28 Dec 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

1.0°C: Mainly overcast with a few brief blue patches. Light N breeze. Good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:22 GMT]

* = a photo today

Brief visits after the snow ceased and the roads cleared.

Priorslee Lake: 13:20 – 13:45

(291st visit of the year)

Plenty of people walking around the water probably meant some birds had flown (Mallard?) and other hiding were away (Moorhens).

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- no Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 60 (31♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- 57 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Herring Gull: immature

Of note:
Nothing

Most birds were too far away for photos. This male Pied Wagtail was an exception. Not sure why its forehead is yellow (in bird terminology this area is known as the 'front'). Must be from what it has been eating.

A side-elevation view.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 12:33 – 13:15

(273rd visit of the year)

Families our snow-balling and building snowmen no doubt had some effect on the number and variety of species present.

Bird notes:
- It is believed that ingestion of lead is what caused the death of both the cygnets taken in to care. There are many learned papers on the web about lead poisoning and its effects on animals and birds. This extract would seem likely to explain the symptoms shown: "anaemia, lethargy, muscle wastage and loss of fat reserves". I assume that the source of the lead is from the fishermen. It is legal to use certain lead weights in the UK. The EU was working towards banning its use - Denmark already does.
- Some Pochard seem to have returned from the lake while some of the Tufted Duck have apparently gone the other way.

Noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 unidentified drone - taking photos of the snow?

Counts from the water:
- 3 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans:
- 9 Canada Geese
- 37 (20♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Pochard
- 55 (34♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- *78 Black-headed Gulls

Of note.
Nothing

When I arrived at The Flash the snow was starting to melt away. Nevertheless a few snowy images to start. Here from Derwent Drive looking towards The Priorslee pub.

From the same vantage point looking past the island - where another tree has fallen down. I wonder how long the island will survive being worn away by a combination of wave action and swans and geese climbing on and off.

The path where it passes through the NW wooded area.

Here looking down what I was told to call 'squirrel alley'. There are indeed usually Grey Squirrels to be seen here.

Food was being provided. A scrum of Black-headed Gulls. Probably not the correct collective noun for this species but it will do.

It does get crowded.

The first-winter birds are those with neat black tail-bands.

No table manner at all.

One in the centre emerging with what looks like half a slice of brown bread (I hope it is wholemeal). Everyone else seems to be shouting and complaining.

As usual it took some while for my brain to engage (I blame the cold) and take a video of the action. The most aggressive feeding was over but this gives a flavour.

And another short clip.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
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
7 Gadwall
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
1 Scaup
1 Goosander
218 Coots
28 Redwings
386 Jackdaws
209 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
19 Pochard
1 Peregrine
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
4 Goosander
1 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
15+ Great Black-backed Gulls
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Kriss Webb)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Caspian Gull 
9 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Dawn Balmer/Peter Wilson/David Fairhurst)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Peregrine
 2 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull 
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2007
The Flash
11 Goosander
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
9 Siskins
7 Redwing
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
13 Lapwings
c.100 Black-headed Gulls
c.1100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
12 Pied Wagtails
6 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
160 Jackdaws
97 Rooks
20 Chaffinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee lake
30 Pochard 30
32 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
200+ Coot
1 Water Rail
c.3000 Black-headed Gulls
c.2000 Lesser Black-backs
4 Herring Gulls
21 Pied Wagtails
247 Rooks
172 Jackdaw
5 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
46 Siskin
19 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)