Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:30
The Flash: 08:35 – 09:15
7.0°C: Overcast with rain after 09:00. Light S wind ahead of predicted Storm Freya mayhem. Good visibility
Sunrise: 06:53 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:30
(58th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- one pair of Canada Geese seems to have taken up residence and were on top of the dam more or less throughout
- there were 11 Moorhens on the SW grass early. Later there were four at the N end of the dam and two at the S end of the dam. I am inclined to think that some of these birds go right across the water to breakfast on the grass and I could be double-counting some
- another Woodcock sighting
- first Black-headed Gull not until 06:50: rather few from the W
- 25 Black-headed Gulls flew in very high from the N with 16 of them circling around to land on the water with the other nine flying on (with 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls)
- later 59 Black-headed Gulls briefly on the football field
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the usual buoy, very early at 06:35: did not stay long
- Magpies started leaving their roost at 06:20 and unusually ahead of the Jackdaws
- the Jackdaws all streamed past at 06:25 and my attempts to count blocks of 10 gave me at least 710 birds – likely under-recorded though. A few stragglers
- Rook(s) heard over as early as 06:10 but too dark to see any. Just two followed the Jackdaws
- unusual sight of 10 Crows together in one tree
- very flew Wood Pigeons flying
- one Chiffchaff in song; another heard calling and then in song; a third bird calling only
- at least three Redwings in the trees later
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 11 Canada Geese (all outbound)
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- >710 Jackdaws
- >2 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Goldfinch
- 1 Siskin
Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 3 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 9 (7♂) Mallard again
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant (arrived)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 11 (17?) Moorhens (see notes)
- 27 Coots
- >60 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 orb-web spider on a pole: nothing else of note
- first Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) noted
This is Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:35 – 09:15
(52nd visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- last year’s Mute Swan cygnet once again sitting inside the island throughout my visit
- Gadwall and Shoveler apparently gone
- drake Pochard new in
- a single Black-headed Gull dropped in as I was leaving
- 1 calling Chiffchaff
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
None
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans as usual
- 18 Canada Geese
- 26 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 42 (23♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens again
- 31 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Notes
1. A few photos Here taken at RSPB Burton Mere - 2 Mar
2. A few photos Here taken at Belvide - 27 Feb
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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
1 Caspian Gull
1 Iceland Gull
(Tom Lowe)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
6 Gadwall
33 Pochard
71 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
11 Mute Swans
10 Tufted Ducks
1 Iceland
1 Glaucous Gull
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)