10 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 5.0°C: Broken cloud after earlier snow. Moderate NW wind. Excellent visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:37 GMT]

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 11:05 – 11:55

(58th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the dam-top and the Castle Farm Way lay-by after the snow cleared away.

Bird notes:
- very quiet with nothing on the move.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 33 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 57 Coots again
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- *28 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant

These two gulls gave be a problem. They were of noticeably different size. The adult on the right here seemed to be a winter-plumage Black-headed Gull. So what is the first year bird on the left? It seems to be another Black-headed Gull but why is it so much smaller?

Here they are again.

And again. The only smaller gull I could think of was the Bonaparte's Gull from North America: a species that I have not see often, especially immatures. Comparison with illustrations in my bird guides suggest the markings are not correct.

Here it is on the water showing that it is must be just a small Black-headed Gull as this bird shows an orange bill. Bonaparte's Gull can be recognised by its all-black bill.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 12:00 – 13:05

(53rd visit of the year)

Another addition to my site bird list for this year (#54) was a Little Grebe mostly lurking under overhanging vegetation on the island.

Other bird notes:
- I could not find the Common Teal.
- Five splendid drake Goosanders today.
- A Blackbird was in song: my first of the year here.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water
- 26 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 30 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 41 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 (5♂) Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- *34 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- *37 Black-headed Gulls
- *4 Herring Gulls: one third and three second years
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Kingfisher

On / around the street lamp poles or of note elsewhere:
Nothing noted

The first sight I had of the Little Grebe. It is back right here. Also visible two drake and one duck Tufted Ducks; and two Coots.

Briefly in the open showing that it is breeding plumage with the chestnut cheeks and yellow spot at the base of bill.

 Little and large as it passes a Canada Goose.

A pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes.

You cannot have a stiff neck if you are a Great Crested Grebes. One day I will remember to press the video button...

Now in full breeding plumage and adult Black-headed Gull.

 And another about to fall off its perch.

The photos shows this Herring Gull is a third year bird and not, as I thought at the time, an adult. Note the pale grey wing is sullied brown, and there are dark smudges on the leading edge of the wing.

Sadly not a Robin singing against the snowy background for my Christmas card photo. A Dunnock in full voice.

Along Derwent Drive a pair of Pied Wagtails were working along wall looking for insects.

Apparently successfully.

Off for another insect.

(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 
3 Great Crested Grebe 
11 Tufted Duck 
3 Cormorant 
7 Great Black-backed Gulls 
465 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 
48 Herring Gulls 
37 Black-headed Gulls 
1 Chiffchaff 
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant) 

2013 
Priorslee Lake 
35 Tufted Duck 
27 Wigeon 
(Tony Beckett) 

The Flash 
36 Tufted Duck 
6 Mute Swan 
9 Pochard 
(Tony Beckett) 

2011 
Priorslee Lake 
7 Pochard 
18 Tufted Ducks 
1 Chiffchaff 
(Ed Wilson) 

2010 
Priorslee Lake 
1 Little Grebe 
1 Water Rail 
(Ed Wilson) 

2007 
Priorslee Lake 
10 Cormorants 
3 Grey Heron 
24 Tufted Duck 
1 Ruddy Duck 
497 Wood Pigeon 
32 Wren 
30 Robin 
21 Blackbird 
7 Redwing 
31 Magpie 
198 Jackdaw 
5 Greenfinch 
5 Reed Bunting 
(Ed Wilson) 

2006 
Priorslee Lake 
1 Little Grebe 
6 Great Crested Grebes 
4 Cormorants 
2 Pochard 
35 Tufted Ducks 
2 Ruddy Ducks 
109 Coots 
1 Water Rail heard 
2 Lapwings 
295 Wood Pigeons 
245 Jackdaws 
12 Greenfinches 
6 Reed Buntings. 
(Ed Wilson)