23 Feb 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  09:10 – 09:35
The Flash:  09:40 – 10:15

10.0C:  Cloud lifting after rain; showers later. Gusty and fresh WNW wind. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 07:11 GMT]

Priorslee Lake:  09:10 – 09:35

(40th visit of the year)

A quick visit carefully (luckily) timed between the early rain and later showers. Only counts from the, once again, very brown water.

Bird notes:
- One of the cygnets was with the two adult Mute Swans. Two of the others were ‘close, but not that close’. The fourth was well-away from all the others.

Bird totals:
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 52 Coots
- c.110 Black-headed Gulls

Nothing else of note

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:40 – 10:15

(39th visit of the year)

Many ducks seen hauled out on the island. Probably more unseen inside.

Bird notes:
- The lone Greylag Goose, seen on several days recently, has been standing in the same place near the edge of the island. Guarding a sitting partner?
- What was likely the same first year drake Goosander as yesterday.
- After yesterday’s winter record high count of Black-headed Gulls, today the opposite. Just two different singles dropped in and quickly left.
- A Long-tailed Tit seen apparently all on its own – unusual.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans as ever
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 10 Canada Geese (one of these flew in)
- 31 (17♂) Mallard
- 6 (6♂) Pochard
- 36 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (2♂) Goosander (see notes)
- 3 Cormorants again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes displaying
- 5 Moorhens
- 14 Coots again
- 2 Black-headed Gulls only
- [no Kingfisher]

Here is what is likely the same first year drake Goosander that was hiding on the island yesterday. In addition to the very pale flanks note how the white throat is rather blotchy, not at all like the clean, bright white patch seen on ducks.

(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 Cormorants
3 Grey Herons
8 Pochard
8 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
1 Kingfisher
6 Redwings
391 Jackdaws
217 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
201 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
(Ed Wilson)

Hortonwood
21 Redwings
(Dave Tromans)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown)

The Flash
Drake Scaup
(Richard Vernon)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
55 Pochard
104 Tufted Duck
1 Common Gull
2 Ravens
22 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
200 Black-headed Gulls
400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
20 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
Glaucous Gull
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Pete Nickless)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant
5 Pochard
9 Tufted Duck
2 Kestrel
556 Wood Pigeon
27 Robin
23 Blackbird
1 Fieldfare
14 Redwing
47 Magpie
100 Jackdaw 
96 Rook
16 Greenfinch
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
2 Cormorants
9 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
3 Water Rails
c.420 Wood Pigeon
c.60 Starling
29 Pied Wagtails
23 Blackbirds
6 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
1 Redpoll
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)