8.0°C: Clearing after overnight rain and gales. A few light showers later. Strong and gusty SW wind, veering W and abating somewhat. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 06:35 GMT]
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 06:53 - 09:45
(30th visit of the year)
Birds notes:
- Only 22 Black-headed Gulls when I arrived. Gradually more gulls spiralled down from high overhead until at least 90 Black-headed Gulls and a dozen large gulls were present. One of these large gulls was an adult Great Black-headed Gull - an unusually late date for this species to visit. Most drifted off.
- Ten of the 27 overflying Wood Pigeons were in two high-flying groups heading N.
- A group of 36 Jackdaws seen circling to the S - over Nedge Hill fields perhaps?
- A single Chiffchaff intermittently singing in the NE area.
- Three small groups of Redwings flew off the fields to the E and headed off S / SW
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 8 Canada Geese: trio and single outbound; two pairs inbound
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: singles
- 18 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: one adult, three immatures
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all(?) adults
- 1 Common Buzzard yet again
- 38 Jackdaws
- 3 Starlings
- 36 Redwing: three groups
- 2 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 31 Coots again
- Little Grebe heard
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- >90 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull: adult
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: immature
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adults and three immatures
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- [no Grey Herons]
My 2021 bird species list for here remains 72.
Nothing else of note.
Another 'through the branches' special of a female Bullfinch - there goes another bud!
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:50 - 10:50
(20th visit of the year)
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(20th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- As I arrived a large influx of gulls appeared overhead with most of them settling on the water for a few minutes before the large gulls at least moved off W. Later there were still 138 Black-headed Gulls present until something spooked them and these too mainly left. Most unusual to see this number of large gulls here these days.
- A Long-tailed Tit in the NW area seen collecting spider-webs for its nest from around a street lamp. Later one seen, unusually, on the ground near the academy collecting moss, presumably for another nest.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Jackdaws
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Counts from the water:
- 38 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 30 (19♂) Mallard
- 77 (41♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 8 Herring Gulls: briefly
- 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: briefly
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.
Nothing else of note.
Not something you see every day. A Long-tailed Tit on the ground. It was collecting moss, I assume for its nest. No time to get the camera to get the bird in to sharp focus through the fence of Priorslee Academy.
- As I arrived a large influx of gulls appeared overhead with most of them settling on the water for a few minutes before the large gulls at least moved off W. Later there were still 138 Black-headed Gulls present until something spooked them and these too mainly left. Most unusual to see this number of large gulls here these days.
- A Long-tailed Tit in the NW area seen collecting spider-webs for its nest from around a street lamp. Later one seen, unusually, on the ground near the academy collecting moss, presumably for another nest.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Jackdaws
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Counts from the water:
- 38 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 30 (19♂) Mallard
- 77 (41♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 8 Herring Gulls: briefly
- 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: briefly
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.
Nothing else of note.
How could I resist? Do I need to say it is a Robin?
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
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
Leighton
1 Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
(BirdGuides)
2013
Wellington
Woodcock
(J Reeves)
2011
Priorslee Lake
10 Pochard
25 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Village
Blackcap
2 Redwing
Frog spawn
(Martin Adlam)
The Flash
5 Great Crested Grebe 5
2 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
10 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Buzzard
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Lapwing
Sparrowhawk
8 Linnets
15 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
6 Cormorant
17 Tufted Duck
29 Wren
35 Robin
25 Blackbird
14 Redwing
2 Chiffchaff singing
47 Magpie
9 Greenfinch
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Shelduck
6 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
1 Goosander
1 Ruddy Duck
114 Coots
1 Water Rail
221 Lesser-black Backed Gulls
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
5 Herring Gull
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Common Gull
159 Jackdaws
c.80 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
10 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
3 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)