20 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake [with Woodhouse Lane] and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:05 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:45
[Woodhouse Lane:  08:00 – 08:40]
The Flash:  06:45 – 07:25

7.0°C > 14.0°C:  High cloud fading away. Almost calm. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:13 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  05:05 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:45

(74th visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- the two Grey Herons flushed off the dam and stayed together, rather unusually. One was significantly smaller than the other from which I assume it was male and female. It would make sense for them to stay together!
- low count of Moorhens on SW grass again – just 3 instead of usual 8 / 9. Cannot blame fishermen today
- a maximum of 25 Black-headed Gulls early after the first arrival at 05:55. Just 6 later before a total of 36 was present at 09:35
- 2 immature Herring Gulls dropped in briefly
- just two of the Wood Pigeons flying over  were noted as ‘high and likely migrants’
- Jackdaws may have defeated me again. An even earlier start and I was in time to hear c.10? pass over at 05:15. 190 more at 05:35. A scattering later
- 4 Mistle Thrushes still disputing territory around the usual nesting area
- apart from the Chiffchaff singing in the NW area other songsters are just ‘one-day’ at any location

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair inbound)
- 2 Cormorants
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Feral Pigeons (2 pairs)
- 2 Stock Doves (pair)
- 33 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves (singles)
- >220 Jackdaws

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans: blue 7ANU cob; BTO-ringed pen
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 36 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls

Other things
we need some insectivorous migrant birds to arrive: too many midges and flies
also
- many honey bees seen on the willow blossom (‘pussy willow’)
- 1 Grey Squirrel

A VERY early glimpse of the sunrise [05:25].

And later: rather disappointing in view of the Spring-like day.

A honey bee with a very full pollen sac on a willow flower.

And another with an equally heavy load of pollen.

Two of the very many Muscid flies of at least three different species, all sunning on lamp poles. Bottom left is the shadow of another, probably disturbed as I took the photo.

(Ed Wilson)

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Notes from Woodhouse Lane (08:00 – 08:40)

(5th visit of the year)

- 2 Pheasants calling
- 5 Skylarks: 3 in song
- 1 party of |Long-tailed Tits
- 1 Chiffchaff in song
- 1 Song Thrush: in song
- 2 Chaffinches: in song
- 3 Yellowhammers, 2 in song
Still no Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches or Linnets again

The Yellowhammers were still rather flighty and tended to sit against the sun. By positioning a tree trunk behind the bird I managed to get this shot of one singing.

And a punk Yellowhammer as well (actually the same bird).

Perhaps even the same bird now addressing me.

This will have to do as today’s attempt at a ‘best ever Long-tailed Tit’ photo.

This is Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum): a very common wild flower. ‘Dead-nettle’ because it has no sting.

Every year I say “won’t be seeing this view for long when they build the houses”. Long may I still be able to say this.

England’s green and pleasant land.

And Woodhouse Lane itself.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  06:45 – 07:25

(67th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
57      Meadow Pipit
almost annual overhead here on Spring and Autumn passage: last year’s Spring records started 26 March

Other notes from here:
- Canada Geese everywhere this morning
- Mallard seen on roofs and in gardens again: much flying about making numbers hard to ascertain
- one Chiffchaff in song: today at the top end
also
- 1 Engrailed moth on the lamps

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff yet again

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeon
- 3 Stock Doves
- 8 Wood Pigeon again
- 2 Jackdaws
- 3 Meadow Pipits

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1  Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese (departed)
- 40 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall still
- 15 (10♂) Mallard
- 43 (26♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Moorhens
- 28 Coots

Found on one of the lamp poles was this Engrailed moth. I record this most years around the area, though my last at The Flash was on 30 March 2014.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

(2nd visit of year)

- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 1 Moorhens on the lower pool
- 2 non-singing Song Thrushes by the upper pool

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
7 Wigeon 
2 Gadwall 
27 Tufted Ducks 
6 Redwings
138 Jackdaws
1 Chiffchaff
1 Redpoll
7+ Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
7 Mute Swans
1 Pochard 
56 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
133 Lapwing
17 Golden Plover
1 Redshank
3 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
3 Teal
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Herring Gull. 
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Duck 
11 Golden Plover
17 Meadow Pipits
5 Chiffchaffs (4 in song)
Raven
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
40 Golden Plover
11 Lapwing
1 Red-legged Partridge
2 Green Woodpeckers
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 
32 Tufted Duck 
1 Curlew
2 Brambling
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
5 Great Crested Grebe 
6 Gadwall 
39 Tufted Duck
146 Jackdaws on roost dispersal 
c.35 Greenfinches
c.15 Goldfinches
c.10 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebe 
36 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
435 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Peter Wilson)

2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
12 Cormorant
24 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Merlin
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Great Black-backed Gull
188 Wood Pigeon
1 Green Woodpecker
26 Wren
5 Chiffchaff 
1 Willow Tit
55 Magpie
14 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.250 Black-headed Gulls
146 Lesser-black Backs
15 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-leg Gulls
2 Common Gulls
36 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant
2 Water Rail
3 Siskins
2 Redpoll
3 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)