6.0°C: Mostly cloudy but mostly bright. Almost calm. Good visibility.
[Sunrise: 08:20 GMT again]
*A few photos today
Priorslee Lake: 15:16 – 15:44
(285th visit of the year)
Again viewing from the E end lay-by in Castle Farm Way (after the visit to The Flash)
Much as yesterday afternoon:
- The five Great Crested Grebes are often in pairs, though not always with the same partner.
- The higher number of Coots is likely a more accurate count. A dog-walker at the W end had moved all the birds out of cover in that area.
- Black-headed Gulls were arriving all the while and more than when I took the count by the time I departed.
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 27 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- 11 Moorhens
- 168 Coots
- 116 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
(Ed Wilson)
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(267th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- One pair of Mallard noted mating.
- One of yesterday's drake Pochard missing - possible the bird at the lake today.
- A bumper number of Tufted Duck
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Sparrowhawks: both males with one chasing the other away
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 13 Canada Geese
- 36 (21♂) Mallard*
- 5 (4♂) Pochard
- 119 (63♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosanders again*
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 37 Black-headed Gulls*
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: still the same body
On a lamp pole
- 1 Common European Earwig (Forficula auricularia)
Also of note
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). The rat trap was been removed from Derwent Drive a few days so the rat is back.
A pair of Mallard getting amorous despite the chilly water.
He looks pleased. To her it looks like water off a duck's back.
Nothing special: just a passing adult winter Black-headed Gull.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee 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
Today's sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall
2 Teal
6 Pochard
78 Tufted Ducks
1 female Greater Scaup
222 Coots counted
Caspian Gull
2 Fieldfare
17 Redwings
429 Jackdaws
173 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
110 Tufted Ducks
17 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
11 Swans
1 Shoveler
c.115 Tufted Duck
7 Goosander
129 Coots
41 Black-headed Gulls
51 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
21 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
181 Coots
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
16 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
32 Swans
114 Canada Geese
39 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
166 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3rd-winter American Herring Gull
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe/Kriss Webb)
2011
Priorslee Lake
c.6000 Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Yellow-legged Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gulls
Sparrowhawk
(Martin Adlam and Ian Grant)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
42 Swans
2 Gadwall
51 Pochard
132 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
296 Coots
c.2000 Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
30 Lapwings
50 Golden Plover
7 Redwings
8 Fieldfares
15 Goldfinches
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake Icebound - 2009 (Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
31 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
58 Coots
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
c.3200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
15 Pied Wagtails
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)
2005
Priorslee lake
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
c.100 Lesser Black-backs
11 Herring Gull
7 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant on the Lake.
200 Coot
1 Water Rail
18 Pied Wagtails
231 Rooks
323 Jackdaw
3 Redwing
c.50 Siskin
7 Redpoll
8 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam)