9.0°C > 10.0°C: Mostly cloudy with passing showers. One sunny interval. Fresh north-westerly wind. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 08:19 GMT]
* = a species photographed today
A rain-delayed start with, as usual in such circumstances, a visit to The Flash first and then viewing only from the dam end of the Balancing Lake.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:25 – 10:30
(268th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- No Pochard found today.
- There does seem to have been a decline in the number of Coots on the water. It may yet prove to be that they are sheltering from the wind. It would be unusual for birds to be leaving at this date unless numbers had recently been boosted by birds here while their smaller lakes were frozen.
- A Great Crested Grebe seen briefly. Where is it hiding?
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 51 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 106 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 36 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Cormorants
No photos from here today but more information on this picture from yesterday of unusual colour patterns in the clouds. Such cloud-scapes were noted all across the Midlands. Under the heading "Rainbow clouds spotted in the East for the first time since 2016" there is a page on the BBC site HERE.
This has many much better photos of the phenomenon also called 'mother of pearl clouds'. It occurs at dawn and dusk in very cold air (-80C) at very high altitude (12 miles). Sightings are usually confined to polar regions but occasionally, as yesterday, the very cold air spreads further south. When this happens the weather at lower altitudes is not necessarily impacted.
(250th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The wind direction seemed to be making it difficult for the geese and Cormorants arriving as they tried to lose height and land in to the wind. In particular several Cormorants circled several times and I was not really sure whether they did eventually managed to touch down or not. I have assumed they did for the totals.
- Despite the breezy conditions the Mute Swan family went for a fly long the length of the water.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- *31 Canada Geese: of these 28 arrived in two groups
- *81 Greylag Geese: all of these arrived in five groups
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 38 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 2 (1♂) Common Teal
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 51 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- *3 (1♂) Goosander
- 19 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 48 Black-headed Gulls
- *6 Herring Gulls: three first, one second and two third winters
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one third winter and one adult
- *5? Cormorants: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
On the bank of wet Ivy sheltered from the wind:
Twisting its tail as it hangs in the wind. Herring Gulls have pink legs but that is not helpful here as all immature large gulls have pink legs.
A second winter Herring Gull. This individual has a bill that is larger than many though that is partly an illusion because it is dark. It suggests that this is a male bird, males averaging larger and bulkier than females.
Still looks improbable. I am not entirely sure what happened next. The Cormorant and fish disappeared underwater and I saw neither again.
This has many much better photos of the phenomenon also called 'mother of pearl clouds'. It occurs at dawn and dusk in very cold air (-80C) at very high altitude (12 miles). Sightings are usually confined to polar regions but occasionally, as yesterday, the very cold air spreads further south. When this happens the weather at lower altitudes is not necessarily impacted.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 10:40 – 11:10
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The Flash: 10:40 – 11:10
(250th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The wind direction seemed to be making it difficult for the geese and Cormorants arriving as they tried to lose height and land in to the wind. In particular several Cormorants circled several times and I was not really sure whether they did eventually managed to touch down or not. I have assumed they did for the totals.
- Despite the breezy conditions the Mute Swan family went for a fly long the length of the water.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- *31 Canada Geese: of these 28 arrived in two groups
- *81 Greylag Geese: all of these arrived in five groups
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 38 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 2 (1♂) Common Teal
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 51 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- *3 (1♂) Goosander
- 19 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 48 Black-headed Gulls
- *6 Herring Gulls: three first, one second and two third winters
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one third winter and one adult
- *5? Cormorants: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
On the bank of wet Ivy sheltered from the wind:
Nothing noted
An unusually well-organised arrival by 23 Canada Geese.
Many arriving Greylag Geese today. A quartet of worried-looking birds here.
And now two approach.
A worried individual on finals
Whereas this one looks rather serene.
Splat! Still trying to look serene.
These two Goosander seemed to be paired, the drake at the back.
Here is the duck on her own
And the drake going this way and...
...that.
An adult Great Crested Grebe beginning to grow it breeding plumage head plumes.
A first winter Herring Gull showing the rump and tail markings.
A series of photos of a Cormorant getting to grips with a large Perch (Perca fluviatilis).
You do have to swallow the head-first.
Well: that did not quite work.
I really don't see how swallowing that would be possible.
Trying a different angle.
One of the two Common Buzzards flying over.
And the other.
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall
2 Teal
6 Pochard
78 Tufted Ducks
1 female Greater Scaup
222 Coots counted
Caspian Gull
2 Fieldfare
17 Redwings
429 Jackdaws
173 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
110 Tufted Ducks
17 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
11 Swans
1 Shoveler
c.115 Tufted Duck
7 Goosander
129 Coots
41 Black-headed Gulls
51 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
21 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
181 Coots
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
16 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
32 Swans
114 Canada Geese
39 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
166 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3rd-winter American Herring Gull
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe/Kriss Webb)
2011
Priorslee Lake
c.6000 Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Yellow-legged Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gulls
Sparrowhawk
(Martin Adlam and Ian Grant)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
42 Swans
2 Gadwall
51 Pochard
132 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
296 Coots
c.2000 Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
30 Lapwings
50 Golden Plover
7 Redwings
8 Fieldfares
15 Goldfinches
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
31 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
58 Coots
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
c.3200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
15 Pied Wagtails
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)
2005
Priorslee lake
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
c.100 Lesser Black-backs
11 Herring Gull
7 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant on the Lake.
200 Coot
1 Water Rail
18 Pied Wagtails
231 Rooks
323 Jackdaw
3 Redwing
c.50 Siskin
7 Redpoll
8 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall
2 Teal
6 Pochard
78 Tufted Ducks
1 female Greater Scaup
222 Coots counted
Caspian Gull
2 Fieldfare
17 Redwings
429 Jackdaws
173 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
110 Tufted Ducks
17 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
11 Swans
1 Shoveler
c.115 Tufted Duck
7 Goosander
129 Coots
41 Black-headed Gulls
51 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
21 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
181 Coots
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
16 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
32 Swans
114 Canada Geese
39 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
166 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3rd-winter American Herring Gull
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe/Kriss Webb)
2011
Priorslee Lake
c.6000 Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Yellow-legged Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gulls
Sparrowhawk
(Martin Adlam and Ian Grant)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
42 Swans
2 Gadwall
51 Pochard
132 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
296 Coots
c.2000 Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
30 Lapwings
50 Golden Plover
7 Redwings
8 Fieldfares
15 Goldfinches
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake Icebound - 2009 (Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
31 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
58 Coots
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
c.3200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
15 Pied Wagtails
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)
2005
Priorslee lake
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
c.100 Lesser Black-backs
11 Herring Gull
7 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant on the Lake.
200 Coot
1 Water Rail
18 Pied Wagtails
231 Rooks
323 Jackdaw
3 Redwing
c.50 Siskin
7 Redpoll
8 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam)