8.0°C: Already low cloud descended to cover the tree-tops and render it very misty. Then after 08:15 it began to rain heavily. Light south-easterly wind. Moderate visibility, poor later, even very poor at times.
Sunrise: 08:12 GMT
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:15
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:15
(258th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- There were c.125 large gulls, almost all Lesser Black-backs, on the water by 06:45, my first view of the water after I had completed my round of the street lamp poles. Since I had not heard these arrive and they did not 'gas and go' like the usual early arrivals I presume these had, unusually, roosted here.
- The first gull arrivals were ten Black-headed Gulls at 07:30. Eventually about 175 Black-heads arrived in total.
- A few more large gulls arrived later though the low cloud base made distinguishing arrivals from birds merely flying around a bit hit-and-miss.
- In the mild conditions and before the rain set in three Song Thrushes were motivated to sing.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 7 Greylag Geese: a duo and a quintet 0utbound
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 6 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 3 Redwings
- 3 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.65 Starlings in three groups, all from the north-east area.
Counts from the lake area:
Bird notes:
- There were c.125 large gulls, almost all Lesser Black-backs, on the water by 06:45, my first view of the water after I had completed my round of the street lamp poles. Since I had not heard these arrive and they did not 'gas and go' like the usual early arrivals I presume these had, unusually, roosted here.
- The first gull arrivals were ten Black-headed Gulls at 07:30. Eventually about 175 Black-heads arrived in total.
- A few more large gulls arrived later though the low cloud base made distinguishing arrivals from birds merely flying around a bit hit-and-miss.
- In the mild conditions and before the rain set in three Song Thrushes were motivated to sing.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 7 Greylag Geese: a duo and a quintet 0utbound
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 6 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 3 Redwings
- 3 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.65 Starlings in three groups, all from the north-east area.
Counts from the lake area:
All numbers best-effort in poor conditions.
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Pochard
- 41 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- no count of Coots
- c.175 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 22 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron
The (semi) nocturnal community on or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Pochard
- 41 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- no count of Coots
- c.175 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 22 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron
The (semi) nocturnal community on or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
Moths:
- 3 male Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata)
- 3 male Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata)
Otherwise:
- 1 ground beetle Nebria brevicollis
- 1 ground beetle Nebria brevicollis
Spiders and allies:
- 1 spider, possibly Agelena labyrinthica
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 spider Neriene montana
- 1 possible Triangulate Cobweb Spider (Steatoda triangulosa)
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
New fungus found:
- possible Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa)
Later on the soaking wet Teece Drive fence:
- 1 spider, possibly Agelena labyrinthica
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 spider Neriene montana
- 1 possible Triangulate Cobweb Spider (Steatoda triangulosa)
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
New fungus found:
- possible Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa)
Later on the soaking wet Teece Drive fence:
Nothing noted
The ground beetle Nebria brevicollis.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Scaup (imm/fem)
4 Pochard
2 Teal
2 Goosanders
101 Tufted Duck
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
c.478 Lesser Black-backed
c30 Herring
c.5 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Water Rail
245 Coots
18 Fieldfare
201 Redwings
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Gary Crowder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
2 Teal
45 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
10 Redwings
2 Fieldfares
(Ed Wilson/Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
c300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
11 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebe
36 Swans
29 Pochard
79 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
277 Coots
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Gadwall
45 Golden Plover
( John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Cormorants
25 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
72 Coots
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
228 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
15 Herring Gulls
25 Robins
16 Blackbirds
31 Fieldfares
5 Redwings
278 Jackdaws
105 Rooks
32 Starlings
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
2 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
16 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
244 Coot
262 Jackdaws
285 Rooks
1 Redpoll
24 Siskins
21 Pied Wagtails
2 Grey Wagtails
8 Redwings
15 Fieldfares
13 Reed Buntings
13 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
14 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)