7 Jan 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash [not in that order]

Priorslee Lake:  13:15 – 14:05
The Flash:  12:35 – 13:10

8.0°C:  Overcast. Moderate S wind. Good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:20 GMT]

I eschewed another dawn visit to peer in to the gloom of another overcast morning and visited later. Turned out it was almost as gloomy.

Priorslee Lake:  13:15 – 14:05

(7th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- No sign of the fifth cygnet again. Will we ever know whether it left for pastures new? Of was a victim of the natural reaction by its father? It has a blue Darvic ring so if it is seen again we should find out.
- Yesterday’s extra pair of Great Crested Grebes gone again.
- Moorhen counts always lower after many have taken breakfast together on the SW grass and then dispersed.
- The trio of Yellow-legged Gulls was the only noteworthy sighting.

Bird totals:

Counts from the lake area only:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans again
- 8 (5♂) Gadwall again
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Pochard
- 33 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- [no Little Grebes]
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 93 Coots

Gulls: birds were coming and going all the time. The following numbers are the typical ‘instantaneous’ number:
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- >150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- >25 Herring Gulls
- 3 Yellow-legged Gulls: two adults; 1 third-winter
A Great Black-backed Gull was reported as present earlier: not seen by me

No other sightings

Additional bird species for 2020 recorded here this morning (in order logged)
56      Yellow-legged Gull

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  12:35 – 13:10

(6th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- As ever puzzled by the Great Crested Grebe(s). Single bird seen in several locations but could never find two at the same time.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 7 Canada Geese
- 43 (24♂) Mallard
- 10 (10♂) Pochard
- 38 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1? Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coots
- 45 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adults; three second-winter

No other sightings:

Additional bird species for 2020 recorded here today
None

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
A drake Scaup
(J Reeves)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Paul Paclett)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes.
17 Pochard
45 Tufted Duck
2 Gadwall
1 Pintail
236 Coot
2 Water Rail
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
c.140 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
46 Herring Gulls
15 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)