2.0°C > 3.0°C: Clear start, frosted in sheltered areas. Soon a few clouds and then the odd light snow shower. Fresh WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 07:35 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:10
(23rd visit of the year)
A Kingfisher shot past me c.07:30 to become my 63rd species here this year
Other notes from today:
- all the Canada Geese seem to be in pairs now, though sexing is only vaguely possible from size difference
- low Moorhen number likely due to disturbance from too may early morning joggers / cyclists / dog-walkers (during the week I compalin about traffic noise!)
- Wood Pigeons seemed to share my enthusiasm for shelter today: just a single bird overhead
- several small parties of Jackdaws shot over and to the west of the lake, almost catching me out. These were a few minutes ahead of the main group to the east. I probably overlooked many of the Rooks – when I eventually found them they were flying high and on a different flight-path
and
- the lamps persist in being empty
Today’s bird totals
Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 10 Canada Geese (4 groups outbound)
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 24 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Stock Dove once more
- 1 Wood Pigeons only!!
- c.380 Jackdaws
- 26 Rooks
- 2 Greenfinches
- 2 Goldfinches
- 1 Siskin
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 48 Magpies
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Reed Bunting
The counts from the lake area
- 11 + 4 Mute Swans yet again
- 4 Canada Geese
- 13 (8♂) Gadwall
- 13 (8♂) Mallard as well
- 2 (1♂) Pochard again
- 34 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 84 Coots
- 83 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher
The cloud spreading in looked like killing off any sunrise.
Not so: the sun managed to flare underneath.
Needs a wide gape to get it down.
Slide it in sideways seems to be the way to do it.
And there it is almost gone. Rather a thick neck though.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:05
(13th visit of the year)
Notes from today
- my confusion over the age of the Great Crested Grebes was resolved today – there were certainly 5 (2 adults and 3 first winters). There may have even been a 6th – as usual very mobile and submarine
Birds noted flying over
- 5 Jackdaws
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose as usual
- 37 (25♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 40 (25♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 2 Cormorants again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 56 Black-headed Gulls
A couple of Goldfinches amongst Alder cones and catkins.
And here goes another bud.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2016Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
7 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
(Gary Crowder)
2013
St Georges
5 Waxwings
(Observer Unknown)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
15+ Redwing
33 Fieldfare
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Great Crested Grebes
12 Cormorants
24 Pochard
102 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
2 Water Rails
1 Kingfisher
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
56 Herring Gulls.
598 Wood Pigeons
210 Starling roost
16 Robins
1 Willow Tit
13 Greenfinches
19 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)