12 Mar 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 6.0°C: Started with a whole series of heavy, squally sleety showers, the strong WSW falling strangely almost calm between each shower. After c.08:00 cleared somewhat, remaining breezy. Very good visibility except in showers.

Sunrise: 06:32 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:40 - 09:10

(31st visit of the year)

The heavy squalls kept me in the car in the Castle Farm Way lay-by much of the time. The paths were too slippery to risk a fast circuit between the showers. Very little noted 'on the move'.

Birds notes:
- The resident pair of Mute Swans seen mating (see video)
- Despite the conditions there were two Sky Larks singing over the fields to the E.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 3 Canada Geese: trio outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all(?) adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 60 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Greenfinch
- 6 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose; briefly
- *2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 31 Coots yet again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes yet again
- 33 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- *1 Grey Heron: departed

My 2021 bird species list for here remains 72.

Nothing else of note.

The pair of Mute Swans getting amorous. I have never noted the very thin neck of the pen - nearest the camera. Is this part of the display?

A short video of the amorous swans (with a passing Great Crested Grebe). The pen seems to be moving the thin part of her neck as part of the display and a prelude ....

... to mating (I hope you are watching this after the watershed). She seemed to enjoy it even if it doesn't look too PC.

This morning's Cormorant was a full adult - the same as two days ago? If so the white plumes seem a bit more prominent.

This what many Cormorant photos that I don't show look like. A useful note is that had it been a Shag it would have leapt clear of the water and entered vertically.

Only present very early when blowing a gale - a Grey Heron. Note the bill gets an orange tone when in breeding plumage.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 - 10:30

(21st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The resident pair of Mute Swans seen mating here as well as at the lake.
- The Goosander was a surprise on this date. It departed before I had a chance to check it in detail: From what I can see from a photo of the distant departing bird it was a duck.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- *1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Jackdaw
- 2 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 32 Canada Geese
- *2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 3 Mute Swans
- *34 (24♂) Mallard
- *72 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- 1(0♂) Goosander: departed
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *6 Black-headed Gulls

My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.

Also noted:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)

 Two Greylag Geese arrive. Marks out of 10 for the touch-down ....?

A drake Mallard arrives complaining about something.

And another making slightly less noise if the amount the bill is open is a guide.

Closely followed by his mate.

"I'm not talking to you". These two Tufted Ducks are probably not really a pair having a lovers' tiff.

These two might have a conversation.

The problem with a 'comb-over' when the wind blows from the wrong direction.

A first year Black-headed Gull showing the wing markings clearly.

And again.

Rather distant and enlarged - the Cormorant flying over. Looks as if it could be the bird from the main lake.

Strong wind can play havoc with your feathers as this Long-tailed Tit has found out.

Not a species I photograph too often. A posing female Blackbird caught my eye.

Not you again! Apparently the same Robin that posed yesterday.

A 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata). Does not look very active and who can blame it.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2019

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

2013 

Priorslee Lake

1 Iceland Gull

3 Common Gulls

2 Yellow-legged Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull 

2 Gadwall

3 Shoveler

29 Wigeon

1 Cormorant

1 Little Grebe

1 Willow Tit

(J Reeves, John Isherwood)

The Flash

1 Greater Scaup

4 Pochard

(John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake 

Mallard x Pintail

7 Pochard

31 Tufted Duck 

1 Chiffchaff singing

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock

Chiffchaff

2 Siskins

1 Redpoll

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

2 Shoveler

10 Swans

4 Gadwall

4 Pochard

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

Mallard x Pintail

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake 

3 Cormorant

13 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck.

5 Stock Dove

10 Pied Wagtail

27 Wren

38 Robin

20 Blackbird

43 Fieldfare

7 Redwing

5 Chiffchaff (3 singing)

42 Magpie

6 Greenfinch

3 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

The Flash

8 Great Crested Grebe

2 Pochard

34 Tufted Duck

1 Buzzard

1 Chiffchaff singing

1 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake 

Peregrine

2 Little Grebes

6 Great Crested Grebes

2 Cormorants

7 Pochard

46 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

275 Wood Pigeons

28 Pied Wagtails

20 Wrens

17 Blackbirds

3 Fieldfares

7 Redwings

11 Greenfinches

(Ed Wilson)