8 Dec 20

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

0.0°C > 6.0°C: Frosty with fog patches. Some clear spells also some cloudy spells. Light W wind. Variable visibility depending where the fog / mist was. Good at Trench.

Sunrise: 08:09 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:28 – 09:32

(273rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Presumably the same trio of Canada Geese that have been around for a few days were the birds that flew in. The swans ignored them.
- Ten Tufted Duck flew off towards The Flash. I am fairly certain I had already logged these before they departed.
- Gull arrival commenced, unusually, after the first Jackdaws has passed. Numbers stayed low: much lower that last evening's dusk count.
- Three Jackdaws seen briefly strutting around the dam-top. Unusual.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
affected by the mist/fog
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 13 Feral Pigeons
- 83 Wood Pigeons: 71 of these in a single group flying N(!)
- c.365 Jackdaws
- c.185 Rooks

Birds seen / heard leaving roosts around the lake:
- 19 Magpies: partial(?) count of newly formed roost
- 2 Redwings
- 5 Reed Bunting: others still calling when I left the roost area

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese: arrived
- *14 (8♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 38 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Grey Herons
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 198 Coots
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls
- 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 18 pre-dawn; just two later
- 5 Herring Gulls: 2 (near) adults and one immature pre-dawn; two adults later.
- 2 Yellow-legged Gulls: one third(?) winter pre-dawn; one first-winter later.
- 1 Kingfisher

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise: rather fewer in frosty and clear conditions.
- *1 probable November Moth-type (Epirrita sp.)

Noted later:
Nothing

I did not expect to see this. Never trust the weather forecast. (and no: I wasn't leaning at 30 degrees, the moon was)

Some distant lingering fog. The sunrise did not look too special so I moved on.

Wrong! This would have looked better reflected in the water.

A frosty foreground.

Autumn already? The early pale sun gives that impression.

A favourite pair: Gadwall. A good number at the moment though most are rather wary.

A gull that I left out of the totals. The obvious pale head and the tone of the adult feathers in the mantle between that of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull led me to consider either Yellow-legged or Caspian as possibilities. Before the buoy spun around for a better view the bird took off and in flight (unless I confused it with another bird) the upper-wing looked like a first-winter Lesser Black-back. This is clearly NOT a first-winter anything. Pass.

I am also going to have to pass on this moth: not quite sharp - apologies. The tone suggested one of the umber moths whereas the wing shape suggests one of the November or Winter moth groups. Its size is more like November than Winter but it has stronger markings than I can recall seeing previously on any of these moths. A probable November Moth-type (Epirrita sp.) though I worry about the tone and it is a rather late date for this group to be flying.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:37

(255th visit of the year)

Unexpectedly c.10% thin ice.

Bird notes:
- Yesterday afternoon's Shoveler had shoved off.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 1 Jackdaw

Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 11 Canada Geese only
- 26 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 100 (50♂) Tufted Duck: improbably - exactly 50 of each sex counted
- *7 (1♂) Goosanders: drake flew off
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 11 Moorhens
- 32 Coots yet again
- *56 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: the usual body still won't sink.

On the lamp pole and around the Ivy
Nothing on any of them

Of note elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

I was surprised to find the water was partially covered in ice. Slightly frosted leaves were less of a surprise.

"Are there any fish here? Let's have a look". A duck Goosander on the hunt.

"Oh yes! A tasty Perch" (Perca fluviatilis). Red pelvic, anal and tail fins with a banded body (that is the fish not the Goosander).

The serrations on the inside of her bill are ideal for gripping slippery fish fighting for their lives. She needs to be careful of the spiny dorsal fin in her mouth. Also note the grey pectoral fin on the fish.

I know it is not quite sharp as she twists her head to get on with feeding. It illustrates the fish's spiny dorsal fin.

Probably preening rather than patting her full stomach

A sextet of adult winter Black-headed Gulls lining up for the food that was in prospect.

They get quite brave at the thought of food. A first-winter here with brown in the wing and an orange- and not red-toned bill.

The nice thing about Robin's is that they perch out in the open and close-enough that I don't have to crop the photo. Would look more appropriate if there was snow on top of the perch. It was certainly cold enough.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 10:45 – 11:00 // 11:55 - 12:24

(38th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The pen Mute Swan has returned without the cygnets. I hope they have found somewhere safe to spend their teenage years.
- A lone Greylag Goose was still among the 100+ Canada Geese.
- One Great Crested Grebe had maintained a lonely vigil since mid-September. A second noted today.
- Two Jays were in trees at the N end of the Silkin Way as it passes by here. Bird species #58 for me here in 2020.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Feral Pigeons
- 5 Starlings

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swan: both resident adults
- 1 Black Swan
- 1 Greylag Goose again
- 116 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 12 Coots
- *28 Black-headed Gulls
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one arrived
- *3 Herring Gulls: near adults: one arrived

Otherwise of note
- 1 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata): last recorded by me here in November 2018.

This site provides better opportunities for gull photos than either the lake or The Flash. Looking out from the ramp by the Blue Pig there is little background clutter and the birds often, as with this adult winter Black-headed Gull, come close. Probably expecting to be fed.

A typical adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. In winter the legs are reportedly dull yellow. As usual they look pink to me. Either this is a feature of the camera settings I use or it is my eyes! The legs are not as pink as the feet.

I think this is a different adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull: the marks on the bill seem cleaner, though that may be because in the 40 minutes between shots the light changed. Still not got yellow legs though. Looks as if it needs a good shake to settle its feathers.

Probably an adult winter Herring Gull. A small amount of black on the upper mandible is usual. This bird has a tiny amount of black bleeding on to the lower mandible and it may be this is a fourth-winter bird. I would need to see it in flight to be certain.

A different adult winter Herring Gull practising its moves for 'Strictly'.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 11:05 – 11:50

(38th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Presumably the usual two Mute Swans - I could not read the rings. They seem to have fallen out and were staying well apart.
- My largest count of Tufted Duck here this year.
- My first Little Grebe here since the rather unusual date of 16th July 2014. Bird species #44 here this year for me.
- I forgot to check the ages of the two Great Crested Grebes.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Jay

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans as ever
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 57 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: as usual
- 15 (11♂) Mallard
- 44 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 (5♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 58 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: the same adult as in previous visits?

Otherwise of note
- *2 Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata): also last recorded by me at Middle Pool in November 2018.
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

A typical view of ....

... a Little Grebe. A soggy-looking Little Grebe at that. My first at Middle Pool for over six years.

One of the Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata) here. Typically these fly off to hide soon after sunrise. To find this one in full daylight was unusual. A chance to see one without flash photography.

Like #11 buses if you wait long-enough two come along together.

(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

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
3 Gadwall
9 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosanders
166 Coots
Peregrine Falcon
118 Black-headed Gulls
>500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.40 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
43 Redwings
2 Fieldfares
c.469 Jackdaws
53 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
33 Swans
31 Pochard
70 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
308 Coots
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
102 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
225 Jackdaws
3 Siskins
2 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)

Trench
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
8 Pochard
60 Tufted Ducks
drake Mallard x Pintail
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull 
6 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
2 Goosanders
3 Lapwings
1 Snipe
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
865 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
22 Robins
22 Blackbirds
6 Redwings
243 Jackdaws
133 Rooks
22 Chaffinches
1 Brambling
12 Greenfinches
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
6 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
247 Coot
402 Jackdaws
483 Rooks
37 Siskins
1 Redpoll
21 Fieldfares.
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)