7 Dec 23

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

7.0°C: Cloudy with light drizzle and then rain after 12:20. Fresh / strong south-easterly wind. Mainly good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:07 GMT]

Another rain-delayed start: 'The Flash first' again in very dull conditions.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 11:15 – 11:50

(254th visit of the year)

Watching only from along the dam top.

Bird notes:
- The dull weather made finding all the Tufted Ducks a challenge. Sexing those asleep was hard because the wind direction meant they were 'head-on'. There did seem to have been a significant departure since yesterday. Not to The Flash though.
- The gull totals are the numbers I counted when I arrived when there were, somewhat unusually, more Herring Gulls than Lesser Black-backed Gull. Almost all these Herring Gulls were various age immatures. There was the usual coming and going of large gulls with at least 75 Lesser Black-backs present when I did another check, these almost all adult or near adult birds.
- I struggle with identification of Caspian Gulls. A second year bird was the most-likely that I have seen this year. Obsidentify thought so too though I have no way of telling how "well-trained" it is to separate confusing large gulls.

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Pochard
- 92 (c.45♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 46 Black-headed Gulls
- 36 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 1 Caspian Gull: second winter
- 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
** see noted re gull counts
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

This first winter Herring Gull was just about the only flying gull that was adequately sharp due to the poor light. The advantage of poor light is that it gives lower contrast allowing both the white and dark parts of the plumage to be rendered clearly. Today it was just a bit too dull.

Another first winter Herring Gull with an adult winter Black-headed Gull.

First and third winter Herring Gulls.

A collection of winter plumage Herring Gulls (with an interloper Lesser Black-back behind). The front bird and back two are first winters; the middle left is a third winter; the middle centre is probably a second winter (some second and third birds are hard to separate); the right-most bird is likely an adult, though with dark on both mandibles and no obvious red spot it could well be a fourth winter.

"I see no fish". The adult winter Herring Gull is actually wetting its plumage to have a bathe.

This is what I think is a Caspian Gull – a second winter. Note the very white head with a gentle expression. Also the necklace of dark spotting. If it is then it becomes species #102 for me this year here.

Bath time for these adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls, turning upside down to wet their plumage.

Proving this species can dive deeper the Herring Gull.

A fierce-looking adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull showing just a hint of the red-spot on the lower mandible.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 12:00 – 13:05

(239th visit of the year)

All ice gone overnight.

Bird notes:
- A Canada Goose hybrid noted. 90% Canada: not sure about the other parentage
- A drake Gadwall had returned to the same place one had inhabited for a week or so before the ice rudely interrupted. There was also a pair in the same area.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Common Buzzard
- c.45 Jackdaws riding the wind currents

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 Canada x ? Goose
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 41 (29♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 18 Moorhens
- 46 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adult
- 1 Grey Heron

Of interest elsewhere.

Nothing found

Not quite a Canada Goose with a blurred white chinstrap, a pale bill and an obvious eye-ring. Most of the hybrids here have been crossed with a Greylag Goose: these usually have the orange bill of that species. Perhaps a second generation cross?

(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
9 Pochard.
55 Tufted Ducks.
153 Coots.
615 Black-headed Gulls
354 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
21 Herring Gulls.
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
9 Cormorants
33 Swans
25 Pochard
61 Tufted Ducks
297 Coots
2 Buzzards
19 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
17 Greylag Goose
9 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
>1400 Black-headed Gulls
>230 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
23 Robins
16 Blackbirds
2 Fieldfares
3 Redwings
259 Jackdaws
257 Rooks
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
9 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
234 Coot
205 Jackdaws
473 Rooks
154 Fieldfare
4 Redwings
8 Redpolls
46 Siskins
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)