Wednesday, 28th (09:19 - 10:08) Priorslee Flash -
Weather
9.0C Quite bright with some sun, but many high clouds and lower
cloud spreading in from the W
Narrative
Now bright and dry but windy. Walked all the way around and then
in to the estate chasing the errant swans to try and read the ring
numbers!
Highlights
Apart from additional Swans there were 9 Goosanders this
morning. And while I was walking around a sizeable mixed group of nearly
400 gulls dropped in, though nothing interesting with them
Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 8 I think! After being adamant that there were only 7
yesterday
Cormorant 0 not recorded
Grey Heron 0 not recorded
Mute Swan 4 in addition to the now resident pair [Blue 7CSE + unringed
pen], there were 2 birds cowering on the N-end grass. I managed to read
one of the rings [Blue 7AUP] and was approaching the other bird which was
sitting on the grass when an errant dog put them both to flight. Unable to
land on the water for fear of being attacked they both landed in Derwent
Drive and wandered off in to the estate. By the time I had completed my
circuit only the bird whose ring I had previously read was visible: damn!
[NB *** As with the main lake report I seem to have missed this species
off since I adopted the new format: oops]
Greylag Goose 18 party of 17 (presumably the birds that flew over the lake
at 09:05); and the lone bird loosely with the Canada Geese
Canada Goose 22
Mallard 73 51 drakes: even higher count today and while the birds were
more mobile this morning I think there was no duplication
Mallard x Pintail 0 not recorded
Pochard 7 4 drakes: all sheltering from the wind in the NW area today [60
/ 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high
counts here]
Tufted Duck 26 14 drakes: many of these sheltering from the wind in the NW
area today [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January
remains the year-high]
Ruddy Duck 0 not recorded
Goosander 9 1 drake and 8 brownheads, at least one of which seems to be an
immature drake. These were all in the lee of the island on the edge of the
mud for a while
Moorhen 1 now where were they all this morning
Coot 20
Black-headed Gull 360 at least: 3 when I arrived, but after several small
groups landed a bit mixed gull party came in from the E and boosted the
numbers somewhat!
Lesser Black-backed Gull 111 at least: none when I arrived, but a bit
mixed gull party came in from the E. Some more may have flown straight
over
Herring Gull 6 at least: arrived with the mixed gull party: all immatures
Great Black-backed Gull 0 not recorded
Also noted
Buzzard 0 not recorded
Collared Dove 1 in the SW area
Kingfisher 0 not recorded
Grey Wagtail 0 not recorded
Song Thrush 0 not recorded - too windy?
Mistle Thrush 0 not recorded - too windy?
Mammals
none 0 none recorded
Moths
none 0 none recorded
Insects etc
none 0 none recorded
Other observation
0 nothing today
( Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 27th (08:45 - 09:21) Priorslee Flash - Weather
6.0C Overcast, though with slightly higher clouds. A rather
'strange' feel to the weather, almost a 'calm before a storm' with the
birds strangely quiet and the wind having died away
Narrative
The strange feeling to the weather was enhanced by an almost
complete absence of people around the lake - guess I just missed the end
of the school run and was too early for later dog-walks. Nothing much in
the way of bird sightings: some of the Great Crested Grebes seem to have
gone. The serenity of the lake enabled me to make a better shot at
counting the Mallard as they all seemed to content to sit it out - there
were no bread hand-outs of course
Highlights
Kingfisher seen in flight was the best
Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 7 at least: all adults. Treble-checked and could find
no more
Cormorant 0 not recorded
Grey Heron 1 flew in from the N: could not find it later but the commotion
when it arrived suggested it may have gone inside the island somewhere
[but a bird seen later over Priorslee Avenue heading towards the Flash]
Mute Swan 2 the now regular pair [NB *** this species omitted in error and
added later *****]
Greylag Goose 1 only: just the now apparently un-paired - no 'spare' geese
Canada Goose 30 many now in obvious 'pairs', but none seems to laid claim
to a site on the island
Mallard 66 42 drakes: best and probably most accurate count of the last
few days with all the birds rather sedentary today
Mallard x Pintail 0 not recorded
Pochard 9 6 drakes: all back in the NW area today [60 / 33 on both Monday
08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
Tufted Duck 33 21 drakes: many of these off the N end of the island for a
change [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January
remains the year-high]
Ruddy Duck 0 not recorded
Goosander 1 brownhead again - though the extensive white in the
wing-coverts suggests an immature drake
Moorhen 9
Coot 22
Black-headed Gull 17 none when I arrived, but several small groups arrived
Lesser Black-backed Gull 0 not recorded: no chance of any fly-overs!
Herring Gull 0 not recorded
Great Black-backed Gull 0 not recorded
Also noted
Buzzard 0 not recorded
Collared Dove 1 in the SW area: formerly regular here they are certainly
intermittent at the moment
Kingfisher 1 seen flying low over the water
Grey Wagtail 0 not recorded
Song Thrush 1 in song from the SW area
Mistle Thrush 1 in song from the SE area
Coal Tit 1 in NW area: not seen very often here, though I am sure they are
around all the time
Mammals
none 0 none recorded
Moths
none 0 none recorded
Insects etc
none 0 none recorded
Other observation
0 nothing today
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Monday, 26th (09:49 - 10:25) Priorslee Flash -
Weather
6.0C Still short, sharp passing showers on brisk N wind
Narrative
Another walk around the water to see what was lurking behind the
island. Mallard now mostly 'out of the water' and lurking in the sedges
and hard to count
Highlights
More gulls here than at the main lake, though they all took
some exercise when a brief sunny spell tempted 2 Buzzards in to the air
from the wooded slopes at the S end of E side! Just the 1 Goosander, but
this brownhead was pulled up out of the water on the island and fast
asleep. A group of 13 Greylag Geese arrived and looked very smart
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 25th (Throughout the day) Priorslee Village - A male Blackcap was in the garden all day feeding on bread on the bird table. Every now and then he would fly up into the air and catch an insect on the wing. Something I've not observed before.  Male Blackcap feeding under the Bird Table
Also in the garden, a pair of Blue Tits are showing a fair bit of interest in one of the three nest boxes, put up this year. . No sign of Frog spawn yet, but there is a male in the pond with a very bright red throat. I guess it won't be long now.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Saturday, 24th (07:15 - 08:30) Priorslee area: lanes and fields to E / SE of Castle Farm Way
Highlights
Linnet was now for the area this year. Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpeckers within a minute of each other; Sky Lark seen singing over (ought to be able to get this on the main Priorslee log, but just too much traffic noise?). Pheasant heard today
Separate report
The 'local' birds in the lanes, fields and streamside are the subject of this separate report. Note that all birds flying over are added to the main Priorslee Report
Species number time narrative
Mallard 2 - pair flying NW along the line of the Wesley Brook at 08:20
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 0 - not recorded
Common Kestrel 0 - not recorded
Pheasant 1 07:55 1 heard calling
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 3 - in the fields to the E at 07:55: not the Woodhouse Farm birds
Wood Pigeon 5 - only in / around the local trees [big party in Wards Rough trees recorded in main log]
Green Woodpecker 1 07:25 heard calling to E and continued on and off to 07:50 at least
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 07:26 1 bird bounding N well to the E
Sky Lark 3 07:30 2 heard and 1 seen in song; another head flight-calling
Meadow Pipit 1 07:48 heard flying S
Grey Wagtail 2 07:35 flew in together from the S: probably the birds seen around the lake
Pied Wagtail 0 - not recorded
Wren 16 -
Dunnock 11 - better count than yesterday
Robin 13 -
Blackbird 6 - better number today - but not much!
Fieldfare 0 - not recorded
Song Thrush 6 - all 6 of these in song
Redwing 8 - all in hawthorns in the gully alongside Castle Farm Way again
Mistle Thrush 0 - not recorded
Goldcrest 3 08:15 1 in with tits alongside Wesley Brook again; 2 others in hawthorns in the gully alongside Castle Farm Way
Long-tailed Tit 0 - after yesterday's bumper number of parties (here and at the main lake) these seemed to be absent today
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 17 - same good number again
Great Tit 12 -
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 0 - no birds that seem not to have been part of the roost dispersal from the lake
Jackdaw 0 - all overflying birds included in main log: no others
Rook 0 - all overflying birds included in main log: no others
Carrion Crow 2 - birds not visible from the lake side - all well to E beyond Wards Rough
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 14 - many of these in song
Greenfinch 2 07:29 none seen at the main lake
Goldfinch 2 08:20 in alders
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Linnet 2 08:02 seen on hedge in lane, briefly. Flew off chasing without calling
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 1 08:20 male seen in the gully alongside Castle Farm Way: possibly 2 others with it, as all 3 flew away together
Yellowhammer 6 07:35 several in song - not quite full song!
Reed Bunting 0 - not recorded
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 0 0 not recorded
Mole hills 0 - not recorded
Moths
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc
none 0 - not recorded
Other observation
0 - nothing today
(Ed Wilson) Top
Friday, 23rd (09:27 - 09:57) Priorslee Flash -
Weather
7.0C Mainly grey and overcast. Light S wind. Moderate visibility
Narrative
Another quick walk around the water to get away before an
expected delivery at home. Not much to report - still 4 brownhead
Goosanders; the Ruddy Ducks gone
Highlights
At last a Heron - but it flew through! The Pochard and Tufted
Duck very active again and hard to keep track of
Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 10 at least: all adults
Cormorant 0 not recorded
Grey Heron 1 flew N. After days of being absent this was the best I could do!
Greylag Goose 1 just the bird with the Canada Geese today, but now these
have mainly paired up there seems to be no 'spare' Canada Goose for this
bird
Canada Goose 38 by co-incidence (?) the same number I had recorded from
the main lake this morning!
Mallard 54 39 drakes. A better count: whether it was more accurate is a
moot point as I can no longer use the duck-feeding folk to help and gather
these together - the drakes are protecting 'their' ducks and hiding her
away from 'free food'!
Mallard x Pintail 0 not recorded
Pochard 17 12 drakes [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12
January are my year-high counts here]
Tufted Duck 30 19 drakes [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday
18 January remains the year-high]
Ruddy Duck 0 not recorded
Goosander 4 all brownheads
Moorhen 7
Coot 20
Black-headed Gull 7 just 1, briefly, on the lake
6 more circling over
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 circling over, heading off S
Herring Gull 0 not recorded
Great Black-backed Gull 0 not recorded
Also noted
Song Thrush 1 heard in song from SE area
Mistle Thrush 1 heard in distant song from SE area
Mammals:
none 0 none recorded
Moths:
none 0 none recorded
Insects:
none 0 none recorded
Other observation
0 nothing today
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Friday, 23rd (07:05 - 08:20) Priorslee area: lanes and fields to E / SE of Castle Farm Way
Highlights
Nothing of great interest, but Sky Lark and Yellowhammer now in
full song. Still no sign of any Linnets in the area
Separate report
The 'local' birds in the lanes, fields and streamside are
the subject of this separate report. Note that all birds flying over are
added to the main Priorslee Report
Species number time narrative
Mallard 2 - a pair flew out of the small pool in the middle of the field
adjacent to the Wesley Brook and around before dropping back in
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 0 - not recorded
Common Kestrel 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 0 - not recorded
Wood Pigeon 17 - more in the local trees than in previous visits -
over-spill from the party in Wards Rough?
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 2 07:22 1 heard and seen in song; another head flight-calling
Meadow Pipit 0 - not recorded
Grey Wagtail 1 - probably one of the birds from the dam area of the lake.
Seen around the sluice and then along the Wesley Brook
Pied Wagtail 0 - not recorded
Wren 18 - great count for here
Dunnock 6 -
Robin 12 -
Blackbird 2 - very few - why?
Fieldfare 0 - not recorded
Song Thrush 5 - 4 of these in song
Redwing 4 - all in hawthorns in the gully alongside Castle Farm Way
Mistle Thrush 0 - not recorded
Goldcrest 1 08:07 in with tits alongside Wesley Brook
Long-tailed Tit 3 - 3 parties here (as well as 4 around the lake): all
small groups
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 17 - good number again
Great Tit 15 - good number again of these as well. The bird with the
croaking call is still around and still croaking
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 2 - birds that seem not to have been part of the roost dispersal
from the lake, these seen far to the SE
Jackdaw 0 - all overflying birds included in main log: no others
Rook 0 - all overflying birds included in main log: no others
Carrion Crow 0 - birds not visible from the lake side - all well to E
beyond Wards Rough
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 17 - many of these in song
Greenfinch 6 -
Goldfinch 2 07:50 2 flew S
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 2 08:15 a pair near the sluice
Reed Bunting 1 07:48 a bird flew W towards the lake, calling. What was
that doing here?
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals:
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 1 08:10 sitting rather uncomfortably (I assume) in a larch tree
alongside Wesley Brook. Unusual here
Mole hills 0 - not recorded
Moths:
none 0 - not recorded
Insects:
none 0 - not recorded
Other observation
none 0 - nothing today
(Ed Wilson) Top
Wednesday, 21st (09:54 - 10:37) Priorslee Flash - A quick sprint around The Flash ahead of visits to Trench before the scheduled workmen. At present it is essential to walk around to see those birds in the NW area as well as those hiding around the 'back' of the island Weather was clearing fast and visibility now very good and the sun out most of the time
Highlight was a pair of Ruddy Ducks new in and a year-tick for me. The drake still in eclipse plumage with no rufous colouring as yet
The notes:
- 10 Great Crested Grebes at least again: I suspect 11. Again all apparently adults
- still no Heron
- 2 Mute Swans: managed to read the ring today - blue '7CSE'
- 2 single Greylag geese with one loosely with a Canada Goose that may be the 'runt'
- 53 Mallard: a slight increase in numbers - better count strategy?
- no drake Mallard x Pintail noted
- 18 Pochard (7 drakes) were again hard to keep track of with birds active and scattered. [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 42 Tufted Ducks - the same as yesterday though I logged 26 drakes today
- 27 yesterday [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 2 Ruddy Ducks as noted above
- 3 Goosanders: all brownheads: one flew off
- very low number of gulls
Also
- 1 Buzzard flew out of the SE side wood after sitting and sunning itself
- 1 Mistle Thrush in song to the S
- Long-tailed Tits heard and seen
- 1 Jay heard from the island
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
10 (11?) Great Crested Grebes (all adults?); no Heron; 2 adult Swans; 2 Greylag Geese; 52 Canada Geese; 53 Mallard (33 drakes); no drake Mallard x Pintail; 18 Pochard (7 drakes); 42 Tufted Ducks (26 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 3 Goosanders (all brownheads); 5 Moorhens; 23 Coots; 10 Black-headed Gulls (5 of these on the lake); no Lesser Black-backed Gulls; no Herring Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday, 21st (07:00 - 08:40) Priorslee Lake environs: in lanes and fields to the E / SE of Castle Farm Way - Another walk around the area spurred by the possibility of a good sunrise and, frankly, the rather empty lake. A worthwhile visit though nothing spectacular
The volume of song and the number of birds heard has sharply increased and counts of, e.g. 17 Wrens and 9 Dunnocks is well up on my previous visit. And there were 6 Song Thrushes singing and another flushed
Note that all birds flying over are added to the main Priorslee Report and this separate entry records only birds that could not be seen or heard from the Lake recording area
Highlights
- Green Woodpecker in fine voice
- Sky Larks back and 2 in song
- 1 Meadow Pipit over
- no Yellowhammers in song today, but some splendid males calling
- 2 Redwings flushed out of the middle of one of the fields: and later at least 10 in the more usual location of hawthorn hedges
- 2 Fieldfares seen in flight only
- 1 Redpoll heard in flight
Other notes from here:
- no other Buzzards seen
- 8 Wood Pigeons in the trees here was another low count, but there were plenty of flying birds as well as the party in the Wards Rough trees that are included in the main list
- 1 Green Woodpecker calling from the direction of Wards Rough from 07:10 to 07:30 at least
- 3 Sky Larks with 2 in song, starting at 07:28. The other calling as it flew over
- 1 Meadow Pipit seen in flight at 08:05
- 2 Fieldfares seen low to the S
- 12 Redwings as noted above
- good numbers of tits in the wooded areas with: Coal Tit singing in the alders along the Wesley Brook; and at least 3 parties of Long-tailed Tits
- 5 Yellowhammers with 4 males calling, first heard at 07:52
- 1 Redpoll heard well to the E at 07:48
Still no Linnets here though
My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[overflying birds are in the main log]
no Buzzards; no Pheasants; 1 Green Woodpecker; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; 3 Sky Larks; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 17 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; 2 Fieldfares; 7 Song Thrushes; 12 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 3 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 15 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 2 Magpies; 3 Crows; 10 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinch; no Siskins; no Linnets; 1 Redpoll; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; 5 Yellowhammers
NB: birds seen from the walk but not visible from the lake are not added to the lake year-list: the 'additional' for here would read
- <<< none today >>>
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 20th (09:32 - 10:27 ) Priorslee Flash - For my first day back from the SW a longer look at The Flash today. Many of the species were moving around a lot more than usual and numbers were hard to ascertain accurately
The notes:
- 10 Great Crested Grebes at least, with all apparently adults
- still no Heron
- 2 Mute Swans: these seem to be the 2 birds that arrived at the start of the month that do not really associate with each other. One wears no rings and it is this bird that comes to greet me. The other bird is ringed, but has stayed too far away to read so far. The longer-term pair with the adopted cygnet was not seen: the locals said that all the swans left in the snowy weather and that only these had returned
- the 'runt' Greylag present with the Canada Geese and was the only Greylag here today. 2 more flew over
- 46 Mallard: as previously noted yesterday many of the birds have left the water and are roosting around the tussocks and hard to find
- 1 drake Mallard x Pintail here again
- 13 Pochard (8 drakes) were particularly hard to keep track of as, uncharacteristically, they were mostly awake and actively feeding. [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 42 Tufted Ducks (27 drakes) [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 5 Goosanders: all brownheads, but one with extensive white wing-patches showing suggesting that it is moulting in to drake plumage
- low number of gulls initially, but a good-sized group of birds arrived / flew over at 10:00
Also
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling at the S end
- 2 Bullfinches seen in flight at the S end
One of the regular dog-walkers told me that there had been a party of 'about a dozen' Redpolls feeding in the alders in the NW area yesterday, but I failed to locate them
He also pointed out a dead Greylag Goose in the tree-tops. Not clear whether this was an accident / natural death or one of the local lads using it for shooting practice
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
10 Great Crested Grebes (all adults?); no Heron; 2 adult Swans and no cygnet; 3 Greylag Geese; 56 Canada Geese; 46 Mallard (27 drakes); 1 drake Mallard x Pintail; 13 Pochard (8 drakes); 42 Tufted Ducks (27 drakes); 5 Goosanders (all brownheads, but 1 probable immature drake); 8 Moorhens; 15 Coots; 187 Black-headed Gulls; 130 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (18 on water (2 immatures); 112 at least flew W); 4 Herring Gulls specifically identified (3 on water - 2 adults (1 small), 1 1st year; 1 adult W); no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 6th (10:33 - 11:14) Priorslee Flash - A quick walk all the way around before I set off for Devon. Now sunny weather. Needed to see what was lurking at the back of the island - nothing today and all the Goosanders seem to have gone. Most of the S end of the island iced over with just room to swim around the island
The notes:
- 9 Great Crested Grebes. 4 adults; 5 birds asleep and could not be aged
- still no Heron
- 5 Mute Swans again - the usual pair and 'foreign' cygnet: and 2 more adults that seemed not to be together
- the 'runt' Greylag present, as was the other bird 'paired' with a Canada Goose. 15 more, including the semi-regular party of 9 birds
- 47 Mallard only: as noted yesterday many of the birds have left the water and are roosting around the tussocks and hard to find
- 5 Pochard (1 drake): another decrease [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 51 Tufted Ducks (33 drakes) [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- no Goosanders
- higher number of gulls, but nothing of note
Also
- 1 Buzzard seen flying W to N
- 1 Kingfisher heard in the NW area
- 1 Song Thrush in song along the E side - my first here this year
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
9 Great Crested Grebes (4+ adults; ? immatures); no Heron; 4 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 17 Greylag Geese; 77 Canada Geese; 47 Mallard (32 drakes); 5
Pochard (1 drake); 51 Tufted Ducks (33 drakes); no Goosanders; 7 Moorhens; 21 Coots; 178 Black-headed Gulls; 41 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring
Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Top Tuesday, 6th (07:40 - 09:15) Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way - Another different and extended stay in the area occasioned by a will it?
won't it? be a good sunrise and a steady passage of birds overhead that kept me in the lanes for longer than usual before I did the normal walk around the well-frosted fields and got my boots covered in frost
Note that all birds flying over are added to the main Priorslee Report and this separate entry records only birds that could not be seen or heard from the Lake recording area
Highlights
- Great Spotted Woodpecker again
- Meadow Pipit heard (as it should be, here)
- Yellowhammers in song again
Other notes from here:
- 1 other Buzzard seen in flight
- 16 Wood Pigeons was still a very low number, but workmen were in the trials-bike circuit alongside the wood and may have flushed them
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from the copse in the field at 07:46
- 1 Meadow Pipit heard in flight at 08:35
- 5 Robins only for some reason
- no Fieldfares again
- 1 Redwing again, but in flight today
- good numbers of tits in the wooded areas with 2 Coal Tits in the alders alongside the Wesley Brook
- 1 Jay heard from the Wards Rough area
- singing Chaffinches and 'rasping' Greenfinches despite the frost and occasional light snow grains
- small party of Bullfinches - a male with 4 females - feeding on hawthorn buds
- 3 Yellowhammers with 2 males in song
But as far as the open country specialities were concerned it was still a poor day with no Sky Larks; Siskins, Linnets or Redpolls
My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[overflying birds are in the main log]
no ducks; 1 Buzzard; no Pheasants; no Green Woodpeckers; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sky Larks; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtail; 2 Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 3 Song Thrushes; 1 Redwing; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 18 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 2 Magpies; 7 Crows; 12 Chaffinches; 9 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 5 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings; 3 Yellowhammers
NB: birds seen from the walk but not visible from the lake are not added to the lake year-list: the 'additional' for here would read - <<< none today >>>
(Ed Wilson) Top
Monday, 5th (09:45 - 10:26) Priorslee Flash - Another walk all the way around in still misty and grey conditions with a rather raw wind, once again to discover what was lurking at the back of the island - 2 Goosanders today, I think!
The notes:
- 8 Great Crested Grebes. 5 adults to S of the island; 3 asleep off the E side seemed to be immatures, but hard to be sure
- still no Heron
- after the bird-food providers told me there were 8 swan present this morning I was keen to see details. When I arrived this number was down to 5 - the usual pair and 'foreign' cygnet (I assume: one was swimming with the crucial ringed leg tucked away) were at the N end taking hand-outs. At the S end there were 2 more adults that seemed not to be together. One was unringed - that of course came right up to me. The other was wearing a blue Darvic ring, but was too far away in the water for me to read
- the 'runt' Greylag present. One other Greylag was also 'paired' with a Canada Goose. Also a pair of Greylag Geese. As well as this 2 flew over in a party of fly-by Canada Geese [pictures I took of what I have been calling the 'runt' Greylag, when compared with illustrations, show that this seems to be a perfectly normally-plumaged bird and well within the size-range for a female. Interestingly the 2 birds with the over-flying Canada Geese seemed to be of very different sizes]
- 65 Mallard was a hard-earned count as many of the birds have left the water (when no-one is offering to feed them at least) and are roosting around the tussocks and can be hard to find
- 9 Pochard (3 adult drakes) a slight decrease since last Thursday [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 50 Tufted Ducks (28 adult drakes). After the high number on the lake I expected there to be fewer here, but not so: more if anything [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 2 Goosanders: no adult drakes: possibly just 1 - a bird seen in flight seemed to settle in their favoured S end feeding area, but was not seen again. The other bird was asleep behind the island and did seem to be a different specimen
- rather few gulls
Also
- on most of my recent forays I have noted just how many Blackbirds there are at the moment: this is true of my Newport back garden; and I noted it riding around the lanes over the weekend; today there seemed to more here as well with 6 on the E side grass
- a Reed Bunting was heard in song from somewhere at the N end, though too briefly to locate and it soon shut up
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
8 Great Crested Grebes (5 adults; 3 immatures); no Heron; 4 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 6 Greylag Geese (2 over); 76 Canada Geese (13 over); 65 Mallard (43 drakes); 9 Pochard (3 drakes); 50 Tufted Ducks (28 drakes); 2 Goosanders (no adult drakes); 8 Moorhens; 20 Coots again; 48 Black-headed Gulls; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls; no Herring Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Sunday, 4th (12:45) Priorslee Flash - Amongst the resident population - a Greylag goose with an orange neck ring - lettered VNH I think. About ten or so more Greylags as well 2 GC Grebe doing courtship display. (Sandy Sanbrook)
Top Sunday, 4th (07:05 - 09:50) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way - A very different visit to this area today: initially to get a better view of the great sunrise, but then exploiting the heavy rime frost for effective (I hope) photographs. So while I was there a long while, the log was interesting, but not huge
Note that all birds flying over are added to the main Priorslee Report and this separate entry records only birds that could not be seen or heard from the Lake recording area
Highlights
- the 5 small ducks that I flushed and which flew off from (near?) the pool in the copse in the field to the E while it was still well pre-dawn at 07:10. I could only assume that these were Teal, but not seen well-enough to claim. They are my first-ever non-Mallard ducks and I must say it seems an unlikely location for a species that seems to favour more open water
- unlike mid-week the Chaffinches are now singing properly!
- the Yellowhammers have burst in to song - 2 different birds
Other notes from here:
- no other Buzzards
- 1 Pheasant called in panic at 07:45, but not thereafter
- 5 Wood Pigeons was all I could find - dire again
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. 1 calling from the copse in the field at 07:35; and then one calling far to the NE (around the Woodhouse Farm area) at 07:58
- 1 Sky Lark heard flight-calling as it went N at 07:20
- no Fieldfares
- 1 Redwing heard only
- [the overflying Mistle Thrush added to the main log]
- 1 Goldcrest heard but not part of any tit party - indeed while there were plenty of Blue & Great Tits they seemed more interested in pairing up and fighting than moving around in mixed-species parties
- 1 Jay heard from wood alongside the M54 ramp at 09:10
- while I was distracted by the great sunrise, it seems that when the mass of Magpies fly off from the roost at the NE area of the lake and stage through several isolated trees to the E they do not make that much of a commotion - leastwise I heard only singles and managed to record just 9 while to the E
- in addition to the singing Chaffinches there were several Greenfinches - uncommon outside periods when they flock in stubbles - and at least 2 were doing the full 'rasping' territory calls. No bat-like display flight noted though
- 1 Reed Bunting heard calling 07:40 suggested perhaps a roost in the area
- too early otherwise?
- 4 Yellowhammers with 2 splendid males in counter-song was great
As far as the open country specialities were concerned it was still a dismal day with no Meadow Pipits; Siskins, Linnets or Redpolls
My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[overflying birds are in the main log]
5 duck sp., possibly Teal; no Buzzards; 1 Pheasant; no Green Woodpeckers; 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; 1 Sky Lark; no Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtail; 1 Pied Wagtail; 11 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 8 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 3 Song Thrushes; 1 Redwing; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; no parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 16 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 9 Magpies; 4 Crows; 10 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 1 Bullfinch; 1 Reed Bunting; 4 Yellowhammers
NB: birds seen from the walk but not visible from the lake are not added to the lake year-list: the 'additional' for here would read - <<< none today >>>
(Ed Wilson)
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Saturday, 3rd (2:40pm) Priorslee Village - A single Redwing in the Ash tree behind the house. Overhead a pair of Greylag Geese headed east. The Blue Tits are fairly active and every now and then they would have a quick look in the nest box at the back of the garden .. Also out and about in the sun a single Housefly Musca domestica.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Thursday, 1st (09:44 - 10:26 ) Priorslee Flash - Another walk all the way around in rather grey conditions, once again to discover what was lurking at the back of the island - 2 Goosanders today, though I only spotted the second when all the gulls flew off and left it 'exposed'
The notes:
- 11 Great Crested Grebes - perhaps more! Today 8 of these apparently adults. Possibly 2 more birds - they are hard!
- still no Heron
- the 'runt' Greylag present: still not looked at the pix I took yesterday. Just 2 others - rather few Canada Geese as well today
- 57 Mallard a slightly higher count suggesting that some have moved out
- 12 Pochard (6 adult drakes) a slight increase [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 39 Tufted Ducks (25 adult drakes) [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 2 Goosanders: no adult drakes: neither of these brownheads was showing extensive white in the wing-coverts which suggests they are immature drake
- strangely, despite walking all the way, around I could find only 6 Moorhens (and 3 of those were on the roadway at the bread-station in Derwent Drive!)
- large numbers of gulls here again, surprising in view of the dearth on the main lake
There was nothing else new to note: Wood Pigeons and Starlings in 'song', but I noted them yesterday
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
11 Great Crested Grebes (8 adults; 3 juveniles); no Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 3 Greylag Geese; 16 Canada Geese; 57 Mallard (38 drakes); 12
Pochard (6 drakes); 39 Tufted Ducks (25 drakes); 2 Goosanders (no adult drakes); 6 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 355 Black-headed Gulls; 45 Lesser Black-backed Gull (19 immatures); 7 Herring Gulls specifically identified (all 7 immatures); no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson) |
