15 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

-1.0°C > 4.0°C: Clear and frosty start with high cloud soon spreading from the south-west. Thickening and lowering all the while. Calm start with chilly SSE breeze picking up. Very good visibility apart from some early low-level mist over the water.

Sunrise: 06:25 GMT

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 09:15

(63rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Pheasant called from the south-west area.
- A pair of Gadwall and a duck Pochard reappeared
- 45 of the overflying Wood Pigeons were noted heading high North in eight separate small groups. In such small groups and at height they were difficult to see with my naked eye and there could have been many more passing.
- The Cetti's Warbler sang frequently from the north-west area.
- Three Mistle Thrushes were seen together in flight over the West end. Still no song heard.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese: two pairs and a single outbound, the single with...
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 1 (1♂) Goosander: flew East 07:10
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 89 Wood Pigeons: see notes
- 1 Collared Dove
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 10 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: of these five arrived
- 1 Greylag Goose: briefly
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 63 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 72 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately

On the frost-encrusted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel or of note elsewhere.
Nothing noted

For the early risers the skies were clear and the lake was calm.

It did not take long for high cloud to appear from the south-west.

Sun rise through frost-covered trees

 The sun was soon weakened by the high cloud. Note the mist rising over the lake.

I did not see this pair of Gadwall during my visit yesterday. They were in their usual spot alongside the dam today.

I noted at least two Jays this morning, all being typically wary. Here is one peering at me.

I repositioned to get a (slightly) better view.

This different bird was less wary.

The Cetti's Warbler was singing loudly close-by. I made squeaking noises to see whether it would pop out to investigate. It didn't of course but, typically, it was Blue Tits who came to see what the noise was all about.

This seems to be a mix of fungus and lichen growing on a fallen tree-trunk. None of my apps. could come up with any suggestions.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:35

(58th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- After yesterday's high count of Goosanders just a pair today. Indeed most things were in lower numbers.
- The drake Shoveler was still present from yesterday.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Noted on / around the water
- 32 Canada Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 31 (20♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 37 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 9 Moorhens only
- 27 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 37 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: one third year, one second year and two first years
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Kingfisher again

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

A typical view of any feeding Shoveler, head underwater, using their strange-shape bill to filter goodies from sediment disturbed by their habit of swimming in circles. A drake here and presumably the bird seen against the island yesterday.

Adult duck Goosanders have white throats as evidenced by this view.

Not quite so obvious at the typical viewing angle.

Here she is again.

And again.

There are at least four Chaffinches in the area, including this male. I have yet to hear any singing here this year.

A gruesome sight. I found it amongst vegetation at the top end. I am almost certain it was a Canada Goose. It was pointed out to me that the goose with the 'angel wing' deformity has not been seen for several days. I was told the cob Mute Swan had been chasing it very aggressively and the goose was unable to fly to escape.

(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

2013
Horsehay Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
20 Goosander
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Paul King)