Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:30 again
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:20 again
5°C > 9°C: Clear start if somewhat hazy. Some low cloud at times later, still with clearer spells. Light / moderate SE wind. Good visibility
Sunrise: 07:32 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:30
(152nd visit of the year)
Very busy overhead until c.08:00. Thereafter rather little over
Other bird notes:
- just one Mute Swan cygnet this morning and that flew off E at 06:45. Then just the adult
- 3 Lapwings circled over for a while, but left again
- about 30 Black-headed Gulls from the W flew straight past and away to the SE. It is possible some or all of these has visited the lake for a short while earlier, though today almost all of the early visitors were seen to leave to the SE anyway. Have logged these c.30 as overflights
- the Wood Pigeon flocks were all small and heading W, NW, N or NE!
- a Skylark heard in flight. A few minutes later a party of 7 flew S, only one of which was calling so possibly more passing
- almost all the thrushes were heading SW. Many of the Fieldfare groups were hiding a few Redwings. One Fieldfare group was accompanied by 22 Goldfinches, all of which flew on with the Fieldfare. c.20 more Goldfinches around the lake
- the Song Thrush sang strongly for many minutes
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Lapwings
- c.30 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 1 Stock Dove
- 163 Wood Pigeons (98 of these in 7 groups)
- 185 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 8 Skylarks (single + 1 group)
- 35 Starlings (5 groups)
- 487 Fieldfares (20 groups)
- 121 Redwings (13 groups)
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 12 Meadow Pipits
- 22 Goldfinches
- 3 Siskins
Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 4 Starlings
- 2 Fieldfares
- 9 Redwings
- 3 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area
- 1 + 1 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 73 (>35♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 6 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 2 Water Rails heard
- 9 Moorhens again
- 108 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again
And other notes
my log today consisted of
- 1 November Moth-type (Epirrita sp.) moth on a lamp post
- >20 Muscid flies later on various lamps.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:20
(119th visit of the year)
Notes from here
- as I arrived the cob Mute Swan was just seeing off 3 adults. There was no sign of the pen, though she may have been one of the three leaving
- geese remain largely absent
- as do Tufted Ducks, but
- Goosanders in good numbers again
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 8 Jackdaws
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 2 Siskins
- 1 Linnet
The counts from the water
- 4 + 1 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose still
- 30 (17♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 17 (3♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 2 Moorhens
- 9 Coots again
- 37 Black-headed Gulls
A bit different: a raft of Goosanders – they would not all fit in so there are only 10 of the 17 here.
One assumes it meant to do this. Perhaps having a drink? Not very elegant though.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
2 Teal
77 Tufted Duck
230 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
21 Herring Gulls
36 Fieldfare
2 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Wigeon
1 Shoveler
3 Pochard
11 Tufted Ducks
c.35 Redwings
c.175 Jackdaws
36 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebes
30 Pochard
75 Tufted Ducks
50 Coots
>550 Black-headed Gulls
1329 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
242 Wood Pigeons
36 Robins
22 Blackbirds
72 Fieldfares
22 Redwings
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)