3.0°C > 6.0°C: Started with a whole series of heavy, squally sleety showers, the strong WSW falling strangely almost calm between each shower. After c.08:00 cleared somewhat, remaining breezy. Very good visibility except in showers.
Sunrise: 06:32 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 - 09:10
(31st visit of the year)
The heavy squalls kept me in the car in the Castle Farm Way lay-by much of the time. The paths were too slippery to risk a fast circuit between the showers. Very little noted 'on the move'.
Birds notes:
- The resident pair of Mute Swans seen mating (see video)
- Despite the conditions there were two Sky Larks singing over the fields to the E.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 3 Canada Geese: trio outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all(?) adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 60 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Greenfinch
- 6 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose; briefly
- *2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 31 Coots yet again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes yet again
- 33 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- *1 Grey Heron: departed
My 2021 bird species list for here remains 72.
Nothing else of note.
A short video of the amorous swans (with a passing Great Crested Grebe). The pen seems to be moving the thin part of her neck as part of the display and a prelude ....
... to mating (I hope you are watching this after the watershed). She seemed to enjoy it even if it doesn't look too PC.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:15 - 10:30
(21st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The resident pair of Mute Swans seen mating here as well as at the lake.
- The Goosander was a surprise on this date. It departed before I had a chance to check it in detail: From what I can see from a photo of the distant departing bird it was a duck.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- *1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Jackdaw
- 2 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 32 Canada Geese
- *2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 3 Mute Swans
- *34 (24♂) Mallard
- *72 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- 1(0♂) Goosander: departed
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *6 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.
Also noted:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
Rather distant and enlarged - the Cormorant flying over. Looks as if it could be the bird from the main lake.
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(21st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The resident pair of Mute Swans seen mating here as well as at the lake.
- The Goosander was a surprise on this date. It departed before I had a chance to check it in detail: From what I can see from a photo of the distant departing bird it was a duck.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- *1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Jackdaw
- 2 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 32 Canada Geese
- *2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 3 Mute Swans
- *34 (24♂) Mallard
- *72 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- 1(0♂) Goosander: departed
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *6 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.
Also noted:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
Two Greylag Geese arrive. Marks out of 10 for the touch-down ....?
A drake Mallard arrives complaining about something.
And another making slightly less noise if the amount the bill is open is a guide.
Closely followed by his mate.
"I'm not talking to you". These two Tufted Ducks are probably not really a pair having a lovers' tiff.
These two might have a conversation.
The problem with a 'comb-over' when the wind blows from the wrong direction.
A first year Black-headed Gull showing the wing markings clearly.
And again.
Strong wind can play havoc with your feathers as this Long-tailed Tit has found out.
Not a species I photograph too often. A posing female Blackbird caught my eye.
Not you again! Apparently the same Robin that posed yesterday.
A 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata). Does not look very active and who can blame it.
(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
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
3 Common Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
3 Shoveler
29 Wigeon
1 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe
1 Willow Tit
(J Reeves, John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Greater Scaup
4 Pochard
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Mallard x Pintail
7 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
Chiffchaff
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
10 Swans
4 Gadwall
4 Pochard
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Mallard x Pintail
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorant
13 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck.
5 Stock Dove
10 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
38 Robin
20 Blackbird
43 Fieldfare
7 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff (3 singing)
42 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
7 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
275 Wood Pigeons
28 Pied Wagtails
20 Wrens
17 Blackbirds
3 Fieldfares
7 Redwings
11 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)