0.0°C > 3.0°C: Mainly clear with only a few clouds at times. Light W wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 08:22 GMT
* = a photo today
Best wishes to all my readers. Here's to a less challenging 2021.
One of my better mornings with several highlights
- A pair of Wigeon dropped in to the lake where there was an adult Great Black-backed Gull and also two passing Ravens.
- A Chiffchaff was calling and then seen along the W end track (Silkin Way) at Trench Lock Pool.
- A Pink-footed Goose was with Greylag Geese at Trench Middle Pool.
Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:32
(293th visit of the year)
- c.5% thin ice
Bird notes:
- The pair of (Eurasian) Wigeon spent about five minutes circling round and round checking out where to land before eventually settling c.08:15.
- Increased number of Pochard and Tufted Ducks. Likely some were from The Flash which had much more ice.
- A Sparrowhawk was patrolling the area much of the time. I record this species much less frequently here than at The Flash.
- A Water Rail was calling in the NE area. Many years since I logged one in this part of the lake. A tree fell in the drainage ditch that this species sometimes frequented and I saw them no more.
- c.125 Black-headed Gulls on the water by 07:10 - some roosted? Eventually at least 330 birds before they started to disperse.
- Usual remarkably diverse collection of large gulls considering the relatively small number of birds involved. An adult Great Black-backed Gull was good to see.
- I note that so often the passing Lesser Black-backed Gulls follow exactly the same line. I assume that from their height they can see landmarks to aim at?
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming again.
- Just one big group of c.130 Jackdaws. Scattered singles, small groups later. No Rooks.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- *41 Greylag Geese: three concurrent groups, loosely inbound
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 2 Cormorants: singles
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 61 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 17 Wood Pigeons
- c.150 Jackdaws
- 2 Ravens
- 2 Fieldfare
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Linnet
Apart from uncounted Magpies no birds were seen / heard leaving roosts around the lake:
Reed Buntings heard calling from the N side reeds pre-dawn: these too were not seen to leave though they were not heard calling or seen later
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose: departed
- 4 Canada Geese: departed with the Greylag
- *2 (1♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon: arrived
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 10 (6♂) Mallard: 5 (3♂) departed
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 73 (48♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail
- 5 Moorhens
- 128 Coots
- c.330 Black-headed Gulls
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: adult and immature
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: (near?) adult
- *1 Caspian Gull: second winter
- *1 Great Black-backed Gull: adult
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
Nothing
Of note later:
Nothing
In amongst them was this strange individual with white outer part to its wings. The feet, as much as can be seen, look just like a Greylag's feet. I cannot think of any other goose species that it might be crossed with so it seems it is an aberrant Greylag. I have counted as such.
A chilly sunrise.
A little colour later.
One of the three skeins of Greylag Geese that passed over more or less at the same time.
Makes a change from Coots on the sunrise-tinged water. A pair of Tufted Ducks.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(275th visit of the year)
- c.40% ice
Bird notes:
- Perhaps a second duck Goosander. I thought I saw two ducks tucked up against the island but later could only find a pair.
- Grey Wagtail seen again but not close enough to see whether it had rings.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 18 Greylag Geese: 10 of these arrived
- 19 Canada Geese
- 26 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 69 (35♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- *110 Black-headed Gulls
On the lamp poles, around the Ivy or elsewhere.
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 18 Greylag Geese: 10 of these arrived
- 19 Canada Geese
- 26 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 69 (35♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- *110 Black-headed Gulls
On the lamp poles, around the Ivy or elsewhere.
Nothing of note
Many Black-headed Gulls seem quite happy to stand on the ice.
I dared not move otherwise this Jay would have flown. So it comes, branches and all.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(41st visit of the year)
- c. 70% ice
Bird notes:
- The recent single Greylag Goose back amongst the Canadas.
- Highlight here was the calling Chiffchaff, later also seen. One of these last over-wintered here many years ago. It is unusual for birds to call in mid-winter - say from late October until late-February. Needless to say it is my latest-ever record in any year.
- A female Bullfinch seen: a species I do not see very often here.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- >50 Greylag Geese: presumed en route to Middle Pool
- 3 Cormorants: together
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swan: as usual
- 1 Greylag Goose
- *129 Canada Geese
- 15 (11♂) Mallard
- 8 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
- 12 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- 2 Herring Gulls: adults briefly, together
Two Canada Geese on noisy departure over the ice.
Somebody has provided food on a fence post near the Blue Pig. This Robin has found it.
It is too late for a Christmas Robin but snow on the post would have been good.
Its best side?
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(41st visit of the year)
c.30% ice
Bird notes:
- A Pink-footed Goose found amongst the mass of Greylag Geese. I last saw this species here in January when up to four birds were present, usually with Greylags.
- Many of the Greylags flew over Trench Lock en route here and more arrived while I was walking around. Some birds were already inside the island so the total number is likely higher than those I counted.
- There were possibly also more Canada Geese and Coots lurking inside the island. Space on the open water was rather limited.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
None
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 Pink-footed Goose
- *>125 Greylag Geese
- 37 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 25 (17♂) Mallard
- 22 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (2♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 9 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- *>150 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
The Pink-footed Goose found here, usually with the Greylags but here in its own. Obviously the pink feet are not visible. Identify by the white-edges to the blue-grey back feathers and the pink mark on a rather short bill.
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 Pink-footed Goose
- *>125 Greylag Geese
- 37 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 25 (17♂) Mallard
- 22 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (2♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 9 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- *>150 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
The pink on the bill often shows as a band, as here, though it can be more smudgy.
It was already packed with Greylag Geese when I arrived. Here another 24 about to join them.
Coming in for ....
... what might be termed 'splash-down'.
As at The Flash there were Black-headed Gulls standing on the ice.
(Ed Wilson)
Note: Click here for a few images from the Wirral - 30 Dec 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day
2019
Priorslee 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
2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Ian Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
(Jim Almond and Paul Spear)
2010
Priorslee Lake
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee lake
11 Great Crested Grebes
31 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
237 Coot
Golden Plover
1 Water Rail
700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.1250 Black-headed Gulls
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
37 Herring Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gull
374 Jackdaws
178 Rooks
1 Kingfisher
1 Willow Tit
2 Redpolls.
2 Redwings
14 Robins
19 Blackbirds
13 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)