7.0°C > 5.0°C > 6.0°C: A few clouds early; then clear; after 10:00 thin high cloud from the south-west encroached as far as the low winter sun making it rather watery. Moderate westerly wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 08:21 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:40 – 09:20
(272nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Very low numbers of gulls today. c.20 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:35. I never saw more than 50 at any one time though as usual birds were coming and going so likely more individuals involved.
- A small number of mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed to the West of the lake. Just five large gulls stopped off briefly.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 4 Canada Geese: duo outbound; duo inbound
- 56 Greylag Goose: 24 outbound in five groups; 32 inbound together
- 5 Goosanders: too high to sex
- 1 Stock Dove
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 32 Jackdaws
- 5 Fieldfare: together
- 5 Redwings: a single and a quartet
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake.
- 1 Reed Bunting
Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: a duo and a quintet arrived separately
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 33 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 91 Coots
- c.50 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
The (semi) nocturnal community on or around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Cooler this morning: many fewer things noted.
Moths:
- *1 male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
- *1 male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
Flies:
- *2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- several small plumed midges
- *2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- several small plumed midges
Other insects:
- several globular springtail
On the Teece Drive fence:
It was just three hours after the Cold Moon was full when I took this photo so no craters easily visible. If the weather forecast is correct just about the only morning this will be visible.
- several globular springtail
On the Teece Drive fence:
Nothing noted
The last of the clouds clearing away around dawn.
A Common Buzzard passes over with the early light shining under one wing.
While I am checking the street lamp poles pre-dawn this friendly Robin is always singing away.
Not much to see this morning: a male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
One of two winter craneflies on the street lamp poles: both Trichocera sp.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:25
(254th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- No Common Teal seen today: too many geese in the way?
- No Goosanders either.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese:
- 76 Greylag Geese: some of these departed
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 51 (35♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 51 (35♂) Tufted Duck
- 15 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 79 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on the ivy bank:
- *Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax
- Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina
and
- *Greater Periwinkle flower Vinca major
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Unknown)
2012
Priorslee Lake
A drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
10 Great Black-backed Gull
(Kriss Webb)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
97 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosander
327 Coots
5 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
10 Goldfinches
14 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)