4 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:05
The Flash:  09:10 – 10:20
Trench Lock Pool:  10:30 – 10:35 // 11:20 – 11:50
Trench Middle Pool:  10:40 – 11:15

4.0°C > 11.0°C > 6.0°C:  Clear start with clouds later and then a shower, cooling things off. Moderate W wind after overnight gales. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:51 GMT

Highlight must go to the Pink-footed Goose at Trench Middle Pool. Was mingling with all the other geese and quite happy to take part in the bread-eating contests so whether ‘they’ will rule it as an escape rather than a wild bird who knows. Was not ringed and was able to fly freely

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:05

(59th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
66      Fieldfare
Two birds flew S at 07:15 (there were also 2 Redwings over earlier: they landed in trees at W end and so don’t get logged as flyovers)

Other bird notes from today
- 2 Mute Swans arrived from the E at 07:45 and went straight to one of the usual ‘loafing’ spots. My first here since 23rd February. One of the fishermen told me that 2 birds were present at c.11:00 on Saturday 2nd March – I did not see any that morning or on the 3rd March
- Sparrowhawk again seen in display flight
- could only find 21 Coots: where are they all?
- 46 of the Wood Pigeons logged were put up from trees to the E of Castle Farm Way (what by?)
- just 1 Chiffchaff noted today: in song
- in addition to the fly-over Siskins there were at least 4 in the trees along with a Lesser Redpoll

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (outbound)
- 4 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Stock Doves
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- c.850 Jackdaws
- 31 Rooks
- 2 Fieldfares
- 3 Starlings
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Greenfinch
- 5 Goldfinches
- 6 Siskins

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Reed Bunting only

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans (arrived)
- 2 Canada Geese
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Moorhens
- 21 Coots only
- 28 Black-headed Gulls

Other things
- nothing on lamp poles early
- >110 small flies on just one lamp-pole later. Most other poles had no more than 5 flies on them

That Monday morning feeling.

Going past like an express train was this male Sparrowhawk – note the rufous tinge to the barring on the breast.

A smart male Bullfinch.

Some of >100 flies on this lamp-pole at c.08:45. At least two species though almost all were the same as the smaller ones here.

Here are three of the smaller flies enlarged. Seem to have bulging red eyes set back somewhat on the head. Cannot find anything on the web to ID them.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:10 – 10:20

(53rd visit of the year)

Notes from here:
- despite searching on two complete laps I was unable to locate the cygnet
- the cob Mute Swan decided to chase the Greylag Geese today – too many Canadas?
- Pochard gone again
- most of the Black-headed Gulls flew in (with more over)
- a noisy party of 36 Jackdaws circled overhead before moving off SE. Later 17 flew N

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Buzzard at least – back and forth or different birds?
- 1 displaying Sparrowhawk
- 20 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 53 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 53 Canada Geese
- 20 (13♂) Mallard
- 46 (24♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- 19 Black-headed Gulls

The cob Mute Swan after one of the Greylag Geese. There were probably too many Canada Geese for him to select one to bully.

A pair of Tufted Duck inbound to land, the duck in the lead.

The drake touching down tail first and the duck landing behind another just arriving duck.

The Cormorant was reasonably obliging today. We see the blue eye and the white thigh patch.

Spreading its wings.

Looking down its nose, apparently rather shortsightedly, at me.

And here another Cormorant arrives, touching down tail-first as usual. Note this bird has a larger white thigh-patch and a few white head-plumes as well.

Why do they always do this rather too far away. The Great Crested Grebes begin to display.

And now one of them looks coy.

They both then dived and one came up with a stick (rather than weed).

They then reared right up.

Still unsure whether the bird with the stick here is the one that brought it up.

A perky Wren.

The same Wren turned through 90 degrees.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:30 – 10:35 // 11:20 – 11:50

(13th visit of the year)

Today’s notes from here
- only highlight was a Long-tailed Tit hovering at a lamp to catch some food

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws]
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Black-headed Gulls

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 Canada Geese
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard as ever
- 1 (1♂) Pochard again
- 27 (13♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 4 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls only

A cob Mute Swan shows how he lands on water – definitely feet first.

Still with quite a bow-wave.

An acrobatic Long-tailed Tit presumably searching for small spiders or insects. This species lines its nest with spider-webbing so that it is somewhat elastic to accommodate the large growing brood of youngsters so it could be prospecting.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:40 – 11:15

(13th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
40      Pink-footed Goose
My first at this location

Notes from here
- Great Crested Grebes not seen
- rather fewer Coots
- plenty of gulls today

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

The counts from the water
- 1 Pink-footed Goose
- 9 Greylag Geese
- 47 Canada Geese
- 15 (12♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 8 Moorhens
- 21 Coots only
- 128 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Oops: too close but I think worth a look at these flying drake Mallard showing their blue specula (is that really the plural of speculum?).

This is the Pink-footed Goose present today: a handsome bird.

A passport photo shot.

How to scratch your ear without falling over.

Compare and contrast with the larger Greylag Goose behind. The bill is small as well as only coloured on a small part.

And here in flight we see the upperwing pattern, similar to a Pink-footed Goose, not as pale (though the light here rather washes it out).

.... as it does here, though we see the darker area in the middle basal part.

‘Pink-footed’ seems to be a good name.

Touch-down on land.

Meanwhile a Greylag Goose apparently goes surfing.

Did your mummy not tell you about drinking out of muddy puddles?

A trio of Greylag Geese. I think the walking birds are likely a pair, with the slightly smaller female in front. They too have pink feet – but the big orange bill is unmistakable.

Food on offer and these four Black-headed Gulls are up for the squabble.

This one almost in full breeding plumage – will retain white crescents around the eye, but the head will look more ‘solid dark’.

(Ed Wilson)

Notes
1. A few photos Here taken at RSPB Burton Mere - 2 Mar
2. A few photos Here taken at Belvide - 27 Feb

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
57 Herring Gull
154 Lesser Black-backed Gull
186 Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Cormorant
3 Great Crested Grebe
16 Tufted Duck
(Gary Crowder )

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Little Grebe
6 Gadwall 
36 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
600 Black-headed Gulls
100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
A leucistic Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull 
1 Common Gull 
1 Yellow-legged Gull 
7 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)

2009
Priorslee Lake
9 Tufted Duck
1 Bittern
1 Heron 
1 Cormorant 
7 Swans
c.400 Black-headed Gulls 
1 Iceland Gull 
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 
c.70 Herring Gulls
Peregrine
46 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Paul King).

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebe
8 Pochard
81 Tufted Duck
3 Shoveler
1 Goosander
1 Cormorant
1 Water Rail
180 Lesser-black Backed Gulls
300 Black-headed Gulls
8 Siskin
2 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam, Peter Parton)