Priorslee Lake: 05:50 – 09:25
[Woodhouse Lane: 07:45 – 08:30]
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:25
7.0°C > 8.0°C: Overcast and dull. Calm. Moderate visibility becoming good later
Sunrise: 06:57 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 05:50 – 09:25
(56th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- all the Black-headed Gulls arrived from the W and landed on the lake today. Later 2 quite different birds flew over
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls approached from the NE. One adult headed straight for its / the usual buoy. An immature circled and landed on the water, staying for a few minutes. The other adult circled and then flew on
- a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen flying around calling
- it was very dark still at 06:18 when the Jackdaws started to pass and they are likely under-recorded
- a lone Starling flew out of the NW reeds at the late time of 07:00
- Chiffchaff(s) heard singing with two birds singing. I saw one very brown-looking bird. I did not hear this bird call to check whether it could be a Siberian race bird. I am unsure if this was one of the birds I heard singing: I did not see it sing either
- I had not checked the main Redwing roost here for a while and was surprised to find at least two birds leaving. Later there were six in the trees by the Teece Drive gate, one of which was in partial song – a song not often heard in the UK
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese (all outbound)
- 3 Canada Geese (all outbound)
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Stock Dove
- 59 Wood Pigeons
- c.260 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail once again
Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Starling
- 2 Redwings
- 3 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese (arrived)
- 9 (6♂) Mallard again
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant (arrived)
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Great Crested Grebes still
- 10 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 orb-web spiders on poles: nothing else of note
A Magpie’s nest. The Crow was trying to steal twigs for its own nest and the Magpie below it was none too keen that it should but unwilling to make direct contact.
One of the orb-web spiders seen this morning, this one without any visible means of support.
(Ed Wilson)
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Notes from Woodhouse Lane (07:45 – 08:30)
(3rd visit of the year)
- very few Wood Pigeons in trees to the E / NE
- two Skylarks singing but one of these was VERY distant
- just 2 Chaffinches in song
- only 4 Yellowhammers, two of which were singing
Other things
- 2 Pheasants heard calling
- 2 Song Thrushes in song
- 1 Bullfinch near the sluice
No Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches or Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
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(51st visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- the pair of Gadwall still here
- Mallard sitting on the roofs again
- now a second drake Shoveler
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Feral Pigeon again
- 1 Collared Dove
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 16 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 22 (15♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Shoveler
- 38 (23♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
Conveniently the ‘other’ ducks all gathered together – a pair of Gadwall and two drake Shoveler.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
29 Feb 16Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
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2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Shirlett High Park
16 Crossbills
(Yvonne C)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
3 Pochard
50 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
4 Heron
3 Cormorants
5 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
107 Coots
2 Water Rails
606 Wood Pigeon
334 Jackdaws
156 Rooks
25 Starlings
11 Pied Wagtails
21 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
1 Willow Tit
26 Starlings
10 Greenfinches
69 Siskins
3 Redpolls
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)