lesser Black-backs
8 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull 
14 Redwings
1 Siskin flew over
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Ducks
2 Goosanders
3 Lapwings
1 Snipe
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
865 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
22 Robins
22 Blackbirds
6 Redwings
243 Jackdaws
133 Rooks
1 Brambling
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
2500 Black-headed Gulls
250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Little Grebes
11 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
237 Coot
2 Redpolls
24 Siskins
2 Redwings
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)