30 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

-0.5°C > 6.0C: Frosty start under thin high cloud and calm winds. More cloud spread from NW c.10:00 with light / moderate SW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:56 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:45

(12th visit of the year)

A Sky Lark flying W overhead at 09:40 was my 56th bird species here in 2018

Other notes from today:
- another chapter in the Mute Swan saga. When I arrived there seemed to be four visitors. Later there were five with three of these associating with the three cygnets – two of these visitors seemed to be sub-adults with rather dull brown bills. These six all went for a fly after some chasing by the resident adults, the sub-adults leaving and the cygnets returning. Meanwhile the other two visitors did a little courting
- no Canada Geese at the lake when I arrived (perhaps they left very early?). 2 pairs(?) drifted in and stayed for a short while
- another reduction in Coot numbers
- many Black-headed Gulls flew straight through towards the SE. Today there was no suggestion that these returned to the lake where rather few gulls could be seen
- 28 of the 48 Wood Pigeons flying over were passing at high-level in 6 small groups. Apparently not local movements; neither any clear passage
- 21 Siskins flew SW over the dam. Later c.15 in the NE trees briefly: some of the same birds?
- 1 Reed Bunting seen leaving a roost: another head singing – my first song from this species this year
and
- nothing noted on the lamps

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 1 Greylag Goose (outbound)
- 4 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 25 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 7 Cormorants
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 48 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- c.425 Jackdaws
- 17 Rooks
- 45 Fieldfare (2 groups)
- 1 Skylark
- 1 Greenfinch
- 21 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
[Magpies not counted]
- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area
- 7 + 3 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 14 (9♂) Gadwall
- 15 (10♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard remain
- 57 (35♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 111 Coots
- c.50 Black-headed Gulls

The thin high cloud gave some rather dramatic view of the sunrise. Here is an early shot with ribbons of old contrails cross the sky.

As the sun came up and the colour spread across the sky

Dramatic indeed.

The three Mute Swan cygnets with their accompanying trio – 2 sub-adults and 1 adult with the orange bill.

Another view with the adult centre-stage.

Two of ‘our’ cygnets return from their short flight.

And the third cygnet

And from above – we can just about read the ring Blue 7IYY.

Meanwhile the other two visitors get friendly.

The heads of some pool-side reeds against the sunrise.

This is the photo I should have taken yesterday: the large-lobed leaves confirm the identity as Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

A close-up of the umbel with the early pink-tinged flowers not really open as yet.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:55 – 10:15 // 10:55 – 11:35

(5th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- Coot numbers further reduced
- the four large gulls appeared and disappeared within a minute! Blink and you missed them
- Song Thrush singing again
- Raven overhead was unusual – I have not seen one here since at least 2013

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- 2 Canada Geese (en route to Middle Pool)
- 3 Buzzards
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Raven
- 5 Starlings

New bird species for me here this year were: Raven and Coal Tit

The counts from the water
- 1 + 6 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose (flew in)
- 92 Canada Geese (91 of these flew in)
- 5 (3♂) Mallards again
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard again
- 37 (22♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (2♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens
- 80 Coots
- 7 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull

It was Canada Goose bathing time.

Raise some water.

Even going upside down.

And another big splash to get water to wash all the feathers.

After bathing its is preening time.

A fine Cormorant: note that this bird shows very little white where the thigh-patch is on breeding condition birds. There are just a few flecks of white where the head would be.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:20 – 10:50

(5th visit of the year)

New bird species for me here this year were: Sparrowhawk, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Coal Tit, Wren(!) and Bullfinch

Other notes from here
- Song Thrush in song again here as well
and
- a Grey Squirrel was also new for the year here

Birds noted flying over here
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Dove

The counts from the water
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 71 Greylag Geese (61 of these flew in)
- 35 Canada Geese (7 of these flew in)
- 24 (18♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 14 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 12 Moorhens
- 43 Coots still
- 33 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

This pair of Canada Geese seem to disagree on how to land: feet forward or back?

Feet-first does seem best

A Grey Heron on the island. I judge a first-year bird showing no sign of plumes – just a shaggy breast. Note too the bill lacks significant orange tones.

Still some winter-plumage head streaking on this adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Cormorants 
1 Teal 
7 Pochard 
66 Tufted Duck 
3 Greater Scaup 
1 Velvet Scoter 
91 Coots 
1 Woodcock 
50 Herring Gulls 
33 Redwings 
c.495 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
106 Tufted Ducks 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
7 Pochard 
25 Tufted Duck 
4 Goosander 
44 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

Park Pool, Chetwynd near Newport
31 Shoveler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
29 Wigeon 
10 Gadwall 
8 Pochard 
59 Tufted Ducks 
1 Scaup
169 Coots
 >300 Starlings
13 Redwings
46 Fieldfare 
211 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
9 Pochard 
54 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Goosander
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
1 Gadwall
9 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
c.190 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
Glaucous Gull
75 Redwing
16 Bullfinch 
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant) 

Priorslee Flash
1 Pochard
43 Tufted Ducks
282 Black-headed Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
 1 Water Rail
4 Gadwall
2 Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
A female Ruddy Duck
500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring & Black-headed Gulls.
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)