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.
Covered in frost and / or dew is this spider. One of the Clubiona group, not identifiable from even good photos.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:40
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.
(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:
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.
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)