12 Feb 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:00
The Flash:  09:05 – 09:40

2.0°C > 4.0°C:  Scattered cloud early then clear. Frost in sheltered areas. Brisk W wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:33 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:00

(30th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Fewer Moorhens on the SW grass early – too much frost.
- The first group of at least 100 Jackdaws flew very low to the W of the lake, partially hidden from my sheltered location – possibly more? Later birds were in groups of no more than 50 at varying heights and on various flight lines over and to the E of the lake.
- With the on-set of chilly weather fewer birds were motivated to sing. Initially only one of the eleven Song Thrushes was singing though four others joined in later.
- In addition to the single fly-over Redwing at least 16 were still in the trees around the usual roost location at 08:20. Another 10 were in trees alongside Teece Drive with several singles elsewhere.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 15 Canada Geese (13 in four groups outbound; pair inbound)
- 7 unidentified geese outbound – the mixed family?
- 6 Cormorants
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- c.600 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Redwing

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 36 Magpies
nothing else noted

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 8 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Cormorants, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- 5 Moorhens only
- [Coots not counted]

Gulls:
Arrival:
- One large gull at 07:05 and then two others c.07:15 probably briefly on the water. Not identified before they departed. The first Black-headed Gull not before 07:30 with no more than c.40 arriving.
counts
- c.40 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 unidentified large gulls

No gulls arrived after 07:45.

Clear air after all the wind (and a touch of cross-lighting) allows great definition of craters on the waning moon.

At this time of year male Greenfinches live up to their name. They have just started ‘singing’ – a wheezy rasp is hardly a song – and I should be able to improve on this shot over the coming weeks.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:05 – 09:40

(29th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- Different Cormorant from others seen recently – this an immature with much white on the chest / belly.
- After daily sightings of birds collecting acorns last Autumn my first log of Jay here this year

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans as ever
- 6 Canada Geese
- 37 (23♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard remain
- 55 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 14 Coots again
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Kingfisher

Additional bird species for my 2020 bird list at this site:
#50     Jay

An unusually cooperative drake Goosander. Quite close and angled such that the sun highlights the green gloss on the head. A handsome bird.

Several groups of Black-headed Gulls were chasing and playing with sticks like these two first-winter birds. These birds will not nest this year but I suspect the behaviour is related to the on-set of the breeding season and the collection of nesting material.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
1 Mediterranean Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2013
St Georges
5 Waxwings
(Observer Unknown)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Iceland Gulls
( Pete Jordan)