5 Dec 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C: Clearing after rain. Light NE wind. Good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:05 GMT]

* = a photo today

Another weather affected visit.

Priorslee Lake: 08:12 – 10:00

(270th visit of the year)

I was told that one of the local gull enthusiasts reported a probable Azorean Gull last evening. This is yet another of the Herring / Lesser Black-backed group. Adults are characterised by a mantle slightly lighter than Lesser Black-backed Gull. At this time of year the head of an adult is typically densely covered in fine streaks giving the bird a hooded appearance. I have visited the Azores but it was in summer and many years ago. At that time the local gulls were regarded as race of Yellow-legged Gull.

Viewing from the E end lay-by only. All the early fly-overs long-gone. Very few gulls around again.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 13 Canada Geese: duo and group of 11 inbound
- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese again: stayed overnight?
- 11 (7♂) Gadwall
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard again
- 53 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens
- 192 Coots
- 47 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures
- 1 Caspian Gull: second-winter?
- *1 Great Black-backed Gull

The rather coarse feathering on the mantle and the heavy dark bill suggest this is a first-winter Great Black-backed Gull. It is likely a female as it seems rather small. Earlier it had been alongside an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and it certainly looked larger though not exceptionally so. At all ages and all times of the year Great Black-backed Gulls look white-headed. The only exception is immatures and this bird may not yet have fully moulted in to first-winter plumage.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:05 – 11:11

(252nd visit of the year)

Bird Notes
- So: where did 16 duck Tufted Duck appear from overnight?

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *27 Canada Geese: 13 of these arrived in one group
- *41 (23♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 70 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- *7 (0♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- *7 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- *41 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: the dead body is still afloat
- 1 Kingfisher

On the lamp pole or the Ivy:

Nothing on either

Of note elsewhere:
- 2 Grey Squirrels

With food in the offing this Canada Geese makes no secret of its desire to partake. A first-winter Black-headed Gull behind.

Put your tongue away! Scattering Tufted Ducks and Black-headed Gulls as it lands.

With a dark backdrop the blue speculum on the drake Mallard shows well.

"A Goosander photo a day helps you work rest and play". Or was that something else?

Step it up and go. Several of the Moorhens - not this one - have yet to acquire adult plumage.

My bird books say the under-tail coverts are white. Not here they aren't.

May have to put this Black-headed Gull on the sex-offenders' register, peering in at bedroom windows like this.

(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

Local Area

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's sightings Here

2014

Priorslee Lake

Today's sightings Here

2012

Priorslee Lake

3 Gadwall.

9 Pochard

44 Tufted Ducks

1 Goldeneye

158 Coots

9 Herring Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull

27 Redwings

4 Fieldfares

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

7 Pochard

71 Tufted Duck

5 Goosander

(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake

5 Adult Great Black-backed Gulls

(John Isherwood)

2009

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

36 Swans

15 Pochard

48 Tufted Ducks

1 Woodcock

300 Coots

c.1500 Black-headed Gulls

5 Stock Doves

5 Redwings

c.35 Goldfinches

c.10 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Wigeon

7 Pochard

58 Tufted Ducks

>1000 Black-headed Gulls

>2350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

5 Herring Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

20 Robins

20 Blackbirds

c.40 Fieldfares

4 Song Thrushes

6 Redwings

2 Willow Tits

190 Jackdaws

278 Rooks

7 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee Lake

2 Wigeon

12 Pochard

47 Tufted Duck

239 Coot

Golden Plover

c.1600 Black-headed Gulls

397 Jackdaws

261 Rooks

2 Meadow Pipits

3 Redwings

16 Robins

24 Blackbirds

62 Fieldfares

15 Wrens

2 Willow Tits

Redpolls

Siskins

(Ed Wilson)