17 Mar 17

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

3.0°C > 7.5°C: Slight frost. Variable patches of high cloud to start; no sunrise; cloud increased and lowered later with a very few spots; brisk WSW wind; very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:20 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 05:04 – 06:55 // 07:45 – 09:15

(33rd visit of the year)

A drake Shoveler dropped in for a while and became my 76th confirmed species at the lake so far this year

Otherwise a rather quiet day again with very little seen flying over

Notes from today:
- the 2 Greylag Geese were flying ‘the wrong way’: going W at first light
- the all-white Feral Goose was present (and being chased by the Mute Swans as usual) when I arrived: later it had gone
- the Pheasant heard calling several times again: seemed to have survived yesterday’s brush with the M54 and was along the N side today
- an adult Black-headed Gull circled for ages pre-dawn and then moved on; later a 1st year bird dropped in from the W for a few minutes
- the Jackdaws in well-spaced out and mainly smaller parties today
- a few Redwings heard predawn were probably leaving trees around the lake and not from their usual roost area; much later 5 more (?) seen in trees
- one of the 7 Greenfinches logged was doing a full display flight
and
- 2 moths on the lamps this morning: the single Dotted Border was at the same / very similar place as yesterday; a single March Moth on a different lamp

Birds noted flying over the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 14 Canada Geese (6 groups)
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 310 Jackdaws (32 groups)
- 13 Rooks (7 singles / groups)
- 1 Greenfinch
- 4 Goldfinches

Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 all-white feral goose (see notes)
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 16 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants yet again
- 1 Grey Heron briefly
- 7 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls

A record shot of the drake Shoveler.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash 07:00 – 07:40

(26th visit of the year)

Notes
- one of the drake Mallards was doing its ‘roof-sitting’ on one of the houses in Derwent Drive – something they always do at this time of year but rarely do otherwise
- a Sparrowhawk flew in to the island: I could not relocate it later

Birds noted flying over
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Stock Dove
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Ravens

Warbler counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 20 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 16 (14♂) Mallard
- 29 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 17 Coots

A drake Mallard was on the lower pool between the lake and The Flash
A Chiffchaff was singing alongside the upper pool.

A drake Mallard doing his ‘roof sitting’ in Derwent Drive.

It is not just Siskins that love Alder cones: here a Goldfinch tucks in.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:24 – 09:40 // 10:15 – 10:22

(11th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- 2 of last year’s cygnets gone: the other being gently ‘encouraged’ but not taking the hint as yet
- Goosander gone
- only gulls were two Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
- 1 singing Chiffchaff only

Birds noted flying over here
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 12 Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 24 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant: the same?
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- no gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool 09:45 – 10:10

(9th visit of the year)

Notes
- many of the Tufted Duck moved away
- no Goosander here either (the birds at Trench Lock also gone)
- no singing Chiffchaffs today
- a male Bullfinch seen: a new species for my 2017 Middle Pool list

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

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 Greylag Geese
- 43 Canada Goose
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- [no feral-type Mallard]
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in ...........
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here


2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Bramblings
2 Chiffchaffs singing
(Martin Grant)

Priorslee Flash
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
14 Pochard
25 Tufted Duck 
1 Lapwing
2 Sand Martins
26 Greenfinches
23 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 
2 Cormorants
24 Tufted Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Tree Sparrow
2 Reed Buntings
1 Chiffchaff  singing
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe 
5 Great Crested Grebe 
12 Swan
6 Gadwall
20 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Mute Swan nest building
16 Tufted
(Mike Cooper)

The Flash
c.25 Tufted Duck
Chiffchaff singing
(Mike Cooper)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
12 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrel
2 Stock Dove
1 Green Woodpecker
31 Wren
36 Robin
6 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff 
2 Willow Tit
44 Magpie
9 Greenfinch
8 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
33 Tufted Duck
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Chiffchaff singing
1 Redpoll
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)