6 May 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash
The Flash again for my extended exercise walk today.

3.0°C > 9.0°C:  Clear throughout. Light mist over water early. Calm with light E wind developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:27 BST

Priorslee Lake:  early

(73rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- No sign of the cygnets hatching here as yet.
- Seven Greylag Geese flew inbound very early, with one peeling off to go back outbound. Perhaps this bird inbound on its own much, much later.
- Tufted Ducks confused me mightily. One seen flying over early which I do not think came from here. A drake was then seen on its own on the water. Some time later there were three birds – two ducks with a drake. Some minutes later I could find none, then a pair reappeared. Apart from the original none was seen in flight.
- The Grey Heron flew low across the water and left a black ‘hole’ in the mist over the water. I was just too slow with the camera, the slight breeze swirling the mist back quickly.
- The perhaps usual (near) adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived early to test the buoys and left. Later an adult Black-headed Gull appeared overhead and it and then three (near) adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the water briefly.
- A Willow Warbler singing in a different location from any of those many days ago.
- Three different Common Whitethroats seen doing song-flights.
- Certainly six Reed Warblers today. The one in the N-side reed bed on several occasions started its song at speed and I thought for a while that both Sedge and Reed Warblers were present. Not so: it soon reverted the usual slower, grumpy-sounding song.
- Three different groups of House Sparrow around the water with one bird seen collecting food or nesting material – looked like stripped leaves so likely the latter.
- Several trios of Reed Buntings seen in flight suggesting that young may have fledged.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 8 Greylag Geese (inbound)
- 2 Canada Geese (pair outbound again)
- 1 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks

No birds noted on the academy playing field: the Starlings (19) decamped to the ‘football’ field

Count of hirundines etc logged:
- 4 Swifts
- 3 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 13 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 23 (21) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 5 (4) Common Whitethroats
- 6 (6) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Ducks (see notes)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes heard
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 14 Coots only
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults

On / around the street lights:
- 1 presumed female Plumed Midge (Chironomus plumosus)

No new flower species recorded for the year at this site:

Insects / other things etc noted:
- 1 Tapered Drone-fly (Eristalis pertinax)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
Anywhere in full sun, and normally attractive for insects, was subjected to the chilly easterly breeze and insects still seemed to be hunkered down.

A touch of mist over the water. Autumn already?

This Grey Heron did not seem worried at my presence so long as I stayed still.

A close-up of the head reveals that the bill does not exactly shut together all the way along its length. The orange tone of the bill (and the crest) indicates this bird is in breeding condition, though breeding will be over for this early-nesting species. Apologies for the blade of grass!

No evidence so far that Common Buzzards are nesting in the Ricoh copse this year. However they are quite elusive until the young start begging for food. Possibly a local bird here.

Good light to show all the markings of this typically marked bird. They can be a lot darker or a lot paler than this. A darker breast area above the pale belly is usually obvious in all birds, as are the darker thigh patches.

The Common Sandpiper formation team flies by.

In very different light and no longer in so neat a formation. At least both upper- and under-sides are visible.

Within the last week the leaves have really taken over and seeing warblers has become much more difficult. This male Blackcap came out to sing.

Another species that has white throat when it sings. Raises its crown feathers too.

Singing this way and that.

Break time.

Oh no! Not more Long-tailed Tit photos. Afraid so!

“Are you looking at me?” This one on the barbed-wire fence around the sailing club compound.

They seem happy to use the rigging as a look-out.

One of many Reed Buntings seen today, including what seemed to be juveniles chasing parents. This male was on his own.

In the absence of plumed antenna this has to be a female Plumed Midge (Chironomus plumosus).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:

(61st visit of the year)

Other bird notes:
- The cygnets have hatched. They were being brooded when I passed and only one noted. None of my socially distanced informants knew the exact number seen first yesterday.
- I searched in vain for any of the reported goslings.
- A second brood of eight Mallard ducklings. The first brood with a single duckling remains.
- Tufted Duck back in some number!
- Both Great Crested Grebes located with one sitting on a nest.
- A Song Thrush singing away. My first here 21st March.
- Yet again Reed Bunting song heard once, very briefly.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc logged:
- 1 Swift in distance over St Georges.

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 3 + >1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 8 Greylag Geese
- 16 Canada Geese again
- 21 (16♂) + 9 (2 broods) Mallard
- 15 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhen
- 14 + ? (1 brood) Coots

Also
-1  Grey Squirrel

The pen Mute Swan still brooding the cygnets when I walked around. Just one visible here.

Easier to count in a photo than when they are all chasing around after Mum. A tight brood of eight Mallard ducklings.

Bullfinches are an unobtrusive species and I am always happy to find one to photograph. A male here of course.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- Moorhen(s) heard on the lower pool
- 1 (1) Blackcap near the upper pool and later presumed same alongside the Wesley Brook.
- Starling fledglings heard calling from nest in roof of house backing on to the upper pool.

(Ed Wilson)

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If you are on your daily exercise and keeping a safe distance from others, we would love to see any photos or sightings you have, from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, by emailing them to us at priorsleelake@hotmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.😊

(Martin Adlam and Ed Wilson)

Note:
Here are a few Garden Sightings from Ed Wilson Here on our Readers Corner from the past few days

And

A few of Martin Adlam's Sightings from the Isle of Portland Here.

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

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Nedge Hill
5 Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
1 Common Sandpiper 
1 Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
4 Wheatear
(Arthur Harper)