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)

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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)

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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)