19 Feb 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 2.0°C: Initially clear and just frosted. Soon clouded from the W with a few spots at 08:00 and the sleety rain after 09:10. Moderate WSW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:19 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:20 – 08:40

(43rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Four Black-headed Gulls arrived from the E at 07:10. A group of c.110 arrived from the NW at 07:20. Thereafter several groups flew S / SW overhead.
- Just four Lesser Black-backed Gulls stopped off at 07:10. One more dropped in later for a wash. Very few large gulls flew over.
- Unusual for this date was a group of 12 Fieldfare flying W.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: single and duo outbound; single inbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Collared Doves: singles
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 203 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 9 Starlings
- 12 Fieldfares: together
- 3 Redwings: together

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard again
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- c.110 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Cormorants

On the street lamp poles:
Nothing on any of them

Noted later:
Nothing

It was clear and slightly frosty early and here is a slightly lop-sided moon to prove it.

Not clear for log. Here come the clouds, just tinged red warning of the approaching rain

Too dull for any more interesting photos. A lone male Siskin was all I could muster.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:45 – 09:20

(41st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I could only find four drake Pochard. Indeed after the sleety rain started I could only find two.
- A significant number of Tufted Ducks seem to have left / been blown out.
- Very few gulls noted.
- A good number of Siskins in several locations. This year there do not seem to be any Redpolls with them.
- A male Bullfinch again seen eating buds. As on Thursday he seemed to be on his own with no female located.

Birds noted flying over here:
None

On /around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 33 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- no Teal
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 56 (36♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 19 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: arrived and departed
- no Grey Herons

On /around the street lamp poles or elsewhere.
Nothing noted

(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
1 Little Grebe 
1 Cormorant 
7 Pochard 
24 Tufted Duck 
5 Greater Scaup 
92 Redwings
216 Jackdaws
163 Rooks
12 Siskins
1 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Pochard 
169 Tufted Ducks 
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Pochard 
54 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
6 Tufted Duck 
3 Buzzards
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Horsehay Pool
Iceland Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Paul King)

2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Heron 
2 Teal
4 Gadwall
48 Pochard
75 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
>500 Black-headed Gulls
>350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
27 Herring Gulls
126 Coots 
1 Lapwing
1 Oystercatcher
2 single Redwing
16 Fieldfare
15 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
12 Pochard
16 Tufted Ducks
107 Coots
2 Water Rails
425 Wood Pigeons
1 Sky Lark
20 Robins
12 Blackbirds
17 Greenfinches
45 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)