13 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:30 – 09:40
The Flash: 09:45 – 10:25

1°C > 2°C:  Mainly clear with some thin high cloud. Moderate ESE wind. Good visibility. Frost in sheltered locations

Sunrise: 08:13 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:30 – 09:40

(179th visit of the year)

Best bird of the day was the Kestrel seen hovering to the E at 08:15. Only my 3rd sighting here in 2018. A locally declining species. Previous records this year on 20 August and 30 September

Bird notes:
- 2 pairs of Mute Swans when I arrived. Same birds? One pair chased off E 08:15, but which? Since none of them seemed to have rings impossible to be certain
- I am confused about the group of 10 geese. Last week on three mornings there were 10 on the lake, including both species. They always flew off in the dark before I could get confirmation of the exact make up. Yesterday a group of 10 was over the lake and I heard only Canada Geese. Today’s group of 10 was heard only making Greylag Geese calls. What is going on?
- 5 duck Goosanders came overhead at 07:40 and circled: 4 landed briefly; one flew on W
- Black-headed Gulls in much smaller numbers today with never more than c.100 at any one time. Probably more individuals
- in addition to the fly-over Wood Pigeons at least 50 were noted in and around the trees in Ward’s Rough to the NE
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew very high S over the E end. I doubt it was a bird from around the lake which are more usually at the W end
- Jackdaws presumably skimmed the fields to the E of Castle Farm Way, out of my line of sight

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 10 Greylag Geese (1 group outbound) – but see notes
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 74 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Collared Doves
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 10 Jackdaws only – see notes
- 3 Starlings
- 12 Fieldfares  (1 group)
- 9 Redwings (2 groups)

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 3 Redwings only

The counts from the lake area
- 4 Mute Swans [2 left]
- 10 (5♂) Gadwall again
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 15 (13♂) Pochard
- 71 (32♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 (0♂) Goosanders, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 3 Little Grebes again
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 10 Moorhens
- 92 Coots
- >100 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

And other notes

My log of other things, all on lamp poles
- 1 Mottled Umber moth
- 1 female ‘winter’ moth sp. still to be ID-ed
- 2 stretch spiders (Tetragnatha montana?)

It was an amazing sunrise.

... another view.

As I dashed around to different vantage points.

In summer the sun would be rising well to the left of this photo.

Examination of the photo identifies this female moth I found on one of the lamp poles as a Winter Moth. The size of the vestigial wings is the best separation between the females of these species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:45 – 10:25

(139th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- the Mute Swan cygnet almost achieved lift-off today and was anything other than ‘mute’ about its achievement
- 24 Goldfinches in Alders on the island

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 1 Jackdaw

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans as usual
- 2 Canada Geese again
- 38 (23♂) Mallard
- 20 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 72 (6♂) Goosanders
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen
- 10 Coots again
- 32 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: the same?

There is not that much new of interest here so it is mainly stalking the Goosanders to get better shots. Here a fine drake.

And a duck with a great shaggy crest. Note the white is just on the chin.

This brownhead shows white both below and above the bill. This indicates it is an immature. From the pale feathers appearing on its back and the end of the wings it is a drake just starting its moult in to adult plumage.

The Goosander synchronised swimming team needs a little more discipline in the echelon line! Note that three at least of these are immatures with white above the bill.

Some kind person had provided some food for the birds. I am pleased to see it is, as requested on notices around the water, not bread. This duck Mallard is tucking in.

Also at the food was this first-winter Black-headed Gull. The grey crown is a shadow. A not dissimilar vagrant gull species, Bonaparte’s Gull, has grey on its nape. That has an all-black bill so no confusion here.

This Dunnock is patiently waiting its turn for scraps.

A perky if, here, a rather scruffy individual.

Apparently just the wind blowing the feathers as it looks smart again here.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 ‘Nelson's Gull' but also colloquially ‘Viking Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Little Grebe
2 Siskins
4 Gadwall 
2 Teal 
4 Pochard 
87 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander 
236 Coots
1 Snipe
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
45 Redwings
(Ed Wilson/JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Ring-billed Gull hybrid
1800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
500 Black-headed Gulls
100 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gull
6 Greater Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Little Grebe
3 Redwings
1 Teal
9 Pochard.
40 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
c.170 Coots
3 Redwings
c.300 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Tom Lowe)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Goldeneye
2 Sky Larks
c.25 Redwing
c.8 Fieldfare
12 Bullfinches
c.30 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
31 Swans
2 Greylag
33 Pochard
1 Willow Tit
c.35 Goldfinches
3 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
26 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
73 Coots
7 Lapwings
>1500 Black-headed Gulls
>1300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
38 Herring Gulls
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
24 Robins
13 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfares
11 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
132 Jackdaws
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Wigeon
Water Rail
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
13 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
235 Coot
270 Jackdaws
154 Rooks
2 Redpoll
5 Siskins
12 Pied Wagtails
2 Redwings
10 Fieldfares
21 Reed Buntings
13 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)