5 Oct 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

12.0°C: Still mostly cloudy after morning rain cleared. Moderate WSW wind. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:17 BST]

* = a photo from today.

I avoided the early rain and made a short visit later.

Priorslee Lake: 13:05 – 13:50

(215th visit of the year)

Viewing from the dam-top only

Bird notes:
- I was still unable to decide the sex of the two Eurasian Wigeon.
- I have no thoughts as to where the missing Great Crested Grebes have gone. All I can suggest is that now most of the juveniles are independent some of them are being missed as they play 'submarines' and some of the adults may have left.

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 2 (?♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- 13 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 164 Coots
- 13 Great Crested Grebes again
- 75 Black-headed Gulls
- 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 13:55– 14:45

(208th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- According to one of the fishermen the new feral Mallard-type duck had arrived c.11:30 and carefully ignored by all the other Mallard. It flew off while I was present.

Noted on / around the water
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) feral Mallard-type ducks: one flew off
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 18 Moorhens again
- 22 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Black-headed Gulls: three first winter birds
- 6 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

While I was there Canada Geese were arriving...

 ...and leaving.

Here is the newly in and quickly departed drake feral Mallard-type.

Another view. In addition to the green head the drake Mallard gene that creates the curly tail is apparent. Looking at web this form of Mallard is known as the Pomeranian Duck. The articles I read suggest that I should be calling the all-white bird a Pekin Duck. Both are domesticated forms of Mallard that have escaped.

One of the Grey Herons has taken to perching on one of the bridge parapets.

It has a good shake.

 It is bold and will stare you down if you approach slowly.

It is less happy when dog-walkers approach and here he goes. Look in the background: another Grey Heron and just visible are two Cormorants with their wings spread.

Plane of the day, rather surprisingly in view of the weather. This small light aircraft was nearly 5000' up. It is 1967-build Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee and privately owned by a resident who lives near Doncaster.

(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

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)