24 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C: Dull and overcast. Very light SE wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:05 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 07:00 – 09:15

(22nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- By 07:20 there were 5 Herring and 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the water. The first and only group of c.85 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:40.
- The Black-headed Gulls recorded as flying over were all birds passing at height. It is possible that some of these were among the earlier visitors who had departed for, say, the football field and were now moving away.
- In the very dull conditions it was not possible to specifically identify most of the large gulls over flying the lake.
- One of the two Cormorants I have logged flying over was a puzzle. It was either flying higher than usual or it was a small bird. It also had rather rapid wing-beats such that I initially thought it to be a Goosander. I recall from earlier years when I did much sea-watching off Cornwall the way I separated distant flying Cormorants from the smaller, mainly salt-water, Shag was to note that Cormorants flew like geese whereas Shags flew like ducks. Shags are rare but not unknown inland. I would have needed a much better view to be able to confirm the sighting. My only record of Shag here was in September 1992(!) when one bird was amongst a group up to 80 Cormorants that came for daily for some days. They would arrive together, dive to corral fish in to a corner, and indulge in a feeding frenzy before quickly leaving. Those were the days.
- A Cetti's Warbler was again heard calling, today at the W end.
- Only two Song Thrushes heard in rather subdued song on this colder morning.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: outbound together
- 2 Greylag Geese: flew N
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 52 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *58 large gulls
- 2 Cormorants: but see notes
- 74 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 6 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard still
- 23 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- c.85 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Herring Gulls
- 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants: three departed together
- 1 Grey Heron

On and around the lamps:

Moths:
- *1 Early Moth (Theria primaria)

Also:
- *1 'winter cranefly'

Spiders:
None

There are 19 large gulls in this group, likely all or mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls. It was too gloomy to be able to identify most passing large gulls this morning. The problem was exacerbated by the calm weather when the birds fly 'flat'. When there is a wind they tend to bank as they use the air currents and it is a lot easier to identify them when the upper wing becomes visible.

One of three Redwings I noted alongside Teece Drive. These dropped down 'over the back' in to the Ricoh grounds and there could well have been more there.

This Early Moth (Theria primaria) was new here this morning. The two at The Flash were the same as those I noted yesterday with one on its third day.

One of the 'winter craneflies'. I cannot match it with any of those illustrated on the web though as only about 25 of the 300+ species of UK craneflies are shown this is perhaps not surprising.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:15

(21st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The all-white duck noted again amongst a greater number of Mallard than in recent days.
- A drake Teal reappeared by the island. I could not find any others.

Birds noted flying over here:
None

On /around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- *3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 42 (28♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 48 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 13 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 84 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: one (near?) adult; one third winter, and three first winters
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Grey Heron

On the same two street lamp poles as yesterday:
- 2 Early Moths (Theria primaria)

The cob Mute Swan was acting aggressively towards the 2019 bird for at least some of the time.

(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
12 Pochard
56 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
108 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
95 Tufted Ducks
4 Goosanders
9 Bullfinches
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
8 Gadwall 
26 Pochard 
99 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
>1200 Black-headed Gulls
>2200 large gulls
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
23 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Cormorant 
16 Swans 
2 Gadwall 
1 Shoveler 
5 Pochard 
37 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
117 Coots
96 Black-headed Gulls
42 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
38 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)

2010
Priorslee Lake
>300 Jackdaws
36 Swans
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
315 Coots 
>300 Black-headed Gulls
39 Lesser Black-backed
28 Herring Gulls
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
(Jason Buckley)

2008
Priorslee Lake
120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
16 Herring Gulls
50 Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
3 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
14 Pochard
23 Tufted Ducks
151 Coot
370 Jackdaws
118 Rooks
250 Wood Pigeon
15 Robins
14 Blackbirds
47 Siskins
3 Redpolls
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)