25 Dec 17

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******** HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR READERS *********

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Priorslee Lake only

8.0°C > 8.5°C: Overcast with a few mainly light showers with a few brighter bits. Fresh SSW wind.
Good visibility

Sunrise: 08:21 GMT again

Priorslee Lake: 07:00 – 09:40

(170th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- the Canada Geese on the water at 07:05 left at three different times – the last was a single bird. I heard Greylag Geese but could find none on the water or in flight – it was still quite dark
- all 11 Gadwall noted today
- Little Grebes again only seen early on
- no Black-headed Gulls roosted: c.50 arrived at 07:35 with more arriving from the W until >300 by 08:00 when they all started to leave and only 3 remained at 08:10. More than 60 flew in from the W later, presumed returning birds rather than new arrivals
- for some two weeks now a single Black-headed Gull has been feeding on the grass of the former football field. Why its continues to do so, yet has not been joined by any others is a mystery
- having trouble counting the Magpie roost at the moment with birds apparently leaving the back of the roost when it is still too dark to see them properly. Seem to be many fewer than in previous years
- 3 Song Thrushes at least in song this morning. Song from a 4th location was, I think, one of these birds re-positioning
and
- 2 Mottled Umber moths: one of these on a different lamp
- a single small flowering head of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) that has survived the snow and frost

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 3 Canada Geese (1 group)
- 2 Buzzards again
- 4 Cormorants
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Feral Pigeons (1 group)
- 1 Stock Dove again
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
- 73 Jackdaws
- 21 Redwings (1 group)
- 1 Greenfinch
- 3 Siskins
- 1 Lesser Redpoll again

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpie roost not counted]
- 2 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 37 Canada Geese
- 11 (6♂) Gadwall
- 15 (11♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 55 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes again
- 5 Great Crested Grebe remain
- 10 Moorhens
- 195 Coots
- >300 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Kingfisher again

Found lying down, no doubt flattened by the snow, was this still-flowering Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The feathered leaves as well as the tight cluster of small white flowers identify. Only thing of vague interest this morning.

(Ed Wilson)

Also at the lake today a Grey Squirrel.

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

(Mark Williams)

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

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
2 Teal 
6 Pochard 
78 Tufted Ducks 
1 female Greater Scaup
222 Coots counted
Caspian Gull
2 Fieldfare
17 Redwings 
429 Jackdaws
173 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Pochard 
110 Tufted Ducks 
17 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
11 Swans 
1 Shoveler 
c.115 Tufted Duck 
7 Goosander
129 Coots 
41 Black-headed Gulls
51 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
21 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
26 Mute Swans today
4 Great Crested Grebes
>17 Greylag Geese
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
97 Tufted Ducks
Common Gull
309 Coot
5 Goldfinches
c.20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
31 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
58 Coots
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
c.3200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
15 Pied Wagtails
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)