12 Mar 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:25
Location

Sunrise: 06:29

c.+2°C > +6°C: Broken cloud to start; then thin overcast at medium level before high overcast. Calm, then light S/SE. Moderate visibility at best

No special highlights this morning

(38th visit of the year)

Notes
- 2 additional drake Gadwall today
- the 2 Oystercatchers again until flushed by a dog
- 1 Lapwing over – first for a while
- at least 6 Siskins still in trees
and
- 3 March Moths, each on a different lamp along the footpath

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 6 Canada Geese (2 parties)
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Lapwing
- 1 Grey Heron
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 67 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Starlings
- 4 Greenfinches
- 6 Goldfinches
- 1 Linnet
- 3 Siskins

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Gadwall
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Oystercatchers
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 1 Cormorant
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 21 Moorhens again
- 66 Coots
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 5 Herring Gulls

One of the three March Moths on the lamps this morning.

A first-year Lesser Black-backed Gull. Note the rather dark overall appearance, extensive dark on the tail and almost complete absence of the pale 'window' shown on Herring Gulls by the much paler inner primaries and outer secondaries.

This Herring Gull is not quite a full adult as shown by the dark marks on the coverts. Likely a third year bird: it might be incorrect to call it 'immature' as it would likely be able to breed successfully at this age.

This Black-headed Gull is almost in summer plumage now.

Flushed by a dog these two Oystercatchers fly off noisily – the back bird has its beak open enough to emit its far-carrying and distinctive call.

Again it is the second bird that is making all the noise.

This shows that it is the lead bird that has the faint chin-strap.

This was a surprise – a Nuthatch on the roof of one of the houses along Teece Drive.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Priorslee Flash: 09:35 – 09:55
Location

(26th visit of the year)

Notes
- where have all the Mallard gone since yesterday? Off to breeding sites perhaps. That said 4 of these birds were 'roof-sitting' in Derwent Drive and that cannot be classified as a suitable breeding site!

Birds noted flying over
- 10 Redwings
- 1 Siskin

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 13 Canada Geese
- [the all-white feral goose not logged]
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 22 (11♂) Tufted Duck again
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 3 Moorhens again
- 16 Coots
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

Talking of birds on the roof – here is a drake Mallard in Derwent Drive.

And next door could gazump them with three Mallard – a muttering drake and two ducks.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
3 Common Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
3 Shoveler
29 Wigeon
1 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe
1 Willow Tit
(J Reeves, John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Greater Scaup
4 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Mallard x Pintail
7 Pochard
31 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock
Chiffchaff
2 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
10 Swans
4 Gadwall
4 Pochard
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
Mallard x Pintail
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorant
13 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck.
5 Stock Dove
10 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
38 Robin
20 Blackbird
43 Fieldfare
7 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff (3 singing)
42 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
7 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
275 Wood Pigeons
28 Pied Wagtails
20 Wrens
17 Blackbirds
3 Fieldfares
7 Redwings
11 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)