13 Jun 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 07:25
The Flash:  05:40 – 06:20

9.0°C:  Low cloud and occasional light rain. Light NNW wind. Moderate visibility.

Sunrise: 04:45 BST again

Not everybody thought it was too wet: contractors were mowing the grass in the Ricoh grounds

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 07:25

(152nd visit of the year)

A single splash around a very wet and slippery path

Bird notes from today
- So where were all the Mallards?
- Most of the Barn Swallows and House Martins spent at least some time, unusually, resting atop the reeds in the NW corner
- One Reed Warbler was heard singing from near the S end of the dam – a new site

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake.
None

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >25 Swifts
- >6 Barn Swallows
- >12 House Martins

Warblers not counted. Only the following species heard / seen:
- Chiffchaff
- Blackcap
- Reed Warbler

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (0♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Moorhens
- 31 + 29 (9 broods) Coots

Nothing else logged.

A record shot of rather unusual behaviour in the on-going poor conditions. A group of House Martins resting and trying to dry out sitting on the reeds across the lake. Note the white rump of a bird flying in to land on the middle left. Note also that the centre bird is a lone Barn Swallow.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  05:40 – 06:20

(145th visit of the year)

Most things hiding away again

Notes from here:
- Mallard broods of five and the new brood now four ducklings.
- Coot broods heard again probably with more juveniles still undercover.
- single House Martin over

Birds noted flying over / near here.
None

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans again
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 103 Canada Geese
- 22 (14♂) + 9 (2 broods) Mallard only
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 23 + >6 (4 broods) Coots

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Flash
1 Greylag x Canada Goose
(Ed Wilson)