20 Nov 17

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Scattered low level cloud below broken mid-level cloud: some clear bits and then some light showers later. Moderate SW wind, fresh at times. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:40 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:30

(137th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- 4 Lapwings appeared overhead c.08:20, circled for a while and then moved on. First record here since 14 May
- nice to see some Herring Gulls among the over-flying large gulls. Since the demise of the landfill site the number of all gulls in and around the lake has declined markedly
- two Long-tailed Tit parties today: at least 13 birds in the group by the Teece Drive gate: later 10 birds flew E over Castle Farm Road from the S side. I often see these groups but they are usually difficult to count
- of the 19 Redwings logged as roosting just 7 were in the ‘traditional’ site along the N side. The rest were mainly singles flushed / seen leaving various other locations around the lake
- c.110 Starlings shot out of the reeds, again with a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit – success unknown. Some five minutes later another c.60 birds flew over leaving a local roost but exactly where from I am unsure. They seemed to come from the trees above the reeds: but Starlings normally use only reed-beds or vegetated areas (conifers or evergreen shrubs) in which they can hide and there is nothing suitable in the area
and, all on the lamps
- 1 Winter Moth pre-dawn only again
- 3 Garden Spiders (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 Earwig sp. (likely Forficula auricularia)
- 1 Crane-fly sp. (most likely Tipula luteipennis)

On with today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over the lake:
- 1 Buzzard
- 4 Lapwings
- 58 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 5 Feral Pigeons (single and one group)
- 3 Stock Doves (singles)
- 92 Wood Pigeons (including 59 migrants in 3 groups)
- c.720 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks again
- 1 Starling again
- 6 Fieldfares (2 groups)
- 133 Redwings (15 singles / groups)
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 5 Greenfinches
- 13 Goldfinches
- 6 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpies not counted]
- c.170 Starlings (see notes)
- 19 Redwings (see notes)

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 9 (5♂) Gadwall once more
- 19 (11♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 44 (20♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 + 1 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Moorhens
- 167 Coots
- c.125 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

This crane-fly sp. is most likely Tipula luteipennis on the basis of unmarked wings, slender body and flight date. This species is also noted as attracted to light – which clearly this was.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:40 – 10:15 // 11:00 – 11:05

(31st visit of the year)

Notes from here
- on my first look I counted 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 2 Herring Gulls and a putative Yellow-legged Gull. As I was positioning for a better view most of these took off and flew around with many leaving. Luckily the camera came up trumps and I was able to confirm it was a Yellow-legged Gull. Then when I returned from Middle Pool for a quick re-check I found 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, many of which seemed to be different birds from those present earlier
- a Grey Wagtail here again

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- 18 Starlings
- 12 Redwings

The counts from the water
- 1 + 6 Mute Swans again
- 29 Canada Geese
- 23 (13♂) Mallards
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard again
- 43 (24♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1♂) Goosander again
- 3 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 6 Moorhens again
- 118 Coots again
- 49 Black-headed Gulls
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (see notes)
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull (see notes)

This is the adult winter Yellow-legged Gull leaving. In the poor light the bird is not quite sharp but it seems to have the white ‘mirror’ on the outer primary only. Note also the unmarked head and quite dark-looking wings, though not as dark as a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Another view.

From the underside the presence of the ‘mirror’ on the outer primary is confirmed. Note the rather large bill of this species. Do those legs look yellow? I think they do but in shadow it is hard to be certain.

In contrast here is an adult winter Herring Gull showing rather more extensive head spotting than many. The black on the upper mandible is typical at this date – will start losing this within a month or six weeks as it start a slow change to summer plumage.
(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:20 – 10:55

(28th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- at least one of cygnets from the Mute Swan family is now sporting a blue Darvic ring – 7JLI
- my first Goosanders of the season here. As elsewhere the ratio of drakes is much higher so far this winter than in recent years when ‘brownheads’ have far outnumbered drakes (this species last recorded here 26 March)
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker here
- the Siskins over may have also landed here: my first at this site since 2014 at least
and
- Tufted Vetch noted still in flower here

Birds noted flying over here
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Redwing
- 3 Siskins

The counts from the water
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 37 Canada Geese
- 29 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard again
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 (5♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 11 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- 91 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull

The one swan ring I managed to read today – 7JLI.

One of the drake Goosanders trails weed from its bill as it passes an adult winter Black-headed Gull.

Here are three other drake Goosanders. The middle bird is a first winter moulting out of ‘brownhead’ plumage.

The first winter with an adult drake

Rather better light here on this adult winter Herring Gull. This bird has black on both mandibles and you would struggle to see any red on the lower mandible – just a hint at the front of the black spot. There are no signs in the wing-markings that this is anything other than a full adult.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall 
8 Pochard 
15 Tufted Ducks 
149 Coots 
286 Redwings
84 Fieldfares
c.350 Jackdaws but no Rooks seen.
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
42 Mute Swan
1 Wigeon
c. 45 Tufted
36 Pochard
c. 240 Coot
c. 400 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c. 120 Black-headed Gull
10 Herring Gull
3 Yellow Legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 male Stonechat showing well near to sailing club hut.
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
31 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
8 Lapwings
>550 Black-headed Gulls
187 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
239 Wood Pigeons
40 Robins
32 Blackbirds
60 Fieldfares
11 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
310 Jackdaws
150 Rooks
35 Greenfinch
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
18 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
3 Ruddy Duck
1 Wigeon
c.200 Coot
4 Cormorant
C.750 birds
24 Fieldfare
3 Redpoll
12 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam)