23 Feb 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 9.0°C:  Early broken cloud with a light shower. Clearer after 08:00 with cloud developing again after 09:00. Moderate SW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise:  07:10 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake:  06:10 – 09:15

(45th visit of the year)

A depressing day on two counts. Their remains fewer birds around than in previous years. Then as I was leaving I met contractors working for Severn Trent who were preparing to cut down yet more trees "that might fall on people walking round the lake". They explained they would not be leaving all the dead wood because "people might interfere with it". A chipper was being brought in. What can I say? No wonder nature is in crisis. In my youth when I went in the woods I was clearly trespassing on private land – which the lake is – and if I had an accident that was my problem. Whatever happened to "personal responsibility"?. I blame the lawyers: "somebody must be sued (and we will take a hefty percentage)". I am surprised Severn Trent don't drain the lake in case someone falls in. And then concrete it over to avoid anyone getting stuck in the (alleged) deep mud. Pah! Rant over.

Bird notes:
- Four single Stock Doves flew over at widely separate times. A trio was seen displaying overhead a traditional nest site around the garden centre to the far NE. How these three birds relate to those seen overhead is unclear.
- Yesterday's two Great Crested Grebes behaving as a pair were along the N side reeds (again no display seen). A pair was also seen displaying in the usual NW area. Try as I might I could never see more than three birds at any one time! I am almost certain there were four birds.
- The first Black-headed Gulls I noted were four flying E. Shortly afterwards 13 dropped in to the lake: most did not stay. A group of 42 was seen flying S to the W: these may have come off the Ricoh fields though I have logged them as overflying. Later 66 were noted on the water – where did they come from?
- All the Herring Gulls seen, both overhead and on the water, were first year birds. All bar one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were adults.
- Strangely I have only seen or heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker on three mornings so far this year. They are usually noisy both calling and drumming at this time of the year. I had plenty of records in November and December so where are they?
- The Cetti's Warbler was not heard.
- A mixed group of 4 Fieldfare and 36 Redwings flew E to the N. Four Redwings were noted leaving a roost in the NE area.
- For the first time for many weeks I neither heard nor saw a Siskin.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Geese: three duos and two singles outbound
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 4 Stock Doves: singles: see also notes
- 17 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove again
- 49 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: first year birds, together
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk again
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 158 Jackdaws
- 4 Fieldfares: with...
- 36 Redwings

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *11 (9♂) Mallard
- 18 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 36 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- >66 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 3 Herring Gulls: first year birds
- no Cormorant
- no Grey Heron

On the street lamp poles:
- *1 small red-eyed fly
- 1 springtail sp.
- *1 small spider

Otherwise noted:
- *several small and rather hairy flies sunning on a lamp pole.

When the moon is cross-lit the craters always show up well. Here at just about half-moon.

The early dawn did not look too inspiring.

This meant I was in the wrong place – on the dam top – when colour suddenly appeared and I had to make do with the Castle Farm Way trees as a foreground.

All was not quite lost as it did mean I could attempt to photograph the rainbow.

It is that time of year when Mallard are flying around, the ducks looking for somewhere to nest with drakes in close attendance. As usual drakes outnumber ducks.

A bit too far away. One Long-tailed Tit from one of the two groups that I noted this morning.

"Say ah!" A male Reed Bunting declaiming his territory.

He makes up in gusto for his rather nondescript utterings.

Meanwhile a female Reed Bunting in a different part of the lake demolishes one of the Greater Reedmace (Typha latifolia) [aka Bulrush].

At this date I assume she is after the seeds to eat rather than collecting nest lining.

The small red-eyed fly on a lamp pole pre-dawn. Looks to have a reddish or orange-toned body.

With the sun shining on one of the sheltered lamp poles there were four of these rather hairy flies getting some warmth. I cannot identify the species. The 'rainbow effect' in the wings is light interference patterns and not the colour of the wing structure.

Not much to characterise this small spider: all dark body and pale orangey legs. One for Nigel.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25

(43rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Just four drake Pochard all together by the island.
- The two Great Crested Grebes asleep together by the island for a while. They then disappeared.
- *A Grey Wagtail was singing from a small tree alongside the path around the lake.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Black-headed Gulls

On /around the water:
- 26 Canada Geese again
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 34 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 71 (36♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 18 Black-headed Gulls: 12 of these arrived
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, briefly

On /around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted

Of interest elsewhere:
- *several Common Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax)
- *several Muscid flies
- *a few Daisies (Bellis perennis) in full bloom

Singing away here is what I assume is a male Grey Wagtail. The black bib that both males and older females acquire in the breeding season is not yet fully developed. Note however that this bird has one (or more) rings on its legs. It is not possible to see the whole suite of rings but it is almost certainly the male that was ringed as a juvenile at Heysham in Lancashire in September 2020, first noted here in November 2020 and which bred in the area last year.

"Who are you?"

Just a Daisy (Bellis perennis). This species can be seen in flower at almost all times of the year. Until today when the warmth of the sun perked a few up most were rather sad-looking.

This one must have been producing nectar. A Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) is taking advantage. My first hoverfly of the year.

The same drone fly in close-up. Note the shade in the wings which it shares with the similar Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax). This latter species has pale yellow front and mid-tarsi.

Another unidentified fly species. This has rather more markings in the wings than many I see.

One of the regularly seen Muscid flies resting on the Ivy bank. The black area under the left leg is I think entirely co-incidental.

What seems to be the same Muscid species here resting on "The Priorslee" sign which provides a contrast to show its hairy bum (am I allowed to say that these days? Or am I being 'bummist?')

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Cormorants
3 Grey Herons
8 Pochard
8 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
1 Kingfisher
6 Redwings
391 Jackdaws
217 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
201 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
(Ed Wilson)

Hortonwood
21 Redwings
(Dave Tromans)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown)

The Flash
Drake Scaup
(Richard Vernon)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
55 Pochard
104 Tufted Duck
1 Common Gull
2 Ravens
22 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
200 Black-headed Gulls
400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
20 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
Glaucous Gull
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Pete Nickless)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant
5 Pochard
9 Tufted Duck
2 Kestrel
556 Wood Pigeon
27 Robin
23 Blackbird
1 Fieldfare
14 Redwing
47 Magpie
100 Jackdaw 
96 Rook
16 Greenfinch
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
2 Cormorants
9 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
3 Water Rails
c.420 Wood Pigeon
c.60 Starling
29 Pied Wagtails
23 Blackbirds
6 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
1 Redpoll
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)