30 Mar 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 6.0°C: Low overcast with only a few brighter moments. Light ESE wind. Moderate visibility.

Sunrise: 06:50 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:00 – 09:25

(76th visit of the year)

Bird of the day was an *Oystercatcher heard and then seen on the SW grassy area at 06:40. It was still there until 08:30 at least. Bird species #76 for me here this year.

Also worth highlighting were very many Redwings overhead. A party of at least 130 flew E at 06:55. c.75 were then seen flying N a few minutes later with 26 then seen flying S. At 07:10 a group of c.65 flew E. Whether all these were separate groups or whether the original group had split up is hard to say. I cannot recall ever seeing such large groups in Spring when numbers typically just fade away. Three birds were seen in trees around the Teece Drive gate at c.09:10 – a bit of an anti-climax.

And birds that got away. When I first heard the Oystercatcher call in flight I was along the N side in trees. As I got to a clearing which enabled a view of both the lake and the sky six small ducks got up from just in front of me and flew away E along the tree-line not giving me any sort of view. Possibly Teal?

Other bird notes:
- There were certainly three pairs of Great Crested Grebes with two of these having a serious-looking fight. Pairs were seen in four different general areas; as it often seem to be, I could never find all four pairs at the same time.
- Although there were 14 singing Chiffchaffs again one of the 'regulars' was not noted. There was an additional bird along the N side both calling and singing very quietly.
- Four singing Blackcaps now.
- All the Siskins seem to be long-gone as do most of the Goldfinches.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese: a pair outbound: a trio undecided
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 9 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Herring Gulls: both immatures flying S
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult? flying W
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Jackdaws only
- 2 Rooks
- >130 Redwings: as highlighted

Hirundines etc. noted:

None
They seem very tardy arriving this year.

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler still: noted here since 21st October 2021
- 14 (14) Chiffchaffs: see notes
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 unidentified small ducks: departed
- 7 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- Little Grebe(s) heard in NE area
- 6 (8?) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- *1 Oystercatcher
- 3 Herring Gulls: all immatures briefly
- 1 Kingfisher

On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- many plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
- many smaller midges, likely Chaoborus crystalinus
- 1 springtail sp.

Later:

Nothing of note

Not much to show today. This is the Oystercatcher as seen in the dull conditions at 07:00. There seems to be the hint of a white chinstrap which suggests that this is a first year bird.

Here later, in slightly better light, though I was having to shoot in to this light. Any remnant white chinstrap is not at all apparent here – just the merest hint below and behind the eye which not be apparent without having seen the previous view.

One more.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:25

(73rd visit of the year)

New for my 2022 bird list for here was Raven. One bird was heard and then seen being 'guided away' by the local Carrion Crows. I was amused to see that when the Raven inverted – as they often do during display – the harassing crow followed suit. Species #56.

Bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was once again on the grass alongside Derwent Drive though he did later enter the water a give half-hearted chase to the 2019 bird. This latter bird had earlier been trying climb in the nest with the brooding pen. The two 2021 cygnets were forced to amuse themselves. All very strange behaviour.
- As from 1st April I will no longer log the 2021 Mute Swans as cygnets and 3 + 2 (1) will become 5.
- The pair of Shoveler seem to have shoved back again. I wonder whether they ever left as they re-appeared only briefly and are presumably spending time inside the island.
- Talking of which I realise I did see the all-white duck yesterday asleep inside the island. At the time I thought it was the third year Herring Gull that had gone for a nap as I could not see the gull elsewhere. The duck was in exactly the same place today.
- Tufted Duck were flying around again. The minimum number was 51 (34♂): perhaps as many as 60 (40♂).
- Both yesterday and today I heard Stock Doves calling from trees in the SE area.
- Definitely a third Great Crested Grebe with all three birds visible at the same time. One was asleep more or less throughout.
- Two Black-headed Gulls again. One was the bird seen the previous two days with adult wings and tail but no black on the head. Today the other bird was a classic a first year individual.
- Two singing Blackcaps again but neither was where I heard them yesterday.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Raven

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again

On /around the water:
- 27 Canada Geese: of these three arrived as a pair and a single
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: number of eggs unknown
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 51 (34♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 12 Moorhens again
- 26 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 2 Herring Gull: one first years and one third year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- *1 Brindled Pug moth (Eupithecia abbreviata): moth species #4 at this site for me in 2022
- *1 plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- several other unidentified midges

Noted elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

What is this all about? The resident pen is sitting on the eggs. The other Mute Swan here can be identified as the 2019 bird by the absence of rings on its legs. Meanwhile the cob was on the grass beside the road seemingly unconcerned. He did enter the water and paddle in pursuit a bit later.

I have mentioned branches, nay forests, in the way previously. Our ringed male Grey Wagtail is often to be found near the top end.

I almost managed to avoid the twigs. Note here the length of the tail. It is longer than in any other species of wagtail.

Two for the price of one: on the right a Brindled Pug moth (Eupithecia abbreviata). On the left in almost certainly a female and hence non-plumed example of a plumed midge Chironomus plumosus.

(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

1 Little Grebe

4 Great Crested Grebes

3 Cormorants

1 Grey Heron

19 Tufted Duck

4 Meadow Pipits

1 Redwing

1 Blackcap

7 Chiffchaffs

197 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cackling Goose

2 Common Teal

42 Tufted Ducks

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Horsehay Pool

Mandarin Ducks

(JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

15 Tufted Duck

1 Peregrine Falcon

3 Blackcaps

12 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood )

The Flash 

46 Tufted Duck 

3 Blackcaps

4 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

Raven

(John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Warbler

1 Swallow

14 Tufted Duck

2 Ruddy Duck

1 Sparrowhawk

5 Great Crested Grebe

1 Little Grebe

1 Grey Heron

20 Redwing

4 Siskins

2 Linnet

9 Greenfinch

4 Reed Bunting

10 Meadow Pipit

1 Willow Tit

(Martin R Adlam)