6 Apr 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Early low overcast with patchy mostly light rain. Cloud lifted and rain mostly ceased. Then sunny after 09:00 until puffy clouds began to develop. Light / moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:33 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:10

(79th visit of the year)

Two firsts and one probable last for the season:
- *three Common Sandpipers were present throughout. About an average 'first of Spring' date. Species #83
- one House Martin (species #84) was noted among a small number of Sand Martins and a lone Barn Swallow after 08:00
- a party of 19 Redwings flew East at 06:55.

Other bird notes:
- One of the presumed resident pair of Canada Geese seemed to been sitting on eggs for a while.
- A pair of Gadwall reappeared
- A Mistle Thrush was heard singing from the south-east copse.
- Another day when Reed Buntings were seen flying out of the west end roost area: two together today. I would have expected them all to be paired and holding a breeding territory by now.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair outbound; a lone bird flew South
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs inbound
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: singles
- 2 Sparrowhawks: displaying pair

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warbler
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- *9 (8) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted: maximum 'instant' count – probably more birds involved:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: the resident pair chased off another pair that arrived
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (6♂) Mallard: of these 5 (4♂) were on the football field
- 8 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year, very briefly
- 3 Cormorants: all separate arrivals and departures
- 1 Grey Heron: presumably it was the same that was standing on the football field later

Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 male plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *several different species of springtail
- 1 Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede (Cylindroiulus punctatus)
- *1 probable White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Nothing of note

Noted later
- *Flowers of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

One of this morning's highlights was the trio of Common Sandpipers. With three present it was difficult to get close to any of them and the light was not good. Here is one.

Whether this is a different individual or not I cannot be sure. A rather pot-bellied species perhaps best identified by the white of the flanks extending up the shoulder.

This one has found some food. When seen 'live' this species constantly bobs its tail.

A clearer view here. Something in the tip of its bill? Mud?

Last shot. The dark bars on the back feathers are only present during the breeding season and wear off later in the year.

A male Blackcap doing its best to hide.

He will be even harder to see once the leaves open on the twigs.

Luckily this one was too busy singing to worry about me.

A male Grey Wagtail on rocks at the dam-face.

Two for the price of one: a male plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus) shares part of the street lamp pole with a species of globular springtail.

I suspect this is a White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis). It was not positioned so I could get a clear shot of the shell to show the number of whorls.

These Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) will look better on a sunny day when they lift their heads up.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:10

(73rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Stock Dove was calling from the wooded area along the East side.
- There did seem to be three pairs of Great Crested Grebes. As usual they are hard to keep track of.
- A Great Tit was seen apparently emerging from the hole the Nuthatches were inspecting a few weeks ago.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted
None

Noted on / around the water
- 18 Canada Geese
- 9 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: eggs not visible
- 22 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *19 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Cormorants

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 unplumed midge yet again

Of interest noted elsewhere:
- *Swan Mussel (Anodonta cygnea)

It is usual for drake Tufted Ducks to outnumber ducks. 7::2 here. I need to examine the nearest duck more closely if I see her again. She looks very rufous, almost reminiscent of a Ferruginous Duck, scarce in the UK. She isn't: her bill is not black. It is just possible she is a hybrid. I would need a closer view and good photos to check.

A Willow Warbler poses well. Note the pink (orange?) of the bill extends along the length of the lower mandible: only at the base of a Chiffchaff's bill which, in comparison, is slightly narrower.

Not a very pronounced supercilium on this individual.

I suspect this Swan Mussel (Anodonta cygnea) had been caught and then discarded by a fisherman. It was lying at the side of the water.

(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 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
12 Tufted Duck
7 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Cormorant
1 Cackling Goose
39 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
1 Sand Martin
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Cormorant 
2 Gadwall
21 Tufted Ducks 
6 Redwings
1 Fieldfare 
372 Jackdaws
Kestrel
Willow Tit
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Cormorant 
1 Pochard 
58 Tufted Duck 
1 Brambling
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Great Crested Grebes 
2 Cormorants
2 Greylag Geese
4 Shoveler 
19 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
50 Meadow Pipit
100 Redwing
Green Woodpecker
3 Red legged Partridge
Fieldfare
7 Lapwing
Linnet
(John Isherwood)

2012
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2011
Nedge Hill 
2 Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
20 Tufted Duck
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Skylark
36 Meadow Pipit
9 Chiffchaff
1 Redpoll
8 Bullfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

2006 
Priorslee Lake 
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
6 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
7 Stock Doves
235 Wood Pigeons
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
7 Meadow Pipits
20 Wrens
21 Blackbirds
2 Fieldfares again
2 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
15 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)