31 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:45 – 08:45
The Flash:  08:50 – 09:40

6.0°C:  Strange weather – clear but hazy to the N; cloudy to the S. Moderate E wind. Moderate visibility

Sunrise: 06:47 BST

Priorslee Lake:  05:45 – 08:45

(85th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
77      Barn Swallow
after searching and searching through the myriad Sand Martins a single Barn Swallow appeared briefly but could not be relocated

And ‘one that got away’. At 05:55 (BST) I heard a quiet ‘creaky’ call over my head and just caught sight of a medium-sized bird gliding in to the copse along the S side. Only a glimpse in the dark but seemed too large for the Woodcock that sometimes roosted in winter – would it still be here anyway? My other thought was Tawny Owl, but the call was wrong and the flight is supposed to be silent. Mystery

Other bird notes from today
- 3 Canada Geese present at dawn. Later three arrived. These then left as three pairs
- Little Grebes heard calling in NW and NE areas again: single bird (one of these?) seen
- only four Great Crested Grebes seen but I suspect the fifth was in the reeds
- what I presume were the first few Sand Martins were seen at 06:35 when it was still too dark to make them out from ‘the other end’. At least 40 birds by 07:00 and later at least 60. How many birds were involved is hard to say – were they quickly moving through or had they stopped off to feed for a while?
- no fewer than five singing Goldcrests with another non-singing bird seen

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 4 Greylag Geese (pair outbound; pair inbound)
- 10 Canada Geese (pair and party of 8 all outbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Stock Dove
- 32 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 56 Jackdaws
- 2 Linnets (singles)

Hirundines noted
- >60 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese (see notes)
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron once again
- 2 Little Grebes at least
- 4+ Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens
- 24 Coots only

Nothing on the lamp poles early and nothing seen later

There were >60 Sand Martins zooming around this morning. As I have noted before Bridge cameras are not at their best on flying birds, especially those as small and speedy as this species. What I have done is select a few of those that at least highlight the identification feature. Here we see the dark breast band, from this angle looking as much like a white collar as a breast band.

The ‘white collar’ effect here too. Note the uniform upper side – House Martin has a bright white rump as well as looking ‘tubby’ overall.

The underwing here: all dark and darker – black really – on the inner wing.

Also showing the underwing but here also showing the hint of a darker band at the base of the belly.

The underwing contrast again.

‘Chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff’: singing its name for me. 

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:50 – 09:40

(78th visit of the year)

Notes from here:
- the Gadwall reappeared – last noted 23 March
- a Grey Heron was seen circling very high to the W
- a Stock Dove was heard calling from trees between The Priorslee and the Priorslee Academy. Perhaps my first non fly-over record here?
also noted
- the Lunar Marbled Brown moth unmoved on its lamp pole from yesterday

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 5 Jackdaws

Hirundines noted
- 1 Sand Martin

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 16 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 16 (13♂) Mallard again
- 24 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 27 Coots

The Mute Swans were getting amorous again. Note the pen had raised her tail.

“What I am I supposed to do now?” The cob looks puzzled. 

Drowning time for the pen.

So the Gadwall pair are back – where have they been? Here having a preen after been ‘seen off’ by a territorial Coot.

The duck needs a handkerchief!

A Chiffchaff here was lower down and, eventually, more cooperative than the singing bird at the lake. I suspect this is a female as there was a singing male close-by and this bird was silent throughout. Plumages of males and females are identical to our eyes As usual a few twigs strategically placed to hide bits of the bird.

And now hiding behind a different twig.

A bit of waiting and starts coming in to the open .... 

And, finally, a real pose. Note the weak supercilium only reaching as far as the back of the eye: and the black-legs with dark-red feet. Note too the dark alula (the feathers at the bend of the wing when open).

Sideways-on we see the rather thin bill – thicker on Willow Warbler which would also show a brighter base to the lower mandible. Here we also see a really important separation from Willow Warbler. The tail here is being dipped as the bird works through the vegetation. Chiffchaffs do this all the time they are on the move: Willow Warblers almost never do. This habit can be seen at long distance when birds are silent and other features hard to see.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
15 Tufted Duck
3 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
139 Jackdaws
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling Goose
47 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
Mallard
Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Green Woodpecker
Meadow Pipit
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Marsh Tit
Treecreeper
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Bullfinch.
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
c.100 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Lake
c.15 Sand Martin
1 House Martin
Green Woodpecker
2 Brambling
2 Linnets
2 Redpolls
3 Great Crested Grebes 
15 Tufted Duck
6 Blackcaps
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Heron 
6 Greylag Geese
48 Tufted Duck 
3 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
8 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
8 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap
(Martin Grant) 

2008
Priorslee Lake
3 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
7 Redwing- 1 singing
33 Tufted Duck
7 Gadwall
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
16 Tufted Duck
1 Peregrine Falcon
7 Sand Martin
2 Swallow
7 Redwing
6 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tit
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Flash
Shoveler
4 Snipe
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
10 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
183 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
19 Sand Martins
1 Kestrel
3 Buzzards
4 Jays
2 Stock Doves
270 Wood Pigeons
1 Sky Lark
3 Meadow Pipits
3 Grey Wagtails
15 Robins
20 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfare
13 Redwings
2 Willow Warblers
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
5 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)