1 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake [with Woodhouse Lane] and The Flash

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.

In a few weeks there will be too may leaves to get clear shots of Treecreeper. Reasonably pleased with this considering how dull it was.

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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The Flash:  09:30 – 10:25

(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 16
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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2017
Priorslee 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)