Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 10:25
Woodhouse Lane: 08:05 – 08:30
7°C > 12°C: Broken medium-level cloud allowed a few mist and foggy areas before low cloud arrived at 07:30 from the W and chased the mist away. A very few breaks later. Light SW wind. Moderate visibility, but poor at times early on.
Sunrise: 07:44 BST
Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 10:25
(129th visit of the year)
Yet another new bird species for my site year-list: a Brambling flew W at 07:40 taking my total to date to the magic 100 this year
Rather disappointing visible migration but a welcome scatter of species
Other bird notes:
- all 3 cygnets managed lift-off today with the stronger two achieving a 180° turn at the end
- many of the Tufted Ducks are rapidly moulting in to breeding plumage and the increased proportion of birds identified as drakes probably reflects this rather than any change in their number
- an adult Common Gull dropped in c.07:10 with the first arriving Black-headed Gulls. These apparently came from the SE – normally early gulls arrive from the W. The Common Gull stayed less than five minutes. Only my 2nd record of this species here this year
- the Jackdaws again behaved differently. The first group of c.120 birds was again just after the street-lights went out – perhaps they have moved roost site and it takes them longer to arrive? Then another group of 78 birds flew over heading SW at the very late time of 09:20. A few other singles / pairs
- I think we must assume that the last Chiffchaff has left – or at least stopped calling
- Starlings exploded out of the NE reeds in all directions before c.70 flew W over me at the W end. It is possible that other birds flew off in different directions. A party of 12 flew W much later
- in addition to the migrant Redwings overhead at least 8 were in trees at various times
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Cormorant
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 157 Wood Pigeons (includes 101 migrants in 5 groups)
- c.211 Jackdaws
- 7 Skylarks
- 12 Starlings
- 73 Redwings (8 groups)
- 5 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 3 Chaffinches
- 1 Brambling
- 6 Goldfinches
- 1 Siskin
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 54 (23♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Little Grebes
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails heard
- 6 Moorhens only
- 121 Coots
- 62 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 10 Autumnal-type moths (Epirrita sp.) on the lamp poles
- 1 spider sp. on the lamp poles
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Before the low cloud spread in another worthwhile sunrise.
Slightly later from a different vantage point (not really in the middle of the water).
The unidentified spider sp. on a lamp post this morning.
(Ed Wilson)
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Notes from Woodhouse Lane [08:05 – 08:30]
Generally very quiet
- 2 Goldcrests by the sluice exit
- 1 Siskin the only migrant
- 2 Yellowhammers on the newly flailed hedgerows
And later still looking across the fields near Woodhouse Lane.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2010
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail heard
>500 Black-headed Gulls
>530 migrating Wood Pigeons
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
65 Mute Swans
7 Wigeon
7 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
47 Greylag Geese
56 Canada Geese
9 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
236 Coots
4 Buzzards
Chiffchaff
27 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
Goldeneye
100 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)