Monday, 29th -
Priorslee Flash - Just 4 brownhead Goosander this morning - 'good-bye and thanks for all the fish'?
(Ed Wilson)
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Saturday, 27th (12:30 - 13:30) Granville Refuse Tip - A week later, well almost and yet again another breezy day at the landfill, though not quite as harsh. An interesting Gull this time, clean headed and a possible contender for Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis. As a comparison I have added the 3rd Winter Caspian Gull.
 Possible Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) or a very clean looking Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)- 27 Jan 07 (Click on image to enlarge)
 3rd Winter Caspian Gull seen last Sunday - 21 Jan 07 (Click on image to enlarge)
Main highlights were:
- gulls
- - c.500 Black-headed Gulls
- - c. 200 Herring Gulls
- - Herring Gull or Yellow-legged Gull located on the south face of the landfill. This individual had a fair bit of red on the bill and those legs were not pink but a pale yellow!
- - c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- - 10 Great Black-backed Gulls
- A pair of Ravens in amongst the Rooks and Carrion Crows.
Also around the landfill were:
- 3 Buzzard overhead that definitely upset the gulls as they soared overhead
- A fly-by Woodpigeon
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 7 Pied Wagtail that were very interested in the soiled covered waste
- 1 Robin
- 2 Long-tailed Tits
- 6 Magpie
- 40 Rooks and 60 Jackdaw
- 8 Starling
- 3 Chaffinch seen feeding in amongst the waste, but they were never to far away from the bushes by the perimeter fence.
- 2 Linnets
(Martin Adlam)
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Monday, 22nd (10:08 - 10:51) Priorslee Flash - Back to the usual time. In the splendid light rubbing shoulders with several other people taking pictures of the Goosanders that at least had the decency to keep in (several) tight groups today
No sign of any Snipe with the harder weather - yet!
The notes:
- 1 Heron again
- 11 Great Crested Grebes at least: they kept getting mixed up with the parties of Goosanders making keeping track of these difficult (as well as boring!). There could have been 1 or 2 more. At least 3 adults, but not prepared to go further!
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen in with the largest party of Canada Geese again, but there was another lone bird loosely with Canadas: once again all the other 6 Greylags were lurking in the trees on the island and provided no opportunity to make detail check, let alone comparison, of bare-part colours
- 31 Pochard (17 adult drakes) [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 29 Tufted Ducks (20 adult drakes) [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 31 Goosanders: 10 adult drakes and 21 brownheads. Usual caveat about probably / possibly more
- rather few gulls again, but at least there was a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the water here - and a Great Black-backed over (when the lake could muster neither)
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
11 Great Crested Grebes (3+ adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 8 Greylag Geese; 46 Canada Geese; 45 Mallard (27 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 31 Pochard (17 drakes); 29 Tufted Ducks (20 drakes); 31 Goosanders (10 adult drakes); 7 Moorhens; 23 Coots; 96 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-headed Gull (no immatures); no Herring Gulls specifically identified; 1 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull flew over
(Ed Wilson)
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Sunday, 21st (11:55 - 13:00) Granville Refuse Tip - A very breezy lunchtime session at the landfill, produced my first ever Caspian Gull in amongst c.200 Herring Gull.
Caspian Gull 3rd winter (Click on image to enlarge)
Surprisingly enough I couldn't find a single Yellow-legged Gull, though in all fairness the larger Gulls were very active, making it difficult to focus on any one bird. By 12:40 they had all dispersed, with a large proportion heading off towards Trench. The only gulls to remain were some c.150 Black-heads, that were fighting it out with the Jackdaws and Rooks. Main highlights were:
- gulls
- - c.300 Black-headed Gulls
- - c. 200 Herring Gulls
- - a single 3rd Winter Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans cachinnans) located on the south face of the landfill. At one stage it took off and I was able to view it as it glided overhead. The wings were narrower than the Herring Gulls (Larus atlantus) around it, and even though it was showing white mirrors in P9 and P10, the latter was definitely paler. Most of the gulls were very flighty, and were enjoying the uplift the wind was providing them. I was beginning to think that I wouldn't get another chance to see it again, when it very obligingly landed about 50 meters away, giving me one chance to take a photo of it before it took off again and head towards Trench Pool. On the ground you could see the black beady eye, the mirror on P9 through the translucent tip of P10, pale pink legs with whitish tibia.
- -
c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- - 20 Great Black-backed Gulls
Also around the landfill were:
- 1 Buzzard overhead that definitely upset the gulls as it soared over.
- A fly-by Woodpigeon
- 8 Pied Wagtail that were very interested in the soiled covered waste
- 1 Wren in the hedgerow.
- 4 Magpie
- 42 Rooks and c.100 Jackdaw
- 2 Starling was a surprise, I would have thought there would have been more
- There were 2 Chaffinch seen feeding in amongst the waste, but they were never to far away from the bushes by the perimeter fence.
(Martin Adlam) Top
Sunday 21st (09:15 - 10:10) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way - A while since I checked out here: there had been rather few thrushes in the area seen from the lake, so I thought I would see what I could find. Not too windy and with great visibility
Highlight was finding my first Yellowhammers of the year here - and a couple of splendid males they were too
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 to heard from the Lake recording area
The notes from here:
- one Buzzard in and around the small copse in the field, calling loudly
- 1 Pheasants persistently calling from the wooded slope of the M54 Castle Farm Interchange on-slip
- compared with the flocks seen in this direction from the lake earlier in the morning there were again very few Wood Pigeons, the total of 41 being boosted by 36 that flushed out of the streamside trees at my approach
- 1 Meadow Pipit heard
- very few Redwings again - just 3: no Fieldfares
- Goldcrest heard only
- once again lots of tits here as well as around the lake - 19 (again) more Blue Tits and 11 more Great Tits. But still could not find any Willow or Coal Tits here
- a Treecreeper heard calling with one of the tit parties
- 1 Jay in the streamside trees
- very few finches but separate male and female Bullfinches to brighten up the day
- 5 Yellowhammers in a small party (2 at least fine males) at the bottom of the lane in the cross-hedge
Once again 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]
1 Buzzard; 1 Pheasant; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 1 Song Thrush; 3 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no
Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits again; 11 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 1 Jay; 2 Magpies; 4 Crows; 9 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 2 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
- Pheasant
- Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
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Saturday, 20th (13:24 - 14:03 ) Priorslee Flash - A later in the day visit to count the loafing ducks and to try for some more pictures of the Goosander on what promised to be a sunny day - wrong: mainly light passing showers! Another high count of Goosander
The notes:
- 1 Heron again
- 9 Great Crested Grebes: there may have been 11! I checked the ages of these as I walked one way and concluded that there were 5 adults and 6 juveniles. On the way back there seemed to be 3 adults and 6 juveniles, but I am convinced that it depends, to some extent, on the angle of the light as to whether these look like adults or not - there seem to be only 3 birds with full head-plumes
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen with in with the largest party of Canada Geese: all 8 other Greylags were lurking in the trees on the island and provided no opportunity to make detail check, let alone comparison, of bare-part colours
- 50 Pochard today with 26 adult drakes [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- only 19 Tufted Ducks (12 adult drakes) [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 42 Goosanders: 9 adult drakes and 33 brownheads. As usual with birds actively diving in several locations and moving around the lake there may have been more. And my comment about some moulting in to drake plumage is now even more valid - at some angles these brownheads look like convincing drakes - but then I am not a female Goosander!
- rather few gulls again
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
9 (11?) Great Crested Grebes (3 (5?) adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 9 Greylag Geese; 61 Canada Geese; 65 Mallard (39 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 50 Pochard (26 drakes); 19 Tufted Ducks (12 drakes); 42 Goosanders (9 adult drakes); 6 Moorhens; 26 Coots; 71 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); no Herring Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Friday, 19th (09:48 - 10:15) Priorslee Flash - Yet another short visit to log the ducks. Another high count of Goosander
The notes:
- 1 Heron: moved (walked?) from the N-side to the S side of island while I was present today
- 9 Great Crested Grebes: I thought there were 5 adults and 4 first-winters today
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen with a Canada Goose: 2 other Greylags lurking in the trees on the island
- 42 Pochard today with 22 adult drakes [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are my year-high counts here]
- 37 Tufted Ducks also with 22 adult drakes [62 / 43 sheltering during the storm on Thursday 18 January remains the year-high]
- 39 Goosanders: 9 adult drakes and 30 brownheads. As usual with birds actively diving in several locations and moving around the lake there may have been more
- 8 Moorhens was more than I have seen for a while: most surprising were 2 on the island with one very clearly an immature - some while since I recall noting any others with no red on the bill
- very few gulls again
Also
- a singing Song Thrush in the NE area is my first song of the year here
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
9 Great Crested Grebes (5 adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 3 Greylag Geese; 56 Canada Geese; 55 Mallard (32 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 42 Pochard (22 drakes); 37 Tufted Ducks (22 drakes); 39 Goosanders (9 adult drakes); 8 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 36 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (both overhead); no Herring Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Thursday, 18th (11:05 - 11:35) Priorslee Flash - A very short visit in the very strong winds to see what was sheltering, if anything. Lots of Tufted Ducks was the answer, but as I found out later these were not birds from the lake
While I was there a tremendous crack signalled one of the biggest Willows splitting in half in the wind that was picking up water from the surface it was so strong
Another good count of Goosander.
The strength of the wind made detailed observations rather hard.
The notes:
- 1 Heron: leaning in to the wind at the S end of island today
- 7 Great Crested Grebe logged and it looked like 6 adults and 1 juvenile today. 2 birds in the N area were 'sparring' and one bird, carrying a 4-inch fish was attempting to entice its way on to the back of the other that seemed uninterested. It eventually dropped the fish to allow faster pursuit and they disappeared in a cloud of spray!
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen in with the main Canada Geese party on the E side grass: 6 other Greylags were lurking, mostly hidden, on the island
- very few Mallard - all hiding somewhere?
- 36 Pochard today with 20 adult drakes [60 / 33 on both Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January remain my year-high counts]
- 62 Tufted Ducks with 43 adult drakes is a new year-high. Most of these were in the NW area sheltering [47 / 28 on Wednesday 10 January was the previous year-high]
- 30 Goosanders: 6 adult drakes and 24 brownheads, seemed to be the total, but in the conditions hard to be certain. One of the brownheads surfaced with a c.3-inch fish and was hounded by a nearby drake all across the southern part of the water
- very few gulls - just a few brave Black-headed Gulls
Also
- nothing else of note - well it was windy! I only remember noting Feral Pigeons, Wood Pigeons, Magpies and Jackdaws!
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 Great Crested Grebes (6 adults?); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 7 Greylag Goose; 53 Canada Geese; 39 Mallard (27 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 36 Pochard (20 drakes); 62 Tufted Ducks (43 drakes); 30 Goosanders (6 adult drakes); 7 Moorhens; 18 Coots; 5 Black-headed Gulls; no Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gull specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Tuesday. 16th (10:13 - 10:41) Priorslee Flash - Another short visit in the rain to log the ducks. Another high count of Goosander
The notes:
- 1 Heron: on S side of island today
- 8 Great Crested Grebe: I thought there were 4 adults and 4 first-winters today!
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen near, but not with, a lone Canada Goose: no other Greylags to check the bill and leg colours!
- only 32 Pochard today with 17 adult drakes - perhaps they had stayed at the lake today? [60 / 33 on Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are both my year-high counts]
- 32 Tufted Ducks with 21 adult drakes [47 / 28 on Wednesday 10 January remains the year-high]
- 36 Goosanders: 6 adult drakes and 30 brownheads, though several of these were clearly moulting rapidly in to drake plumage. Again with birds actively diving in several locations and moving around the lake there may have been more
- a few more gulls today [one of the regular bird-feeders told me that early yesterday afternoon (Monday) the lake had been 'covered in gulls']
Also
- nothing else of note - well it was wet!
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
8 Great Crested Grebes (4 adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 7 Canada Geese; 67 Mallard (47 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 32 Pochard (17 drakes); 32 Tufted Ducks (21 drakes); 36 Goosanders (6 adult drakes); 5 Moorhens; 21 Coots; 86 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (2 immatures); 1 Herring Gull specifically identified (1 immature); no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Monday, 15th (10:11 - 10:41) Priorslee Flash - Another short visit in cloudy weather. Astounding count of Goosander
The notes:
- 1 Heron on W side of island
- 8 Great Crested Grebe: made it a task for the day to age these: 5 adults and 3 first-winters
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen within the main Canada Goose party; 19 other Greylags all together on the island though they seemed to me to be in 2 distinct groups, with 11 rather larger birds with a more orange-tone to the legs - different races? (or was I just imagining it?) [but checking the literature about the racial differences suggests it is the bill colour that separates the larger Siberian rubrirostris race from the Western Europe anser race; and that it is the smaller birds that are more orange-toned. And, I guess, 'real' Greylag Geese are pretty unlikely in the built-up confines of The Flash even if feral geese do tend to attract wild geese]
- fewer Mallard again today
- 46 Pochard today with 25 adult drakes [60 / 33 on Monday 08 January and Friday 12 January are both my year-high counts]
- 36 Tufted Ducks with 20 adult drakes [47 / 28 on Wednesday 10 January remains the year-high]
- 44 Goosanders: 9 adult drakes and 35 brownheads was my record-ever count anywhere! Amazing, and with birds actively diving in several locations there may possibly have been a few more!
- even fewer gulls on the lake and not many overhead
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
8 Great Crested Grebes (5 adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 20 Greylag Geese; 47 Canada Geese; 54 Mallard (33 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 46 Pochard (25 drakes); 36 Tufted Ducks (20 drakes); 44 Goosanders (9 adult drakes); 6 Moorhens; only 16 Coots; 79 Black-headed Gulls;2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); no Herring Gulls specifically identified; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Saturday, 13th (11:00am) Priorslee Village - Two male Blackcaps in and out of the garden this morning. Seemed quite interested in the pyracantha. Not for the berries but the insects in amongst the foliage.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Friday, 12th (10:10 - 10:15) Priorslee Flash - Another short visit in dull weather, mainly to count the ducks sheltering from the wind in the NW area
The notes:
- 1 Heron appeared while I was walking along the W side
- 7 Great Crested Grebes only: made it a task for the day to age these, and of course there were fewer! 4 adults and 3 first-winters
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen again today but on its own; 6 other Greylags
- fewer Mallard today
- 60 Pochard today with 32 adult drakes [ties with 60 / 33 on Monday 08 January as my year-high]
- 26 Tufted Ducks with 15 adult drakes was 1 more drake than yesterday [47 / 28 on Wednesday 10 January remains the year-high]
- 26 Goosanders: 10 adult drakes and 16 brownheads was my record-ever count - even fewer gulls on the lake, but many overhead
Also
- 1 Buzzard over the SE wooded area
- 9 Feral Pigeons on the N end grass included 2 all-white birds today
One of the regular dog-walkers who knows his birds asked me about a 'hawk' he had seen yesterday (Thursday 11 January). He had seen it over the SE wood. He described it as slightly larger than a Kestrel, with a rounded head and apparently a forked tail. He is well-aware of Sparrowhawk, having pointed them out to me in the past! I suggested Red Kite for the forked tail, but he is familiar with that species and knew it was much smaller. I suggested Merlin, though even the female is smaller than a Kestrel and lacks a forked tail: the habitat is wrong too! He said that another friend of his had suggested that, but from the bird-books it looked wrong. Something to watch out for
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 Great Crested Grebes (4 adults); 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 7 Greylag Geese; 49 Canada Geese; 59 Mallard (40 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 60 Pochard (32 drakes); 26 Tufted Ducks (15 drakes); 26 Goosanders (10 adult drakes); 5 Moorhens; 28 Coots; 156 Black-headed Gulls (56 on lake; at least 100 overhead); >150 Lesser Black-headed Gull-types (all flying W, and many not specifically identified); 5 Herring Gulls specifically identified amongst the birds flying over; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Thursday, 11th (09:39 - 10:06) Priorslee Flash - A short visit between the end of the rain and the start of the showers, mainly to count the ducks sheltering from the wind in the NW area
The notes:
- no Herons today
- probably 9 Great Crested Grebes again: certainly 8
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen again today with its Canada 'friend'; and 5 other Greylags
- a few more Mallard today - perhaps the few missing from the main lake had come here out of the wind?
- 59 Pochard today with 33 adult drakes [60 / 33 on Monday 08 January remains my year-high]
- 25 Tufted Ducks with 14 adult drakes and many in the NW area again [47 / 28 on Wednesday 10 January remains the year-high]
- 20 Goosanders: 7 adult drakes and 13 brownheads, though scattered about and fishing in small mobile groups made it hard to be certain the this was the complete count
- even fewer gulls
Also
- 3 Collared Doves together, chasing. Perhaps they think it is Spring?
- 2 Redwings flew W off the island
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
8 or 9 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 6 Greylag Geese; 50 Canada Geese; 77 Mallard (49 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 59 Pochard (33 drakes); 25 Tufted Ducks (14 drakes); 20 Goosanders (7 adult drakes); 4 Moorhens; 22 Coots; 24 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 on the lake (1 of these an immature); 1 over flying W); no Herring Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Wednesday, 10th (11:12 - 12:04) Priorslee Flash - An extended visit here due to finding at least 17 Goosander on the lake, with at least 9 smart drakes and in great light (until a shower arrived - the Goosanders refused to go and sit under the rainbow's end!). The forecast for the rest of the week is not good so I took the opportunity to get some more shots even though the rather fresh wind made holding everything (mainly me!) steady
There was a also a big roost of Aythya ducks in the NW corner that took some checking and re-checking before I was happy with the numbers - not helped by an uncharacteristically mobile sub-group of Pochard that have not read the books and were doing a bit of day-feeding
The notes:
- no Herons today
- 9 Great Crested Grebes again: once again I did not spend time on ageing these
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen again today with its Canada 'friend'; but only 2 other Greylags, so the 18 over the lake must have ended up somewhere else
- 53 Pochard today with 28 adult drakes [60 / 33 on Monday 08 January is my year-high]
- 47 Tufted Ducks with 28 adult drakes and many in the NW area again [beats 38 / 24 on Tuesday 09 January for the year-high]
- 17 Goosanders: 9 adult drakes and 8 brownheads. I wonder why the sex-ratio is changing so much: could it be that the juvenile drake brownheads are fast-moulting in to adult plumage? How long does this process take? and are they not flightless in the period?
- even fewer gulls
Also
- 3 Buzzards calling, displaying and circling over the SE 'hill' - one pursued by what seemed, in comparison, to be a very small Magpie
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling along the E side
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
9 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 3 Greylag Geese; 66 Canada Geese; 66 Mallard (42 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 53 Pochard (28 drakes); 47 Tufted Ducks (28 drakes); 17 Goosanders (9 adult drakes); 4 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 39 Black-headed Gulls; 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all flew over); no Herring Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Top (08:50 - 09:45) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way - A pleasant enough morning around the lake, but rather quiet: so I thought I'd see what was around the fields to the E / SE - not much was the answer, though there were plenty of wrens, robins and tits
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 to heard from the Lake recording area
The highlights:
- two Buzzards: one heard calling to the S; and then another in the small copse in the field
- no Pheasants at all
- very few Wood Pigeons here either, the total of 35 being boosted by 22 that flushed out of the stream side trees at my approach
- 2 Meadow Pipits flying off in the distance was probably the highlight!
- very few Redwings - just 2!
- only 1 Fieldfare and that was heard only!
- lots of tits here as well as around the lake - 19 more Blue Tits and 7 more Great Tits. But still could not find any Willow or Coal Tits for my year-list
- very few finches but a fine party of 6 Bullfinches flew up high in the tops of larches - fat passerines at larch cones means Crossbills doesn't it? Not on this occasion it doesn't!
Once again no Sky Larks, Siskins, Linnets, Redpolls, or Yellowhammers
My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[overflying birds are in the main log]
2 Buzzards; no Pheasants; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; 2 Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail; 11 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 7 Blackbirds; 1 Fieldfare; no Song Thrushes; 2 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Jays; 4 Magpies; 4 Crows; 5 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 6 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
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Tuesday, 9th (09:52 - 10:26) Priorslee Flash - Windy here too and with more of the ducks sheltering in the NW area
The notes:
- no Herons today
- 9 Great Crested Grebes confirmed! After agonising as to whether there were 7 or 8 birds for the last week there were certainly 9 today! 3 at least seem to be first winter birds, but did not spend a long while on them
- the 'runt' Greylag was seen today with its Canada 'friend'; 8 other Greylags in two groups - so where was the party of 9 that was seen heading this way from the lake?
- not quite so many Pochard today - 58 with 32 adult drakes [60 / 33 on Monday 08 January is my year-high]
- higher count of Tufted Ducks with most in the NW area today: 38 with 24 adult drakes [replaces 33 / 22 on Monday 01 January for the year-high]
- 14 Goosanders: 6 adult drakes and 8 brownheads, though many were diving and being harassed by gulls and hard to keep track of, so possibly more brownheads
- rather fewer gulls again
Also
- a Grey Wagtail on the island
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
9 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 9 Greylag Geese; 47 Canada Geese; 67 Mallard (42 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 58 Pochard (32 drakes); 38 Tufted Ducks (24 drakes); 14 Goosanders (6 adult drakes); 3 Moorhens; 21 Coots; 146 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); no Herring Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Monday, 8th (10:06 - 10:38) Priorslee Flash - A short visit in the now unpleasant light rain to check the Goosanders: success today with at least 19 (5 adult drakes), though as they were fishing in the area of the overhanging trees at the S end and being harassed by the Black-headed Gulls it was hard to be sure exactly how many there were
The notes:
- 2 Herons next to each other on the E side of the island perhaps indicates that this early-nesting species might be thinking about breeding here again (it did in 2005; but not 2006)
- 7 Great Crested Grebes confirmed
- more geese today, but the 'runt' Greylag was not seen. In addition to the party of 9 Greylags at the N end of the island I heard another call, hidden somewhere on the island. Interestingly the Greylags were being challenged by a Crow in almost exactly the same spot as a (the same?) Crow was hassling a Heron last week
- highest year-count of Pochard today - 60 with 33 adult drakes [52 / 28 on Thursday 04 January was my previous high]
- higher count of Tufted Ducks as well - 24 with 14 adult drakes [33 / 22 on Monday 01 is the year-high]. Today most of them were in with the sleeping Pochard party in the NW area rather than off Derwent Drive and the island
- 19 Goosanders as noted above
- rather fewer gulls than recently
Also
- a Redpoll fly-over gave me a year-tick
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 10 Greylag Geese; 65 Canada Geese; 69 Mallard (43 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 60 Pochard (33 drakes); 24 Tufted Ducks (14 drakes); 19 Goosanders (5 adult drakes); 4 Moorhens; 23 Coots; 186 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gull (no immatures); no Herring Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Saturday, 6th (09:55 - 10:24) Priorslee Flash - A short visit in the rather unpleasant cold rain to check the Goosanders: despite the group of 9 seen heading this way over the lake there were just 3 brownheads here. One of the locals asked me where they were - his daughter had rung him earlier today to say that he should visit as there was a 'large group feeding in the lake' - so we concluded that they had flown off!
The notes:
- the / a Heron has gone again!
- at least 7 Great Crested Grebes again - there may be an 8th lurking behind the overhanging gorse bush at the S end of the island where one of the nests was last year
- very few geese today and the only Greylag was the 'runt'
- a few less Pochard today - 48 with 25 adult drakes [52 / 28 Thursday]
- fewer Tufted Ducks - 11 with 8 adult drakes [20 / 16 Thursday]
- just 3 Goosanders as noted above
- rather fewer gulls than recently
Also
- the Feral Pigeons on the N end grass included an all-white bird today - the first I have seen on the ground here
- Fieldfare heard overhead, but was in mid-count of the gulls
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 or 8 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 6 Canada Geese; 60 Mallard (41 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 48 Pochard (25 drakes); 11 Tufted Ducks (8 drakes); 3 Goosanders (no adult drakes; 3 brownheads); 2 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 237 Black-headed Gulls (on the water); 10 Lesser Black-headed Gull (4 immatures); 1 immature Herring Gull (on the water); no Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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Friday, 5th (08:35 - 09:35 ) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way -
Ages since I walked the lanes and fields to the E / SE of Castle Farm Way. Partly a time-problem in winter; but the last few days have been so windy that looking for the main targets - Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Yellowhammer would have been problematic as well as uncomfortable
Today was equally problematic - I saw none of those species - but less uncomfortable!
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 to heard from the Lake recording area
The highlights:
- a Buzzard flushed out of the stream-side trees: in the autumn this was an easily recognisable individual with several primary feathers missing: these have either grown again or it is a different bird
- a Pheasant calling
- initially rather few Wood Pigeons to add to the flock of 12 I had seen over Wards Rough. But as I headed towards the stream at least 78 birds exploded out of the copse to give me a total here of 107 additions
- rather few Redwings - just 7
- a party of 22 Fieldfare to supplement 2 others flushed added to a good total for the day
- 2 different Goldcrests seen very well. I like these birds - very active and industrious!
- lots of tits here as well as around the lake - 14 more Blue Tits and 8 more Great Tits. But I could find now Willow or Coal Tits for my year-list
- a party of 14 Goldfinches in stream-side alders was welcome: sadly no Siskins or Redpolls with them
But as noted no Sky Larks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets or Yellowhammers
My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[over flying birds are in the main log]
1 Buzzard; 1 Pheasant; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail; 4 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; 24 Fieldfares; 2 Song Thrushes; 7 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits;
no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 14 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; 1 Jay; 4 Magpies; 5 Crows; 6 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 14 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
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Thursday, 4th (09:57 - 10:36) Priorslee Flash - Managed a short visit today, mainly because the gulls were so 'jumpy' that I had trouble counting them, much less checking them in detail
Goosander numbers were of course different again: there only 5 adult drakes today [6]; but now 19 brownheads [15] giving me another 'highest count' in the series of records from here this winter
So the notes:
- the / a Heron has gone again!
- today confirmed 7 Great Crested Grebes
- both the Greylag Geese each 'paired' with a Canada Goose again: 13 more Greylags in 2 parties
- more Pochard today - 52 with 28 adult drakes [44 / 23 yesterday]
- similar number of Tufted Ducks, but even higher proportion of drakes - 20 with 16 adult drakes [20 / 13 yesterday]
- now 24 Goosanders as noted above
 17 of the 24 Goosanders present on The Flash (click on image for enlargement)
- the counts of gulls only tell part of the story and they were continually taking flight and mingling with birds overhead before some settled back for a few minutes; and then were off again
Also
- Kingfisher flew along the water - a year-tick for me
- at least 2 Jays calling in the NW area
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 15 Greylag Geese; 87 Canada Geese; 74 Mallard (48 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 52 Pochard (28 drakes); 20 Tufted Ducks (16 drakes); 24 Goosanders (5 adult drakes; 19 brownheads); 5 Moorhens; 25 Coots; >333 Black-headed Gulls (on the water); 27 Lesser Black-headed Gull (on the water); 1 immature Herring Gull (on the water); no Great Black-backed Gulls
As noted, the Kingfisher an addition to my year-list
(Ed Wilson)
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Wednesday, 3rd (10:10 - 11:19) Priorslee Flash - A longer visit than I intended - it was just supposed to be a check on the Goosanders and a quick count of the ducks, but a scan of the gulls produced a leucistic Black-headed Gull so it was back to the car for camera and tripod and a careful approach and an even more careful circumvention of the lake to get a different angle. As a result I got closer to the Goosanders than usual and despite the fresh wind and rather dull conditions I decided to have a go at them as well.
 Leucistic Black-headed Gull (click on image for enlargement)
Goosander numbers yet again changed: there were 6 adult drakes today [4]; and 15 brownheads [12] giving me my highest number in the series of records from here this winter (I have seen larger groups in other years from Atcham Bridge)
So the notes:
- the / a Heron is back: it was having a bit of a spat with a crow that was trying to steal something from within the Heron's reach and the Heron was doing its best to spear the crow - which was too fast / wary
- today at least 7 Great Crested Grebes, and possibly an 8th, though too distracted by the gull to keep count
- the 2 adult Swans with the cygnet from the lake again
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose that seems to think it is a Canada Goose there was only 1 normal-sized bird, but that also seemed to be 'paired' with a Canada Goose
- similar number of Pochard today - 44 with 23 adult drakes [48 / 26] yesterday
- similar number of Tufted Ducks still with a preponderance of drakes - 1 left since yesterday!
- the, gulp, 21 Goosanders as noted above
- in amongst the 291 Black-headed Gulls there was the leucistic bird mentioned above
- Lesser Black-backed Gulls started to trickle in while I was out with the camera: there were 31 on the water when I left; and I counted 47 flying over - there were probably more while I was head-down at the camera screen
- 2 immature Herring Gulls noted
Also
- 18 Fieldfares flew N
- 14 Redwings logged, 12 with the Fieldfares and 2 singles
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
7 or 8 Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 2 Greylag Geese; 74 Canada Geese; 86 Mallard (57 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 44 Pochard (23 drakes); 20 Tufted Ducks (13 drakes); 21 Goosanders (6 adult drakes; 15 brownheads); 6 Moorhens again; 22 Coots again; 292 Black-headed Gulls (1 leucistic bird); 78 Lesser Black-headed Gull (31 on the lake (1 immature); 47 over); 2 immature Herring Gull (on the lake); no Great Black-backed Gulls
No additions to the year-list here
(Ed Wilson)
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Tuesday, 2nd (10:09 - 10:37) Priorslee Flash - A shorted visit to The Flash this morning with the usual walk along the W side to check the roosting ducks etc.
Now rather dull and overcast, but reasonably protected from the still moderate / fresh NW wind
Highlight was the probable first-winter Yellow-legged Gull
Goosanders continue to perplex: there were 4 adult drakes today [2]; and 12 brownheads [12] though today one of the brownheads was clearly an immature drake with extensive white patches very obvious
So the notes:
- still no Heron
- today 4 immatures and the 2 adult Great Crested Grebes
- the 2 adult Swans with the cygnet from the lake again
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose there were 22 others
- even higher number of Canada Geese
- similar number of Pochard today - 48 with 26 adult drakes [50 / 31 yesterday, but with no sun today some of the drakes moulting out of juvenile plumage may have been differently ascribed today]
- fewer Tufted Ducks still with a preponderance of drakes
- the 16 Goosanders as noted above
- the Black-headed Gulls had tempted single Lesser Black-backed and what seems to have been a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull to join them. This latter bird was most odd, lying low in the water and with a very long and drooping bill. Again I took some record shots in the very poor light and with these on screen and reference again to 'Gulls' by Olsen & Larsson and comparison with the photographs showed a good match with the bird showing solid black tertials with thin white edges only; and a paler than usual head with dark around the eye. While the bill measurements suggest that this species is smaller billed than Herring Gull, the plates show that in 'real life' the sloping head-shape accentuates the bill-length, giving the impression of a much longer bill
Also
- 1 Mistle Thrush called as it flew over - but no longer needed it for the year-list
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 23 Greylag Geese; 93 Canada Geese; 66 Mallard (47 drakes again); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 48 Pochard (26 drakes); 21 Tufted Ducks (14 drakes); 16 Goosanders (4 adult drakes; 12 brownheads); 6 Moorhens; 22 Coots; 56 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-headed Gull (1 on the lake; 2 over); 1 probable first-winter Yellow-legged Gull (on the lake); no Great Black-backed Gull
No additions to the year-list
(Ed Wilson)
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Monday, 1st (10:07 - 11:16) Priorslee Flash - Now usual winter walk along the W side to check the roosting ducks etc. Longer than usual today as all the locals undertaking their New Year Resolutions to walk more (or getting rid of hang-over's) were out and about and wanted to know all about Goosanders - there were 14 today, but only 2 adult drakes
The wind had dropped a tad, and it was mostly sunny until the last 10 minutes or so when an advancing shower was making its presence felt
So the notes:
- still no Heron
- 2 adult Great Crested Grebes and 3 immatures. I may be reading it incorrectly but each of the adults seems to be 'paired' with one of its off-spring and one of these pairs was attempting to break twigs off the overhanging trees - for nest-building?
- the 2 adult Swans with the cygnet from the lake again
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose there was party of 9 on the island; and at least 1 more heard
- high numbers of Canada Geese again
- more Pochard today, all in the NW area and in a spread-out group which was hard to count from either direction as it would not 'fit' any way into the binocular view
- more Tufted Duck as well, with most of the increase being drakes
- the 14 Goosanders: 2 drakes and 12 brownheads all off the island again, though 1 paddled off for a while
- the Black-headed Gulls had tempted 11 Lesser Black-backed and 1 adult Herring Gulls to join them. There were plenty of Lesser Blacked Gulls flying over, but chatting to the locals prevented me from making a count, but at least 50 will do!
Also
- 1 Buzzard overhead being chased by the local Magpies
- may have heard a Kingfisher lurking in the NW area, but I could not see where it was and as it is just possible it was a noisy Dunnock I will let it go for the year-list!
The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 3 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 11 Greylag Geese; 81 Canada Geese; 73 Mallard (47 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 50 Pochard (31 drakes); 33 Tufted Ducks (22 drakes); 14 Goosanders (2 adult drakes; 12 brownheads); 5 Moorhens; 30 Coots; 313 Black-headed Gulls; 61 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (11 on the lake); 1 adult Herring Gull; no Great Black-backed Gull
In addition to adding Goosander and Buzzard to the year list, the stop here added those exciting species only ever logged on 1st January - House Sparrow; Feral Pigeon
(Ed Wilson)
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