13 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

1.0°C > 7.0°C: Slight frost. Mostly broken medium-level cloud with a few clearer spells. Almost calm. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:17 BST

* = a photo today

Slightly fewer warblers singing today. Some no doubt moved on - especially the Willow Warblers. Others perhaps now paired and nest-building.

Priorslee Lake: 05:15 - 06:45 // 07:55 - 09:50

(62nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A lone Canada Goose throughout. I am inclined to think that the pair noted earlier as semi-resident are now nesting here and that this bird's partner is tucked up in the vegetation somewhere on eggs.
- I had noted six drake Mallard scattered around the water - no longer in the single bachelor gang of a few weeks ago. Just as I was leaving five appeared overhead. I was not in a position to see whether the birds I had seen previously were still where they had been.
- 14 of the 31 Wood Pigeons noted flying over were in a single group flying high NE at c.06:30. Migrants?
- At c.09:30 I noted two Little Grebes in the middle of the water. These moved slowly off to disappear in the reeds in the NW area from where I had heard the usual calls much earlier. Were these new arrivals or the residents going for an explore?
- Clear skies to the E enabled me to see the outbound Jackdaws. All now in small groups (max. six birds) and passing over a protracted period.
- A Chiffchaff seen feeding another. Probably entirely politically incorrect these days but I assume a male bonding with his partner.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 10 Canada Geese: single, two pairs and quartet outbound; single inbound.
- 3 Greylag Geese: trio outbound
- 14 Racing Pigeons - tight group
- 31 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 70 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Siskin

Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- *8 (8) Willow Warblers
- 16 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 15 (11) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 6 (6♂) Mallard - perhaps 11 (11♂)
- 4 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 2 Little Grebe: together - see notes
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull: first year, briefly
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults, more or less together, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron

Also noted:
- 1 Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Not quite such a good sunrise as yesterday.

I will nail a Willow Warbler here one day. Not really today though.

Perhaps I'll stick to Long-tailed Tit photos. They are easier.

Always cute.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- One Moorhen in the upper pool again
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane:  08:45 - 09:10

(12th visit of the year)

Later than usual I made a quick visit to the 'top of the hill' somewhat curtailed by suspicious-looking van in the lane - I did not want to get involved with anyone fly-tipping.

Notes:
- At least 15 Meadow Pipits that flushed out of the fields and in to trees along the lane was most unexpected. These then moved away N but whether this was because that was the way I was walking along the lane or whether they were migrating that way is hard to say. My best-ever year for this species around here.

Some numbers:
- 3 (2) Skylarks
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- *15 Meadow Pipits at least
- 2 Linnets in the hedges.
- 1 Lesser Redpoll over
- 2 (1) Yellowhammers.

In the narrative I remarked on at least 15 Meadow Pipits along the lane. Here is one. The very long hind-claw is clearly visible here. Note the black buds - an Ash tree. Hope this one escapes the fungus causing Ash dieback.

Rather less so on #2 here

And here is #3. The usually difficult to observe buff throat shows well here. You will be pleased to know that the other 12 got away.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 - 07:50

(51st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- What was presumably the regular second year Herring Gull was back again. It must like it here!

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

None

Hirundines etc. noted.

None

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- *10 (8) Willow Warblers
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- *4 (2) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- 38 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 26 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- *1 Herring Gull: second year

Also noted
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Looks like the same second year Herring Gull. Is that an egg it has found? Looks too small to be a goose egg, so what is it? Could the gull be a female and that it is her egg?

Well: I was trying to photograph a Willow Warbler when this male Blackcap popped up and chased it away and then ....

 ... looked quizzically at what I was doing.

One of two Willow Warblers that were chased away by the Blackcap. Sadly not quite sharp but included as it shows the more typical obvious supercilium (eye-brow) of this species. Orange-toned legs too.

You have to look hard. Two Willow Warblers seemed to be fighting / displaying and one dived in a small bramble bush right alongside me - the bird barely fits in the frame. The leg colour shows well!

 It eventually emerged and was then rather skittish. Did I mention there is always a branch in the way?

 Did I mention .....?

Well that's better but ... wait a minute. Those legs are black! I am genuinely confused: the wings look long like a Willow Warbler and at the time I was certain I was watching two Willow Warblers. I cannot explain. I know this bird looks a different colour but I think it is because some shots were in shade and some in the sun and the camera compensation has given the different appearances.

And now Mrs, Blackcap has come to see what the fuss is.

(Ed Wilson)

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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

Local Area

Today's Sightings Here

2014

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes

1 Grey Herons

2 Greylag Geese

1 Common Sandpiper

c.10 Sand Martins

>6 Barn Swallows

1 House Martin

2 Tawny Owls

2 Meadow Pipits

8 Blackcaps

8 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warbler

276 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

1 Greylag Goose

1 Cackling-type Goose

17 Tufted Ducks

1 Swallow

5 Blackcap

5 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

3 Little Ringed Plover 

>20 Willow Warbler

(John Isherwood)

The Flash

2 Shoveler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Common Redstart

8 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington

47 Black-tailed Godwit

6 Ringed Plover

3 Redshank

1 Dunlin

3 Swallows

(Andy Latham)

2011

Priorslee Lake

2 House Martin

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

7 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2008

Priorslee Lake

4 Common Sandpiper

4 Gadwall

(John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

12 Swallow

23 Sand Martin

1 House Martin

5 Great Crested Grebes

3 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

1 Water Rail

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

2 Fieldfares

3 Blackcaps

5 Chiffchaffs

6 Willow Warblers

2 Greenfinches

1 Siskin

1 Reed Bunting

(Martin Adlam)