13 Oct 17

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

14.5°C > 19.0°C (!!): Mostly cloudy with some breaks. Moderate / fresh SW wind. Very good visibility. Mild

Sunrise: 07:31 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:25

(117th visit of the year)

Best today was the Peregrine that shot over, scattering Wood Pigeons, c.08:10. My only previous record here this year was as long ago as 11 January

Notes from today:
- 10 Mallard seen to fly off pre-dawn: at least 8 returned
- a Water Rail heard calling from the S side this morning: my first-ever from this area. That said I am not often in the area pre-dawn when this species is most vocal
- higher number of large gulls today, apparently all Lesser Black-backed Gulls. At least 40 few S to the far W at dawn; 12 flew W to the N much later; then 45 spiralled down from a great height – too high to see even with binoculars – to land on the lake. 42 of these 45 seemed to be full adults
- rather more Wood Pigeons seen overhead. Some of these likely put up by the passing Peregrine. Two small groups seemed to be setting off with a purpose
and
- on the lamps I could only locate a single spider and that was not in a photographable position
- I flushed a moth again: it was one of the November Moth agg. that can only be separated by genitalia examination (the moth’s: not mine). On date it is most likely a ‘real’ November Moth

On with today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over the lake:
- 30 Canada Geese (4 outbound; 26 inbound)
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine Falcon
- 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves (singles)
- 140 Wood Pigeons
- >750 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 3 Starlings (1 group)
- 13 Pied Wagtails
- 3 Meadow Pipits
- 3 Greenfinches
- 9 Goldfinches

Hirundines or warblers seen or heard today
None

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans: the usual
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 1 (1♂) Eurasian Wigeon (13th day)
- 22 (12♂) Mallard
- 33 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 6 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard only
- 6 Moorhens once more
- 157 Coots
- >225 Black-headed Gulls
- 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

The progress of the waning moon.

The ‘sunrise’ was rather better when looking toward the W this morning.

Very much a ‘grab shot’ – you do not get too much warning when a Peregrine shoots over. No mistaking the falcon-shaped wings and the broad body of what is likely a female. In most birds of prey the female is the larger bird.

Pushing the editing as far as I dare we can at least make out the black hood and broad dark moustache.

Here is a photo of a different Peregrine that I took only yesterday at the RSPB Reserve at Burton Mere. It is in better light and I had more time to get a shot as the bird was circling overhead.

This is the moth that has to be classified as November Moth agg. since a specific identification requires its genitalia to be examined.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:35 – 10:00 // 10:45 – 10:55

(26th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- still only 1 adult Mute Swan seen: and now one cygnet missing. All the others went for a test-flight around the pool this morning
- higher numbers of Mallard (both here and at Middle Pool)
- see notes for Middle Pool also: increase in number of Tufted Ducks here; decrease there
- the Little Grebes were new here this season
- one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls looked in a very sad state, almost submerged
- 1 Grey Wagtail again: the same colour-ringed bird
and

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Jackdaws coming and going]
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Starlings

Hirundines or warblers logged
None

The counts from the water
- 1 + 7 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 33 (18♂) Mallards
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 12 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron flew off
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 juvenile Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens again
- 116 Coots
- 25 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Plants not checked here today

A rather sorry-looking adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Looks terminally water-logged to me.

He’s still here: the Grey Wagtail with the colour ring ‘BT’.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:05 – 10:40

(22nd visit of the year)

Notes
- almost all the geese flew in after c.10:10. No Greylag Geese again
- many fewer Tufted Duck here today: perhaps some gone to Trench Lock Pool?
- only 1 of last week’s two juvenile Great Crested Grebes noted
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel was my first of the year here

Birds noted flying over here
None

Warblers noted
None

The counts from the water
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 69 Canada Geese
- 31 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 4 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Moorhens again
- 29 Coots again
- 52 Black-headed Gulls

Plants not checked here

A quartet of Canada Geese flare for landing.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Nedge Hill
1 Fieldfare
100+ Redwing
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
10 Cormorants
3 Wigeon
15 Pochard
84 Tufted Ducks
Snipe
Kingfisher
8 Redwings
5 Jays
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
7 Wigeon
500+  Lesser Black-backed Gull
52  Mute Swan 52
1 Little Grebe
(Mike Cooper)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck 
Treecreepers
19 Blackbirds
57 Robins
7 Song Thrushes
5 Redwings
2 Chiffchaffs
Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Skylarks
Several Redwings
3 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
50 Robins
9 Song Thrushes
8 Redwings
1 Treecreeper
(Ed Wilson)