Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

23 Jan 19

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

Priorslee Lake: 09:25 – 10:40
The Flash: 10:45 – 11:25
Trench Lock Pool: 11:35 – 11:40 // 11:15 – 12:10
Trench Middle Pool: 11:45 – 12:05

0°C > 1°C: Some clear spells; some cloudy spells; some foggy spells all after overnight snow. Light NW wind. Mainly moderate visibility

Sunrise: 08:06 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 09:25 – 10:40

(23rd visit of the year)

Small amount of ice mainly in NE area

A late start due to poor road (and footpath) conditions earlier. Only birds on the water logged

Bird notes
- apparently only 1 Mute Swan today. Just possible the other was buried in the reeds along the N side where they have been lurking for some days now. Prospecting a nest site?
- certainly only 3 pairs of Gadwall now
- managed to track down the Little Grebes today: I am sure they are always here – lurking somewhere
- slightly higher Coot count. Likely because with the ice there were fewer places to hide. Possible some forced off smaller frozen waters in the area (Moorhens quite capable of hiding anyway)

Bird totals

The counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 13 (7♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Pochard
- 43 (26♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes yet again
- 3 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 42 Black-headed Gulls

After last night’s snow it was out with the camera to catch some scenes: a view along the N side.

Also along the N side.

When the sun came out... Looking from the dam towards the N side you could hardly see there had been any snow.

Looking north along the dam with a strangely traffic-free Castle Farm Way.

Looking west along the S side.

The copse here is all new since I first visited some 20 years ago.

At the W end.

Also at the W end.

Here are some reeds laden down.

Greater Reedmace / Bulrushes (Typha latifolia) with snow up one side.

And a dead umbellifer head laden with snow – likely from last year’s Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

There were some birds: a Magpie gives a study in black and white.

A Great Tit looking rather glum.

Interesting to see the white fringes to the primaries. Note too the width of the black ‘zip’ under the belly – wider on the male.

Complaining? Note the way the head-shape has changed while it calls.

Well that’s next year’s Christmas card sorted.

A Goldfinch of course.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 10:45 – 11:25

(21st visit of the year)

c.25% ice mainly at S / W end

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
42 Greylag Goose

Notes from here
- the 2 Greylag Geese took off and flew off NE. c.10 minutes later 2 birds flew SW – NE over, assumed to be different birds. First of year here
- many Mallard lurking inside island and hard to count
- no Pochard or Great Crested Grebe

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Greylag Geese

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 39 (23♂) Mallard
- 12 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Moorhens once again
- 26 Coots again
- 81 Black-headed Gulls

Nothing like an ‘arty’ shot. And this is nothing like an arty shot.

... nor is this.

... or this.

Picnic anyone? (I think I did this last year after the “beast from the east”).

A couple of drake Mallards having a set-to.

Lots of splashing.

The option if you are a Black-headed Gull seemed to be to stand in the snow and sun yourself on the roof-top ...

... or stand on the ice (so why don’t Penguins feet freeze?).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Lock Pool: 11:35 – 11:40 // 11:15 – 12:10

(6th visit of the year)

Small amount of ice at the edges

Notes from here
- just the one Mute Swan again
- no geese
- Shoveler and Pochard also gone
- the only Goosander of the day here – “goodbye and thanks for all the fish”? [© Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]
- same number of Black-headed Gulls (81) here as at The Flash

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only again
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Feral Mallard as usual
- 18 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe remains
- 2 Moorhens
- 76 Coots
- 81 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Middle Pool: 11:45 – 12:05

(6th visit of the year)

c.33% ice all along the S side

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
29 Mute Swan

Notes from here
- Mute Swan unringed. Its bill was rather pale suggesting an immature bird even though the plumage was all-white
- last week’s displaying Great Crested Grebes gone
- where were all the gulls?

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan
- 20 Canada Geese
- 26 (19♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 15 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, equally briefly

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
6 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
A drake Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
111 Coots
78 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
8 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson , Unknown Observer)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
5 Pochard
116 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
8 Moorhens
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
5 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
72 Coots
69 Black-headed Gulls
15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
43 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
1 Willow Tit
1 Tufted Duck
4 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
28 Wigeon
8 Gadwall
25 Pochard
99 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
169 Coots
>1500 Black-headed Gulls
3 Common Gulls
>500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.100 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow legged Gull
(Richard Vernon)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Greater Black-backed Gull
27 Herring Gull
150 Black-headed Gulls.
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
17 Tufted Ducks
149 Coot again
1 Water Rail
2 Lapwings
10 Robins
13 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
37 Siskins
2 Redpolls
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

22 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:55 – 09:20
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:10

2°C: Mainly clear; showers building in the distance later. Moderate W wind – enough to keep the water moving and the ice away. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:07 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:55 – 09:20

(22nd visit of the year)

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
58 Peregrine

Bird notes
- the same gang of 10 geese flew over at 07:45 somewhat behind three all-Greylag groups
- only 3 pairs of Gadwall located today
- same low count of Coots as yesterday. Many fewer than usual this winter, though numbers do vary widely between years
- the Peregrine – male on size – flew W at 08:08: strangely none of the birds I could see reacted to its passage
- Black-headed Gulls drifted in by degrees after 07:25
- good count of Reed Buntings leaving the W end – 19 in groups of 15 E; 1 E; 3 W

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 37 Greylag Geese [35 outbound in 4 groups; 2 inbound]
- 7 Canada Geese [7 outbound in 1 group]
- 1 Peregrine
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 67 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- c.25 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >55 Magpies
- 1 Redwing
- 19 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Pochard
- 27 (15♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 Moorhens
- 51 Coots
- 166 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

Nothing on the lamp poles this frosty morning but seen elsewhere
- a bracket fungus, possibly Rusty Porecrust (Phellinus ferruginosus)

Was unable to show yesterday’s incredibly rare super blood wolf moon eclipse due to cloud so this morning’s almost full moon will have to suffice. No more total lunar eclipses in the UK until 2029!

Outbound geese go over when it is too dark to photograph them. Here are two Greylag Geese inbound to wherever they will now spend the day, probably chasing bread.

A couple of the local Buzzards tumbling in the sky, nicely lit my the low sun.

It was not entirely ‘play’ as they were being harried by the Carrion Crow that is just visible behind the second bird.

One of them then flew low past me.

Not my best photo – a grab-shot of the Peregrine as it flew over. We see the falcon’s pointed wings and the rather stout body of this powerful species.

This is clearly a bracket fungus and looks like one of the porecrust fungus. The most likely contender is Rusty Porecrust (Phellinus ferruginosus).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:25 – 10:10

(20th visit of the year)

Work on the footbridges is complete and the footpath open all around the water – no more sliding on the muddy path through the wood

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
41 Pochard

Notes from here
- certainly 2 Grey Herons: they persist in walking across the island and since it is impossible to see both sides at once it is hard to know exactly how many are present
- the Ring-necked Parakeet still here
- another large party of Jackdaws over
- a Goldcrest in the fir trees above the Ivy bank
also
- a harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis on one of the lamp posts

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

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans as usual
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 42 (25♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 31 (15♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 or 3 Grey Herons
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 3 Moorhens again
- 26 Coots
- 41 Black-headed Gulls

You should know me by now: a drake Gadwall in favourable light – click!

And in these days of sex equality who am I to overlook the duck.

The harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis. The species legs of which are characteristically thicker in the 40% or so nearest the body. Harvestman are so-named because they appear at harvest-time – the Autumn. A few species can be seen in most months.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Pochard
106 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
106 Coots
c.260 Black-headed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
204 Redwing
c.250 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
32 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
25 Pochard
105 Tufted Ducks
166 Coot
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>450 Herring Gulls
13 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
28 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
31 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gulls
20 Robins
23 Blackbirds
19 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
3 Jays
31 Magpies
183 Jackdaws
159 Rooks
7 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

21 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 12:55 – 13:10
The Flash: 12:20 – 12:50

5°C: Variable cloud with a few breaks. Light SSW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:08 GMT

Early fog dictated a later visit would be better

Priorslee Lake: 12:55 – 13:10

(21st visit of the year)

A view only from the dam-top alongside Castle Farm Way to record the birds on the water

Bird notes
- perhaps some Coots hidden behind vegetation in the SW area from my viewpoint, though there did seem to be fewer
- a scatter of Black-headed Gulls arriving
- the Lesser Black-backed Gulls left while I was present

Bird totals

The counts from the lake area only:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (4?) Gadwall
- 5 (3?) Mallard
- 9 (5?) Pochard
- 29 (16?) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 51 Coots
- 103 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 12:20 – 12:50

(19th visit of the year)

An almost normal visit here, albeit at a later time

Notes from here
- the Great Crested Grebe was sporting extensive chestnut plumes and therefore seemed to be a different bird from either of those displaying last week
- the Ring-necked Parakeet still noisy – could it be anything else?

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 49 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 2 (1?) Gadwall still
- 50 (28?) Mallard
- 41 (17?) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 33 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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)

20 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake only

3°C > 4°C: Very low cloud, occasional light drizzle in the air. Almost calm. Poor visibility with mist.

Sunrise: 08:10 GMT

The poor visibility and general murkiness made for another quiet morning

Priorslee Lake: 07:05 – 09:25

(20th visit of the year)

Bird notes
- the same gang of 10 geese flew over later today – at 08:00
- Gadwall confusing: 2 pairs only seen at E end. Later 6 small duck seen apparently landing in the NW area, though I could not locate them. Then some minutes later 6 small ducks with white bellies, suggesting this species, flew off W
- the first 50 Black-headed Gulls also later arriving – c.07:50
- a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull frequently arrives at the same time as some of the Black-headed Gulls and takes up a position on one of the buoys, usually for more than 30 minutes
- a Greenfinch heard giving its long drawn out wheezy song, albeit rather quietly. First of the new season
- 2 Reed Buntings seen leaving the W end roost. When I peering in the reeds to look at the vegetation that was chopped down last weekend I accidentally flushed 4 more birds: none of these left at this time

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese [outbound]
- 7 Canada Geese [outbound]
- 33 Jackdaws only

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 2 Redwings
- 2 Reed Buntings (see notes)

The counts from the lake area:
***all counts affected by poor visibility***
- 2 Mute Swans
- >6? (2+♂) Gadwall (see notes)
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Pochard
- 17 (8♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Water Rail again
- 8 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- >350 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 Pale Brindled Beauty moth
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 very small unidentified presumed Mirid bug

I’ve waited a long while to get a photo of a Water Rail here. It was not the best of light conditions but there is no mistaking the long red bill, brown and black back and striped flanks. Looks rather angry.

Let’s celebrate with another shot. Perhaps of course it was the dull weather and poor visibility that meant the bird didn’t see me and allowed any view at all. All I usually see is it scurrying away.

A male Pale Brindled Beauty moth – my first for three years here. A common early flying moth, though as with most ‘winter’ moths the female is flightless.

On the right is the small bug I found this morning. On the left, for scale, is the figure ‘5’ of the lamp ID (plus bird droppings!). Small it is indeed. In many ways quite distinctive with long curved antenna, rather short legs and an elongated, narrow body. A trawl though the website British Bugs Here has failed to come up with anything – really I needed to be able to get closer to see more detail but that was not possible pre-dawn and the need to use ‘flash’ to get anything at all.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

19 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 07:00 – 09:30
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:15

3°C > 4°C: Low cloud and occasional light drizzle in the air. Light ESE wind. Moderate visibility

Sunrise: 08:11 GMT

A very quiet morning

Priorslee Lake: 07:00 – 09:30

(19th visit of the year)

Bird notes
- the gang of 10 geese flew over at 07:45. 92 more geese seen outbound in the distance – too far away to hear or visually ID
- the first 50 Black-headed Gulls flew straight in to sit on the water at 07:15: at least 700 by 07:30
- 34 Magpies flew out of the roost together, all flying NE/E/SE. Birds leaving to the W were not seen (and neither were they on the football field later)
- another low count of Jackdaws

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese [outbound]
- 7 Canada Geese [outbound]
- 92 unidentified geese [7 groups outbound]
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 20 Jackdaws only

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >34 Magpies (incomplete count)
- 1 Reed Bunting again

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Pochard
- 24 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail
- 10 Moorhens again
- 62 Coots
- >700 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Nothing on the lamp poles or seen elsewhere apart from
- 1 Grey Squirrel

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:35 – 10:15

(18th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- a Grey Heron flew off: later one flew in. Same?
- the Ring-necked Parakeet noisy but sedentary today

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 2 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 50 (31♂) Mallard
- 23 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 or 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 14 Black-headed Gulls only

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup - 1st winter male, 2 1st winter females
(David Barnes / Tony Beckett / Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)

2007
Priorslee Lake
8 Cormorants
3 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
c.50 Golden Plover
>1100 Black-headed Gulls
133 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls
250 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
17 Blackbirds
8 Fieldfares
4 Redwings
43 Magpies
279 Jackdaws
136 Rooks
5 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1100 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
198 Coot
376 Jackdaws
265 Rooks
200 Wood Pigeons
28 Robins
21 Blackbirds
22 Siskins
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

18 Jan 19

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

Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:35
The Flash: 09:40 – 10:25
Trench Lock Pool: 10:40 – 10:50 // 11:15 – 11:45
Trench Middle Pool: 10:55 – 11:10

0°C > 0°C: Overcast at high / medium level, lowering and with light snow after 11:20 Moderate SE wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:12 GMT

Thus far the cold snap seems to have moved birds out rather than bringing anything new in

Priorslee Lake: 06:50 – 09:35

(18th visit of the year)

No ice despite frost

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
57 Lesser Redpoll

Bird notes
- the gang of 10 geese was sheltering in the lee of the dam and by the light of the LED street lights I was at last able to specifically identify them as, today at least, 3 Greylags and 7 Canadas. Perhaps they always are. They flew off while it was still quite dark at 07:40
- just a single Great Crested Grebe found (the two at The Flash were missing as well)
- what was probably a Woodcock flew W over the dam and in to cover at 07:25 – too dark and too short a view to confirm
- I presume that the SE wind – a head-wind for the passing Jackdaws – enabled them to skim across the fields to the E out of my sight. I only heard one group and found just 12 in flight
- the cold weather seemed to dissuade the Song Thrushes from singing: just 1 bird sang intermittently, a reduction from the seven lusty songsters earlier in the week

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 31 Wood Pigeons
- 13 Jackdaws only
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Reed Bunting only

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 7 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Pochard
- 30 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 10 Moorhens
- 65 Coots
- 53 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Nothing on the lamp poles or seen elsewhere

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:40 – 10:25

(17th visit of the year)

No ice here either

Notes from here
- I probably overlooked the pair of Gadwall yesterday: they are still here
- the brownhead Goosander flew in
- 1 Cormorant came overhead but espied the bridge workmen working in the water in chest waders and decided against it. Did not concern the three Grey Herons overmuch
- both Great Crested Grebes were ‘out’ today
- the Ring-necked Parakeet was rather subdued again. A number of people have asked me whether it will survive the winter. It should do, providing it can find enough food – Alder cones and Ash keys seem to be its current diet. Most bird species can survive the coldest weather providing they can find food – their feathers will insulate them well-enough. One species of parakeet lives exclusively on Tierra del Fuego

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 39 (25♂) Mallard
- 21 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 3 Grey Herons
- 4 Moorhens
- 23 Coots again
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Lock Pool: 10:40 – 10:50 // 11:15 – 11:45

(5th visit of the year)

Two bird species added to my 2019 log from here
34 Herring Gull
35 Feral Pigeon

Notes from here
- just the one Mute Swan
- no Little Grebes located
- one of the Herring Gulls seemed to have a restricted amount of black on the wing tips but I could not turn it in to anything exciting

Birds noted flying over / near here (other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws)
- 1 Feral Pigeon

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only
- 58 Canada Goose
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Feral Mallard as usual
- 9 (6♂) Shoveler
- 1 (1♂) Pochard remains
- 15 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (2♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 3 Moorhens
- 72 Coots
- 46 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Herring Gulls

This gull immediately struck me as rather pale and with rather less black in the folded wing than normal. Herring Gulls are not that easy to study in this area these days. Now that the tip at Redhill has closed they are few and far between. Perhaps I have just forgotten what they look like. All the ‘interesting’ gulls closely related to and / or subspecies of ‘our’ Herring Gull have darker mantles, not as apparent here, lighter tones. With no black on its bill our bird must be a full adult.

Well it certainly has pink legs! The underside of the outer primary looks white to the tip which suggests it is of the race argentatus. That race from Scandinavia, however, averages darker on the mantle than ‘our’ Herring Gull. The wing-feathers are moulted in late Summer and Autumn. Only the head and body feathers are moulted both then – to acquire the (variable) head-streaking – and again in late Winter to the ‘clean-headed’ breeding plumage. So moult should not explain why the primary feather might look so extensively white. It goes in the log as a ‘funny Herring Gull’.

This illustrates how careful you need to be sexing Shovelers at this time of year. Only bird #2 is a duck with the whorl-shaped fringes to the flank feathers. Bird #3 is obviously a full adult drake. Bird #1 is clearly moulting in to drake plumage. Bird #4 is easy enough from a photo to identify as another drake with slightly rufous-tones in its flank and a few white fringed-feathers on the mantle. However ‘in the field’ without what is probably close to 60x magnification it is not that easy [Bird #3 does not have a white spot on its head – it is a falling snow-flake!].

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trench Middle Pool: 10:55 – 11:10

(5th visit of the year)

One bird species added to my 2019 log from here
28 Chaffinch

Notes from here
- apart from a record count of Coot very quiet
- 2 Great Crested Grebes displaying

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

The counts from the water
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 12 Canada Geese
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 37 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
2 Yellow Legged Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Probable "intermedius" Lesser Black-backed Gull.
At least 1 Ring-billed Gull look-alike
(Andy Latham / Ian Grant)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
25 Pochard
100 Tufted Duck
3 Water Rails
1000 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.400 Wood Pigeons
Blackcap
1000 Starlings
30 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Great Crested Grebes
6 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
208 Coot
c.900 Black-headed Gulls
c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
13 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Kingfisher
53 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson. Martin Adlam)

17 Jan 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

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

1°C: Fine and clear after overnight showers: frost developing. Light / moderate NW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:13 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:40

(17th visit of the year)

Bird notes
- an adult Mute Swan arrived from the E at 08:30 and was chased mercilessly by both residents. I did not see it actually leave so not sure whether one from the E at 09:00 was the same one trying his luck again or a newbie. It too was chased hard and at one stage forced to crash in to the scrub at the W end from where it was chased out by the cob and took to the wing and left
- the goose party was on the lake by 06:50 – whether a very early arrival or they had over-nighted I cannot not be sure. A single Greylag Goose with them. Three others look ‘smaller’ – probably females which average smaller
- those masters of disappearing Little Grebe gave me a problem. Certainly 3 birds but was there a 4th?
- 85 Black-headed Gulls arrived much later than yesterday at 07:30 and landed straight away. No more that 30 additional birds came in thereafter. Why are numbers so variable?
- in contrast Jackdaws were earlier this morning: from 07:23. At this time one of the groups passed to the W of my (disad)vantage spot and I was unable to locate these black birds against the dark sky – looking E to the dawn was easy
- 5 of the 7 Reed Buntings I saw leaving roosts were over the lake and away before I could see where they came from. Later 2 left the W end. Singles also calling along the N side and S side

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- c.600 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Redwing
- 7 Reed Buntings (see notes)

The counts from the lake area:
- 3 (or 4?) Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 9 Canada Geese
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall again
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (3♂) Pochard
- 22 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 (or 4?) Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- c.115 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Nothing logged on lamp poles – too cold and windy? But
- Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) found in flower

The visiting Mute Swan arrives.

... and the resident cob springs in to battle ...

... and comes charging in ...

... having the desired effect.

This is either the same bird returning for more punishment or an innocent.

The residents had been celebrating their success and now the cob had to charge off again ...

... all guns blazing (or whatever the term is in swan-speak).

Having chased the visitor in to the weeds the resident cob – the bird with the blue Darvic ring – is on the warpath again. A Moorhen wisely dives for cover.

... and the poor pen is obliged to duck (swan?) as the battle continues.

“I’d better leave then”.

A rather typical view of a Little Grebe pattering away across the water. I suppose it makes more sense than flying?

Interesting behaviour. This Wood Pigeon was sitting on the branch and reaching in to the Ivy to pluck the ripening Ivy berries. Ivy is a very important resource in winter with the late flowers attracting hoverflies and the like. Then the berries ripen after all the hawthorns have been eaten.

Typically acrobatic Siskins: a male here.

A less bright bird with more streaks. I assumed a female when I took the photo: now I see the crown looks to have dark streaks so probably a first winter male.

There are usually a few umbellifer flowers around in winter. This winter I have struggled to find any – until today. Here is some Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:45 – 10:35

(16th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- Gadwall seem to have gone
- perhaps discovered why Mallard numbers so variable: some have taken to hiding inside the island until food is available
- the Ring-necked Parakeet less noisy and conspicuous

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 9 Canada Geese
- 42 (25♂) Mallard only
- 41 (19♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 23 Coots again
- 35 Black-headed Gulls

A few of the Canada Geese flew in. Here a trio approaches.

Still need to work on the tightness and the synchronisation of the landing before the Red Arrows have anything to worry about.

A rather better view of the pair of Great Crested Grebes – they did a short head-shaking display today. Looking carefully at the leading bird, the one I had assumed was a first-year bird, I am less sure. There is no trace of the juvenile face stripes remaining and we can see a few dark streaks that will grow in to the chestnut plumes.

There was food in the offing: a gathering awaits.

No manners: everyone for themselves!

A real melee.

Two first winter Black-headed Gulls dance their way to the food.

A quarrelsome species and apparently no respecter of their elders with a first winter attacking an adult that presumably has food.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
57 Magpies
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
119 Coots counted
>500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
18 Redwings
>1500 Jackdaws
>325 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1st-winter female Velvet Scoter
102 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson and Unknown Observer)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
21 Pochard
80 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
155 Coots
Snipe
Woodcock
Kingfisher
113 Redwing
30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)

The Flash
31 Tufted Duck
50 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll.
(Ed Wilson)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
21 Pochard
95 Tufted Duck
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
15 Great Black-backed Gulls
117 Redwings
12 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

The Wrekin
6 Marsh Tit
2 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorants
4 Pink-footed Geese
3 Greylag Geese
16 Pochard
35 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
>600 Black-headed Gulls
>487 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
94 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
24 Robins
11 Blackbirds
8 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
39 Magpies
205 Jackdaws
76 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
11 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
213 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.360 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
169 Jackdaws
117 Rooks
220 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
20 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
41 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

Pages