12 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  12:50 – 13:25
The Flash:  13:30 – 14:10

4.0°C:  Clearing after rain. Moderate WSW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:32 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  12:50 – 13:25

(66th visit of the year)

Did not make an early visit due to the heavy rain forecast. Visited later, checking only from the dam-top

All was not lost as ...

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
68      Sand Martin
First noted c.13:10 these stayed for at least 15 minutes. Equals my earliest date for this species from 2017. Always one of the first genuine migrants. It is never clear whether earlier Chiffchaffs (or Blackcaps come to that) are over wintering birds

Other bird notes from today
- the five Great Crested Grebes were a surprise: one of them likely a first-year bird showing restricted head-plumes
- a Buzzard circling over seemed unlikely in the rather poor conditions
- a pair of Pied Wagtails on the dam

Bird totals

The counts from the lake area:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard (arrived)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 26 Coots only
- 1 Black-headed Gull (arrived)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Two of the five Great Crested Grebes today. The left-hand bird shows restricted head-plumes (it was very obvious from directly behind). Probably a first-year bird.

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash:  13:30 – 14:10

(60th visit of the year)

Notes from here:
- the Gadwall pair not located today
- small influx of Tufted Ducks
- only one of the Great Crested Grebes seen: I am sure the other was lurking
- a Greenfinch was seen display flying

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
None

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1  Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 22 (14♂) Mallard again
- 57 (35♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebes only
- 3 Moorhens
- 32 Coots once again
- 1 Black-headed Gull

A soggy adult Cormorant drying out. Really large white thigh-patch, rather few head plumes though.

A close-up of the rather ferocious beak with its hooked tip. We see the shafts of the head plumes more clearly. Also the colour of the bare skin under the eye – only acquired in the breeding season. Amazing blue eyes – all cormorants and shags worldwide have stunning eyes though the colour varies: some are blue, some green and others red. Why?

(Ed Wilson)

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

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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)