31 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 6.0°C: Mostly cloudy with early passing squally showers. Fresh NW wind, stronger gusts in showers. Mostly very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:54 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:20

(29th visit of the year)

Did I mention it has been quiet....

Other bird notes:
- I am slightly concerned about one of the Mute Swan cygnets. The family were asleep in the NE area. The adults and two of the cygnets awakened and paddled to a favourite position at the bottom of the concrete ramp. The third cygnet appeared some 20 minutes later and in order to speed its progress attempted to fly. It struggled to achieve lift-off and almost immediately dropped back only to patter and swim the rest of the way. The strong wind should have aided its take-off. All the cygnets are known to be strong flyers.
- A lone Lesser Black-backed Gull appeared briefly at 07:30. It was over 12 minutes later that just five Black-headed Gulls arrived only to soon depart. Later six more(?) appeared for a few minutes. Thereafter a single Herring Gull and two separate Lesser Black-backed Gulls were the only visiting gulls.
- Very few gulls were noted overflying.
- I noted just three Jackdaws passing SSE on their usual post-roost departure line and that was some twenty minutes after I would have anticipated seeing them. Later five groups totalling 95 birds flew in the opposite direction which they normally do in mid-afternoon. Most odd.
- The Cetti's Warbler gave one song pre-dawn only.
- Just a single Song Thrush was tempted to sing.
- *At least 50 Redwings were on the football field and were unusually tolerant of dogs chasing balls in the vicinity. [I was told that planning permission has been granted for the academy to fence off both the football field and some of the adjacent green space for their use. The council have just spent a lot of money refurbishing the children's play area. I wonder what will become of that? And of the trees planted by the community after trees and hedges were needlessly uprooted when the academy was built?]

Birds noted flying over here:
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 98 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 8 (6♂) Mallard again
- 8 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 11? Black-headed Gulls only: see notes
- 1 Herring Gull
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: all arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron again

On or around the street lamps:
Nothing seen in a cursory examination in wind and rain

Here are just 12 of the c.50 Redwings on the football field.

Patience and one came reasonably close. I cannot complain about any branches in the way, only the rather dull light.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:30

(28th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The drake Teal made another short appearance.
- Just two drake Pochard today.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Redwings

On /around the water:
- 9 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 37 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- *2 (2♂) Pochard
- 75 (36♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *57 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: one second winter; four first winters
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: all (near) adults arrived separately
- *2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron again

On /around any street lamp pole and elsewhere.

Nothing

On of today's two drake Pochard.

Somehow the Black-headed Gulls in this food melee all managed to emerge unscathed. I have tried counting how many: it is difficult. At least 10. Just visible on the right are a pair of Mallard!

I think 14 here, three of which are first winter birds with black tail bands.

One of the adult winter birds approaching. Note the thin black line on the leading edge of the outer primary feather. This feature is almost never visible 'in the field'.

(Most of) a first winter bird in a similar pose. This bird seems to have grown two adult-like central tail-feathers. I am not sure whether this means it is starting to moult in to first summer plumage or whether these are replacement feathers following damage. The only other unusual plumage feature is a missing outer secondary on its right wing.

A more-conventional first winter bird. The outermost tail feathers do not have any black and the next pair show black only on the outer tip.

Another first winter. The tail is being held slightly less spread and the all-white outermost tail feathers do not show well.

Q: How does a Cormorant scratch its head? A: carefully. Note the bare yellow skin below the eye and also the white thigh patch. Note too a fisherman's weight hanging in view (from an unseen branch). I hope it is not a lead weight.

The other Cormorant with more developed breeding plumage that includes white head plumes and a reddish tinge to some of the bare skin at the base of the bill. It is standing on one leg, the other is being held clenched and appears as a lump at it side.

Contrast this Song Thrush with the Redwings on the football field by the lake. This was one of two birds in close proximity and near where one has been singing intermittently for several weeks from deep inside a hedge. They are probably 'an item'.

(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

2012

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

22 Greylag Geese

19 Pochard

42 Tufted Duck

c.390 Black-headed Gulls

c.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

32 Herring Gulls

1 Common Gull

3 Yellow-legged Gulls

3 Great Black-backed Gulls

69 Redwings

25 Greenfinches

4 Linnets

(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash

Tundra Bean Goose

8 Greylag Geese

37 Tufted Ducks

c.1000 Black-headed Gulls

246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

35 Herring Gulls.

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Trench Pool

8 Pochard

50 Tufted Ducks

79 Coots

(Ed Wilson)

Holmer Lake

50 Goosander

(John Isherwood)

1 Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

30 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear to E with medium-low cloud to W gradually spreading across. Calm start with light SE breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:56 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:20

(28th visit of the year)

At last: something different! A Little Egret flew low W over at 07:40. Bird species #63 for me here in 2022.

Other bird notes:
- A drake Gadwall has reappeared.
- A Woodcock flew around the small copse in the SW area and disappeared towards the M54 at 06:55. It on another circuit, or another, did the same thing a minute or two later.
- The early gull arrival consisted of only three Lesser Black-backed Gulls followed a few minutes later by just 27 Black-headed Gulls. All these departed within 10 minutes. Thereafter I noted ten Black-headed Gulls briefly on the water, perhaps earlier birds returning? Much later two Herring Gulls and one Lesser Black-backed Gull stopped off for a bathe.
- A significant passage of Black-headed Gulls passing overhead, all going SSW either in dedicated groups of up to 26 birds or among groups of larger gulls. I have seen flocks of Black-headed Gulls passing overhead on Spring passage but this is too early and they were going in the wrong direction. So where were they going and why? And why so few on the water?
- I counted 45 Magpies leaving their roost area in the NW part of the area. A depressingly large total but well down on the 80+ noted in the winter of 2017/2018.
- The number of passing Jackdaws remains much reduced. I have rarely exceeded 100 any morning this winter whereas a few years ago I sometimes saw several flocks that I estimated totalled more than 1000 birds. I just hope their roost site and / or feeding area have moved rather than their numbers have crashed.
- Another sighting of a lone Starling leaving the reeds apparently having roosted there. As I drive away I note that some Starlings have returned around the estate where they usually breed.
- Eight Song Thrushes and one Mistle Thrush in song.
- *Another group of 35 Redwings seen: these were in trees alongside Teece Drive.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese again: two outbound very loosely together; one inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Stock Dove
- 34 Wood Pigeons: 52 of these in three groups
- *118 Black-headed Gulls
- 11 Herring Gulls
- 78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 73 Jackdaws
- 4 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 10 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls only: see notes
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *3 Cormorants: arrived separately; one departed again
- 1 Grey Heron

On or around the street lamps:
- *1 Pale Brindled Beauty moth (Phigalia pilosaria)
- 2 'winter craneflies'
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider again – different pole

Not an exciting sunrise. This might appeal to cloud fans.

A drake Gadwall was around again.

A steady passage of Black-headed Gulls all flying SSW. Here are just three. As far as I could tell they were all adults.

One of the three Cormorants leaves. On this bird a big white thigh patch and yellow-toned bare skin under the bill. No sign of head-plumes as yet.

 There were four Long-tailed Tits chasing around. It was a challenge to capture them perched.

Here it is again.

One of the others.

A Redwing alongside Teece Drive. I've complained about twigs in the foreground before.

This is a Pale Brindled Beauty moth (Phigalia pilosaria). I last noted one here on 30 January 2019 – a consistent date.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:25

(27th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Most of the geese apparently still out.
- Two additional drake Pochard and twenty more Tufted Ducks since yesterday. Some of the Tufties may have been refugees from the lake once the boating started, though there were only 12 there earlier.
- A more typical number of gulls were present after the recent bonanza.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 1 Sparrowhawk again
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

On /around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 47 (27♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 71 (34♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: first winter
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adult
- no Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron

On /around  the street lamp poles:

Nothing

Otherwise
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

A drake Tufted Duck. Now is that gloss on the side of the head green or purple? Seems there is a hint of both to me.

Having eaten all the proffered food two Moorhens leave with "best foot forward" even if they cannot agree which is their best foot: left or right?

(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

2014

Priorslee Lake

2 Cormorants 

1 Teal 

7 Pochard 

66 Tufted Duck 

3 Greater Scaup 

1 Velvet Scoter 

91 Coots 

1 Woodcock 

50 Herring Gulls 

33 Redwings 

c.495 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

106 Tufted Ducks 

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

7 Pochard 

25 Tufted Duck 

4 Goosander 

44 Coots

(Ed Wilson)

Park Pool, Chetwynd near Newport

31 Shoveler

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

29 Wigeon 

10 Gadwall 

8 Pochard 

59 Tufted Ducks 

1 Scaup

169 Coots

 >300 Starlings

13 Redwings

46 Fieldfare 

211 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash

9 Pochard 

54 Tufted Duck

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

2 Goosander

Sparrowhawk

(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake

1 Gadwall

9 Goosander

1 Little Grebe

Goldcrest

Nuthatch

(John Isherwood)

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

21 Pochard

42 Tufted Duck

c.190 Black-headed Gulls

48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

8 Herring Gulls

Glaucous Gull

75 Redwing

16 Bullfinch 

(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant) 

Priorslee Flash

1 Pochard

43 Tufted Ducks

282 Black-headed Gulls

3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

2 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

 1 Water Rail

4 Gadwall

2 Willow Tit

(John Isherwood)

2009

Priorslee Lake

A female Ruddy Duck

500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring & Black-headed Gulls.

1 Yellow-legged Gull

1 Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

29 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 12.0°C: Some areas of medium-level cloud and some good clearer spells. Fresh, even strong, WSW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:58 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:25

(27th visit of the year)

It seems almost every day I note that it is very quiet. It seems to get quieter.

Bird notes:
- Again one of the outbound Greylag Geese might have been one of the Canada x Greylag hybrids: its sounded even more like it had swallowed a squeaky toy.
- Yet another change amongst the Tufted Ducks with fewer than half the number I recorded yesterday.
- I assume many Coots were hiding from the wind by staying inside the reeds.
- For a change there were c.350 Black-headed Gulls already on the water by 07:15. The early large gull arrival was restricted to just five Herring and ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- Fewer gulls overhead and not many arriving later for a bathe and drink either.
- At least 35 Redwings were in trees to the E of Castle Farm Way, all flying off S. Later one was seen on the football field.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 17 Canada Geese again: 15 outbound together; duo inbound
- 8 Greylag Geese: two groups outbound; duo N
- 78 Wood Pigeons: 52 of these in three groups
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Herring Gulls
- 38 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 32 Jackdaws only
- 1 Raven
- 1 Siskin

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 9 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 32 Coots only
- c.350 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Herring Gulls
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants: arrived separately; one departed

On or around the street lamps:
- *4 small plumed midges
- *1 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider

One of four of these small plumed midges that were all on the same lamp pole. I cannot recall seeing this small species in previous years. It has been a frequent sighting this winter.

This morning's Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider unusually with its legs spread out. Probably to hold on as the wind whistled around the lamp poles.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:35

(26th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The party of 36 Wood Pigeons may just have been flushed from local trees by a passing Sparrowhawk.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 36 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 5 Jackdaws

On /around the water:
- *85 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 46 (28♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- no Teal
- 1 (1♂) Pochard still
- *51 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens only
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *103 Black-headed Gulls
- *8 Herring Gulls: one (near) adult; one second winter; one third winter; five first winters
- *5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron

On /around the street lamp poles:

Nothing

Otherwise
- 1 Grey Squirrel

Food was being offered and all my photos today were of birds trying to partake of the feast. A pair of Canada Geese with tongues hanging out – not perhaps at the thought of the food but because they look like this when calling.

A drake Tufted Duck flies in as three adult winter Black-headed Gulls position in for the feeding frenzy.

The majority of the Black-headed Gulls were adults. This first winter shows the brown band across its wing and the dull orange base to its bill was one of the exceptions.

For comparison a winter adult Black-headed Gull in a very similar pose.

I was surprised to see the larger gulls coming close. They did not attempt to grab the food from the melee but tried to steal food grabbed by the Black-headed Gulls. Here is a third winter Herring Gull – the dark of the wing-tips is 'bleeding' along most of the front of the wing. Just visible are dark markings in the tail.

These tail markings, remnants of the tail band on younger birds, are better seen in this view.

Here it is in pursuit to try robbery. The unfortunate Black-headed Gull is beginning its head-moult.

A first winter Herring Gull showing the underwing markings. Note the way the light shines through the paler inner primaries.

What seems to be an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (with a crick in its neck!). I note 'seems' as the bill has a very obvious black band and no red so just perhaps it is a third or fourth winter. On this bird the upper wing does not obviously darken toward the wing-tip suggesting it is a bird of the fuscus race that breeds on the continent.

A different Lesser Black-backed Gull. It is certainly an adult with a red spot on the lower mandible of an otherwise unmarked bill. Note on this bird there is a contrast between the almost black wing tips and the more charcoal grey of the rest of the wing. Thus it is of the intermedius race of primarily UK breeding birds.

From underneath note the dusky shading along the trailing part of the wing; the broad white trailing edge on the upper wing; and the yellow legs.

(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

2014

Priorslee Lake

14 Pochard

71 Tufted Duck

3 Greater Scaup

1 Velvet Scoter

103 Coots

1 Yellow-legged Gull

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

141 Redwings

502 Jackdaws

383 Rooks

2 Ravens

(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash 

89 Tufted Ducks

2 Goosander

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

Drake Scaup

26 Wigeon 

12 Gadwall 

12 Pochard 

60 Tufted Ducks 

181 Coots

c.400 Black-headed Gulls

246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

34 Herring Gulls

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

21 Redwings

147 Jackdaws

c.30 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, Unknown Observer)

Trench Lock Pool

18 Swans

8 Pochard 

45 Tufted Duck 

1 Goosander 

99 Coots counted

(Ed Wilson)

2012

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

21 Pochard

51 Tufted Duck

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

c.2000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

109 Herring Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

1 Great Black-backed Gull

c.250 Black-headed Gulls.

1 Buzzard

1 Merlin

(Martin Adlam)

2007 

Priorslee Lake

1 Goldeneye

(Ed Wilson)

28 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 7.0°C: Another mixed bag. Medium-level cloud after clear and frosty night soon gave way to clearer skies with high cloud encroaching from the W. Calm start with light SW breeze. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:59 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:30

(26th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- One of the outbound Greylag Geese might have been one of the Canada x Greylag hybrids: its calls sounded odd – as if it had swallowed a squeaky toy.
- Another change-around amongst the Tufted Ducks with more drakes today.
- Wood Pigeons are beginning to do their towering display flight as they think about nesting. Mind you, this species seems to be thinking about mating throughout the year!
- With an almost complete absence of gulls on the water and all the Tufted Ducks gathered together it was much easier to find all the Coots. Today's figure is probably a more accurate reflection of the number present.
- Very few gulls on the lake. Just 83 Black-heads, one Herring and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived early and they all soon departed. Very few more passing Herring and Lesser Black-backs dropped in. A significant number of Black-headed Gulls flew SW overhead, some in with groups of large gulls and many on their own.
- A dead adult Black-headed Gull was noted floating on the water. I hope that does not mean we have Avian Flu.
- A Cetti's Warbler sang pre-dawn along the N side.
- Six Song Thrushes noted singing. Four non-singing birds seen: these might not have (all) been different birds.
- Twelve Redwings were in trees alongside Teece Drive as I was about to leave.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 17 Canada Geese: two groups outbound
- 3 Greylag Geese: two singles outbound; 1 N
- 2 Stock Doves: singles
- 34 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 74 Black-headed Gulls
- 25 Herring Gulls
- 109 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 86 Jackdaws
- 8 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 19 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Moorhen
- 48 Coots
- 83 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron

On or around the street lamps:
- *1 Tufted Button moth (Acleris cristana)
- 1 'winter cranefly' sps.
- *1 springtail
- *1 Clubiona spider sp.

I hope this dead adult winter Black-headed Gull is not an Avian Flu death.

Only my second sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker this year. A male here with red on the nape.

There is always a branch in the way! A female Bullfinch eating buds – as they do!

Or not! This male Bullfinch strayed on to an Alder tree and was summarily dismissed by an angry Siskin.

This is a Tufted Button moth (Acleris cristana). One of the few moth species that overwinters as an adult. My first here for at least eight years.

Probably the smallest creature that I have attempted to photograph here against a splash of red paint and moss on one of the lamp posts. I assume it is a springtail.

Covered in frost and / or dew is this spider. One of the Clubiona group, not identifiable from even good photos.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:40

(25th visit of the year)

At the moment there are almost more birds here than at the lake. I added one species to my 2022 bird list from here, taking the total to 50:
- A Kingfisher was seen lurking in the overhanging bushes at the top end. As soon as it saw me raise my binoculars it was off, unusually without calling. It sped off across the water. I did not manage to follow it so as to see where it went. I searched all the locations where I have seen them in previous years without success.

Other bird notes:
- Our all-white Aylesbury-type ducks seems to have convinced one of the duck Mallard that he is just what she needs.
- The drake Teal was again seen paddling from the island toward the bottom end. Later what I assume was this bird flew in to the top end.
- With Feral Pigeons apparently resident around houses at both ends of the lake I no longer record what I judge to be these birds merely flying around. I will record e.g. passing groups of Racing Pigeons.
- Three Song Thrushes singing away.
- *Another Redwing sighting: one in trees at the bottom end.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant

On /around the water:
- 74 Canada Geese: 64 of these arrived together
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived with the Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 45 (30♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- *1 (1♂) Teal
- *1 (1♂) Pochard again
- 41 (19♂) Tufted Duck only
- 13 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 74 Black-headed Gulls
- *7 Herring Gulls: one (near) adult; two third winters; four first winters
- *3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adults; one first winter
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Kingfisher

On /around the street lamp poles:

Nothing on any of them

The drake Teal needs a handkerchief!

Too late!

The drake Pochard has a preen.

 Shall we dance? Two first winter Herring Gulls have a disagreement.

A first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Note the almost all-dark wings and back and the all-dark tail. No idea what it is carrying.

Did I mention a branch in the way? A Redwing peers at me.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

On Thursday 27 Jan 22, Ed visited Venus Pool. Here are a few of his images from there.

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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

2014

Priorslee Lake

12 Pochard

63 Tufted Duck

3 Greater Scaup

Velvet Scoter

3 Great Black-backed Gulls

16 Redwings over

555 Jackdaws

345 Rooks

(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash

120 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

3 Pochard

34 Tufted Duck

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

2 Goosanders

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

31 Wigeon 

10 Gadwall 

11 Pochard 

44 Tufted Ducks 

1 Greater Scaup 

177 Coots again 

38 Herring Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

9 Redwings

52 Magpies

3 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Shoveler 

4 Pochard 

57 Tufted Duck 

1 Goosander 

(Ed Wilson)

2012

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

21 Pochard

38 Tufted Duck

150 Wood Pigeons

57 Redwings 

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

36 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool 

7 Pochard

33 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

27 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

10.0°C: Just a few breaks in low cloud to start. Then a spell of light drizzle. A clearance from the N after 10:00. Moderate W breeze. Initially good visibility, then moderate in drizzle becoming very good with clearance.

Sunrise: 08:00 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:20

(25th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- All five Mute Swans were investigating the nest area for much of the time.
- There seemed to be some change-around amongst the diving ducks. The drake Pochard had gone (to The Flash?) and the smaller number of Tufted Ducks contained proportionately many fewer drakes. They also tended to stay much closer together and, especially early, were very skittish all dashing off as a group to settle some way away.
- The Coots were also behaving oddly: few were on the SW grass – no longer frosted of course; 31 of them were toward the E end where a dozen or so is my typical count from that area.
- All gulls were late with a Lesser Black-backed Gull arriving at 07:42 as the first of 18 such gulls and eight Herring Gulls. It was several minutes before any Black-headed Gulls arrived and these dropped down high from the N and not, as usual, from the W end. Numbers stayed low.
- A group of 12 Siskins flew S over the dam. Later there were fewer (c.20) than yesterday in trees at the W end.
- A Reed Bunting was heard calling in SE area and was probably the bird seen flying away high to the W later – to where?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: outbound
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Herring Gulls
- 47 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 48 Jackdaws
- 8 Redwings
- 12 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Mallard only
- no Pochard
- 16 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- no Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 22 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

On or around the street lamps:
- *2 different 'winter cranefly' sps.
- at least four species of fly / midge
- *1 planthopper
- *1 springtail
- *1 24 Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata)
I was surprised / disappointed that there were no moths on this mild morning.

Another 'two for the price of one': a winter cranefly, small as they are, is huge in comparison with the springtail. Neither specifically identified.

A different species of winter cranefly caught as it decided the light from my torch was a threat and flew off. Note the banded abdomen that should make identification easier. Should!

This is the one chance I had to photograph the planthopper before it lived up to its name and hopped away never to be seen again. I will need help to identify it.

I found this ladybird on one of the street lamp poles pre-dawn. Identification was more straightforward than I thought as the only ladybird which is all-red is the 24 Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata) [I hope it doesn't have to report by its scientific name!]. The actual number of spots is variable though the double fused-spots in the middle of the elytra (wing cases) are normally present. The NatureSpot web site notes it as active all year. I last recorded this here in July 2019.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:35

(24th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A drake Teal was heard calling and then seen paddling from the island toward the bottom end. Later one was at the top end – the same? I could not relocate any at the bottom end.
- A drake Pochard was new in – from the Balancing Lake?
- There was already another bumper number of Herring Gulls present when a large gull party flew over and even more dropped in and I lost track of what was going on. A few Lesser Black-backed Gulls also arrived at this time, though most carried on SW
- The distant singing Mistle Thrush seems to be in trees behind the Co-op store and is clearly audible from the S end.
- After struggling for several weeks to find any Long-tailed Tits I found two parties today.
- Eight Redwings were in trees at the top end and flew off W. Later two flying out of the W area may have been some of these.
- Just one male Greenfinch was seen and heard giving it nasal territorial 'song'.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 43 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw

On /around the water:
- 58 Canada Geese: 40 of these arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese: one of these arrived with the Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 39 (25♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 1 (1♂) Teal: see notes
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 62 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- no Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe remains
- *71 Black-headed Gulls
- *26 Herring Gulls: too confusing to age them all! Almost all immatures
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull: at least three immatures
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

On /around any street lamp pole:

Nothing on any of them

I initially thought that this rather dark-looking first-winter gull might be a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The photo shows that some pale grey feathers are developing on the back so it is another one of the many Herring Gulls that seem to be quite happy here at the moment.

Splott! A different first-winter Herring Gull takes the plunge. Note how from underneath the inner primaries are noticeably pale.

As it flapped it would not all fit. Here we see the paler inner primaries from above. The dark secondaries are clearly seen. A same age Lesser Black-backed Gull would show dark secondary coverts as well making two rows of dark feathers along the wing trailing edge.

Two more Herring Gulls. The bird on the left looks almost like an adult apart from the extensive dark on the bill and the smudgy black on the bend of the forewing. It is likely a fourth winter. The bird on the right is a third winter with dark from the wing tips extending along the front of the wing and remnants of the dark tail band that is shown by first and second winter birds.

Here is the same third winter (bottom left) showing a brown tone in the middle of the wing. Above it is a first winter Herring Gull. I am not 100% sure about the bird behind them. It is a first winter and just may be a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

This is an intriguing adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. It is very 'black' with no tonal difference between the main part of the wing and the wing tip and with the two outer primaries showing white 'mirrors'. This suggests it is of the race intermedius from NW Europe. The fuscus race that breeds in the UK shows paler inner wings and a white 'mirror' on the outer primary only. There are two puzzles outstanding: the inner primaries are paler - perhaps just worn? And the white area at the base of these inner primaries is normally only shown in late summer when the primary coverts are dropped and until they have regrown. This is a real bruiser of a bird. Note the wide white trailing edge to the secondaries.

(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

2014

Priorslee Lake

13 Pochard

63 Tufted Duck

2 Greater Scaup

1 Velvet Scoter

101 Coots counted

31 Herring Gulls

3 Great Black-backed Gulls

7 Redwings

522 Jackdaws

335 Rooks

71 Magpies

4 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

111 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

26 Wigeon 

10 Gadwall 

14 Pochard

56 Tufted Ducks 

1 Greater Scaup

177 Coots

4 Redwings

30 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, Dave Tromans)

The Flash

1 Little Grebe

4 Goosander

(Dave Tromans)