2 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

1.0°C > 5.0°C: Frosty. A few patches of both medium- and high-level clouds with sunny spells. Light N wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:43 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:00 – 08:50

(77th visit of the year)

Birds of the day were at least two *Bramblings along the N side. This is a species that I do not record here every year and then most often as a calling bird flying over in Autumn. Bird species #77 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- There seemed to be just one pair of Great Crested Grebes. Where have all the others gone? At least two of the pairs had seemed to be checking out potential nest sites.
- In addition to the single Redwing fly-over there was one bird singing from trees between the football field and the housing estate. It is not every year that I hear song before they leave for their breeding grounds in Scandinavia.
- Two Mistle Thrushes were singing alongside Teece Drive concurrently. Usually only a single pair breeds here. I have had many more sightings this year than usual.
- I usually record two singing Coal Tits in the breeding season: today there seemed to be three in different locations.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound: two pairs inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: inbound
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 28 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls: all immatures flying S singly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: immature flying S
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 79 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks again
- 1 Redwing

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler still
- *13 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- Little Grebe(s) heard at W end
- *2 Great Crested Grebes only
- no gulls

On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- many plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Later:

Nothing of note

Think of them as 'nodding donkeys' at oil-wells! The sunrise.

Early calm waters from the dam.

Apparently just these two Great Crested Grebes remain. This pair had just finished a quick display.

A handsome Mistle Thrush in typically erect posture.

None of the Blackcaps would come out for a photo so we will have to make do with another Chiffchaff photo as warbler of the day.

A male Great Tit with a wide black zip down the belly.

And his partner with a narrow black-zip.

A male Brambling, one of at least two birds in trees along the N side. This one has a long way to go before the whole head goes jet black for the breeding season. Note the white belly and the orange across the breast which extends on to the shoulders. Note also the black-tipped yellow bill.

This male Greenfinch looks a real bruiser!

A male Bullfinch has found something to eat.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:55 – 10:05

(74th visit of the year)

Mystery today was the disappearance (since yesterday I was told) of the Mute Swans' eggs. There was no trace of the eggs nor were any eggshells to be seen. There seemed to be no sign of any particular disturbance at the nest – just flattened vegetation where the pen had been sitting. The cob was much more active than recently. His lethargic appearance had been videoed to Cuan Wildlife Rescue. They had been unable to attend because they have an Avian Flu outbreak.

Other bird notes:
- The pair of Shoveler, if still present, not located
- I had expected to hear a Willow Warbler this morning – it is that time. No joy.
- Still only two singing Blackcaps.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Wood Pigeons high N
- 5 Herring Gulls: all immatures flew S together
- 1 Jackdaw

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

On /around the water:
- 30 Canada Geese: of these a pair flew in
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: *no eggs
- no Shoveler
- 28 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 67 (41♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens only
- 26 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *6 Herring Gull: five first years and one third year

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- *2 plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
- 1 stretch spider (Tetragnatha sp.)

Empty nest blues. Just a few confectionery packets and flattened vegetation where the pen was sitting. No sign of any eggs or shells. Where can they be?

Still numerous Herring Gulls around. Here are two, both immatures. The back bird is having a good shout.

A passing first year bird with an all-dark bill.

And the upper wing view. At this range a feature I had not appreciated before is the outer of pale inner primaries are in fact dark tipped.

The leading bird of this pair seemed rather dark on the back and I did wonder about Yellow-legged Gull. The wing-pattern does not support this and it seems it is a first year Herring Gull as is the chasing bird.

Another duo clearly showing the wing pattern.

Dive! Dive! Dive! How to wet your plumage for a bathe.

The bird at the top left is emerging from just such a dive.

"Do you want me to pose in profile?"

 "Or full-face?" A Blue Tit of course.

A male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 2 species of crane fly
- *3 species of plumed midges (different sizes)
- *small fly with patterned wings

The smallest of the three male plumed midges I found.

This was the largest of the three, all smaller than the typical Chironomus plumosus. I messed up the photo of the middle-sized specimen.

I do not recall seeing this small fly with well-patterned wings previously.

(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 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cormorant

7 Greylag Geese

14 Tufted Duck

4 Blackcaps

6 Chiffchaffs

229 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

6 Greylag Geese

1 Cackling Goose

52 Tufted Ducks

2 Blackcap

4 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

3 Great Crested Grebes

3 Greylag Geese

12 Tufted Ducks

1 Little Gull

2 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

33 Greylag Geese

10 Tufted Duck

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Water Rail

2 Gadwall

7 Wigeon

2 Little Grebe

Chiffchaff

Reed Bunting.

(John Isherwood)

The Flash

1 Brambling

1 Shoveler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

>100 Fieldfare

> 50 Redwing

6 Lapwing

Meadow Pipit

Yellowhammer

(John Isherwood)

2012

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes 

9 Greylag Geese

2 Tufted Duck

1 Curlew

1 Peregrine

4 Blackcaps

13 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

4 Great Crested Grebes 

48 Tufted Duck 

2 Blackcaps

1 Willow Warbler

5 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

1 Curlew

5 Sky Larks

1 Blackcap 

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Priorslee Lake

2 Curlew

Wheatear

> 50 Sand Martin

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 male Common Redstart

21 Wheatear

(John Isherwood, Ian Grant)

2010

Priorslee Lake

White Wagtail

Wheatear

3 Sand Martin

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Willow Tit

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

Common Redstart

6 Lapwing

(John Isherwood)

2009

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebe

17 Tufted Duck

2 Willow Tit

4 Chiffchaffs

4 Bullfinch

1 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 

25 Tufted Duck

2 Shoveler

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill 

2 Lapwing 

2 Curlew

1 Blackcap

1 Sparrowhawk 

4 Meadow Pipits

4 Skylarks

4 Chiffchaffs 

8 Goldfinches

5 Yellowhammers 

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

7 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

146 Jackdaws

1 Stock Dove

192 Wood Pigeons

2 Sky Larks

1 Meadow Pipit

27 Blackbirds

31 Fieldfares

3 Swallow

53 Sand Martins

4 Swallow

3 Blackcaps

2 Willow Warblers

4 Chiffchaffs

2 Jays

22 Greenfinches

2 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)