20 Feb 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 08:35
The Flash:  08:40 – 09:10

8.0C:  Initially spots of rain and a few breaks in the cloud. After 08:10 persistent rain. Moderate / fresh SSW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:17 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 08:35

(37th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The lone inbound Greylag Goose was at 06:40 – very much against the normal direction at this time.
- The presumed family party of geese were loosely associated with a single Greylag Goose and a pair of Canada Geese.
- What was likely a Woodcock seen again. A bird flew east along the N side and then across the M54 at 06:35, returning a few minutes later heading towards the SW copse. On size it could just about have been a Sparrowhawk. In the low light and with only a brief view it seemed to have no / short tail and the flight action seemed very ‘loose’, so I favour Woodcock.
- Black-headed Gulls were late arriving at 07:15. By 08:00 there were at least 300 on the water and birds had been flying about, so possibly more.
- The first gulls to arrive were all large gulls with three immature Herring Gulls and two adult and one immature Lesser Black-backed Gull at 06:55. A few more arrivals later
- With the academy on half-term seven Redwings were feeding on their sports field..

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 2 Greylag Geese (single outbound; single inbound)
- 39 Canada Geese (three groups outbound)
- 7 geese: family party outbound yet again
- 7 Cormorants
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- c.325 Jackdaws
- 11 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Linnets

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Redwing

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: one pair arrived again
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Cormorants again
- 1 Grey Heron once more
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 Moorhens
- 49 Coots
- >300 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: five adults
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures

Nothing of note

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:40 – 09:10

(36th visit of the year)

A quick canter around in the persistent rain

Bird notes:
- Certainly fewer Tufted Duck today. But where were all the Pochard hiding?
- My first singing Blackbird in 2020 at this location.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 10 Canada Geese
- 37 (22♂) Mallard
- 9 (9♂) Pochard
- 45 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosander
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhen again
- 14 Coots
- 13 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 (2?) Kingfisher(s) again

(Ed Wilson)

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

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
13 Redwings
227 Jackdaws
172 Rooks
Meadow Pipit
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Pochard
174 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
29 Wigeon
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves, John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
2 Goosander
Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Kumlien's Gull
(Peter Wilson/Dawn Balmer )

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pochard 
13 Tufted Ducks
1 Curlew
c.620 Black-headed Gulls
68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
146 Wood Pigeons
34 Robins
18 Blackbirds
15 Song Thrushes
8 Redwings
193 Jackdaws
101 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
122 Coots
963 Wood Pigeons
17 Pied Wagtails
14 Greenfinches
62 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)