7 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 8.0°C: Blustery showers driven by fresh / strong NW wind. Very little sun. Very good visibility, moderate in showers.

[Sunrise: 06:31 BST]

* = a photo today

A delayed start and a brief visit to the lake between showers after visiting The Flash for a more normal walk around.

Priorslee Lake: 10:30 – 11:00

(82nd visit of the year)

Just time for a quick look between showers from the Castle Farm Way lay-by. Noted flying in the lee at the W end were:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 2 House Martins: these were my first of the year and species #79 here this year.
Nothing else seemed to have been blown in and apart from the resident Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Moorhens and Coots nothing else was seen.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:25

(79th visit of the year)

Still at least two *Brambling in trees alongside squirrel alley.

However the biggest surprise of the day was a *drake Goosander present when I arrived but which almost immediately flew off. A very unusual date for this species to be away from its riverine nesting site. My last sighting here was on 26 January (23rd for my last drake).

Other bird notes:
- More Mallard drakes noted. They had probably been blown off the roof-tops they like to hide on.
- For some reason the number of Tufted Duck has (more than) recovered.
- One of the Great Crested Grebes caught a fish to present to its partner.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling alongside squirrel alley.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- *53 Canada Geese: 22 of these arrived including a group of 18 with...
- *3 Canada x Greylag Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese: a pair of these flew off
- 5 Mute Swans
- 27 (23♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 67 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- *1 (1♂) Goosander: departed
- 6 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Herring Gulls: one second year and one first year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year

On / around the street lamp poles:

Nothing noted

Noted elsewhere:
- *Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) flowers: the same date that I first recorded them last year.

A group of 21 geese flew in amongst which was this sub-group of three Canada Geese and three Canada x Greylag Geese. Whenever I have seen a trio of hybrids previously they have either been on their own or with an apparently paired Canada and Greylag Goose. It may of course not be the same trio.

Very much a record shot of this morning's very much out of season drake Goosander. Just as I arrived it paddled to the middle of the water and took-off.

A first year Herring Gull with pink undercarriage down.

The photos are getting better but will the Brambling stay around long-enough for me to get a good photo? Another first year male with broad orange shoulders and significant black on, especially, the front part of the head and nape. Note again the white rump visible between the folded wings.

This is Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica). The flowers of Forget-me-not species have five petals. The Speedwell family (Veronica sp.) has just four petals on each flower.

(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

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Snipe

(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

34 Tufted Ducks

1 Blackcap

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

4 Great Crested Grebes

11 Tufted Ducks

12 Sand Martins

1 Swallow

2 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Little Grebes 

5 Great Crested Grebes 

2 Cormorants

1 Heron

15 Tufted Ducks 

Woodcock

1 Sky Lark

3 Meadow Pipits

7 Redwings

39 Fieldfare 

149 Jackdaws

Brambling

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

1 Pochard 

48 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Red-legged Partridge

2 Sky Larks 

1 Redwing

1 Linnet

(Ed Wilson)

2012

Priorslee Lake 

20+ Sand Martins 

3 Swallows 

1 House Martin 

7 Chiffchaff 

2 Blackcap 

(Martin Grant) 

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 Redshank 

(Ed Wilson) 

Nedge Hill 

Common Redstart 

(Observer Unknown) 

2007

Priorslee lake

3 Great Crested Grebe 

1 Pintail x Mallard 

11 Tufted Duck 

1 Ruddy Duck 

2 Buzzard 

2 Sand Martin 

5 Meadow Pipit 

4 Blackcap 

8 Chiffchaff 

1 Willow Tit 

3 Reed Bunting 

(Martin Adlam) 

2006 

Priorslee Lake 

6 Great Crested Grebes 

1 Heron 

3 Cormorants 

4 Tufted Ducks 

2 Ruddy Ducks 

118 Jackdaws 

4 Stock Doves 

3 Sky Larks 

3 Meadow Pipits 

19 Robins 

27 Blackbirds 

1 Redwing 

1 Blackcap 

7 Chiffchaffs 

4 Willow Warblers 

17 Magpies 

3 Jays 

8 Greenfinches 

10 Siskins 

5 Reed Buntings 

(Ed Wilson)