Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:10
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:10
1.0°C > 4.0°C: Mostly clear and frosty start. Increasing and lowering high cloud from the W. Light S wind, gradually increasing. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:29 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:10
(32nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was, from time to time, gently ushering one of the cygnets away. He was doing this while ignoring the Canada Geese.
- Two Woodcocks chasing around at the W end as I arrived. They seemed to be heading towards the Ricoh area to roost.
- The first two Black-headed Gulls arrived at 06:55. Only 34 more noted arriving.
- A party of c.30 Wood Pigeons seen over fields to E of Castle Farm Way. Flocks of Wood Pigeons have been unusually scarce this winter.
- A Green Woodpecker seen bounding high overhead.
- Many fewer Magpies from the roost. At least two seen that had not been in the roost – so are they beginning to stay overnight at their nest sites?
- Only one group of c.250 Jackdaws noted. Just a few singles / duos later.
- A trio of Bullfinches – all males rather unusually.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 42 Greylag Geese (41 outbound in four groups; single inbound)
- 17 Canada Geese (11 outbound in four pairs / groups; pair inbound)
- 7 unidentified geese outbound – the mixed family yet again?
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: all first-years
- 2 Stock Doves
- 37 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- c.255 Jackdaws only
- 2 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 18 Magpies only (see notes)
nothing else noted
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese: 2 pairs throughout
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 7 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Grey Herons
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 9 Moorhens again
- 54 Coots
- 36 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
Other things:
- 1 Mottled Umber moth (Erranis defoliaria) on a lamp pole before dawn
- 1 Grey Squirrel
At last: something on the lamp poles.
The VERY early sunrise was colourful.
... in time to catch some colour from the rising sun.
The colour was so extensive that even looking due north there was colour.
Much later the incoming high cloud started covering the sun.
This Song Thrush is a different bird from the one I photographed last week.
And a male Blackbird of course. Note the bill colour.
Another male Blackbird – here the bill is more orange suggesting it is well in to breeding condition.
The Robins are now singing their ‘summer song’ and using exposed perches.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:10
(31st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Still confused about the Great Crested Grebes here. Yesterday I did a recap. when I saw the birds for the second time they looked rather devoid of head plumes and I did not recall those seen previously as being like this. But I could not find any others then. Today I only ever found a single bird and that seemed well-adorned with plumes. Could it depend upon whether they have been diving?
- Good view of a Treecreeper today
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 7 Jackdaws
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 5 Canada Geese
- 42 (26♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 48 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Moorhen
- 13 Coots
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Herring Gull: first-winter
- 2 Kingfisher again
The first-winter Herring Gull finding something to eat. Still with an all-black bill.
After some while the bird moved a short distance and I was able to get a clearer view.
A Treecreeper shins up – always up – a trunk. Look at the length of the hind claw.
The back view. The tail used as a prop.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
5 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Flash
1 Tundra Bean Goose
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
Holmer Lake
3 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
80 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
177 Coots
185 Jackdaws
42 Magpies
2 Siskins
39 Linnets
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2008
Priorslee Lake
7 Gadwall
1 Iceland Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
(Rich, Vernon, Andy, Ed Wilson and Jason)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
7 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
140 Coots
880 Wood Pigeons
249 Jackdaws
155 Rooks
24 Robins
20 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)