6.0°C > 9.0°C: Fine and clear with areas of mainly thin high cloud. More cloud developing later. Light S wind increasing somewhat. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:00 GMT
* = a photo today.
Priorslee Lake: 05:32 – 09:09
(233rd visit of the year)
A postscript to yesterday's visit by Mute Swan 7JSH: Martin Grant tells me this bird was picked up later in St. Georges and taken in to care by Cuan Wildlife Rescue.
Bird notes:
- Another visiting Mute Swan duo that were soon dispatched. Perhaps the same two flew E overhead some 15 minutes later
- 276 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived from the Hortonwood roost, mostly between 06:24 and 06:30.
- 41 more Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived from the E after 08:00 – the same number as yesterday. One first-winter Herring Gull with them.
- Apart from the fly-over Wood Pigeons there were at least 50 more flying in and out of trees in Wards Rough to the NE, feeding in the fields.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew very high S and continued as far as I could see in binoculars. Likely 'not one of ours'.
- Again a single Starling was noted leaving the NW area roost. A group of 11 had already departed from the NE area – possibly more as I did not a good line of sight on them.
- Almost all the Fieldfare and Redwings seen overhead appeared to emerge from trees and bushes in the Woodhouse Lane area and were likely leaving overnight roosts there.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- *2 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 3 Greylag Geese: trio outbound
- 69 Canada Geese: party of eight outbound; parties of 58 and three inbound.
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 4 brownhead Goosanders: trio and singleton
- 9 Cormorants: group of seven and duo
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 5 Feral Pigeons: two groups
- *658 Wood Pigeons: 618 of these in 12 migrant parties SW
- c.325 Jackdaws
- 15 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 1 Skylark
- 22 Starlings: one group
- 140 Fieldfare: four groups
- 37 Redwings: seven groups
- 10 Pied Wagtails
- 3 Chaffinches
- 6 Goldfinches
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- 12 Starlings (see notes)
- 23 Redwings
- 2 Reed Buntings only
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 5 Mute Swans: the additional duo for a short while only.
- *22 Canada Geese: stopped off inbound
- *7 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- *6 (5♂) Pochard remain
- 25 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately again
- 3 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe once more
- 11 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 133 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- c.310 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: first-winter bird
Playing fields:
Not visited
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
- 5 November Moth-types (Epirrita sp.)
- *1 possible Scarce Umber moth (Agriopis aurantiaria)
- *2 spiders of different unidentified species
Noted later:
- 5 Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) around the few remaining Ivy flowers.
- *1 possible Scarce Umber moth (Agriopis aurantiaria)
- *2 spiders of different unidentified species
Noted later:
- 5 Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) around the few remaining Ivy flowers.
The areas of high cloud produced an attractive sunrise.
Well you have to try.... a Lesser Black-backed Gull silhouetted against the sunrise.
Ploughing through the water is a drake Pochard, keeping an eye on me.
And keeping the other eye on me as well
Well they were a long way away. These two Great Crested Grebes seem to be anticipating Spring.
Much smaller, shorter-legged and dumpier-looking. Another mystery.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:12 – 10:25
(218th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- More Canada Geese following higher number over the lake earlier.
- I did not see any Goosanders on the water. Later when I was standing on the exit sluice I noted groups of five, then three and then four flying around as if they were arriving or leaving. I got the impression that only six birds might be involved. From my position much of the water was hidden by the island which also partially obscured the flying birds. At least one drake amongst them.
- A third Great Crested Grebe noted.
- Today's Lesser Black-backed Gull was a different bird – and a very puzzling bird of indeterminate age.
- Grey Wagtail seen in flight from the island.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Common Buzzards
- 9 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 66 Wood Pigeons (three groups)
- 13 Jackdaws
- 3 Fieldfare
- 2 Redwings
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 81 Canada Geese
- *28 (16♂) Mallard
- 105 (?♂) Tufted Duck: no attempt made to sex these
- *6? (1♂?) Goosanders (see notes)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens only again
- 34 Coots
- 67 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull – perhaps!
On the lamp poles:
Nothing
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(218th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- More Canada Geese following higher number over the lake earlier.
- I did not see any Goosanders on the water. Later when I was standing on the exit sluice I noted groups of five, then three and then four flying around as if they were arriving or leaving. I got the impression that only six birds might be involved. From my position much of the water was hidden by the island which also partially obscured the flying birds. At least one drake amongst them.
- A third Great Crested Grebe noted.
- Today's Lesser Black-backed Gull was a different bird – and a very puzzling bird of indeterminate age.
- Grey Wagtail seen in flight from the island.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Common Buzzards
- 9 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 66 Wood Pigeons (three groups)
- 13 Jackdaws
- 3 Fieldfare
- 2 Redwings
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 81 Canada Geese
- *28 (16♂) Mallard
- 105 (?♂) Tufted Duck: no attempt made to sex these
- *6? (1♂?) Goosanders (see notes)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens only again
- 34 Coots
- 67 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull – perhaps!
On the lamp poles:
Nothing
On / around the Ivy:
- >30 Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris)
- the usual mainly black flies
The Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) were not showing around their nest
- the usual mainly black flies
The Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) were not showing around their nest
I must not let smart drake Mallards get all the attention. Here is a duck flying by.
And a low-level pass showing the blue speculum.
And now the back markings as well.
One of the brownhead Goosanders circles around. No idea whether they did land.
And again. HELP!
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2010
Priorslee Lake
c.75 Starlings left roost at W end
118 Wood Pigeons
2 Sky Larks
7 Meadow Pipits
478 Fieldfare
76 Redwings
9 Siskins
13 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorants
26 Pochard
47 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
64 Coots
35 Fieldfares
3 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
4 Mistle Thrushes
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
Wigeon
Cormorant
300 Black-headed Gulls
40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.75 Lapwings
2 Fieldfares
1 duck Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
200 Coot
(Ed Wilson)