2.0°C > 4.0°C: Mostly a medium overcast. A few breaks at The Flash. Some light showery rain later. Light southerly wind. Moderate visibility and murky at the lake.
[Sunrise: 08:09 GMT]
I again decided not to peer in to the early gloom and performed my usual routes later than usual starting at The Flash.
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:25 – 10:20
(18th visit of the year)
They do say that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year. That was certainly true here with contractors from Severn Trent were strimming all remaining vegetation from along and in front of the dam. This is not my understanding of the plan when I discussed ST's plan with their ecologists last October. Whether there had been a change of plan; whether I had been misled; or whether it was a case of "boys with toys" wielding the equipment I have no idea. I am depressed.
Bird notes:
- what was likely the same two adult Mute Swans that had been chased off at The Flash some 20 minutes earlier were just leaving here. The was another adult that was being chased throughout.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Counts from the lake area:
- 22 Canada Geese
- *5 Mute Swans: of these two departed
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 247 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Grey Heron or Great (White) Egret
Also noted.
Nothing else
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
These two visiting adult Mute Swans were about to leave.
This was the third visiting swan. It was still being chased around a trying too find a quiet spot where it could not be seen.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 10:30 – 11:40
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 10:30 – 11:40
(16th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *an additional pair of adult Mute Swans was being put to flight several times before getting the message and leaving (to the Balancing Lake?).
- I forgot to record that a drake Pochard was new in yesterday. Today there was duck as well.
- *a Stock Dove was calling from a roof in Westcroft Walk.
- my first Greenfinch of the year here was noted giving its buzzing territorial call (the call heard first on 02 February last year).
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- *6 Mute Swans: of these a pair departed
- 35 (25♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) Pochard
- *72 (49♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 52 Coots
- *62 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gulls: second winter, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
Noted elsewhere:
Nothing
New Bird Species
One addition to the bird species on my site for here in 2025:
44 Greenfinch
At the back a duck Pochard that was new in today. In the front a duck Tufted Duck dives for food. Both these species are vegetarian.
A Stock Dove on a roof in Westcroft Walk. This angle does not show the glossy blue/green neck patch especially as this looks to be a scruffy individual. At least the lack of white neck patch makes it clear it is not a Wood Pigeon.
The middle bird is an adult Black-headed Gull beginning to acquire what is actually a dark brown hood as it comes in to breeding condition. Its acquisition happens with remarkable speed. The adult in the foreground shows no hint of changing as yet. A drake Tufted Duck looks on.
New Bird Species
One addition to the bird species on my site for here in 2025:
44 Greenfinch
One of the visiting adult Mute Swans takes to the air.
The two visitors prepare...
...to leave in formation. Are they the two at the Balancing Lake later?
A first winter Black-headed Gull with its plumage well-illustrated.
An adult winter Black-headed Gull approaches head-on.
You can almost sense the concentration as this one is about to splash down.
A male Bullfinch to give some colour to the cloudy morning.
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
Here are a few photos from the Wirral (15 Jan 25) courtesy of Ed Wilson.
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
117 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Redwings
c.274 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Mike Stokes)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
26 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
22 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
157 Coots
1 Common Gull
144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
74 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Glaucous Gull
Juvenile Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
c.195 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
132 Coot
2 Water Rail
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
428 Jackdaws
438 Rook
300 Wood Pigeons
14 Robin
80 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
11 Blackbird
1 Willow Tits
6 Greenfinch
65 Siskins
6 Redpolls
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
Here are a few photos from the Wirral (15 Jan 25) courtesy of Ed Wilson.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
117 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Redwings
c.274 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Mike Stokes)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
26 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
22 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
157 Coots
1 Common Gull
144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
74 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Glaucous Gull
Juvenile Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
c.195 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
132 Coot
2 Water Rail
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
428 Jackdaws
438 Rook
300 Wood Pigeons
14 Robin
80 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
11 Blackbird
1 Willow Tits
6 Greenfinch
65 Siskins
6 Redpolls
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)