1 Apr 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 8.0°C: A promising start with a few breaks in a medium overcast soon deteriorated in to another low overcast morning. Light north-east breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:45 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:40 – 09:05

(77th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Two Pheasant were heard calling: one from the Ricoh copse; and one from the remnant wooded area between the academy and the new houses.
- In addition to the presumed resident and potentially breeding pair of Canada Geese another pair and a trio visited briefly before being chased away: as did a pair of Greylag Geese.
- A party of at least 10 Jackdaws flew low South at roost dispersal time – my first such party for some weeks. They were flying behind trees and I was not able to make an accurate count.
- For the first time this year I noted more singing Blackbirds (13) than singing Song Thrushes (10) pre-sunrise.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Geese: pair outbound; three pairs inbound
- 1 (♂?) Tufted Duck
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls: all adults
- 3 Cormorants: a duo and a single
- >10 Jackdaws: see notes
- 2 Rooks

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 16 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese: briefly
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 5 Moorhens only
- 42 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- *1 Grey Heron: departed

Noted on the damp street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 plumed midge likely the very common Chironomus plumosus
- 1 small red-eyed fly sp.
- *2 Common Green Lacewings (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *probably 4 different species of springtail
- *2 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- *1 Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede (Cylindroiulus punctatus)
- *3 different species of spider

Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
- *two species of cranefly
- *several plumed midges

The pair of Gadwall still here. The drake closest to me.

Very strange. This Grey Heron stood its ground (well: hand rail of the Wesley Brook footbridge) and allowed me to take a flash photo of it. As it did not seem to want to go I retreated until it had flown away on its own volition.

A male plumed midge and likely the very common Chironomus plumosus.

A trio of midge-type I found on the wall of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. The one on the left looks to be another male Chironomus plumosus. I have no idea about the other two.

One of two craneflies, also in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. Since learning there are more than 100 species in the UK I have stopped trying to identify all but the most well-marked individuals.

One of two Common Green Lacewings (Chrysoperia carnea) still in its brown winter garb.

This looks to be one of the Pogonognathellus longicornis-type springtails.

A trio of springtails of different shaped and sizes. The larger looks to be one of the Dicyrtomina species. The one on the left is the shape of a Pogonognathellus species but much smaller.

One of two White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger) I noted.

My first Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede (Cylindroiulus punctatus) of the year.

One of the three species of spider noted. A male by the look of the 'boxing gloves' (palps).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:10 – 10:25

(71st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *There were two additional first year Mute Swans when I arrived. They were sent on their way by the resident cob and the first year resident. The pen was on the nest throughout.
- More late-date Goosanders with two presumed ducks arriving – I did not see them that well before they moved to the other end.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *5 (5) Willow Warblers
- 10 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Noted on / around the water
- 32 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese: departed as two pairs
- *2 + 3 Mute Swans: eggs not visible: also see notes
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *25 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosanders: arrived
- 5 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Cormorants

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 plumed midge

Of interest elsewhere:
- 2 Grey Squirrels

Mute Swans on the warpath. Surprisingly it is last year's remaining cygnet on the left of the picture and the resident cob splashing down on the right.

The youngster leading the charge.

The cob was really angry with...

 ...these two visiting first year Mute Swans...

...who wisely decided to leave.

A duck Tufted Duck. They always show a vestigial tuft on the nape. This one still has a few white feathers at the base of her bill.

Two of the four Great Crested Grebes I noted. As far as I know the sexes have identical plumage.

I assume these are a pair though I did not see any display

At last. A decent photo of a Willow Warbler.

"Are you pointing that camera at me?"

In this shot the longer and wider supercilium of this species is apparent.

 Identification quiz. The white rump is a clue to it being a....

...female Bullfinch munching buds.

With the male in close attendance.

(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

1 Sand Martin

4 Great Crested Grebes

9 Tufted Duck

2 Blackcaps

6 Chiffchaffs

127 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

1 Sand Martin

2 Teal

45 Tufted Ducks

1 Blackcap

4 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane

1 Chiffchaff

2 Linnets

4 Yellowhammer

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Kittiwake

5 Gadwall

7 Wigeon

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Willow Tit

(John Isherwood, Jim Almond, Arthur Harper)

Horsehay Pool

2 Mandarin Ducks

(Jim Almond)

2009

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebe

8 Tufted Duck

3 Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

Trench

2 Great Crested Grebe

2 Cormorant

32 Tufted Duck

2 Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

33 Tufted Duck

2 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Warbler

2007

The Flash

1 Shoveler

(John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Great Crested Grebes

9 Tufted Ducks

1 Ruddy Duck

184 Wood Pigeons

2 Stock Doves

1 House Martin

5 Sand Martins

1 Curlew

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

1 Skylark

2 Meadow Pipits

25 Wrens

20 Robins

27 Blackbirds

1 Redwing

2 Willow Warblers

3 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Tit

10 Greenfinches

2 Siskins

5 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)