Priorslee Lake: 06:10 – 08:45
The Flash: 08:50 – 09:50
2.0°C > 4.0°C: Early sleet showers clearing; still mostly cloudy. Keen WNW wind, just frosted in sheltered areas. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 07:04 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:10 – 08:45
(43rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was again chasing presumably the same cygnet putting it to flight before forcing it on to the SW grass. Another cygnet was again keeping its distance with two still happily with the pen.
- A group of nine Goosanders high over at 07:20 was welcome: birds overhead have been much less frequent this winter.
- Only three Great Crested Grebes noted. The pair in the NE area were active throughout. Just one of the pair in the NW reeds popped out briefly. I assume a fourth was hiding in these reeds.
- All the Black-headed Gulls came in for a while. Then a Common Buzzard flew low over and they all left. Just one or two returned later.
- The two Herring Gulls that briefly dropped in were, unusually, both adults. Meanwhile those over were (just) immatures.
- A party of c.15 Redwings on the ground and in the trees of the Ricoh copse.
- Now five Reed Buntings in song.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 2 Canada Geese (pair S to far E))
- 9 Goosander (sexes not determined)
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 2 Herring Gulls: one second year; one third year
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 44 Jackdaws
- 16 Rooks
Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 42 Magpies
- 1 Reed Bunting
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 49 Coots
- 61 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
- 2 Herring Gulls: both adults
Also noted: what seemed to be a few first flowers of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). This is some six weeks earlier than any previous ‘first date’. Not 100% confirmed as my camera was not functioning this morning. I do not pick wild flowers.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:50 – 09:50
(42nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Three Cormorants throughout: on their usual perches. Two more flew in as I was about to leave – where would they sit? Probably my highest-ever total here.
- No sign of yesterday’s third Great Crested Grebe.
- After several weeks with one, two and even three Song Thrushes singing away I have heard none the past four visits.
- Bullfinch heard in quiet song above the Ivy bank.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult again
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Starling
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 32 (18♂) Mallard
- 8 (8♂) Pochard remain
- 39 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (4♂) Goosander
- 5 Cormorants
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhen
- 17 Coots
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
8 Pochard
4 Tufted Duck
164 Black-headed Gulls
78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>250 Rooks
20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
185 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Caspian Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
33 Wigeon
1 Common Teal
4 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
89 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
9 Pochard
89 Tufted Duck
1 Greater Scaup
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
18 Swans
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
96 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
1 other 'strange gull'!
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
2 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Sky Larks
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Cormorant
2 Gadwall
6 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
96 Coots
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
274 Wood Pigeon
135 Jackdaws
111 Rooks
78 Starlings
45 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
17 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
20 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)