19 Mar 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  10:15 – 11:10
The Flash:  09:15 – 10:05

5.0C:  Cloudy with intermittent light rain. Light SE wind. Good visibility

[Sunrise: 06:13 GMT]

Another damp and dull day suggesting an early start would not be pleasant or worthwhile.

Priorslee Lake:  10:15 – 11:10

(53rd visit of the year)

Another look from the E-end lay by only.

Notes:
- One of the two Canada Geese was intermittently being chased by the cob Mute Swan. They eventually decided to leave/
- Only one pair of Great Crested Grebes asleep on the water. One pair near a nest location. A lone bird probably away from its nest site with its unseen partner likely in the reeds.
- A male Grey Wagtail singing from the sluice platform and then from inside the sluice entrance – a good echo chamber.
- Later a pair of Pied Wagtails on the same platform and three seen on the SW grass. None of these of the continental species / race White Wagtail – always a possibility at this time of year.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
None

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 1 (1) Chiffchaffs
Again just the one audible from the lay-by.

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: departed
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

Not often I try to photograph a Magpie. Only just caught it jumping off the sluice surround.

The male Grey Wagtail on the dam-face.

A male Pied Wagtail. The grey flanks rule out this being a bird of the continental race / species White Wagtail.

Here with a smaller black bib and greyer back is a female Grey Wagtail. Same grey flanks. In White Wagtail both sexes have grey backs but show white flanks.

If in doubt as to the species then look at the upper tail. Here it is black and therefore a Pied Wagtail. Had it been concolorous with the grey back then it would have been a White Wagtail.

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash:  09:15 – 10:05

(52nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Grey Heron flew over very high but it seemed to be this that caused the Wood Pigeons to panic and clatter out of  the trees en masse.
- Difficult to be certain about Chiffchaff numbers. Some birds both calling and singing and all rather mobile.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Stock Doves

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 6 (4) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 18 Canada Geese
- 33 (22♂) Mallard
- 60 (32♂) Tufted Duck again
- 1 Cormorant again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Moorhens
- 21 Coots

Another view of possibly the same Chiffchaff I photographed yesterday. The dark mark on the throat is shadow of raised feathers and not a plumage feature.

Rather strange behaviour by this Blue Tit, circling around the tree trunk. Caught with its tail bent.

Now going the other way.

This perhaps explains it – two birds chasing. The morning gloom meant the camera could not quite freeze the action.

(Ed Wilson)

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

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

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes 
7 Wigeon 
2 Gadwall 
18 Tufted Ducks 
127 Jackdaws
158 Black-headed Gulls
22 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Chiffchaff singing
6 Redwings
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
7 Swans 
2 Pochard 
1 Greater Scaup 
81 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Chiffchaff  singing
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Cormorant 
25 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
1 Great Crested Grebe 
3 Cormorant 
6 Tufted Duck 
2 Goosander 
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martins
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Meadow Pipit
25 Wren
20 Blackbird
5 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff
34 Magpie
8 Greenfinch
8 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

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