Priorslee Lake: 07:25 – 09:35
The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15
Trench Lock Pool: 10:25 – 10:40 // 11:15 – 11:40
Trench Middle Pool: 10:45 – 11:10
11°C > 8°C: Rain just about ceased. Low cloud lifted c.08:00. Sky cleared after c.10:15. Gusty fresh SW wind before clearance: then veered moderate W. Good visibility, very good after clearance
Sunrise: 08:06 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 07:25 – 09:35
(173rd visit of the year)
Late start due heavy rain
Bird notes:
- could only find 3 pairs of Gadwall this morning
- Tufted Duck again counted in sections with usual scope for error
- at least 100 Wood Pigeons put up from Wards Rough to the NE: seemed all to resettle in to these trees
- 34 Jackdaws only: the main party presumably went past when still too dark to see them – I was in the sailing shelter avoiding the last of the rain at the time
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 34 Jackdaws
- 1 Raven
- 1 Siskin
- 1 Linnet
Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
None
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 (6♂) Pochard
- 72 (36♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted yet again]
- >400 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
My log of other things
- 1 Mottled Umber moth managed to stay in its location sheltered from both wind and rain
- 1 wingless female Northern Winter Moth
- amazingly Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) found still in flower
- what seemed to be a Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) still extant
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15
(134th visit of the year)
Bird notes from here
- 2 drake Pochard new in
- fewer Goosanders: still a respectable total. A few left when the workmen started banging, demolishing one of the footbridges
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Jackdaws
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese again
- 39 (23♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 17 (2♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Moorhens again
- 10 Coots
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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(27th visit of the year)
Bird notes from here
- no Mute Swans on my first visit: an unringed cob was present when I returned from Middle Pool
- probably even a few more Goosanders(!!). Several seen in flight and landing: unclear whether these were new arrivals or birds repositioning. High number of drakes and considerable chasing around
- with so many Goosanders it is easy to overlook other birds but I think there really were fewer Tufted Ducks, Cormorants (none), Great Crested Grebes, Moorhens and Coots than earlier in the week
Birds noted flying over / near here
None
The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only: arrived
- 64 Canada Geese
- 6 (4♂) Mallard again
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard still
- 27 (14♂)Tufted Ducks
- >84 (>23♂) Goosanders (see notes)
- 4 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen only
- 141 Coots
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
The brownhead (3rd from right) is spoilt for choice with 8 potential suitors.
A good trick if you can do it – stand up straight and flap.
Wing-flapping usually looks more like this. The steep forehead shows here too.
(Ed Wilson)
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(26th visit of the year)
Notes from here
- if rumour was correct and the cygnets went in to a cooking pot have the adults followed them?
- no Great Crested Grebe located
- Teal not located either
Birds noted flying over / near here
None
The counts from the water
- [no Mute Swans]
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 28 Canada Geese
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard remains
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (1♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- [no Great Crested Grebe]
- 14 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 106 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's sightings Here
2012
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard.
55 Tufted Ducks.
153 Coots.
615 Black-headed Gulls
354 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
21 Herring Gulls.
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
9 Cormorants
33 Swans
25 Pochard
61 Tufted Ducks
297 Coots
2 Buzzards
19 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
17 Greylag Goose
9 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
>1400 Black-headed Gulls
>230 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
23 Robins
16 Blackbirds
2 Fieldfares
3 Redwings
259 Jackdaws
257 Rooks
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
9 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
234 Coot
205 Jackdaws
473 Rooks
154 Fieldfare
4 Redwings
8 Redpolls
46 Siskins
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)