1 Apr 19

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

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:20
The Flash:  09:25 – 10:00
Trench Lock Pool:  10:10 – 10:20 // 11:00 – 11:35
Trench Middle Pool:  10:25 – 10:55

5.0°C > 9.0°C:  Cloudy, initially at medium / high level; lower later. Breaking after c.10:00. Light / moderate E wind, veering S later. Good visibility

Sunrise: 06:45 BST

Priorslee Lake:  05:40 – 09:20

(86th visit of the year)

Highlight today was the big group of at least 140 Sand Martins. I first noticed c.80 birds in a tight group high overhead at 07:25. This group had increased to at least 140 by 07:35 when they mostly moved off with only 22 overhead at 07:40. At 08:00 c.90 were over the water, mostly at height with just a few as low as c.50’. These also seemed to move away. Then c.60 appeared low over the water at 08:10 with more joining all the time and at least 1 Barn Swallow with them. Were these all the same birds?

Other bird notes from today
- Mute Swans seen mating
- three Canada Geese left together at 07:35: two arrived at 07:50, assumed different
- Little Grebes not heard calling at all but two together in the NE area
- all five Great Crested Grebes seen. A bird flew in from the E at 08:15: unclear whether this was a sixth or one of the others had been for a fly-about. By this time several of the birds were back in the reeds and I could not see them all to check
- two adult Lesser Black-backed did a ‘touch and go’ on the water
- 21 of the 39 over-flying Wood Pigeons flew high N as if migrants
- Jackdaws noticeably in pairs and, if within groups, these of <20 birds. Using many different lines and heights. Suspect the main roost(s) have dispersed with birds now back on breeding territory

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair inbound)
- 2 Canada Geese (pair outbound; pair inbound)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 39 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove again
- 72 Jackdaws
- 2 Siskins

Hirundines noted
- >140 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow again

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

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 Canada Geese (see notes)
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 7 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes
- 5+ Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Nothing on the lamp poles early and nothing seen later

Just part of the >90 Sand Martins present high overhead when I took this shot. There were even more later.

An inconvenient leaf giving this Jay a strange-shaped head.

And those are two Ash keys hanging in front of the wing and not some strange appendage. Note the white rump showing at the top of the black tail – often what you see as the bird bounds away from you.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:25 – 10:00

(79th visit of the year)

Notes from here:
- the Gadwall not seen!

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws

Hirundines noted
- 8 Sand Martins

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 24 Canada Geese
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 26 Coots

For size comparison only. A Carrion Crow and above it a Sparrowhawk. I would judge a male Sparrowhawk – the smaller sex as in most birds of prey.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:10 – 10:20 // 11:00 – 11:35

(18th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
43      Teal
44      Sand Martin
45      Greenfinch

Other notes from here
- the pair of Mute Swans seen mating here as well as at the lake earlier and at The Flash yesterday. Amazing synchronicity
- the two pairs of Teal were a surprise at this date (and my first here this year)
- just two drake Tufted Duck – unusually early departure for this species from here
- two of the Great Crested Grebes now have a nest and were guarding it
- all four Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in to drink and then left
- Sand Martins typically hard to count. Largest number as I arrived. Only c.10 later
and
- my first Grey Squirrel of the year here
- Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) was a new log for me here though I must have seen it before

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws]
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 Starling

Hirundines noted
- >28 Sand Martin

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

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 4 (2♂) Teal
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Tufted Ducks only
- 3 Great Crested Grebes still
- 5 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

One of the pairs of Teal I found here.

Seems this flower is Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens). I know I have seen the flower before but do not recall the name.

Had to double-check – this is Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) but I did not recall the top-most leaves as being purple. Apparently they can be – not often this deep a colour though.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:25 – 10:55

(18th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
42      Blackcap

Notes from here
- no duck Mallard seen
- noticeable ‘thinning out’ of the Coots
- Blackcap is a species I don’t record every year here: perhaps passing through?
- Grey Wagtail(s) again: will probably breed here

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 2 Stock Doves again

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 11 Greylag Geese
- 53 Canada Geese
- 13 (13♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 17 Coots only

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Sand Martin
4 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
127 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Sand Martin
2 Teal
45 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane
1 Chiffchaff
2 Linnets
4 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Kittiwake
5 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood, Jim Almond, Arthur Harper)

Horsehay Pool
2 Mandarin Ducks
(Jim Almond)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

Trench
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
32 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
33 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler

2007
The Flash
1 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
184 Wood Pigeons
2 Stock Doves
1 House Martin
5 Sand Martins
1 Curlew
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipits
25 Wrens
20 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
2 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
10 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)