An adult winter Black-headed Gull at rest on the 'boxing ring' on the dam. The bill and leg colour of this individual is still a rather dull red. These will get much brighter and it will moult its head when it comes in to breeding condition.

A Magpie looking to create trouble no doubt. Note the hint of blue gloss on the folded wing. The tone depends upon the angle of light and it can also appear green.

The Magpie's smaller relation? A Pied Wagtail (not really related in any way, just that both species are black and white with long tails). This is a male with a black back. Note the grey flanks, a feature not shown by the Continental race / species (White Wagtail) that occurs in small numbers on migration.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 13:20 – 14:30

(255th visit of the year)

Main news item from here courtesy of one of the fishermen was a reported Water Rail among the sedges at the top end. It is many years since I last recorded this secretive species here. There is enough suitable habitat for an over-wintering bird.

Bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was chasing some of the cygnets as well as Canada Geese.

Noted flying over:
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water
- 9 Canada Geese
- *2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *43 (31♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *20 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders: one flew off
- *15 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *72 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Grey Herons
- *4 Cormorants

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

The cob Mute Swan with his wings raised in threat was chasing one of the cygnets.

"Not in front of the children please". When he had finished chasing the cygnet he got quite friendly with his mate.

A fine portrait of a duck Mallard.

A drake wing-flapping and showing the white-bordered blue speculum on the trailing edge of the inner wing.

A few seconds later and here is the other wing. Note the tone depends on the angles of the light. On the drake behind note the curly tail feather. This seems to be very dominant gene. Many 'mucky ducks' can be traced to being partly Mallard-originated by the presence of this feature – as for instance the all-white 'Peking Duck' resident here.

I wonder if they are ticklish?

A duck Tufted Duck. Any white at the base of the bill usually moults out as birds come in to breeding condition. She needs to watch out for...

...these three likely lads.

Well it is a long way to the island... A Collared Dove. A longer tail and also a smaller head and bill than a Wood Pigeon as well as quite a different colour.

There are many Moorhens around these days. Here are two on the East side grass. Note the back bird has a less extensive red shield and pale (rather than yellow-green) legs indicating it is a first year bird (hatched earlier this year).

An adult eating food provided. Good to see it is not bread. The claws on those long toes are not something I would want to mess with. I am not sure whether their fights are largely posturing or serious.

Don't look at me in that tone of voice!

The one-legged adult winter Black-headed Gull is still here.

One with two legs.

An adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull standing on a roof in Derwent Drive. I don't think the tiny amount of black on the lower mandible is enough to suggest this might be a third winter bird. This species does not perch on roofs so readily as Black-headed Gulls.

A plan view of a Cormorant.

This one has its aerobatic licence!

As it flies in to join one of its friends in the trees on the island. It does not look as if there are any branches strong enough to take its weight.

(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

2 female Scaup

1 Yellow-legged Gull

3 Great Black-backed Gulls

7 Gadwall

(John Isherwood/Dawn Balmer)

The Flash

5 Goosander

(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

Yellow-legged Gull

(Dawn Balmer)

Horsehay Pool

12 Goosander

(Dawn Balmer)

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Yellow-legged Gulls

(Jim Almond/Chris Ballance)

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull

9 Great Black-backed Gulls

Water Rail

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Yellow-legged Gull

Redpoll

(Ed Wilson)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Caspian Gull

(Jason)

2006

Priorslee lake

2 Great Crested Grebes

19 Pochard

34 Tufted Ducks

>300 Black-headed Gulls

>298 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

12 Herring Gull

33 Robins

13 Blackbirds

10 Fieldfares

45 Redwings

3 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee lake

2 Little Grebes

11 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cormorant

2 Mute Swans

35 Pochard

84 Tufted Duck

243 Coot

c.250 Black-headed Gulls

c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

32 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

Pages

30 Dec 22