18 Oct 17

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

6.5°C > 11.5°C: Clear start very soon gave way to lowering cloud from the S. Calm start with light SE breeze later. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:40 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:40

(122nd visit of the year)

Today’s frustration was what sounded like a falcon sp. calling at the W end c.07:00. Did not sound quite right for Kestrel (seen several times in the area recently); or for Peregrine. So ....? Pass

Other notes from today:
- just a lone goose overhead: 1 Greylag
- a new Eurasian Wigeon: a duck this time
- a 3rd drake Gadwall. The duck was certainly making her feelings felt about which male she preferred
- two Cormorants over: the two birds that arrived did so much later
- the Water Rail was seen near the Wesley Brook bridge this morning
- rather few Wood Pigeons seen until I noticed a migrant group of 72 birds flying S far to the W. Did not see any more large groups here – but see notes from Trench Lock Pool
- two concurrent large parties of Jackdaws, each with at least 350 birds. Over 150 in smaller groups later
- 1 Chiffchaff heard in the calmer conditions today
- first large party of Starlings on the season with a groups of >120 flying S
- several Redwings were calling from the tree-tops as I arrived: first of the season in the trees
- the flying Pied Wagtails were headed in several different directions today: normally they go mainly S
and
- no fewer than 11 examples of the November Moth group on the lamps

On with today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over the lake:
- 1 Greylag Goose (inbound)
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Common Buzzards again
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 120 Wood Pigeons
- c.850 Jackdaws only
- 2 Rooks
- c.120 Starlings (1 group)
- 11 Pied Wagtails
- 3 Meadow Pipits
- 30 Redwings (4 groups)
- 4 Greenfinches
- 21 Goldfinches (1 group)
- 2 Siskins

Hirundines
None

Warblers seen or heard today
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 1 (0♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 4 (3♂) Gadwall
- 26 > 11 (6♂) Mallard
- 31 (15♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 6 + 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Water Rail seen
- 6 Moorhens
- 120 Coots
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Kingfisher

The new duck Eurasian Wigeon kept its distance so a ‘record shot’ of it dribbling is all I could manage.

Hmm: there seems to be a reason why it was dribbling as it appears to have something in its bill – fishing line? I hope not.

The Black-headed Gulls like to sit on the lamp brackets. Can’t be to warm their feet as not only are the lights off, but all the heads have been replaced with new LED arrays which run ‘cold’.

I won’t bore you with all 11 November Moth-types that were at the lake this morning (with another 6 at Trench Lock). Here are two in close company.
(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:50 – 10:25 // 11:00 – 11:10

(27th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- lower numbers of Mallard both here and at Middle Pool this week
- last week’s sad-looking Lesser Black-backed Gull had succumbed: a floating dead body
- party of at least 280 Wood Pigeons flew W with parties of 26 and 23 chasing: my largest-ever count here
- 1 Grey Wagtail again
- 3 Redwings over (with one of the Wood Pigeon parties) were my first of the year here
- the 2 Meadow Pipits over were also my first of the year here
and
- 6 November Moth-types on the walls of the Blue Pig pub

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- >330 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Redwings
- 2 Meadow Pipits

Hirundines or warblers logged
None

The counts from the water
- 1 + 7 Mute Swans again
- 2 Canada Geese
- 11 (6♂) Mallards
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard again
- 18 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe only
- 5 Moorhens
- 116 Coots again
- 22 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 dead Lesser Black-backed Gull

This pair of Tufted Duck went for a fly-around: the drake in front with the cleaner white flanks.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:30 – 10:55

(23rd visit of the year)

Notes
- neither of the recent juvenile Great Crested Grebes noted
and
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- 1 Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus): seen briefly but fairly certain it was this species: my first here

Birds noted flying over here
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Goldfinches

Warblers noted
None

The counts from the water
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 53 Canada Geese
- 17 (11♂) Mallard
- [no ‘feral’ Mallards]
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 36 Black-headed Gulls

Through the binoculars I was not entirely positive that these two Great Crested Grebes were adults – was the slight mark on the cheeks: shadow or remnant juvenile stripes? The photo shows they are both adults, now without the breeding season head-plumes.

They even had a few thoughts of displaying: but didn’t.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2008
Priorslee Lake
992 Redwings
203 Fieldfare
Siskins
Redpolls
6 Pochard
c.150 Tufted Duck
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
18 Pochard
98 Tufted Ducks
1 duck Goldeneye
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Kingfisher
20 Pied Wagtails
18 Wrens
46 Robin
20 Blackbirds
6 Song Thrushes
42 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
12 Starlings
52 Greenfinches
9 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)