Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:25
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:10
+0°C > 2°C: High cloud lowering with sleety rain after 10:00. Light S wind. Good visibility
Sunrise: 07:58 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:25
(28th visit of the year)
Very small amount of ice against the NE side
Bird notes
- the (new) resident Swan now has a mate. She has a BTO metal ring and though I managed a clear shot of the ring despite the low light-level it was the wrong part of the ring – the part with the BTO address! Try again tomorrow
- the gang of 10 geese (3 Greylag and 7 Canadas) flew outbound much later at 07:40: another 6 Canadas later still
- three Great Crested Grebes came out of the N side reeds together at 07:15. Thereafter 2 birds stayed close whilst the 3rd seemed to vanish (back in to the reeds?). All three had significant head plumes and thus none of these was the long-term resident that was likely one of last year’s brood from here. I have not noted that bird for several days
- the first Black-headed Gulls did not arrive until 07:15. Eventually >600 for a while. By 08:30 almost all had gone
- after the bumper Jackdaw total yesterday just 4 today. I suspect that with the wind in the S this morning they went low across the fields to the E, though I did not hear this usually noisy species
- at one of my N-side vantage points a Dunnock called pre-dawn from a location where I had not heard any for many weeks. This bird then called again and flew E and away over the dam. So I have logged it as roosting here
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese [1 group outbound]
- 13 Canada Geese [2 groups outbound, one group with the Greylags]
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws only
- 1 Redwing
- 2 Pied Wagtails
Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Redwing again
- 1 Dunnock – see notes
- 5 Reed Buntings only
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 13 (10♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Pochard
- 42 (18♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 48 Coots again
- >600 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Despite the cold night on the lamp poles
- 1 Early Moth
- 1 Nursery Web spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
(Ed Wilson)
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(25th visit of the year)
Some slushy ice at the top end
Notes from here
Not much change – just the drake Pochard missing
- the Cormorant was a different individual to that recorded yesterday
- Stereum Rugosum, or Bleeding Broadleaf Crust, fungus found
I was told that the Ring-necked Parakeet has been heard calling in St George’s. I did not see or hear it here again today
I was also told that during the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend one of the houses between the water and the wooded area alongside the A5 recorded a Blackcap
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 34 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 29 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant again
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 2 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 36 Black-headed Gulls
In close-up.
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
1. Click Here for a Summary of the 2018 Priorslee Lake Report.
2. Click Here for a few photos from Belvide - 26 Jan 19
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On this day..........
2018Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
71 Tufted Duck
3 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
103 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
141 Redwings
502 Jackdaws
383 Rooks
2 Ravens
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
89 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
26 Wigeon
12 Gadwall
12 Pochard
60 Tufted Ducks
181 Coots
c.400 Black-headed Gulls
246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
21 Redwings
147 Jackdaws
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Unknown Observer)
Trench Lock Pool
18 Swans
8 Pochard
45 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
99 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
c.2000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
109 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.250 Black-headed Gulls.
1 Buzzard
1 Merlin
(Martin Adlam)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Goldeneye
(Ed Wilson)