4 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 10:45
The Flash:  10:50 – 11:50

-2°C > +1°C:  Mainly cloudy. Frosty. Light mainly SW wind. Moderate / good visibility
Sunrise: 08:21 GMT: at last – lighter in the morning!

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 10:45

(4th visit of the year)

Small amount of ice, mainly along the sheltered N side shoreline

My extended visit involved 90 minutes of rooting about in the undergrowth litter-picking – easiest now the vegetation has died back. A bag full of glass and plastic bottles, drinks cans, sweet wrappers and the like – a bag so heavy I could scarcely lift it

Species added to my 2019 log from here, in recorded order
50      Tawny Owl
51      Raven
52      Green Woodpecker
53      Cormorant
Somewhat depressing to realise I have already logged half the bird species I am likely to record here this year

Other bird notes
- perhaps the Mute Swans did not return from their fly-about yesterday: there were none early. A single arrived after 09:30
- 10 Canada Geese seen on the lake. Birds left late at 08:05: 2 more left at 08:10. Unclear whether these were 2 more or whether only 8 had left initially
- drake Wigeon present throughout again: stayed silent this morning
- 2 Goosanders flew W 08:15. 2 more at 08:20 were very low and perhaps came off the lake? All brownheads
- the first Black-headed Gulls not seen until after 08:00 when 19 birds flew high W, followed by more. Later very few arrived on the lake
- Tawny Owl calling just inside the Teece Drive gate at 06:45 – worth getting cold to hear this. I am sure I read that it was now thought that both sexes made both the wavering hoot and the ‘kvick’ call. However in a recent BBC Radio 4 ‘Tweet of the Day’ (essential listing at 05:58 or on playback) Sir David Attenborough stated that it is the male that makes the wavering call (which is what I heard) and it is the female that responds with the ‘kvick’ call. Who am I to question the great man
- just 1 Song Thrush motivated to sing in the cold
- at least 2 Reed Buntings calling in the NW area: if this is also being used as a roost site then I could have difficulty seeing these leave, depending upon the direction they chose to go (I normally see birds leave from the W end only)

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese [inbound]
- 4 (0♂) Goosander (2 parties)
- 33 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 131 Jackdaws
- 1 Raven
- 1 Starling
- 2 Siskins

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >36 Magpies [partial count]
- 3 Redwings
- 7 Starlings
- 9 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan
- 12? Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) Wigeon again
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall again
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Pochard again
- 20 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 79 Coots
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

My log of other things
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. on the same sheltered lamp
- the common fungus Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) found on fallen wood

The Cormorant that became species #53 on my 2019 site list. A few white feathers beginning to appear in the nape. Still a few white feathers in the belly so it is not yet a full adult and may not acquire full breeding plumage.

Here is a cluster of the common fungus Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor). This fungus has been placed in several different genera previously and most of my references call it Coriolus versicolor – the ‘versicolor’ bit is appropriate at least.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  10:50 – 11:50

(4th visit of the year)

About 60% thin ice here

Work on the 2nd footbridge did not start on the 7th January as it says on the notices still posted around the water – it started on the 3rd

Species added to my 2019 log from here
None

Bird notes from here
- Great Crested Grebe not located
- the Ring-necked Parakeet was squawking from the island and then seen removing something from under roof-tiles at a house in Derwent Drive
and
- 1 Early Moth where it was yesterday – the lamp pole is in a very sheltered place and I doubt there was a frost

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese again
- 26 (18♂) Mallard
- 24 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 51 (4♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 3 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

A winter scene here with just two Black-headed Gulls standing on the rather thin ice.

A typically angry-looking drake Tufted Duck. Note the purple / blue sheen on the head. This is not due to pigment in the feathers but from light refraction caused by the structure of the feathers. At other angles this colour disappears or can appear as a green hue.

Something spooked many of the Goosanders and a party of Tufted Ducks. Many just repositioned elsewhere on the open water. These 18 Goosanders took to the air. One eventually returned while the rest headed off W (to Trench?). Just 2 drakes visible – bottom left and centre top.

These Goosanders don’t seem to know whether they are coming or going.

For a while now the Grey Herons here have been lurking inside the island. Today it was on this fallen branch to have its photo taken.

I am not sure that Black-headed Gull was the intended recipient of the supplied bird food. They are a very aggressive species and many folk feeding the birds here get annoyed when they cannot get food to the ducks before the gulls snatch it.

Here is a posing first-winter Black-headed Gull.

Now what are you doing up there? Could the Ring-necked Parakeet be looking for a nesting site? The lack of ‘ring-neck’ on this individual suggests it is either a female or an immature male.

“who me? I am innocent”

“let me have another look”

 “anybody about?”

“I am sure this will be OK”

“I do wish all these photographers would go away”

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

1. Click Here for a Summary of the 2018 Priorslee Lake Report.

2. Also a few photos from a trip to Venus Pool (2 Jan 19) Here.

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On this day..........

2017
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st winter female Scaup
(Tom Lowe)

Horsehay Pool
Kittiwake
(Jim Almond)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Priorslee Flash
Drake Scaup
(J Reeves)

Trench Middle Pool
22 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)

2012
Priorslee Lake
96 Greylags Geese
20 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
86 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
54 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
27 Great Black-backed Gulls
Peregrine
204 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
2 Little Grebes
215 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
219 Black-headed Gulls
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

Holmer Lake
46 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
44 Mute Swans
2 Gadwall
47 Pochard
117 Tufted Duck
2 adult Common Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.3400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
 c.250 Herring Gulls
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Water Rail
324 Coots 
17 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson/Jason)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Great Crested Grebes
10 Mute Swans
1 drake Shoveler
11 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
122 Coots
34 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Paul King)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
26 Pochard
106 Tufted Ducks
4 Water Rails
100 Herring Gull 
Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
 >7 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
 >481 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
 >33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
14 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfares
67 Redwings
222 Jackdaws
3 Reed Buntings;
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
22 Pochard
43 Tufted Duck
c.3000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.2000 Black-headed Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
131 Herring Gull
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
66 Siskins
14 Robins
15 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

3 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:35
The Flash:  09:40 – 10:45
Trench Lock Pool:  10:55 – 11:05 // 11:50 – 12:20
Trench Middle Pool:  11:10 – 11:45

2°C > 3°C:  Cloudy start, clearing after 09:00. Light mainly E / SE wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT still

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:35

(3rd visit of the year)

Species added to my 2019 log from here, in recorded order
45      Greylag Goose
46      Grey Heron
47      Goldcrest
48      Shoveler
49      Jay

Rather quiet for flyovers

Other bird notes
- the Mute Swans again went for a protracted fly-around (I forget to check whether they came back!)
- 10 Canada Geese left at 07:30: 2 arrived from the W at 08:08 and stayed until 08:45
- could only locate three pairs of Gadwall, though they have been rather more mobile recently and easier to miss
- noisy drake Wigeon present throughout
- 4 Shoveler arrived some time after 08:45. Birds did not keep together
- no more than 100 Black-headed Gulls, arriving late – after 07:45. Very few (<10) on the water at any time after 08:00
- first Starlings seen using reeds as a roost for a while – just 2 birds noted leaving

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Greylag Goose [outbound]
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 110 Jackdaws

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >46 Magpies [partial count]
- [no Redwings]
- 2 Starlings
- 6 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) Wigeon
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Shoveler
- 6 (4♂) Pochard
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 86 Coots
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 Dotted Border moth [new for the season]
- 1 Mottled Umber moth
- 4 Early Moths
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. on the same sheltered lamp
- 4 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- 1 unidentified Muscid fly
also
- Common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) still in flower from 2018
- Daisy (Bellis perennis): this species flowers all year
- Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) apparently in flower
- ‘hawkweed’ type still in flower

A record shot of today’s drake Wigeon. I have checked against the shots I took of the pair on Tuesday but cannot tell whether this is a different individual.

No mistaking that ‘hooter’: drake Shoveler.

And two duck Shoveler showing their scalloped flanks.

Here is my first Dotted Border moth of the season – indeed most years this would not be flying before mid-February. Another moth that is superficially like a Mottled Umber, especially in the shape of the outer cross line. But note the lack of dark spot in the wing, the straight median cross line and very weak / non-existent inner cross line. Also the pale marks in the outer wing. Here the small black dots almost on the wing edge that gives the species its name are rather indistinct.

Another Early Moth showing orangey colouration at the wing tip. I can find no reference to this in any of my reference books neither do any of the web sites I use show any specimens like this. Strange – perhaps it is new to science!

At waist-height this morning so a great shot of what I call a Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis).

Three for the price of one. Bottom right and out of focus is the Mottled Umber moth. Upper left the Muscid fly I was trying to identify – not from this angle I won’t. Lurking top left and unseen at the time a rather interesting-looking spider with a red tail end.

Common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) still in flower from 2018.

A Daisy (Bellis perennis): this species flowers all year.

This I think is a Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) apparently in flower. Supposed to appear May to August (or July to September on another web site!). Also called Madwoman’s Milk. Seems to be an unpleasant plant as the sap is toxic and carcinogenic.

Zoomed in on the flowering bits.

This is clearly one of the hawkweed-types. I thought the reddish tips to the involucres (the green covers that opens out to reveal the yellow flower) might be helpful. They weren’t!

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:40 – 10:45

(3rd visit of the year)

Two species added to my 2019 log from here
33      Collared Dove
34      Jackdaw

Bird notes from here
- no sight or sound of the Ring-necked Parakeet today [and apologies for typing Teece Drive yesterday when I meant Derwent Drive for the location of it feeding in a garden here: senior moment]
- 3 Coal Tits singing today
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth yet again on the lamp poles
- 3 Early Moths on lamp poles, 2 of them with the Mottled Umber
- 1 Muscid fly was on the Ivy: sunny but a chilly wind kept anything more interesting away

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 3 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again
- 4 Canada Geese
- 35 (22♂) Mallard
- 27 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 48 (5♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 5 Moorhens yet again
- 18 Coots
- 46 Black-headed Gulls

The Mute Swan family goes for a fly with the cygnet in the lead and now flying strongly. I think it is Mum next – she is slightly smaller than Dad bringing up the rear.

A much better view of a typical Early Moth – always good to get them in daylight and at eye-height rather than 15’ up by lamplight.

And on the same lamp pole another. I have enquired as to whether a particular species of moth always folds one wing over the other (the left wing over the right on these two specimens). Nobody seems to know.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:55 – 11:05 // 11:50 – 12:20

(1st visit of the year)

25 species to start my 2019 log from here: in recorded order
House Sparrow, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Goosander, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Great Tit, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Magpie, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blackbird, Grey Heron, Mallard, Jackdaw, Wren, Great Crested Grebe, Dunnock
NB: Feral Mallard not seen but would not be listed anyway

Other notes from here
- significant drop in number of Tufted Duck
- the Grey Heron present when I returned from Middle Pool likely the bird that left there
- small increase in number of Coot after decline at end of 2018

Birds noted flying over / near here (other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws)
- 29 Starlings (3 parties)

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 Canada Geese
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- [no ‘feral’ Mallard]
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 8 (3♂)Tufted Ducks only
- 8 (6♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Moorhens
- 91 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Another brownhead doing its ‘lying on the water’ act. Display? Usually it is drakes that display to the ducks.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  11:10 – 11:45

(1st visit of the year)

24 species to start my 2019 log from here: in recorded order
Blackbird, Magpie, Robin, Blue Tit, Black-headed Gull, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard, Pochard, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Goosander, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Wren, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Common Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Carrion Crow
NB: Feral Mallard not listed

Other notes from here
- the Mute Swan and two duck Teal both gone
- both Cormorant and Grey Heron present. The Grey Heron left – probably the one at Trench Lock on my return there
- just 1 Great Crested Grebe today

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 1 Common Buzzard

The counts from the water
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 44 Canada Geese
- 27 (20♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) feral Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 12 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 12 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 96 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

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)

2 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:35
The Flash:  09:40 – 10:45

0°C > 1°C:  Clear and frosty. Band of cloud gradually encroaching from far E, failing to quite reach before I left. Very light W wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT again

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:35

(2nd visit of the year)

Species added to my 2019 log from here, in recorded order
40      Bullfinch
41      Common Buzzard
42      Coal Tit
43      Greenfinch
44      Siskin

The strangest sighting this morning was 4 / 5 white shapes floating E illuminated by the reflected street and town lights at 07:10. I assume these weren’t a flock of owls but most likely early arriving Black-headed Gulls though I saw none in / over the water for at least another 10 minutes

Other bird notes
- all the geese on the water were Canadas: 10 left at 07:45: the other 4 a few minutes later
- 6 Goosanders W at 07:50: too dark to sex
- lower Moorhen and Coot counts likely because their favourite early feeding area of the SW grass was frosted. They seem not to like eating ice. So they were lurking in and around the reeds
- at least 500 Black-headed Gulls arrived some low from the W and many high from the SW. They seemed very reluctant to settle and by 07:50 they had all left. Up to 100 returned
- at least 40 Wood Pigeons flushed out of the trees in the NW area – most unusual. Several small parties flying over, these flying in various directions. Probably mostly as a result of the bird-scarers to the E
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen including a pair together in the Ricoh copse
- the low Jackdaw count likely because I was concentrating on the Magpie roost and not being Janus, even in January, I have difficulty in looking in two directions at the same time
- cold weather reduced number of singing Song Thrushes to three – from eight. Blackbird still singing though
- the first 10 Reed Buntings departed the roost area at 07:47

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 6 (?♂) Goosanders (1 group)
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 60 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Jackdaws
- 2 Pied Wagtails

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >63 Magpies
- 1 Redwing [main roost area not visited]
- 14 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 14 Canada Geese: flew off
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 16 (12♂) Mallard
- 8 (6♂) Pochard
- 27 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Moorhens
- 67 Coots
- c.500 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. on the most-sheltered lamp
as suspected the frost saw most things hiding away
also
- last year’s late flowering Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) plant on the dam still flowering in 2019.

A good sunrise. In the far distance is a bank of cloud. Took until after 11:00 to reach here.

A different perspective just as the sun is about to rise. All the ‘clouds’ you see are in fact long-dead vapour-trails / contrails from passing jet airliners.

A later ‘cloud’-scape (trail-scape?).

Attractive light on the reeds (a few Tufted Ducks as specks on the middle right).

Learn you silhouettes: the curly tail of a drake Mallard ...

... And the short tuft of a duck Tufted Duck.

As noted, the Black-headed Gulls were reluctant to settle and flew around. Not quite sure how they manage to avoid each other. Any offers to count them?

A trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls passes over. The lead bird is an immature – looks like a first winter. Seems to have an unusually ‘clean’ head though hard to tell at this range and angle.

I’d prefer it on a more natural perch but I’ll take a male Bullfinch in the open any day.

Frost has not yet managed to stop this Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) plant from flowering.

Unusually this stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. stayed around after daybreak and allowed a rather clearer shot for a change.

The front blown-up to show the two rows of four eyes. Always amazes me that its obvious small brain can process images from eight eyes when mine struggles with two.

The sliver moon is hard to photograph as the light is a lot less than on half / full moon and the camera has a job finding the right exposure. This is not bad, slightly marred by thin cloud giving a slight halo-effect.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:40 – 10:45

(2nd visit of the year)

Two species added to my 2019 log from here
31      Grey Heron
32      Nuthatch

Bird notes from here
- the two Grey Herons were remarkably sanguine with each other’s presence
- the Ring-necked Parakeet was feeding in one of the gardens alongside Teece Drive this morning
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth still on a lamp post – perhaps frozen on it
- the Hazel catkins were looking almost Spring-like in the sun

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Feral Pigeons

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese
- 38 (26♂) Mallard
- 26 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 48 (4♂) Goosanders
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 5 Moorhens again
- 20 Coots again
- 57 Black-headed Gulls

When is the watershed? You cannot really tell but there is a duck Mallard under there somewhere.

All over very quickly: “thank you ma’am”.

Everyone says you cannot take photos of flying birds with bridge cameras. Depends how many attempts you are prepared to throw away. This adult winter Black-headed Gull will do.

And its back for another pass.

Do Wood Pigeons always have a bulge in their fore crown? I think not. I suspect he had just raised his crown feathers in alarm. Strange eyes they have.

“Don’t you dare ...”

Here’s Polly parakeet in one of the gardens. Seems to be frowning at me!

This Great Tit expects to find something to eat in the end of the stick.

Hazel catkins in the sun. I rather thought that these long and bright yellow ones were the male flowers and the shorter and darker ones on the left would be the female flowers. Reading the literature I am not sure as the female part of a Hazel is more cone-like than these. Perhaps just less advanced male flowers.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup still present.

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
4 or 5 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Caspian Gull
(Ed Wilson and et al)

2010
Priorslee Lake
c.1500 gulls
Adult winter Ring Billed Gull.
Adult Common Gull
3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls
Black-necked Grebe
(Ed Wilson and Rob Stokes)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
Iceland Gull
(Dawn Balmer, Peter Wilson and et al)

1 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:50
The Flash:  09:55 – 10:50

7°C > 8°C:  Mainly cloudy. Despite a few breaks more or less continuous slight drizzle. Light NW wind. Moderate / good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT

Firstly a Happy New Year to one and all

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:50

(1st visit of the year)

39 species to start my 2019 log from here: in recorded order
Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Crow, Mallard, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Magpie, Redwing, Black-headed Gull, Pochard, Jackdaw, Dunnock, Canada Goose, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Pheasant, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Water Rail, Goosander, Stock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wigeon, Goldfinch, Starling, Herring Gull, Gadwall, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Grey Wagtail

Two highlights today
- I am used to the clatter of Wood Pigeons flushing out of trees in the dark. This morning one bird making even more crashing noises than usual turned out to be a female Pheasant. A simultaneous crashing a few feet away may have been another Pheasant but it had gone before I could see it
- a pair of Wigeon dropped in at 08:25

Other bird notes
- at least three Canada Geese parties outbound: one of them partially behind trees and another heard only. None on the water
- 4 Goosanders W at 08:05; 3 more at 08:15. All brownheads
- not sure why there should be so many more Wood Pigeons flying about today. There were also many more in the trees around the lake. Perhaps they have seen the weather forecast about colder weather on the way or have moved here from colder places already?
- when the three Reed Buntings departed the roost area they did so individually and in very different directions

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- >14 Canada Geese (3 parties, 1 only partly seen, another unseen, all outbound)
- 7 (0♂) Goosanders (2 parties)
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Stock Dove
- 96 Wood Pigeons
- c.80 Jackdaws
- 2 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 2 Redwings
- 3 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Wigeon
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall still
- 13 (9♂) Mallard
- 7 (5♂) Pochard
- 27 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 10 Moorhens
- 71 Coots
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 Scarce Umber moth
- 2 Mottled Umber moths (1 a spider victim)
- 2 stretch spiders, Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 Nursery Web spider (Pisaura mirabilis)

A disappointing number of moths. After recent bumper totals was hoping to get the new year’s log off to a flying start. With a drop in temperature and clear skies forecast I do not expect good numbers in future.

Come in #W41365. This Mute Swan is one of the pair that raised 3 cygnets here last year. At that time she also had an orange Darvic ring coded 65S. These do tend to break off. Its mate is now wearing a blue Darvic ring 7JNU. This is a very recently applied ring and I am awaiting details of when and where it was ringed. Our bird’s mate last year was unringed at the time.

In drizzle and at long range so a record shot of the drake Wigeon. With it are Coot and duck Tufted Duck.

Not much better is the duck Wigeon. The orangey flanks are distinctive here. With this bird is another Coot and a Little Grebe.

All trussed up and I am not sure whether the legs we can see are those of the moth or a spider having breakfast. The pattern is sufficiently distinctive to recognise the moth as an erstwhile Mottled Umber.

Easy to see why these are called stretch spiders (Tetragnatha sp.).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:55 – 10:50

(1st visit of the year)

30 species to start my 2019 log from here: in recorded order
Black-headed Gull, Goosander, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Canada Goose, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Ring-necked Parakeet, Magpie, Crow, Mute Swan, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Feral Pigeon

Bird notes from here
- only 1 Great Crested Grebe found
- two Song Thrush singing again
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth on a lamp post
- late / early flowering White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album)

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again
- 12 Canada Geese
- 30 (17♂) Mallard
- 27 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 41 (9♂) Goosanders
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 5 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 64 Black-headed Gulls

A few Black-headed Gulls with the wings of one 1st winter spread in front of the camera. I had not realised that the outer tail feathers, also nicely spread, do not have the solid black tip of all the others. I wonder if this is true of all 1st winter birds?

The leading bird here certainly has white(ish) outer tail tips: it could be the same bird. The middle bird is holding its tail up and we cannot really see. The closest bird has its tail closed so we cannot be sure.

This adult winter Black-headed Gull shows clearly it is beginning to moult to show the ‘black head’. As I have previously remarked it is more of a ‘hood’ than a ‘head’ and it is not really black either, more dark chocolate.

Through a narrow gap in the tree-trunks we see a male Great Spotted Woodpecker – it is the red on the nape that tells us it is a male. Looks as if the tree has taken a bit of a hammering with some areas where the bark has been chipped off.

I wonder how long this White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) will stay in flower if we get the promised dip in temperature.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup still showing well off dam
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
21 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood and Rob Stokes)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl heard - 2nd ever record 
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
About 30% ice.
Best bird remains the Black-necked Grebe.
Big gull roost:
c.3000 Black-headed Gulls
c.1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
1 3rd winter Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson and John Isherwood)