Nothing noted

Dull conditions are not conducive to great photography. Someone arrived with bread for the birds and I was tempted to at least try a few shots. The Canada Geese were quick to spot the opportunity of food and here is one arriving. Not enough light to 'freeze' many of the photos I am afraid.

Black-headed Gulls were also soon on the case. All of them were adult winter-plumaged birds though this one shows rather more black on the head than is typical at this date.

The heads of these two are more typically marked for this date.

As are these two.

Some second winter birds might show dark spots at the ends of the outer tail feathers. Nothing to see here.

Nor here. The nearer bird does not have black tips to the tail – it is the wing-tip of the bird behind it.

Another typical adult winter bird.

Whereas this individual seems to be coming in to breeding plumage rather early. Or is it moulting out in to pale-headed winter plumage rather late?

A classic first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull briefly joined the fray. Note the almost uniformly dark back and wings; the all-dark tail separated from the almost unmarked upper-tail by a clean crescent shape.

Another view of the same bird showing the all dark bill and head-streaking which is especially pronounced around the eye.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:10

(237th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Unusually there were more drake Goosanders than brownheads.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water
- 3 Canada Geese again
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 35 (22♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 (5♂) Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 18 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Kingfisher

On / around the street lamp poles or later around the Ivy bank:
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

2012

Priorslee Lake

9 Pochard

3 Gadwall

1 duck Goldeneye

1750 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

370 Black-headed Gulls

76 Herring Gulls

1 adult Great Black-backed Gull

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull

Redpoll

Siskin

Willow Tit

(John Isherwood / Martin Grant)

Holmer Lake

3 Goosander

1 Pochard

(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

11 Yellow-legged Gulls

An adult Caspian Gull

3,000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

30-40 Waxwings

2 Common Gulls

(Tom Lowe)

2010

Madeley

3 Waxwings

(Pete Nickless)

2006

Priorslee Lake

3 Cormorants

20 Pochard

56 Tufted Ducks

6 Buzzards

1 Kestrel

>1050 Black-headed Gulls

451 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

188 Wood Pigeons

18 Blackbirds

166 Fieldfares

62 Redwings

187 Jackdaws

80 Rooks

4 Siskin

6 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee Lake

1 Wigeon again

3 Pochard

47 Tufted Duck

215 Coot

4000 Black-headed Gulls

2500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

3 Herring Gulls

1 Fieldfare

1 Skylark

168 Jackdaws

72 Rooks.

19 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

Pages

30 Nov 22