1.5°C > 6.0°C: Clear fine and frosty start; some mist over lake early; and rather hazy. Light W wind later. Good visibility
Sunrise: 06:44 GMT
(23rd visit of the year)
Notes from today:
- I could only find 6 Great Crested Grebes today
- most of the Black-headed Gulls flew straight over this morning
- the (adult) Lesser Black-backed Gull was the first gull to arrive; apart from a fly-over immature Herring Gull as I was about to leave this was the only large gull seen today
- 2 Stock Doves seen displaying over their traditional area
- a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers this morning – have seen multiple birds recently but today was the first time I have been able to check the sex of those flying around calling noisily
- two Mistle Thrushes seen in the NW trees while the regular bird was singing from the trees alongside Teece Drive
- 29 Siskins at least flying over early. Later just a single bird seen in the trees here
and
- no moths on the lamps this morning
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 20 Canada Geese (7 groups)
- 7 Cormorants (3 groups)
- 27 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 194 Jackdaws (14 groups)
- 12 Rooks (9 singles / groups)
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 29 Siskins (4 groups)
Roost / departure counts
- >35 Magpies
- 5 Redwings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 all-white feral goose remains
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 15 (10♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens only
- 34 Coots
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
The male Great Spotted Woodpecker with the red patch on the nape.
And the female without the red patch.
A female Greenfinch amongst the Alder catkins and cones.
And Hazel catkins in the morning sun.
The Blackthorn now really in flower.
And in close-up.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:30 – 08:00
(18th visit of the year)
Best today was an unexpected Oystercatcher on the island at The Flash. My first this year and perhaps my first-ever at The Flash. This ‘wader’ is seen surprisingly often inland and breeds locally. This bird no doubt looking for a breeding site
In addition to the Oystercatcher also new for my 2017 Flash list were two Reed Buntings in flight; from their path I think they come from the wet area along the W side. I see this species in Spring most years but it never stays to breed
Other notes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes today
Birds noted flying over here
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 15 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 16 (13♂) Mallard
- 30 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant yet again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens again
- 10 Coots only
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Black-headed Gull briefly
The unexpected Oystercatcher on the island here.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in ...........
2015Priorslee Lake
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Gary Crowder)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Goldeneye
1 Shoveler
27 Wigeon
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Gull
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
3 Lapwing
Linnet
Pheasant
Skylark
Yellowhammer
(John Isherwood)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Mute Swan
6 Great Crested Grebe
(Martin Grant)
2010
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
6 Gadwall
36 Pochard
60 Tufted Duck
1 Barn Owl
Stock Dove
c.25 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
12 Tufted Duck
332 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Merlin
c.200 Wood Pigeon
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
9 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Teal
6 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
106 Coots
1 Water Rail
c.450 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
275 Wood Pigeon
178 Jackdaws
27 Starlings
4 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
19 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)