19 Mar 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 9.0°C: Wall to wall clear. Light E breeze increased moderate. Good visibility – a bit hazy.

Sunrise: 06:16 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:15

(65th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A pair of Canada Geese was on the SW grass at 05:45 and until 06:15 at least. They were not noted later. It is possible that they disappeared in to the reeds at the E end, where a pair nested last year. The Mute Swans were busy with Spring activity at the other end.
- Five Black-headed Gulls came from the E at 06:00 and stayed only until a party of 47 flew SE overhead. Two more groups of three and eight followed overhead soon after.
- A full-winged Grey Heron flew high W 08:15.
- Four Redwings seen flying off pre-dawn from different roost sites.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 58 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *6 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 57 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 2 Siskins

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted. (figures in brackets relate to singing birds)
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler remains
- *14 (14) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: departed? see notes
- *2 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 8 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- Little Grebes heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Black-headed Gull: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron

On / around the dew-covered street lamp poles pre-dawn
- *1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

Noted later:
- 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- many of the cluster-type flies on several lamp poles
- *Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) flower: my first here
- *Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) flowers: first of year for me

The pen Mute Swan at The Flash has two eggs already. The pair here are still in love. It does not look very comfortable for her.

One of a small group of all immature Herring Gulls that flew over. Especially on the left wing the paler inner primaries show well, separating this from a Lesser Black-backed Gull. This latter species would also show much darker patterning on the underwing.

I thought this Chiffchaff was having a bad hair day... Note that this individual does not have black legs but it is a Chiffchaff as it was singing.

This shot was taken at least an hour later. He either needs a good preen or has a plumage problem.

Did not seen to affect his singing.

Another presumed Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea) still in winter garb. There are other similar species, much less common. This one has a wonky antenna.

This is Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis), a small early flowering plant. I have been looking for this for several weeks in what is now a rather overgrown area. I found this at a different place.

A close-up of the very inconspicuous flowers. I have seen these in late February in some years.

I saw one of these Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) flowers between the lake and The Flash a few days ago. My first of the year around the lake.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25

(62nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The pen Mute Swan has two eggs so far.
- Only one duck Mallard noted, being chased by at least seven drakes.
- Bumper number of Moorhens noted: 19
- *Two Siskins only noted.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted. (figures in brackets relate to singing birds)
- *6 (6) Chiffchaffs

On /around the water:
- 30 Canada Geese: a pair of these flew off
- 5 Greylag Geese: arrived together
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 16 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal still
- 62 (39♂) Tufted Duck
- 18 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:

Nothing

High in trees at the top end was this Chiffchaff. One of six heard singing in the area.

Just two Siskins seen here today. Here a male eating Alder seeds. Over the last week the number of Siskins has much reduced both here and at the lake.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- 1 Moorhen in the stream above the upper pool
- 5 Starlings in trees
- 1 Chiffchaff around the lower pool still

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Nothing of note

(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

2013

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes 

7 Wigeon 

2 Gadwall 

18 Tufted Ducks 

127 Jackdaws

158 Black-headed Gulls

22 Herring Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull

1 Chiffchaff singing

6 Redwings

1 Siskin

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebe 

7 Swans 

2 Pochard 

1 Greater Scaup 

81 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

1 Chiffchaff  singing

1 Little Grebe 

4 Great Crested Grebes 

1 Cormorant 

25 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

1 Great Crested Grebe 

3 Cormorant 

6 Tufted Duck 

2 Goosander 

5 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

2 Sand Martins

(Martin Adlam)

2007

Priorslee Lake

2 Great Crested Grebe

2 Cormorant

22 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

1 Green Woodpecker

8 Meadow Pipit

25 Wren

20 Blackbird

5 Redwing

5 Chiffchaff

34 Magpie

8 Greenfinch

8 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

8 Great Crested Grebe

2 Pochard

32 Tufted Duck

1 Chiffchaff singing

(Ed Wilson)