31 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 4.5C: Overnight showers clearing away: still cloudy until c.09:15.. Fresh / strong W wind, easing somewhat Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:54 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:35

(13th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- another chapter in the Mute Swan saga. Four visitors when I arrived: one pair chased off and left to the E c.08:10. The other pair left alone
- a raft of 37 Tufted Ducks along the S side was something I had not noted previously. Totals suggest that some of these birds were new in – but not that many
- very few Black-headed Gulls this morning – no more than 50
- another Skylark over today after my first of the year yesterday (note: the Belvide blog from yesterday notes they had their first Skylark of the year)
- a single Starling seen leaving the reeds
- >30 Siskins in a tree near the Teece Drive gate: today they had found an Alder they could feed in
and
- nothing noted on the lamps once more
- an early Cowslip (Primula veris) found in flower

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 2 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- c.325 Jackdaws
- 1 Skylark again
- 3 Pied Wagtails

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

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 3 Mute Swans
- 23 Canada Geese
- 11 (6♂) Gadwall
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 67 (40♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 7 Moorhens
- 119 Coots
- c.50 Black-headed Gulls again

One of the Cormorants today was a splendid breeding plumaged bird with big white thigh patch, extensive head-plumes and a crest.

The size of the crest is perhaps best seen in this view. It was a wary bird and would not allow a close approach.

First sign of Spring? An early Cowslip (Primula veris).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:40 – 10:25

(7th visit of the year)

New species for me here this year were Buzzard, Kingfisher, Long-tailed Tit and Siskin: my site total for the year now stands at 41 bird species

Notes from here
- good number of Greylag Geese arrived
- Tufted Duck numbers increased here as well
- Kingfisher heard but try as I might I could not find it
- another unusually high number of Jackdaws over head
- the two Siskins were in Alders at the N end of the water with Goldfinches. I only found them because they dropped down from time to time to drink from a puddle on the path – Siskins need to drink regularly after eating the dry Alder cone seeds, something that Goldfinches do not seem to require

Birds noted flying over
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 (1♂) Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzards
- 8 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Wood Pigeons
- 27 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 Greylag Geese
- 7 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose again
- 33 (22♂) Mallard
- 10 (9♂) Pochard
- 67 (34♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (2♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- Kingfisher heard only

A couple of adult Black-headed Gulls: the rear bird is showing more black on the head as it comes in to breeding plumage. Note too the bill is darker blood-red at the base.

Another couple in slightly different states of plumage.

For comparison a first-winter bird. It will probably develop a full black hood but will retain some of the brown wing feathers.

At rather long range this shows a Carrion Crow sparring with a male Sparrowhawk – a female Sparrowhawk would be much closer to the crow in size. They spent some while together and almost seemed to be enjoying sparring.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
22 Greylag Geese
19 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
c.390 Black-headed Gulls
c.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
32 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
69 Redwings
25 Greenfinches
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Tundra Bean Goose
8 Greylag Geese
37 Tufted Ducks
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
35 Herring Gulls.
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
8 Pochard
50 Tufted Ducks
79 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

Holmer Lake
50 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

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)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

29 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake only – rain stopped play

9.5°C: Mild again. Cloudy with occasional light drizzle for a while. Then dry until rain by 08:30, becoming heavy by 09:00. Fresh WSW wind, even strong at first. Very good visibility, becoming moderate, sometimes poor, in rain.

Sunrise: 07:58 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:30

(11th visit of the year)

52 Fieldfare (with 2 Redwings) flew SW overhead c.08:45: my 55th bird species here in 2018

Other notes from today:
- the Mute Swan saga continues. It was all calm with the resident adults and their cygnets at the bottom of the concrete ramp. One of the other pairs then decided to swim diectly towards them. This did not go down well! Lots of chasing followed with some birds leaving for a short while. Settled back to all calm again
- the Black-headed Gulls were very late arriving this morning – c.08:10. Just 130 noted arriving, many of them staying on the water. As I was about to leave c.120 Black-headed Gulls went up from somewhere close-by – the lake? the old Celestica site? Were these the same birds?
- 23 of the 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew W in single group. As on other recent days all the birds were adults
- 22 Wood Pigeons together on the football field at 09:25 was unusual, especially as I had only logged 9 others in the trees
- c.20 Siskins in the trees near the Teece Drive gate
and
- nothing noted on the lamps
- my first flower (discounting catkins): I think Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 2 Greylag Geese (outbound)
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- >375 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks
- 52 Fieldfare
- 2 Redwings

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
None

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 3 Mute Swans again
- 25, exactly, Canada Geese
- 10 (6♂) Gadwall (possibly incomplete)
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard again
- 48 (25♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- >130 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)

Despite the early drizzle and generally overcast weather ahead of rain I was surprised to see this red sky appear briefly.

The resident adult Mute Swans in their normal position at the base of the concrete ramp and today allowing confirmation of their identity by the ring codes. Note that the bills are acquiring a distinct bright orange tone indicating that they are coming in to breeding condition.

This first flower is clearly an umbellifer. Problem: none is supposed to flower before April! It is not entirely clear in this shot which leaves belong to this plant but I think Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

(Ed Wilson)

Note: Readers Corner - Venus Pool and Shawbury Here

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
71 Tufted Duck
3 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
103 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
141 Redwings
502 Jackdaws
383 Rooks
2 Ravens
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash 
89 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
26 Wigeon 
12 Gadwall 
12 Pochard 
60 Tufted Ducks 
181 Coots
c.400 Black-headed Gulls
246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
21 Redwings
147 Jackdaws
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Unknown Observer)

Trench Lock Pool
18 Swans
8 Pochard 
45 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
99 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
c.2000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
109 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.250 Black-headed Gulls.
1 Buzzard
1 Merlin
(Martin Adlam)

2007 
Priorslee Lake
1 Goldeneye
(Ed Wilson)

28 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 11.5°C: Very mild. Cloudy start, breaks developing after 08:30. Light WSW wind, increasing moderate, even fresh at times. Good visibility becoming very good.

Sunrise: 07:59 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:40

(10th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- the cygnets went for a fly with an orange ringed adult Mute Swan – the cygnets have been with the visitors more often than with their parents recently. Once the cygnets safely landed the adult flew off W. This seemed to encourage the resident adult to chase the remaining visitors. They managed to put them all to flight at various times without any actually leaving. The residents gave up
- 1 Greylag Goose found lurking in with one of the many groups of Canada Geese
- the 260-odd Black-headed Gulls all arrived from the W: today most left back to the W. Later a group of c.160 came from the W: I rather assume this was the same birds returning. A small percentage now have mostly black ‘heads’ – hoods actually
- first Blackbird song of the year for me here (been singing near my Newport home for 2 weeks now)
- Song Thrushes heard in song from 10 different locations – I would judge at least 8 different birds. Also 3 seen in flight, perhaps other birds?
- at least 8 Greenfinches in W end hedge was a good number these days
and
- two ‘winter gnats’ (probably Trichocera regelationis) was all I could find on the lamps
- splendidly-coloured fungus found growing on one of the wooden fence posts: possibly Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 24 Greylag Geese (2 groups outbound)
- 5 Canada Geese (2 groups outbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 (1♂) Sparrowhawk
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- >300 Jackdaws
- 9 Rooks

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

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 3 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 50, exactly, Canada Geese
- 14 (9♂) Gadwall
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 55 (24♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens
- 136 Coots
- >260 Black-headed Gulls

After days of calm the resident Mute Swans decided to try and persuade the visitors to leave. Here the resident cob with the blue Darvic ring chases an unringed bird. They were not successful and after 10 minutes calm was restored and birds retreated to different parts of the water.

Managed this female Bullfinch through gaps in many small branches.

This is likely the very common ‘winter gnat’ Trichocera regelationis.

Peering down the fence post on to the fungus. Rather a vivid colour!

Here from the underside we see gills which means it is not a ‘bracket fungus’. I am inclined to think they are Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes), albeit much redder than any illustrations I can find.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:45 – 10:20

(6th visit of the year)

The plethora of runners and joggers seemed to have little effect on the birds

A Jay flying across the N was a new species for me here this year: the site total is now 37

Notes from here
- rather fewer Tufted Ducks this morning: yesterday they were very vocal and seemed restless: surely not leaving already

Birds noted flying over
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose again
- 35 (24♂) Mallard
- 9 (8♂) Pochard
- 43 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 7 (1♂) Goosanders
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens again
- 14 Coots
- 63 Black-headed Gulls

The hooked tip on the bill Goosanders is well illustrated here on this drake. The cutting edges of the bill are serrated for gripping fish and eels – one name for this family of ducks is ‘saw bills’. Despite the rather gloomy conditions the head is still glossing both green and blue. Note too the nostrils on top of the bill.

Not too sure what this Grey Heron was doing here. It was too far away from the edge of the island to make a stab at a fish.

It though so too and prepared to move off. This bird is coming in to breeding condition – Herons start building nests any time now. We see the bill turning orange and the ‘aigrettes’ hanging down the breast. Only a small crest so far.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
63 Tufted Duck
3 Greater Scaup
Velvet Scoter
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
16 Redwings over
555 Jackdaws
345 Rooks
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash
120 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
3 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
10 Gadwall 
11 Pochard 
44 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
177 Coots again 
38 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
9 Redwings
52 Magpies
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Shoveler 
4 Pochard 
57 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
38 Tufted Duck
150 Wood Pigeons
57 Redwings 
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
36 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool 
7 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

27 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

3.5°C > 5.0°C: Rain, sometimes heavy: eased after 08:30 and mainly dry after 09:00. Fresh / strong SSW wind. Moderate visibility in rain

Sunrise: 08:01 GMT

The rainfall radar site suggested a short period of rain c.07:00 and then a drier spell until after 09:00. Not so: rain started by 06:30 and lasted about two hours

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:15

(9th visit of the year)

5 Lapwings appeared overhead c.09:00: my 54th bird species here in 2018

The other highlight was while I was in the shelter during the heavy rain c.07:00. A Fox walked along the SW grass. I wondered why the geese, ducks and coots were moving away from the shoreline. It was still too dark for me to see the Fox with my naked eye – the binoculars came to the rescue

Other notes from today:
- just 9 Canada Geese when I arrived. 24 arrived in 3 groups. All left
- most of the Black-headed Gulls arriving from the W flew straight through this morning
- Magpie roost numbers probably under-recorded. Normally as they leave their roost they pause on the surrounding trees where they are easy to count before they head off. In the rain today they flew straight out
- Most unusually there were 30 Magpies together bouncing around on the football field at 09:10 – the rain was keeping the dog-walkers away. This number may support my view that the roost count was under-recorded as >20 birds dispersed to the E. However there are other roosts in the area and perhaps some of these birds came from other roosts
- most of Jackdaws went through behind the trees to the E and while it was still too dark to see / count them
and
- still nothing on any of the lamps – washed off today
- the Fox, as highlighted

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 2 Canada Geese outbound
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Lapwings
- >75 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- >35 Jackdaws (see notes)
- 1 Siskin

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- >41 Magpies (see notes)

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 3 Mute Swans
- 33 Canada Geese
- 12 (8♂) Gadwall
- 10 (6♂) Mallard
- 5 (5♂) Pochard
- 50 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens again
- [Coots not counted]
- >55 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:20 – 10:00

(5th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- another high number of Tufted Duck recorded
- a singing Song Thrush – the first I have heard here this year
- a party of at least 28 Goldfinches in the trees on the island

Birds noted flying over
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose again
- 31 (22♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Pochard
- 71 (47♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (3♂) Goosanders
- 3 Cormorants
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Moorhens
- 12 Coots
- 18 Black-headed Gulls only

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2014
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
63 Tufted Duck
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
101 Coots counted
31 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
7 Redwings
522 Jackdaws
335 Rooks
71 Magpies
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
111 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
26 Wigeon 
10 Gadwall 
14 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup
177 Coots
4 Redwings
30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Dave Tromans)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
4 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)

26 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

3.5°C > 5.0°C: Started with low overcast and very dull: began to break after 09:00 and by 10:30 a nice sunny and more or less cloudless morning. Light NW wind. Moderate visibility and hazy start: good later

Sunrise: 08:02 GMT

Remains generally very quiet with not a lot happening

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:55

(8th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- Coot numbers significantly lower today
- after I counted 135 Black-headed Gulls arriving from the W another group of 42 birds flew straight through to the SE. Almost all the gulls eventually left that way
- no idea where all the Wood Pigeons were today: just 5 overhead; only 3 seen in the trees
- after my comment about a Magpie refurbishing its nest yesterday this morning I noted a bird calling from a nest long before the main roost started to disperse
- largest count of Jackdaws this year. Today in 5 groups, albeit almost contiguous
- Song Thrushes singing in five locations this morning
- failed to log a single Dunnock today: recently as many as 9 logged with two different birds heard singing. Why none today?
- a Reed Bunting flew away from the W end reeds at 09:40 – that hardly counts as ‘roost dispersal’!
and
- yet again nothing on any of the lamps

No additional species for my year total at this site: still 52

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 7 Greylag Geese outbound
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 3 Collared Doves
- >360 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Greenfinch

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpies not counted]
- 4 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 8 + 3 Mute Swans
- 11 Canada Geese
- 12 (7♂) Gadwall
- 15 (8♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 53 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 132 Coots
- c.135 Black-headed Gulls

A rather distant Redwing. We can see all the feature – the pale ‘eye-brow’ and the rusty flanks, As I have noted before there is a cinnamon patch on the side of the neck / shoulder which is not well-shown in most bird-guides.

Found this today. Looks like a large breastbone. Whether from a wild bird or someone’s discarded Christmas Turkey is hard to say!

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Lock Pool: 10:05 – 10:30 // 11:15 – 11:25

(4th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- when I arrived the resident cob Mute Swan was chasing a visiting pair of adults. Shortly afterwards another adult arrived and he transferred his attention to that. By the time I returned from Middle Pool there were 5 visiting adults and yet another arrived soon after
- 97 of the 99 Canada Geese flew in: a Greylag Goose with them
- Coot numbers seem to be reducing here as well as at Priorslee Lake
- Song Thrush singing here

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- 27 Canada Geese (en route to Middle Pool)
- 1 Buzzard
- 10 Starlings

New bird species for me here this year were: Common Buzzard, Starling and Song Thrush

The counts from the water
- 6 + 6 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 99 Canada Geese
- 5 (3♂) Mallards
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 51 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 9 (4♂) Goosanders
- 2 Cormorants
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 92 Coots
- 16 Black-headed Gulls only.

A distant Common Buzzard. It was in good light and I am quite please that it enlarges quite well.

It did come a little closer.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Middle Pool: 10:35 – 11:10

(4th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- Song Thrush in song here as well
and
- at least one different species of fungus sp. found and photographed

Birds noted flying over here
- 1 Buzzard
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

New bird species for me here this year were: Common Buzzard, Jackdaw and Song Thrush

The counts from the water
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 38 Canada Geese
- 21 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 20 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 15 Moorhens again
- 43 Coots again
- 38 Black-headed Gulls

At this time of year much of the wooded area around the water stays out of the sun light and is hence very damp. Probably why I am finding fungus even at this time of year.

Side-elevation of the same group.

Another in the group was much smaller (newer?) and I knocked it when doing some ‘gardening’ for the previous shot.

Here is the underside.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
2 Scaup
(Martin and Ian Grant)

2013
Priorslee Lake
39 Wigeon
8 Gadwall 
24 Pochard 
74 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
173 Coots
169 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
18 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)

25 Jan 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 5.5°C: Mainly clear with a few remnant showers in the distance. Just frosted in sheltered areas. Keen, moderate SSW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:03 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:50

(7th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- at least 6 visiting adult Mute Swans. Three seen to fly off seemed to have insufficient time to return before I counted the 6 visitors. Only the three presumed resident cygnets – only one of the rings read (7IVS)
- Gadwall are now proving troublesome to count: they are no longer grouped by the dam, being both scattered about as well as chasing and flying about
- c.140 Black-headed Gulls arrived from the W, though not entirely sure that all of these landed on the water. They mostly quickly left to the ESE. Later c.90 arrived from the NE – assumed to be the same birds
- 54 Magpies seen leaving the roost this morning. Later a bird noted attending and repairing a nest. Seems rather early in the season
- the first c.200 Jackdaws passed low over the fields to the E below the Castle Farm Way tree-tops from my view-point. 54 more birds counted – a larger number than I have recorded for some while following after from the main group
- Song Thrush song heard from 4 different locations at varying times: all different birds? One bird – another – not singing
and
- still nothing on any of the lamps

No additional species for my year total at this site: still 52

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 5 Greylag Geese outbound
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 65 Wood Pigeons
- c.250 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks (singles)
- 2 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 54 Magpies
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area
- 8 (11?) + 3 Mute Swans
- 23 Canada Geese
- 11 (7♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard only
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 49 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 149 Coots
- c.140 Black-headed Gulls

A brief but interesting sunrise over the lake: one of the many Mute Swans can just be seen taking off.

Really fiery just as the sun comes up.

At this time of year the sunrise is straight down the Wesley Brook from the footbridge.

Six adult and three cygnet Mute Swans. The residents have more or less given up chasing any visitors. One adult here has its wings ‘in threat’ though I cannot be sure it is one of the residents (there are two adults ‘out of picture’ and these seemed more likely to be the residents).

Later the three resident cygnets took up their usual position by the concrete ramp. The back one is showing its blue Darvic ring 7IVS.

Mrs. Pochard. Note the way the pale eye-ring extents faintly across the cheek. It would not do so in otherwise similarly-plumaged first-winter birds. However at this date all birds should be coming in to breeding plumage.

Mr. Pochard with the red eye. The harsh morning light prevented the fine markings on the back being clearly seen.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull passing: this bird has just about lost any winter head streaking.

The upper wing view: this is a dark bird, likely of the Scandinavian population, so it probably had restricted head streaking anyway. No matter how dark this species is there is always a noticeable contrast with the black wing-tips, unlike Great Black-backed Gull where the contrast, if any, is hard to see.

A perky Blue Tit.

A party of Long-tailed Tits provided an opportunity to try and get some shots.

Enlarged from extreme range we see this bird apparently feeding on nectar from the Hazel catkins.

Another long-range shot.

This was the only Song Thrush not seen to sing this morning.

This Song Thrush was singing until I pointed the camera at him when he shut up.

A fine Robin greeting the morning sun (and with a necklace of Alder catkins).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:55 – 10:55

(4th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- higher number of Tufted Duck recorded: perhaps birds from the lake as lower number there
- 2 of the 8 duck Goosanders flew in (singly): usual for me to see them arrive
- the male Sparrowhawk was sparring with crows, high over to SW
- plenty (by recent standards) of Black-headed Gulls with sporadic new arrivals dropping in
- a party of 46 Jackdaws flew W: quite unprecedented during my normal visiting time

A heard-only Collared Dove was my only new species for the year here. My year total here stands at 36

Birds noted flying over
- 1 (1♂) Sparrowhawk
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 46 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose again
- 22 (16♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 62 (41♂) Tufted Ducks
- 10 (2♂) Goosanders
- 2 Cormorants
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coots
- 107 Black-headed Gulls

An immature Cormorant hangs its wings out. An immature because of the pale on the breast and belly.

Two of the three Great Crested Grebes were displaying this morning. The bird on the left has noticeably more head plumes.

Rather a bad hair-day for the bird on the right!

Has someone got some food? These Black-headed Gulls certainly think so. Hopefully not bread which is not really good for birds. It is possibly OK occasionally, but just as man cannot live by McDonald’s alone ...

Rather early in the year for ‘golden rain’ of Hazel catkins.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2015
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
11 Pochard
61 Tufted Duck
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
98 Coots
4 Redwings
c.735 Jackdaws
c.257 Rooks
4 Siskins
1 Redpoll 
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
92 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
Peregrine
6 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
12 Gadwall 
1 Greater Scaup
>700 Black-headed Gulls
7 Common Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>300 Herring Gulls
7 Great Black-backed Gulls.
(Ed Wilson, (John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
1 Little Grebe 
30 Swans
4 Gadwall
28 Pochard
86 Tufted Ducks
1 Buzzard 
296 Coots
5 Redwings
27 Greenfinches
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Goldeneye
1 Water Rail
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.45 Herring Gulls
10 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
24 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
152 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)