13 Apr 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: Another clear start. A few clouds developing after 08:30. Fresh westerly wind, gusting strong at times. Feeling chilly. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:17 BST

A few photos from today (*)

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:40 // 08:00 – 09:20

(86th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Two Stock Doves were displaying over the North side wooded area again but they then flew off East towards Green Fields, a traditional nesting site.
- Seemed to be a movement of Willow Warblers this morning with more here and a big increase in the number at The Flash later. This species has not bred at either site in recent years so I assume they are migrants passing through.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: single outbound and single inbound
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: age not determined
- 5 Cormorants: a trio and a duo
- 67 Jackdaws

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

Hirundines etc., noted:

None

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese: the resident pair throughout with two separate visiting pairs chased away
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Mallard again
- 5 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only: hiding from the wind?
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 tiny spider all curled up

On the walls of the sailing club HQ:

Nothing noted

Noted on one wall and the ceiling of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- 12 midges of at least three species
- 1 cranefly: same position as yesterday

Noted later:
- Grey Squirrel

Very early doors with another clear start.

The real sunrise...

...behind my favourite tree.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 07:50

(80th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- More geese heard calling from inside the island. No doubt disputing nesting territories.
- I assume the Mute Swans' clutch of eggs is complete as the pen has been asleep on the nest for my last three visits.
- The Shoveler trio remain for their fourth day.
- *Stock Doves were noted at both the bottom and the top end.
- Why only one Moorhen seen (or heard)? All busy nesting?
- No Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard.
- Willow Warblers everywhere. Almost all at the very top of trees swaying in the wind.
- *Juvenile Robins seen: seems an early date?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 13 (13) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Noted on / around the water
- 21 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: ? eggs
- 3 (2♂) Shoveler
- 21 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 9 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 1(!!) Moorhen only
- 23 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant

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

This Stock Dove flew in to trees near the medical centre. Note the green gloss on the neck (it may appear blue or just dark at a different angle of light). A Wood Pigeon never shows this: always a white patch in adults; juveniles have an unmarked neck. Note also the dark eye unlike a Wood Pigeon's strange shaped dark pupil in a pale eye.

This side view shows dark bands on the folded wings. Wood Pigeons of all ages have white on the bend of the folded wing.

I then heard and saw another Stock Dove on an oft-frequented roof in Westcroft Walk where...

 ....it was joined by its partner.

This probably shows the neck mark to best effect.

One of three singing Song Thrushes had found a sunny sheltered spot to belt out its repertoire.

"Feed me! Feed me!" A juvenile Robin begs for food. A 'grab shot' in the shadows along the western-side footpath.

Another 'grab shot' of a different juvenile. The adult soon rounded them up and they disappeared under the bushes. Juveniles lack any red on the breast. A red breast is to an adult Robin the same as a red rag is to a bull. To avoid the parents killing their offspring the juveniles are soberly toned and spotty. And no: I don't know why the parents don't attempt to kill each other. It is something to do with the females adopting a submissive pose during pairing up.

(Ed Wilson)

NOTE

Ed Wilson visited the Wirral on 3 Apr. His photos can be found Here

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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 Grebes
1 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
1 Common Sandpiper
c.10 Sand Martins
>6 Barn Swallows
1 House Martin
2 Tawny Owls
2 Meadow Pipits
8 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
276 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Swallow
5 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Ringed Plover
>20 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Common Redstart
8 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
47 Black-tailed Godwit
6 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
1 Dunlin
3 Swallows
(Andy Latham)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
4 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow
23 Sand Martin
1 House Martin
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Fieldfares
3 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
2 Greenfinches
1 Siskin
1 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)