16 Dec 22

Priorslee Lake only

0.0°C: Sunny with a few high clouds. Some snow / ice on frozen ground. Calm. Good visibility
[Sunrise: 08:13 GMT]

* = a photo from today.

I assumed The Flash would be-iced over and only visited the lake

Priorslee Lake: 12:32 – 13:50

(254th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the Castle Farm Way lay-by and dam-top. At least 75% ice.

Bird notes:
- A pair of visiting adult Mute Swans with what I assumed to be their two cygnets (all of these birds unringed) were being given grief by the resident cob.
- Tuesday's drake Shoveler gone: but now three Eurasian Wigeon (one drake).
- With the ice extending in to all the reeds the Little Grebe were forced out in to the open. Two noted.
- Gull numbers are all approximate as before I could finish all the counts something spooked them and very many of them departed.
- Other birders present had found one and possibly two adult Caspian Gulls. I did not see them before the mass exodus;

Counts from the lake area:
- 10 Canada Geese
- 4 + 6 (2 broods) Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 3 (1♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 14 (10♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard still
- 71 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 19 Moorhens
- 165 Coots
- 2 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- >300 Black-headed Gulls
- >50 Herring Gulls
- 2 Common Gulls: adult and first winter
- 2 Yellow-legged Gulls
- [1+ reported Caspian Gull(s): see notes]]
- >600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted later
Nothing else

Here are the two visiting Mute Swan cygnets.

One of the visiting adults skidding away from the pursuing resident cob.

The family gets together.

Some of the Tufted Ducks went for a fly-around.

Before I had much chance to check all the gulls something spooked them and most of them left. Apart from one Herring Gull towards the top right these all look like Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

An adult winter Herring Gull. No sign of immaturity from the wing features though it shows more black on the bill than I would expect.

A trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls departing. Two rather different-looking adults nearest me and a first winter bird at the back.

(Ed Wilson)

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Newport

"I remarked the other day I was surprised not to have seen Redwings around the Priorslee Flash. After two very cold nights that certainly changed around my Newport garden. Here are a few of them on a tree which no longer has many berries remaining.

One looking to see where the best berries are.

Sitting up looking smart

I was not able to 'freeze' the action but include this as it does show why they are called Redwings and not Redflanks.

This one has found a berry.

Gone!

Another about to be dispatched.

And another

"Gulp!"

(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

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
3 Pochard 
49 Tufted Ducks
238 Coots
6 Fieldfare
>256 Redwings
3 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Teal
2 Pochard 
167 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
2 Goosanders 
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe
35 Tufted Ducks
4 Gadwall
7 Pochard
149 Coot
1 Water Rail
25 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
23 Swans
34 Pochard
84 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
Snipe
273 Coots
25 Goldfinches
7 Linnets
50 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
9 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
Woodcock
70 Coots
c.220 Black-headed Gulls
104 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Buzzards
20 Pied Wagtails
1 Willow Tits
561 Jackdaws
149 Rooks
c.190 Fieldfare
c.120 Redwings
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)