0.0°C > 3.0°C: Clear start with bank of mist rolling in by 06:50. Very misty for a while and thinning only c.10:00. Calm. Good visibility, then very poor for a while before generally poor.
Sunrise: 06:57 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 06:055 - 09:15
(20th visit of the year)
Notes:
- At least 60 Black-headed Gulls were either circling low over the water or had just flushed from the surface at 06:10. These rose high in the sky and continued to circle. c.95 more arrived low from the W but instead of settling on the water these too rose high in the sky and circled with the others. Several times they all looked like moving off but returned. Eventually c.30 descended to the water briefly after which they more or less all dispersed leaving fewer than 10 birds present.
- A Cormorant flew fast and low to the W heading down, I presume, towards the Town Park. I had to double-check it was not a Shag. When watching both species flying over the sea then I reckon if the wingbeat are fast like those of a duck then it is a Shag; and if the beats are slower like those of a goose then it is a Cormorant. This had the fast wingbeats of a duck but was most certainly a Cormorant as it had breeding while thigh patches that Shags never show.
- Jay heard making an unusual noise - I was looking for a distant Raven for a while until I spotted the culprit.
- Just three Song Thrushes singing and then only briefly. There have been eight or nine birds singing early most mornings recently.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
Once the geese, Jackdaws and Rooks had passed over the mist descended. Nothing else was seen in flight.
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 2 Canada Geese: pair outbound
- 1 Cormorant
- c.275 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck again
- 6 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 1 Little Grebe heard only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes: now as three pairs
- >150 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 1 Herring Gull: second year, probably briefly but who could tell?
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 65.
Noted later:
- My first Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flower here
Thin wisps of mist hanging over the lake. In the distance a bank of mist waiting to descend.
My first Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flower here, no doubt aided by the last few sunny and relatively mild days. Much colder today so will be a while before more flowers open.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 - 10:20
(10th visit of the year)
Notes:
- So: why more drake than duck Tufted Duck today? It is not as if they are hard to sex at this time of year. Has there really been that much change since yesterday while apparently the same five have been present at the main lake?
- Two Goldcrests together in squirrel alley, one getting excited and opening the yellow crown feathers to expose the normally hidden orange feathers at the edges of the crown stripe.
- Two pairs of Bullfinches seen.
- Siskins along the E side (with Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits).
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- Greylag Goose heard only
- 3 Mute Swans
- 21 (13♂) Mallard
- 74 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander again
- 8 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 50.
Recorded
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(10th visit of the year)
Notes:
- So: why more drake than duck Tufted Duck today? It is not as if they are hard to sex at this time of year. Has there really been that much change since yesterday while apparently the same five have been present at the main lake?
- Two Goldcrests together in squirrel alley, one getting excited and opening the yellow crown feathers to expose the normally hidden orange feathers at the edges of the crown stripe.
- Two pairs of Bullfinches seen.
- Siskins along the E side (with Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits).
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- Greylag Goose heard only
- 3 Mute Swans
- 21 (13♂) Mallard
- 74 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander again
- 8 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 50.
Recorded
Nothing else of note
A female Siskin in the mist. The bill appears deformed. It is not: the tip of the upper mandible is hidden behind the Alder cone. Females are streakier on the flanks than males and do not have a black crown
Long-tailed Tits are active birds so this was the best even the magic camera could capture in dull light.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
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
Shirlett High Park
16 Crossbills
(Yvonne C)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
3 Pochard
50 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
4 Heron
3 Cormorants
5 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
107 Coots
2 Water Rails
606 Wood Pigeon
334 Jackdaws
156 Rooks
25 Starlings
11 Pied Wagtails
21 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
1 Willow Tit
26 Starlings
10 Greenfinches
69 Siskins
3 Redpolls
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
29 Pied Wagtails
23 Blackbirds
6 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
1 Redpoll
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)