16 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 9.0°C: Dull and overcast. One brief spell of light drizzle. A few brighter moments later. Fresh southerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:23 GMT

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 09:15

(64th visit of the year)

Best bird today was the Peregrine that flew fast East at 06:40. Not new for the year but always good to see.

Other bird notes:
- What I assumed to be the same Pheasant was heard calling from the south-west area; along the South side; and then from the south-east copse.
- Yesterday's pair of Gadwall gone again. The duck Pochard still present.
- Many of the Mallard flew off. Four drakes and a duck seen later on a roof in Teece Drive were probably some of these.
- The Cetti's Warbler sang frequently from the bramble thicket behind the sailing club shelter. Could I see it? No!
- The mild weather triggered all the Song Thrushes in to full voice. I counted 14. The Blackbirds did not want to be left out and I counted eight of those in song – twice my previous highest count of singing birds this year.
- Two Mistle Thrushes were together in the tall trees along the North side. One was in song. They flew off but I did not see where to..

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair flew East; a lone bird flew North
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 19 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- *1 Peregrine
- 1 Starling

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese: three pairs, one of which arrived
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 16 (11♂) Mallard: many flew off
- 1 (0♂) Pochard again
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck only
- 13 Moorhens
- 60 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes again
- 62 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately again

Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
- several Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *unidentified spider sp.

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

Nothing noted or of note elsewhere.

It was very dull when this Peregrine shot over at 06:40. It is just about recognisable with its chunky body and relatively short tail. I was surprised the camera managed to find it.

Here is one of the White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger).

And here is the other!

I have seen this spider with its distinctive white teardrop markings on the abdomen in previous years. I am sure I had it identified. I can't match it though. This was in the sailing club shelter pre-dawn.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20

(59th visit of the year)

*A Grey Wagtail in Derwent Drive and then on the roof of one of the houses was my first record of this species here this year. Number 57. Strangely I have yet to see a Common Buzzard over here this year.

Other bird notes:
- A Pheasant was calling from the East side again.
- The drake Shoveler present for the last two mornings was not seen.
- Two of the four drake Goosanders were first year birds.
- I have no idea why there were so few Moorhens seen.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Wood Pigeons flew high North together
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Noted on / around the water
- 24 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 31 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- *6 (4♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: one third year and one second year
- 5 Cormorants

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

The only two Goosanders present when I arrived were this pair standing and preening on the island.

Due allowance for the low light please! A duck Goosander about to splash down with her tail spread, acting as an air-brake. It is almost possible to count the number of tail feathers. A first winter drake Goosander in the foreground.

A quizzical-looking Wren, tail cocked as usual.

A male Grey Wagtail stepping out on the roof of one of the houses in Derwent Drive. It has no leg rings so is not the bird present in recent years.

It is the black-throat that identifies it as a male. This feature is better seen in this shot. The black is still a bit blotchy with some of the pale tips to the feathers yet to wear off. The median coverts (the feathers with rounded tips) also have pale tips which suggests to me this is a first year bird.

(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

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

1 Iceland Gull

1 Yellow-legged Gull.

(Tom Lowe)

2012

Priorslee Lake

1 Kittiwake 

2 adult Little Gulls

(J Reeves / Jim Almond / Andy Latham)

2011

Priorslee Lake

13 Pochard

18 Tufted Duck

5 Great Crested Grebe

12+ Sand Martin

3 Chiffchaff

17 Pied Wagtails

23 Linnets

11 Greenfinches

(Mike Cooper, (Martin Grant, Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

2 Great Crested Grebe

c.12 Tufted Duck

4  Teal

2 Chiffchaff  singing

1 Kingfisher

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock 

30 Tufted Duck 

6 Sand Martins

3 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

( Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe 

7 Great Crested Grebe 

1 Heron

6 Gadwall

19 Tufted Duck

2 Reed Buntings

( Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebe

15 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

3 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

46 Golden Plover

4 Stock Dove

281 Wood Pigeon

27 Wren

38 Robin

21 Blackbird

1 Redwing

4 Chiffchaff singing

3 Jay

35 Magpie

159 Jackdaw

3 Reed Bunting

( Ed Wilson)