0.0°C > 1.0°C: Mostly light cloud at medium / high level. Light NNW wind. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 08:07 GMT]
* = a photo from today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:35 – 11:05
(18th visit of the year)
About 50% ice-covered
I had just about finishing scanning and counting the birds on the water when the Sailing Club's safety boat set out across the water and many of the birds departed.
New Bird Species
Two additions to my 2023 bird species list from here:
- A duck Eurasian Wigeon was with one of the pairs of Mallard.
- Just as I was leaving a Pintail flew high East directly overhead: sex not determined
This takes my 2023 bird species total for here to 62.
Other bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was still chasing one of the cygnets.
- *A pair of Goosanders flew in: my first actually on the water this year. They left with all the other ducks.
Birds logged flying over here:
- 1 Pintail
Counts from the lake area (before the disturbance):
- no Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 7 (3♂) Gadwall
- 1 (0♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- *2 (1♂) Goosander: arrived
- *87 (48♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 136 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *? Black-headed Gulls
- *22 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- *46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
Some of the Black-headed Gulls quickly returned: I counted 31
After yesterday's fog all the vegetation was covered in rime ice. Here are some views.
It will probably be some years before we see this phenomenon quite as extensive as this.
We had better have another view.
It was a flower stalk until it got covered in ice.
Up go all the Tufted Duck. Here are some of them (29?) orientating themselves.
The pair of Goosanders departing. Note the white extends across the width of the wing on the drake.
If only it was always this easy! An adult Herring Gull on the left along with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 11:15 – 12:25
(15th visit of the year)
Over 75% ice.
New Bird Species
An addition to my 2023 bird species list from here:
- A trio of Fieldfare trio flew North
This takes my 2023 bird species total for here to 43.
Bird notes:
- One of the Mute Swan cygnets was not seen.
- Some of the ducks were moving between the two patches of open water on opposite sides of the water. I hope I have the totals correct.
- Many of the Tufted Ducks (and all the Pochard?) were refugees from the Balancing Lakes.
- All gulls were moving around and possibly more were present.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Fieldfare
Noted on / around the water
- *13 Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *36 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *3 (3♂) Pochard
- *124 (68♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 17 Moorhens
- *49 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gull
- *6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere
Nothing noted
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The Flash: 11:15 – 12:25
(15th visit of the year)
Over 75% ice.
New Bird Species
An addition to my 2023 bird species list from here:
- A trio of Fieldfare trio flew North
This takes my 2023 bird species total for here to 43.
Bird notes:
- One of the Mute Swan cygnets was not seen.
- Some of the ducks were moving between the two patches of open water on opposite sides of the water. I hope I have the totals correct.
- Many of the Tufted Ducks (and all the Pochard?) were refugees from the Balancing Lakes.
- All gulls were moving around and possibly more were present.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Fieldfare
Noted on / around the water
- *13 Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *36 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *3 (3♂) Pochard
- *124 (68♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 17 Moorhens
- *49 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gull
- *6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere
Nothing noted
Another perspective.
A closer view of part of the last view.
Almost makes the estate look attractive. (It is one of the better-looking Telford housing areas)
A weeping willow to add interest.
Part of the island.
Food was being provided at the other side of the lake. This Canada Goose in on the case...
...closely followed by a drake Mallard...
...and then a duck Tufted Duck also allowing you to count her tail feathers. I make it 11 only.
Adult drake Pochards have very finely vermiculated back plumage which can be hard to capture because of the contrast with the dark head. Today's flat lighting provided a good opportunity.
"Say that again"
Oh! OK.
A drake Tufted Duck with 'maximum tuft' at this time of year.
More black on the bill and more head-streaking on this one. All other indications are that it is an adult.
(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
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Pochard
106 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
106 Coots
c.260 Black-headed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
204 Redwing
c.250 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
32 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
25 Pochard
105 Tufted Ducks
166 Coot
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>450 Herring Gulls
13 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Flash
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)
Holmer Lake
28 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
31 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gulls
20 Robins
23 Blackbirds
19 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
3 Jays
31 Magpies
183 Jackdaws
159 Rooks
7 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)