9.0°C: Cloudy and dull with mainly light rain throughout. Moderate wind . Good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:17 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 06:35 - 09:10
(10th visit of the year)
No sign of the Stonechat this morning. A report of a drake Mandarin Duck present in the afternoon of Thursday 18th February.
Notes:
- The small group of Tufted Ducks at the W end had acquired a third drake. Another drake dropped in, staying well away from these before flying off again.
- At least 700 Black-headed Gulls poured in from the W end just before 07:00. By 07:10 they were streaming out again. Many coming and going later were likely some of the same birds.
- Rather fewer large gulls with none on the water before 08:45. The six Herring Gulls comprised three first-winters, two second winters and a third winter. All the Lesser Black-backs were adults.
- The mild morning encouraged no fewer than 12 Song Thrushes to sing.
- *Two Mistle Thrushes alongside Teece Drive again. Unlike the Song Thrushes I heard no song - perhaps they are paired and he doesn't feel the need to serenade his partner!
- A party of at least 20 Goldfinches at the W end. Could not find any other finch species amongst them.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 7 Canada Geese: three pairs and single outbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs outbound
- 17 Wood Pigeons again
- 3 Herring Gulls again
- 48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.725 Jackdaws
- 29 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Tufted Duck (see notes)
- 10 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- >700 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 61 with the following addition today:
- Skylark
A bird heard and then seen singing above the fields to the E of Castle Farm Way.
On / around the street lights pre-dawn
Nothing - too wet and windy?
The camera mainly stayed dry in my pocket this morning. However this Mistle Thrush tempted me to extract it. Note the relatively small-headed appearance. Note too the longer tail on a species noticeably larger and somehow 'spottier' than its Song Thrush cousin.
In this view the pale edges to wing feathers can be seen. The white outer tail feathers are best seen from above and behind but are just discernible here.
(Ed Wilson)
One more to show these features.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
13 Redwings
227 Jackdaws
172 Rooks
Meadow Pipit
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Pochard
174 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
29 Wigeon
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves, John Isherwood)
Holmer Lake
2 Goosander
Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)
Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Kumlien's Gull
(Peter Wilson/Dawn Balmer )
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pochard
13 Tufted Ducks
1 Curlew
c.620 Black-headed Gulls
68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
146 Wood Pigeons
34 Robins
18 Blackbirds
15 Song Thrushes
8 Redwings
193 Jackdaws
101 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
122 Coots
963 Wood Pigeons
17 Pied Wagtails
14 Greenfinches
62 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)