20 Feb 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 12.0°C: Cloudy start with breaks developing and sunny periods later. Moderate WSW wind gusting fresh. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 07:17 GMT

* = a species photographed today.

An almost spring-like feel to the morning.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:15 – 09:30

(42nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The adult Mute Swans chased the cygnets in to the air for them to make another extended fly-around before returning. Afterwards peace seemed to have been declared.
- The lower number of ducks and Coots etc. was likely as a result of both weekend disturbance and the breezy conditions keeping some of them hidden in the reeds.
- Several Great Crested Grebes were displaying and flying around pre-dawn apparently changing partners. I could never find more than five birds at any one time.
- A Cetti's Warbler was singing again but in the north-west area.
- Two Blackbirds were heard singing strongly pre-dawn only.
- It seems I was too late to see the overhead roost dispersal of the Jackdaws and Rooks.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: circled over briefly
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 21 Wood Pigeons: of these six flew high North together
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 1 Redwing

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- *2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- *11 (9♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- *82 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls again
- 3 Herring Gulls again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / around the breezy street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *several 'winter midges'
- *1 spider sp.

Later:

Nothing of note

It was overcast early and the appearance of slight colouration as the clouds began to break caught me in the wrong position for the best view.

I tried!

The Mute Swan cygnets were chased off again.

They did not stay away very long. Here are two returning. From this angle their wings and tails look rather ragged.

A pair of Mallard flying by, the drake keeping a close eye on where the duck was headed.

An unusually brave Wood Pigeon just looked at me as I took its photo...

...and stayed there as I walked past to take its photo from the other side.

Nosey Coots. Just to the left of the right-most bird is a piece of black plastic that floated down on to the water. As it landed the Coots all set off for a look, no doubt hoping it was edible.

A Long-tailed Tit about to lift-off.

 In a more typical pose.

But then showing how acrobatic they are.

I am never sure whether this is a midge or, with its well-separated head, a winter cranefly. Logged as one of the 'winter midges'.

A common-enough spider approaching a white sticker that has the lamp number stencilled on it. I cannot identify the species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35

(38th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- As yesterday some more(?) Canada Geese were calling from inside the island.
- Yesterday's duck Pochard was perhaps the bird seen at the Balancing Lake today.
- Today's Great Crested Grebe was a first year bird without head plumes so was a different individual from that noted yesterday.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water
- c.40 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 33 (21♂) Mallard
- [the all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck) not noted]
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 72 (37♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 67 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: second(?) year
- 1 Cormorant
- no Grey Herons

On / around the street lamp poles

Nothing noted

Of note elsewhere.

All on the sunny and sheltered bank of Ivy:
- *1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- several unidentified flies

A duck Goosander. Probably one of the last I shall see here until Autumn as the birds return to breeding territories on flowing rivers.

After prolonged staring at the bank of Ivy and only finding a few nondescript flies I eventually noted my first Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) of the year.

(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 Pochard

7 Tufted Duck

13 Redwings

227 Jackdaws

172 Rooks

Meadow Pipit

5 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Pochard

174 Tufted Ducks

2 Goosanders

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Gadwall

29 Wigeon

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

(JW Reeves, John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake

2 Goosander

Little Grebe

(John Isherwood)

Horsehay Pool

1 Yellow-legged Gull

(JW Reeves)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Kumlien's Gull

(Peter Wilson/Dawn Balmer )

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Pochard 

13 Tufted Ducks

1 Curlew

c.620 Black-headed Gulls

68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

146 Wood Pigeons

34 Robins

18 Blackbirds

15 Song Thrushes

8 Redwings

193 Jackdaws

101 Rooks

12 Greenfinches

11 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

3 Cormorants

2 Gadwall

10 Pochard

27 Tufted Ducks

122 Coots

963 Wood Pigeons

17 Pied Wagtails

14 Greenfinches

62 Siskins

1 Redpoll

4 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)