0.0°C: Almost cloudless again with a small amount of lying snow after another light sprinkling overnight. Moderate westerly wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 08:21 GMT: hooray! the first earlier sunrise since the Winter solstice
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:05 – 09:30
(3rd visit of the year)
New Bird Species
Two additions to my 2026 bird list from here:
- a Pied Wagtail was rushing around on the ground by Paul's Classic Catering van looking for crumbs.
- a trio of Gadwall (two drakes) were new in and the first of the year
My 2026 bird species total for here now 44.
One that got away. What might well have been a Woodcock flew over my head and in to trees. I was unable to get a clear view of it. It was the right size but I could not see the bill. It was also much later and lighter than when I normally glimpse this nocturnal species going to roost. Will have to let it pass.
Other bird notes:
- a (yesterday's?) Mute Swan present throughout.
- a quartet of Pochard (three drakes) noted and new arrivals.
- over 1200 gulls were present by 07:20 and may well have roosted. They were almost all Black-headed Gulls perhaps forced off iced-over roost sites elsewhere. All had departed by 08:30.
- a very small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls early - 57 I think. Later 62 peeled off from over-flying groups for a quick drink and bathe.
- a group of 65 Jackdaws passing overhead was concurrent with a very large group far to the East that looked like smoke. I estimated c.400 birds but I might have been an order of magnitude out either way.
- for the third consecutive morning a handful of Jackdaws were flying northbound while the main parties were southbound.
- at least four Redwings were in their traditional roost site in the north-east area.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- no geese again
- 8 Wood Pigeons only
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.550 Jackdaws: see notes
- 34 Rooks
- 1 Redwing
Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 18 (14♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 25 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 13 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- c.1200 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 15 Herring Gulls
- 109 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: arrived singly; one departed
- 1 Grey Heron
The West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
No visit again
Noted later:
Noted later:
Nothing
Puffed up to keep warm is this Robin. It came to visit me while I was standing at one of the fishing pegs. Probably the fishermen toss it the odd items of food to him. Made me feel guilty not to have a pocketful of worms.
(3rd visit of the year)
c.10% real ice. A significant area was just beginning to ice over.
New Bird Species
Six additions to my 2026 bird list from here:
- several Siskins were in trees around the Hickory's Smokehouse lower car parks
- a Collared Dove was calling in the same area.
- a Jackdaw was flying over there.
- a male Bullfinch was in the reeds by the Derwent Drive lay-by.
- the Great (White) Egret was on the island.
- a Coal Tit was singing at the bottom of squirrel alley by the Priorslee Academy.
My 2026 bird species total for here is now 36
Other bird notes:
- a trio of Mute Swans today, the putative pair not entirely happy with the newbie.
- yesterday the duck Tufted Ducks significantly outnumbered the drakes. Today it was the other way around. Odd.
- only one Great Crested Grebe found.
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the water when I arrived, apparently all adults. Four of them departed. Strange that no Herring Gull was seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 31 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only: hiding from the cold?
- 38 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 83 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: (near) adults
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Around the area:
A couple of sunrise photos. As much frost as snow on the ground in the foreground.
Slightly later with a dragon preparing to swallow the sun.
At long range here are two drake Gadwall.
Bring up the rear was the duck Gadwall the most obvious feature being the orangey side to her bill.
Nothing special, just attractive morning Winter light on a pair of Mallard.
"Where are the crumbs then?". A female Pied Wagtail on the lookout.
A female because the back is grey and not black.
Running hither than thither.
Siskins were feeding on the Alder cones as usual. Not in an easy to photograph position. This is a male with a black crown. Note the pointed bill for extracting the seeds.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:30
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:30
(3rd visit of the year)
c.10% real ice. A significant area was just beginning to ice over.
New Bird Species
Six additions to my 2026 bird list from here:
- several Siskins were in trees around the Hickory's Smokehouse lower car parks
- a Collared Dove was calling in the same area.
- a Jackdaw was flying over there.
- a male Bullfinch was in the reeds by the Derwent Drive lay-by.
- the Great (White) Egret was on the island.
- a Coal Tit was singing at the bottom of squirrel alley by the Priorslee Academy.
My 2026 bird species total for here is now 36
Other bird notes:
- a trio of Mute Swans today, the putative pair not entirely happy with the newbie.
- yesterday the duck Tufted Ducks significantly outnumbered the drakes. Today it was the other way around. Odd.
- only one Great Crested Grebe found.
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the water when I arrived, apparently all adults. Four of them departed. Strange that no Herring Gull was seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 31 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only: hiding from the cold?
- 38 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 83 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: (near) adults
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Around the area:
Nothing else of note
Swan #2. I think this is the pen (female). Note the way the water is almost liquid ice - if that makes any sense. I don't know how else to describe the texture.
One of the two Grey Herons and the Great (White) Egret try unsuccessfully to hide inside the island. They were only visible from one angle.
An icy Derwent Drive.
Swan #1. I think this is the cob (male) of the recently arrived pair.
Swan #3. This looks to be another cob.
Here are eight of the original ten adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
I cannot see any black on the bill on this one. Unusually beady-looking eye.
Two more. The closer one does have some black on the bill.
"Now there in the back – pay attention"
"who me, sir? A perky Blue Tit.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st winter female Scaup present.
2012
Priorslee Lake
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
Adult Caspian Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
A 2nd winter Caspian Gull
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
(Richard Vernon)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Evening - 6:15pm a Barn Owl
(Martin Adlam)
Morning
Big gull roost with:
2000 Black-headed Gulls
500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
160 Herring Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
Also
At least 10000 Starlings left the roost somewhere to the S and flew N just before 8:00am.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st winter female Scaup present.
2012
Priorslee Lake
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
Adult Caspian Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
A 2nd winter Caspian Gull
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
(Richard Vernon)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Evening - 6:15pm a Barn Owl
(Martin Adlam)
Morning
Big gull roost with:
2000 Black-headed Gulls
500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
160 Herring Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
Also
At least 10000 Starlings left the roost somewhere to the S and flew N just before 8:00am.
(Ed Wilson)