11.0°C > 14.0°C: Initially scattered cloud below a medium/high overcast. A threatened clearance from the W once again induced the 'Telford hat' of low cloud. Brighter at Trench. Almost calm start with light SW wind developing (where does the wind go at night?). Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:37 GMT
* = a photo today.
Priorslee Lake: 06:11 – 09:20
(253rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Pairs of Gadwall were flying around all the while. There may have been a fourth pair. I did not see any 'spare' drakes.
- At least 200 Wood Pigeons flew high N at 08:10. Unlike yesterday they were much too high to have left the local area. Within the next 10 minutes further parties of 72 and 29 were noted flying N, both distantly to the W. 48 more were noted making local movements.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves
- c.350 Wood Pigeons
- c.525 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 3 Starlings
- 2 Redwings: duo
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.30 Starlings: one group from N side
- 4 Redwings
- no Reed Buntings
I was not in my usual position to see any Reed Buntings leave their roost/
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 36 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Little Grebe
- 12 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 178 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 26 pre-dawn: 29 more later.
- *2 Herring Gulls: one adult; one second year
- 3 Herring-gull types: all 'immatures' not seen well-enough to ascribe a positive ID.
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
- 1 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata): same pole, same position as yesterday.
- *1 leafhopper, probably Eupteryx urticae
- 1 Tipula pagana cranefly
- *1 blow fly type, possibly Calliphora vicina
- *1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- 1 orb-web spider sp.
Noted later:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
A non-sunrise photo. This is looking to the west and the clearance that never materialised, the infamous Telford 'hat' of low cloud deciding to take precedence.
It makes a change to get a real Herring Gull. A typical adult winter bird.
I was so pleased I took another shot.
Unless anyone tells me otherwise this is a second-winter Herring Gull.
A Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) sitting well-posed though those first two pairs of legs are often held completely together.
The Flash: 09:23 – 10:18
(237th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I could not decide whether the adult Lesser Back-backed Gull was still alive or not. It was even lower in the water and I saw no obvious movement.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 21 Jackdaw
- 1 Redwing
Counts from the water:
- *3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 27 Canada Geese
- 35 (19♂) Mallard
- 62 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- *14 (>4♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 1 Moorhen only: why?
- 33 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: note sure it was still alive
On the lamp poles:
(Ed Wilson)
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(237th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I could not decide whether the adult Lesser Back-backed Gull was still alive or not. It was even lower in the water and I saw no obvious movement.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 21 Jackdaw
- 1 Redwing
Counts from the water:
- *3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 27 Canada Geese
- 35 (19♂) Mallard
- 62 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- *14 (>4♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 1 Moorhen only: why?
- 33 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: note sure it was still alive
On the lamp poles:
Nothing on any of them
Around the Ivy
- >1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Of interest elsewhere:
- just about active Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) around their nest in overcast but mild conditions.
Around the Ivy
- >1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Of interest elsewhere:
- just about active Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) around their nest in overcast but mild conditions.
Make my neck aches just to look at the brownhead Goosander on the right as it adjusts its feathers.
A clever trick by this drake Goosander to stand up in the water.
Perhaps it helps to flap hard?
Nothing like a good scratch. Note the serrations on the inside of the bill for gripping slippery fish.
All smart again. Well actually still a bit soggy around the neck.
I fear our sickly adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull is no more ....
(Ed Wilson)
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(35th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The Black Swan that had been retrieved by its owners has escaped again and was happily out-competing the Canada Geese for the proffered food. An RSPCA man arrived with bread as it had been reported the swan had a fishing hook in its mouth. One of the fishermen told me the water bailiff had removed two hooks, and several feet of line and attached weight earlier this morning. The swan seemed fine and none the worse for its ordeal. It is obviously used to people and was taking food from the palm of the hand.
- Grey Wagtail yet again.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Starling
Counts from the water:
- 1 Mute Swan
- *1 Black Swan
- 98 Canada Geese
- no Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe remains
- 1 Moorhen
- 12 Coots
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
These birds often hold their head and neck at this very distinctive angle.
Imperious. It didn't seem any worse for having two fishing hooks removed this morning.
"Are you looking at me?"
I will not necessarily get another chance of a portrait...
...still less a close-up.
(Ed Wilson)
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(35th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Canada Goose with some albino-type extensions to its white chin-strap. A bird I have not noted previously.
- The white feral goose / duck was a challenge to locate - lurking inside the island.
- Only one of the second brood Great Crested Grebes located. Seemed independent and hopefully the other two fledged and departed.
- Several Chaffinches were my first here since late March.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
Nothing
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans as ever
- 5 Greylag Geese
- *78 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 15 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Moorhen
- 53 Coots
- 94 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
Also noted
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- *several groups of fungus, most too ravaged to ID.
I have not seen this Canada Goose with white extending over the back of the neck and the top of the head before.
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans as ever
- 5 Greylag Geese
- *78 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 15 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Moorhen
- 53 Coots
- 94 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
Also noted
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- *several groups of fungus, most too ravaged to ID.
...that species has a collar to the stem that these do not seem to have. So I will have to pass.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2018Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
2 Teal
62 Tufted Duck
214 Coots
9 Lapwings over
c.210 Black-headed Gulls
c.250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
7 Fieldfare
10 Redwings
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
(Andy Latham)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
37 Pochard
55 Tufted Ducks
>625 Black-headed Gulls
2245 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
424 Wood Pigeons
23 Blackbirds
374 Fieldfares
58 Redwings
379 Jackdaws
151 Rooks
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)