9 Mar 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 6.0°C: Mainly cloudy with a few brighter interludes. Moderate SSE breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:39 GMT

* = a photo today

Another day of the 'Summer' routine

Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 06:40 // 07:40 – 09:30

(56th visit of the year)

The strength of the wind prevented any ice forming on the lake though all the puddles were frozen.

Bird notes:
- The two pairs of Canada Geese that arrived seemed to get on reasonably well. Neither pair was seen anywhere near the dam, the recent haunt of a pair.
- Just one drake Mallard seen on the water. A pair were seen later flying out of gardens in Teece Drive before heading to splash down in the lower pool.
- Four Great Crested Grebes again and once more none was seen to interact with any of the others.
- Just three Black-headed Gulls seen on the water. At 06:35 there were 19 on the football field (along with a bumper number of 42 Wood Pigeons. Will the academy have to cover the field as well as fence it off to protect their pupils from bird droppings?!)
- The Grey Heron flew off W at 07:40.
- The Cetti's Warbler's song was carrying across the water this morning.
- Four Chiffchaffs now: two singing and two only calling.
- At least 30 Redwings in trees alongside Teece Drive at 09:20.
- A party of more than 40 Siskins flew from across the M54 and scattered in all directions. Many had already been seen and heard around the lake but as there was much flying about they could have been some of the same birds. I noted some apparently feeding from willow blossom ("pussy willow"): presumably on the pollen?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: scattered trio outbound again
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 1 Feral Pigeon again
- 1 Stock Dove
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: together
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 10 Herring Gulls
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 71 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- many Siskins: see notes

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese; two pair arrived separately
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Mallard: but see notes
- 23 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: but see notes
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn: 
Nothing. The wind was blowing straight down the path affecting all the poles.

Later:
Nothing of note

Not too many photos today: mostly rather overcast. I found this Long-tailed Tit (with the usual branch in the way) close to what seemed to be a nest site. So I took just the one shot and left it undisturbed.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:45 – 07:35

(53rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- 18 of the Canada Geese took off: a few moment later 12 landed – I assume these decided not to leave after all.
- Much flying about by the Mallard and accurate numbers hard to ascertain.
- The pair of Teal hiding again?
- The drake Pochard gone?
- Most of the Tufted Duck were together in neat groups and much easier to count than usual.
- Just one Great Crested Grebe lurking unusually at the top end under overhanging trees.
- The same two immature Herring Gulls. Better views today suggested they are first and second year birds.
- A Mistle Thrush heard giving its 'football rattle' call (does anyone know what a football rattle is these days?) and then two birds were seen in the trees at the top left (NW) part of the water. No song heard.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 1 Jackdaw

On /around the water:
- 40 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- no Teal
- no Pochard
- 77 (44♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 8 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures; arrived separately

On /around the street lamp poles or elsewhere around here:
Nothing

One of the two immature Herring Gulls from this morning. They have probably been the same birds for a few days. The folded wings on this look much like a typical second winter. However the bill suggests an older bird so it is probably acquiring second summer characteristics.

Low light level for a flying shot. Nevertheless this has all the hallmarks of first year Herring Gull with a very dark tail band and mottled upper-tail.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- A pair of Mallard flew in to the lower pool.
- One Moorhen on the lower pool: one heard from the upper pool.
- A Starling 'singing' from the roof of one of the adjacent houses.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 1 Zygiella spider, either Z. atrica or Z. x-notata

One of the orb-web spiders and most likely one of the Zygiella species, either Z. atrica or Z. x-notata. Apart from detailed examination these species are best separated by habitat with Z. x-notata favouring window frames and car mirrors. Tucked in a corner in the tunnel then it is likely Z. atrica.


(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

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
1 Grey Wagtail
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
37 Tufted Ducks
1 Chiffchaff. First of the year
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Snipe
1 Teal
11 Pied Wagtails
13 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
17 Redwings
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

2007
Priorslee Lake
6 Cormorant
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
420 Wood Pigeon
33 Wren
25 Robin
22 Blackbird
17 Fieldfare
22 Redwing
1 Chiffchaff. First of the year
4 Goldcrest
59 Magpie
218 Jackdaw
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebe
3 Pochard
38 Tufted Duck
11 Goosander
1 Stock Dove
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
115 Coots
226 Wood Pigeon
178 Jackdaws
21 Blackbirds
c.25 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
9 Greenfinches
6 Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)