14 Jan 17

Priorslee Lake: 07:10 – 09:25

3°C > 4°C: Started with broken cloud and the odd light shower with more persistent rain later. Just frosted under-foot and still some remaining snow in sheltered bits, all soon washed away. Moderate W wind. Very good visibility, moderate in the rain.

Sunrise: 08:14 GMT

(11th visit of the year)

No new species for my 2017 Priorslee Lake list

Notes from today:
- 4 Teal new in [I was told that there were also four here yesterday when I did not visit: my informant thought those were two pairs, but today there were certainly three drakes]
- a pair of Goosanders circled the lake before heading back W
- [continuing reports of a Tawny Owl calling at night from the wooded area alongside Teece Drive]
- gull numbers remain very low
- Green Woodpecker heard calling at dawn from the direction of the old Celestica site: probably roosts here regularly and I only hear it when I am in the right place at the right time
- largest roost count of Redwing of this winter: 14 is hardly that noteworthy
and
- no moths or other insects on the lamps

Birds noted flying over the lake
- 5 Canada Geese (2 groups)
- 2 (1♂) Goosanders
- 24 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- c.240 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook again
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 1 Greenfinch
- 2 Goldfinches again
- 6 Siskins
- 1 Linnet

Roost counts
- (Magpies roost not counted)
- 14 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 4 (3♂) (Common) Teal
- 16 (10♂) Mallard
- 7 (6♂) Pochard
- 41 (24♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Water Rails (heard only)
- 8 Moorhens
- 45 Coots
- 23 Black-headed Gulls

Time to prepare: “red sky in the morning, shepherds’ warning” certainly came true later on.

a slightly later view.

and later still with ...

... a closer view of the brightest part

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:35 – 09:55

(8th visit of the year)


No new species for my 2017 Flash list

Notes from today:
- higher than usual count of Mallard here
- no Goosander this morning
- low number of gulls here also

Birds flying over here
- 2 Ravens

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 46 (32♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 41 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 11 Coots
- 22 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2016

Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Scaup
2 Great Black-backed Gulls 
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
15 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
>114 Coots
72 Black-headed Gulls
176 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
53 Herring Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson/Tom Lowe)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull.
5+ Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
 Lapwing
5 Great Crested Grebes
26 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
12 Redwing
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Pool
141 Canada Geese
3 Pochard again
57 Tufted Duck
102 Coot logged
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Yellow-legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
16 Cormorants
24 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosanders
1 Water Rail
200 Lapwings
>640 Black-headed Gulls
66 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
25 Robins
18 Blackbirds
14 Fieldfares
7 Song Thrushes
19 Redwings
7 Mistle Thrushes
42 Magpies
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
600 Wood Pigeons
13 Great Crested Grebes
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
216 Coots
1 Water Rail.
219 Jackdaws
210 Rooks
62 Siskins
3 Reed Bunting
1 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)