3 Apr 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:05
The Flash:  09:10 – 10:25

1.0°C > 5.0°C:  Clear for a while, cloud later. Light W wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:40 BST

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:05

(88th visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- two Greylag Geese when I arrived: two more landed at 06:10. All departed
- two Little Grebes seen in both NE and NW areas and also heard from both areas
- low count of Moorhens. The early frost may have kept the usual group off the SW grass. Perhaps they have dispersed to breed?
- 10 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew W together; a single over later; a splendid adult briefly on one of the boating platforms
- party of 21 Feral Pigeons over with a single straggler – Racing Pigeons? (party of 17 going the ‘other way’ over The Flash later may have contained some of the same distinctively white-marked birds, but I did not pay them that much attention)
- while doing my other hobby – aircraft spotting – I noted >40 Sand Martins VERY high overhead at 06:15. They were not visible with the naked eye and rather against the sun to get an accurate count. No more were located until c.100 suddenly appeared low over the water at 08:30, numbers increased to >150. Same birds? Where had they been for two hours?
- 1 Barn Swallow flew through at 06:50; 3 more at 08:15 with possible calls from others heard
- two female Blackcaps seen and one of the males seen was not heard to sing

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Greylag Goose (inbound)
- 4 Canada Geese (pair outbound; pair inbound)
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 22 Feral Pigeons
- 20 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 103 Jackdaws

Hirundines noted
- >150 Sand Martins (see notes)
- 4+ Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (5) Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Greylag Geese (departed: see notes)
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 11 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
- 4 Little Grebes
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens only
- 22 Coots
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Nothing on the lamp poles early and nothing seen later

Interesting cloudscape as the weather cleared for a while.

Some atmospheric shots were possible as the wind dropped away for a while and mist developed. Here is the SW corner.

And looking to the NE.

And along the S side.

A male Grey Wagtail doing just that – wagging its long tail. Almost certainly the same bird I photographed yesterday.

Here stepping out, still wagging that tail. We see more of the black bib from this angle.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:10 – 10:25

(81st visit of the year)

Somewhat extended visit to photograph the warblers before they get hidden by leaves

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
60      Willow Warbler
Three singing birds at various locations around the water

Other notes from here:
- the pen Mute Swan was sitting on the nest. I was told that she has two eggs already
- back to more recent number of Mallard
- same number and sexual composition of Tufted Duck as yesterday
- Great Crested Grebes not located

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 17 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 1 Jackdaw

Hirundines noted
- 5 Sand Martins, briefly

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs only
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans still
- 25 Canada Geese
- 18 (15♂) Mallard
- 17 (10♂) Tufted Ducks again
- [no Great Crested Grebes]
- 5 Moorhens
- 31 Coots

A Canada Goose inbound. Note this bird, I would think exceptionally, seems to be starting a wing-moult with a missing inner primary or outer secondary on both wings.

It was one of a pair and this I assume is the other – it has no missing feathers (though one of the secondaries looks misplaced).

Not entirely sure what this Wood Pigeon was doing in the crook between two boughs of the tree. It was making the most strange noises. Wood Pigeons are not noted for their nest-building skills – anything that stops the eggs rolling away will do. Perhaps it was considering this as a nest?

This is a rather atypical Willow Warbler and it was a help it was singing. The supercilium is unusually ill-defined and the chest and throat are hardly suffused yellow as they are supposed to be – more brown and very reminiscent of Chiffchaff. However .... those legs are not black and the lower mandible is all pale underneath: both features of Willow Warbler. The alula is partly covered but hardly looks dark either.

From this angle the supercilium is almost non-existent. Note the wash on the breast goes all the way across. It is usually only at the sides on Chiffchaff.

Giving me a quizzical look? 

A male Blackcap in full song.

I wonder why they are called Blackcaps? 

Today’s challenge: identify the bird! it is possible – look at the head.

Did you get it right? A Blackcap in need of a feather-drier.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Greylag Geese
9 Tufted Duck
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
2 Common Teal
53 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
c.25 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebe 
2 Gadwall 
32 Tufted Ducks 
75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls on the water.
(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
Hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Martin Ryder)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
2 Tufted Duck: both drakes this morning 
7 Blackcaps
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes 
40 Tufted Duck 
7 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Pool
5 Tufted Duck 
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Redhill
6 Tree Sparrow
(John Isherwood)

2011
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(Martin and Ian Grant)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
178 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Sky Larks
3 Meadow Pipits
168 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
28 Wrens
29 Blackbirds
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)