3.0°C: Cloudy with light sleet at times. Strong NNW wind. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 07:52 GMT]
* = a photo today
Another late start after a very wet and windy night – apparently snow in some local areas.
Priorslee Lake: 09:30 – 10:25
(272nd visit of the year)
Viewing from E end lay-by area only.
Bird notes:
- The Mute Swans went for a fly-about despite the very strong winds. The cygnets seemed to have no trouble: indeed it was the pen who gave up first.
- A small group of five Wigeon were new in.
- Whenever I visit after 10:00 I usually log a higher number of Coots. Where do they hide earlier?
- Very few Black-headed Gulls around.
- All the Herring Gulls stopped off while all the Lesser Black-headed Gulls flew over.
Overhead:
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
Counts from the lake area:
- 3 + 2 Mute Swan: departed
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 5 (2♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard again
- 57 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Nothing noted otherwise.
From this angle the extent of white in the cygnet's wing is evident.
(Ed Wilson)
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(248th visit of the year)
Much debris following the overnight gales with several small trees also downed.
Bird notes:
- Two drake Teal put in several appearances.
- Only one Great Crested Grebe located but in the strong cold wind I was not about to spend a lot of time searching.
- Is it the same Lesser Black-backed Gull that I see most days?
- A Siskin flew out from the island.
Birds noted flying over here:
Much debris following the overnight gales with several small trees also downed.
Bird notes:
- Two drake Teal put in several appearances.
- Only one Great Crested Grebe located but in the strong cold wind I was not about to spend a lot of time searching.
- Is it the same Lesser Black-backed Gull that I see most days?
- A Siskin flew out from the island.
Birds noted flying over here:
None
On /around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 32 (22♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Teal
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 55 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 22 (7♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 34 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult again
- 2 Grey Herons
Nothing else of note.
(Ed Wilson)
On /around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 32 (22♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Teal
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 55 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 22 (7♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 34 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult again
- 2 Grey Herons
Nothing else of note.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls
930+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
95 Herring Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Goldeneye
3 Gadwall
6 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
146 Coots
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
8 Redwings
151 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
2005
Priorslee Lake
50+ Golden Plover
4 Pochard
39 Tufted Duck
1 duck Wigeon
2 Ruddy Duck
2 Little Grebes
200+ Coot
1 Water Rail
1 Kingfisher
12 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
8 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)