7.5°C > 10.0°C: Low cloud and slight drizzle soon descended to mist before lifting again later. Light SSE wind. Moderate visibility but poor for a while.
Sunrise: 06:34 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 05:27 – 06:50 // 07:40 – 09:18
(28th visit of the year)
A fly-over Lesser Redpoll was my 72nd confirmed species at the lake this year.
Notes from today:
- no fewer than 5 Chiffchaffs this morning, 4 of these in song. Seems a week or so early for this number
and
- no moths on the lamps this morning
Birds noted flying over the lake
****all numbers affected by the low cloud and mist*****
- 9 Canada Geese (4 groups)
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 14 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 149 Jackdaws (13 groups)
- 2 Rooks only (singles)
- 3 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Goldfinch
- 3 Siskin
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Roost / departure counts
None
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 9 (7♂) Mallard again
- 27 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron yet again
- 9 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 35 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:00 – 07:35
(22nd visit of the year)
A somewhat earlier visit: with the mist descended over the lake it seemed likely that it would affect The Flash less – it is smaller. And the mist might clear a bit while I was here. It did, somewhat
Notes
- 2 Jackdaws in trees was unusual. Despite this species nesting all over St Georges even fly-overs are not common. These birds may well have been ‘sitting out’ the misty conditions
Birds noted flying over in the misty conditions
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 37 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 19 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard remains
- 32 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 15 Coots again
- [no Black-headed Gulls]
Single Moorhens seen on both the upper and lower pools beside the path between the lake and The Flash
A very atmospheric view at The Flash, but not much use for birdwatching.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 09:28 – 09:46
(9th visit of the year)
Notes
- the adult Mute Swans have started to gently ‘persuade’ the cygnets to leave
- Pochard now gone
- rather fewer Coots probably because some nests are already occupied
Birds noted flying over in the misty conditions
None
The counts from the water
- 4 + 3 Mute Swans
- 25 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 23 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (1♂) Goosander
- 2 Cormorants
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 47 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in ...........
2016Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Leighton
1 Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
(BirdGuides)
2013
Wellington
Woodcock
(J Reeves)
2011
Priorslee Lake
10 Pochard
25 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Village
Blackcap
2 Redwing
Frog spawn
(Martin Adlam)
The Flash
5 Great Crested Grebe 5
2 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
10 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Buzzard
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Lapwing
Sparrowhawk
8 Linnets
15 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
6 Cormorant
17 Tufted Duck
29 Wren
35 Robin
25 Blackbird
14 Redwing
2 Chiffchaff singing
47 Magpie
9 Greenfinch
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Shelduck
6 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
1 Goosander
1 Ruddy Duck
114 Coots
1 Water Rail
221 Lesser-black Backed Gulls
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
5 Herring Gull
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Common Gull
159 Jackdaws
c.80 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
10 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
3 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)