8 Mar 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 7.0°C: Just frosted. Mostly overcast again. Calm / light W wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:42 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:45 - 09:20

(27th visit of the year)

Three new species for my 2021 bird list here:
- A male Pheasant was calling along the N side until c.06:30. A typical Spring record. This species has bred in the area, usually in the Ricoh copse. It may have done so last year in the rank grass in the SW - I received a report of an unleashed dog killing a fledgling.
- Two Egyptian Geese flew W at 08:45. My previous record here was of two briefly on 01 December 2017.
- The first Raven of the year flew S on its own.

My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 72.

And another that got away. At 07:45 I heard what sounded like a Greenshank calling. I was unable to locate anything flying around and I did not hear it again. It was possibly a misheard Song Thrush above the rather intrusive traffic noise.

Other birds notes:
- The visiting adult Mute swan was really pushing its luck. After circling a few times it landed more or less alongside the residents. They did not greet it warmly!
- 71 of the 128 Wood Pigeons overhead were in 11 small groups heading high N. Strange that a species that is seen in the thousands some days during Autumn passage is seen in relatively low numbers in Spring.
- Unlike yesterday I saw no real movement of Black-headed Gulls S / SW - merely a single 'V-formation' of five birds.
- The three pairs of Great Crested Grebes remain. Today they seemed to be disputing the boundaries to their territories.
- Jays were especially obvious. I saw trios three times, moving through the trees and heading W. Also two singles. Exactly how many birds were involved I would not like to say.
- Only a single Chiffchaff noted. Its testosterone seems to require it to sing; its stomach requires it to feed, so it sings sporadically. A photo while it is so hyperactive has eluded me.
- Two Mistle Thrushes flew from over the fields to the E and away to the SW. I have assumed these are different to the pair that is likely breeding in the Ricoh copse.
- Many Siskins again. Today most were high in trees alongside Teece Drive though a breakaway group was by the gate on to Castle Farm Way.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Canada Geese: pair outbound; pair inbound less than two minutes later
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 2 Egyptian Geese
- 128 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: singles
- 1 Common Buzzard
- c.125 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 1 Redwing
- 2 Mistle Thrushes
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Greenfinch
All the Siskins seen in flight are assumed to have been moving between trees around the lake.

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans: a third adult, briefly
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 35 Coots again
- 1 Little Grebe heard calling again
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- 35 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adult, briefly
- 1 Cormorant: arrived again
- 3 Grey Herons again

On the street lamps

Still nothing pre-dawn and nothing of note later.

Going so soon ....? The visiting Mute Swan leaving.

Four likely lads - drake Mallards looking for a mate.

The only one of the many Jays this morning stopped to give a photo op. With wings held down the large white rump is exposed.

Not quite sure why this Wren was looking bug-eyed. It was vibrating its wings between spells of song.

Did I say song. This way and ...

... that. Again seems to be closing its eyes with the effort though since this species seems quite happy to sing in flight then shutting your eyes seems unwise. I hope to do better when the weather turns rather brighter.

Behind twigs of course - a male Reed Bunting. Still some pale fringes in the black bib and head.

I managed to creep around and get a singing shot. Another species for a sunny day.

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 09:25 - 10:25

(17th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The ringed male Grey Wagtail was seen feeding in front gardens of Derwent Drive and also on roofs. It was also heard singing.
- No Lesser Redpolls seen or heard.
- Four Siskins noted overhead. None again in Alders around the water.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 29 Canada Geese again
- 3 Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 72 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots once again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 25 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: the usual second year throughout
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 52.

Mr. Angry House Sparrow.

An under-appreciated species with really attractive plumage when seen well (despite the out of focus twig in the foreground: apologies).

And Mrs. Sparrow. With the breast feathers fluffed up it appears black like the male.

The ringed Grey Wagtail was in gardens in Derwent Drive.

Vocal too.

(Ed Wilson)

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

On this day

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

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

2012

Priorslee Lake

1 Iceland Gull

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake

1 Goosander

(John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake

13 Pochard

41 Tufted Ducks

1 Oystercatcher

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

9 Cormorant

15 Tufted Duck

1 Woodcock

311 Wood Pigeon

36 Robin

24 Blackbird

10 Redwing

53 Magpie

5 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Ruddy Duck

1 Little Grebe

4 Great Crested Grebes

2 Herons

1 Cormorant

6 Pochard

42 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

103 Coots

1 Water Rail

1 Ring-billed Gull

141 Wood Pigeon

142 Jackdaws

23 Blackbirds

11 Song Thrushes

1 Redwing

14 Greenfinches

6 Reed Buntings.

(Ed Wilson and et al)