9 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear early and just frosted. Shower clouds building before I left. Moderate W wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:26 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:35 – 09:05

(83rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Mainly just a single Canada Goose noted, its presumed partner probably on the nest. A pair and a single Canada Geese visited briefly before being chased away.
- Six adult Black-headed Gulls flew through together.
- At least four *Brambling were seen on the N side. The three birds that flew W over the football field c.07:15 may have been some of these. Parties of 17 and six finches had been seen flying W earlier but were too far away to hear and visually identify. These could well have been some of the many Bramblings being reported in the area at the moment.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose; inbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs outbound
- 2 Stock Doves: pair
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: adults, together
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: mostly (near) adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 85 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 23 finches, possibly Brambling: see notes

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

One of the fishermen reported Barn Swallows and unidentified martins yesterday afternoon.

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

Counts from the lake area:
- 5? Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted

Noted later:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

The best of the sunrise.

Singing its heart out in dappled sunlight is a Wren.

For a change a female Chiffchaff though I only know that because it was with a singing male which would not have let a rival that close. Sexes are visually alike. This one certainly has black legs and feet.

Yet another in my sequence of poor Brambling photos! A male here. They only ever seem to be around when the light-level is still rather low for photography.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:10 – 10:05

(80th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- My first Racing Pigeons of the season where two groups totalling c.40 birds that shot across heading NW.
- I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- At least one Brambling heard calling along the E side. Not seen.

Birds noted flying over here:
- c.40 Racing Pigeons

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 19 (16♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 50 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *4 Herring Gulls: two second years and two first years
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both first year

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:

Nothing of note

One of the four Herring Gulls present. A second year bird with some grey in the centre of the wing and clean-looking upper-tail above the dark tail-band.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

4 Great Crested Grebes

2 Cormorants

2 Grey Herons

12 Tufted Duck

3 Swallows

7 Blackcaps

7 Chiffchaffs

2 Willow Warblers

133 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cackling-type Goose

29 Tufted Ducks

5 Blackcap

3 Chiffchaffs

5 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

1 Sky Lark

1 Meadow Pipit

1 Blackcap

2 Chiffchaffs

2 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

4 Great Crested Grebes

22 Tufted Ducks

2 Blackcaps

2 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe 

5 Great Crested Grebes 

5 Tufted Ducks

Little Ringed Plover

8 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Tit

3 Redwings

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Greylag Goose 

1 Cackling Goose 

73 Tufted Duck 

Brambling

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington

6 Redshank

18 Teal

(Martin Grant)

2011

Nedge Hill

Ring Ouzel

4 Common Redstart

7 Wheatear

(John Isherwood,Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin

3 Pied Flycatchers

2 Common Redstarts

1 Tree Pipit

(JW Reeves)

2007

Priorslee lake

4 Tufted Duck

1 Sparrowhawk

2 Sand Martin

1 Skylark

1 Meadow Pipit

4 Blackcap

2 Willow Warbler

9 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Tit

3 Reed Bunting

(Martin Adlam) 

Priorslee Village

1 Swallow

(Martin Adlam)

2006 

Priorslee Lake 

5 Great Crested Grebes

3 Herons

1 Cormorant

7 Tufted Ducks

1 Ruddy Duck

259 Jackdaw

4 Stock Doves

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

13 Meadow Pipits

21 Wrens

18 Robins

22 Blackbirds

1 Redwing

3 Blackcaps

7 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warblers

4 Jays

6 Greenfinches

2 Siskin

6 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)