15 Feb 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:35 – 08:25
The Flash:  08:30 – 09:00

8.0°C > 10.0°C:  Cloudy with spells of sometimes heavy rain. Light SSE wind increasing moderate, even fresh. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:27 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:35 – 08:25

(33rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Mute Swan family went for a fly together – the first family flight I have noted this year.
- When the pair of Canada Geese arrived the cob Mute Swan set off after them and chased them a safe distance away. Strangely it ignored the other pairs which were much closer.
- One Great Crested Grebe ‘missing’: I suspect sheltering in the reeds.
- The first five Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:05. At least 150 birds seen, all swirling around in the wind with only some of them apparently settling here. At least 20 were on the ‘football field’ for a while.
- I needed to be Janus to count the Jackdaws: they passed in concurrent multiple small groups both to E and W of me. At least 10 minutes later than yesterday.
- Many more Pied Wagtails overhead, all flying SSE. Perhaps due to my different location sheltering from the weather. Perhaps because there was less traffic on the M54 today.
- Blackbird song is now strong and prolonged.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 11 Greylag Geese (outbound in one group)
- 2 Canada Geese (pair outbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Common Buzzard
- >45 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- c.190 Jackdaws only
- 15 Pied Wagtails

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- Magpies not counted
- 2 Redwings

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; one pair departed; another pair arrived
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 7 (3♂) Tufted Duck again
- 1 Cormorant again
- 3 Grey Herons again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens still
- 52 Coots
- >100 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: nine adults
- 3 Herring Gulls: all immatures

Nothing else of note

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:30 – 09:00

(32nd visit of the year)

A quick circumnavigation in the rain.

Bird notes:
- The Cormorant seemed to be arriving. I did not actually see it on the water.
- Several Redwings heard calling in the trees. Not seen.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Herring Gull: immature

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese
- 39 (22♂) Mallard
- 5 (5♂) Pochard
- 47 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (2♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 7 Moorhen
- 12 Coots
- 25 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Kingfisher

(Ed Wilson)

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

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Priorslee Lake
 Scaup
1 Yellow legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
8 Gadwall
30 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
7 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
50 Tufted Duck
23 Pochard
1 Caspian Gull
575 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
80 Herring Gulls
650 Black-headed Gulls
(Mike Shurmer, Martin Grant)

Holmer Lake
39 Goosander
(Martin Grant)

2010
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
33 Pochard
71 Tufted Ducks
164 Coots
243 Jackdaws
9 Redwings
3 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
129 Coots
c.660 Wood Pigeons
310 Starlings
20 Robins
25 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
11 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
4 Redpolls
2 Reed Buntings again
(Ed Wilson)