5 Dec 23

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

5.0°C > 6.0°C: Mostly cloudy. Light northerly breeze. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:04 GMT]

Yet again a 'wrong way round' visit with rain keeping me away earlier.

Photos today.
None

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 14:30 – 15:00

(252nd visit of the year)

Again watching only from the Castle Farm Way lay-by and the dam top.

Bird notes:
- Nothing of note.

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 99 (55♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 16 Herring Gulls
- 96 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Cormorants

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 13:35 – 14:20

(231st visit of the year)

c.10% ice remains. Very high water-levels.

Bird notes:
- A trio of Goosanders were the only diving ducks present. These included a splendid breeding plumage drake. These flew off just as I got out of my car.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 42 (27♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- still no Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosander: departed
- 12 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: one first and four (near) adult birds
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adult
- 1 Grey Heron

Of interest elsewhere.
Nothing

(Ed Wilson)

Note:
This year during late April and early May, Ed Wilson was in Texas. Here are a "few" photos from his trip.

An American Robin (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

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall.
9 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
158 Coots
9 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
27 Redwings
4 Fieldfares
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
7 Pochard
71 Tufted Duck
5 Goosander
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Adult Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
36 Swans
15 Pochard
48 Tufted Ducks
1 Woodcock
300 Coots
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
5 Stock Doves
5 Redwings
c.35 Goldfinches
c.10 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
7 Pochard
58 Tufted Ducks
>1000 Black-headed Gulls
>2350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
c.40 Fieldfares
4 Song Thrushes
6 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
190 Jackdaws
278 Rooks
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
12 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
239 Coot
Golden Plover
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
397 Jackdaws
261 Rooks
2 Meadow Pipits
3 Redwings
16 Robins
24 Blackbirds
62 Fieldfares
15 Wrens
2 Willow Tits
Redpolls
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)