Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:35
The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15
8°C > 9°C: Overcast with a hint of drizzle in the air at times. Light WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 07:53 BST
Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:35
(133rd visit of the year)
A council notice had gone up in Teece Drive announcing the adoption of that part of Teece Drive past the school as a council-maintained highway. I assume this is a formality as the road signs and markings were all done by the council and last winter the road was gritted by the highways people. The map for some reason omits the last 50’ or so that includes the exit from the school car park and the turning circle
A very quiet morning with few things flying over. However I notched up a new species for me at the lake (ever!) and my 102nd bird species here this year when a lone Common Crossbill flew W at 09:00
Other bird notes:
- the 3 cygnets and their parents again left the lake and flew over the fields to the E for a while
- there may just have been a 2nd pair of Gadwall briefly. A pair landed in the SW area around dawn. What I assume was the usual pair was seen later in their usual position feeding on weed in the NE area. Perhaps these had been temporarily disturbed by the boisterous swans returning from an early flight? Never saw both pairs at the same time
- slight decline in number of Coots
- remarkably consistent number of Black-headed Gulls recently: the same birds every day?
- 4 of the Jackdaws on roost dispersal broke away from the main group, circled around and landed in trees on the N side. I have only ever seen them do this previously when they have become disorientated in mist or fog
- meanwhile the Rooks seem to have found somewhere else to feed as they have been totally missing for well over a week now
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 13 Wood Pigeons only (no migrants)
- 256 Jackdaws
- 5 Redwings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Greenfinch
- 2 Goldfinches
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 1 Common Crossbill
Warblers seen / heard
None
Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 2 Redwings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall as usual
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 75 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Little Grebes again
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 11 Moorhens
- 102 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 1 Autumnal-type moth (Epirrita sp.) on a lamp pole
- 1 spider sp on a lamp pole
- >3 bumble bee sp. in flight
- 1 Grey Squirrel again
This is a spider sp. I have seen before on the lamps: may be Metellina segmentata but I am not that confident.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15
(107th visit of the year)
Very quiet with no geese; no heron and no grebe. Reduced number of Tufted Duck also. Perhaps overdue were my first Goosanders of the winter here
Other notes from here
- remarkably consistent number of Black-headed Gulls here as well as at the lake
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth on a lamp pole
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 5 Starlings
The counts from the water
- 1 + 3 Mute Swans
- [no geese]
- 37 (24♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant (arrived)
- [no Grey Heron]
- [no Great Crested Grebe]
- 5 Moorhens
- 7 Coots
- 22 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Note: Click Here for a few images from RSPB Burton Mere on 23 Oct 18.
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
1 Wigeon
1 Common Gull
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Goosander
7 Pochard
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
12 Golden Plover
1577 Wood Pigeons
28 Sky Larks
12 Fieldfare
8 Redwings
4 Siskins
1 Linnet
2 Redpoll
1 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)