2.0°C > 3.0°C: Overcast at low level. The usual murk. Some drizzle and rain again. Light south-easterly wind. Moderate visibility.
[Sunrise: 07:24 GMT]
Another day for the "poor weather" itinerary. If, and I did say if, the forecast is correct may be the last?
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:20 – 10:40
(40th visit of the year)
A brief view of nothing much from the dam-top area as the sailing club prepared to launch their boats.
Bird notes:
- two additional Canada Geese. One of these was on its own. Is that because the others are all paired up for the breeding season? Or is it unwell?
- a pair of Shoveler were new arrivals.
- all four pairs of Gadwall were close together.
- Coot numbers continue to decline towards the c.40 that will become the breeding population.
- very few gulls present.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 13 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 27 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Moorhen
- 98 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Of note:
Nothing else
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
(38th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- an additional two drake Shoveler were new arrivals.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 4 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Shoveler
- 37 (27♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 43 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- *15 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 62 Black-headed Gulls
- *3 Herring Gulls: two adults; one second year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Cormorant
Of note:
Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 4 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Shoveler
- 37 (27♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 43 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- *15 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 62 Black-headed Gulls
- *3 Herring Gulls: two adults; one second year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Cormorant
Of note:
Nothing else
Apropos yesterday's halfway up the neat hedge at Westcroft Walk this was one of three Moorhens on top of the hedge this morning. I have not seen any fly up so do they climb up inside? This species is surprisingly adept at climbing.
For many days there have been at least two adult Herring Gulls here, often joined by immatures. Today two adults took up sentry position atop one of the houses in Westcroft Walk. Could they be thinking of nesting here? This species is increasingly nesting inland. With fish populations declining around the coast this species relies more and more on scavenging from what mankind throws away.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
(Tony Beckett)
2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
44 Pochard
55 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
151 Coots
12 Siskins
2 Redpoll
23 Linnets
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
3rd winter Glaucous Gull
1st winter Glaucous Gull
(Paul King)
2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
118 Coots
2 Lapwing
c.1200 Black-backed Gulls
c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
55 Herring Gulls
c.574 Wood Pigeons
220 Jackdaws
199 Rooks
1 Skylark
11 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
2 Redwings
1 House Sparrow
10 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
16 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
(Tony Beckett)
2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
44 Pochard
55 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
151 Coots
12 Siskins
2 Redpoll
23 Linnets
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
3rd winter Glaucous Gull
1st winter Glaucous Gull
(Paul King)
2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
118 Coots
2 Lapwing
c.1200 Black-backed Gulls
c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
55 Herring Gulls
c.574 Wood Pigeons
220 Jackdaws
199 Rooks
1 Skylark
11 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
2 Redwings
1 House Sparrow
10 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
16 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)