7 Apr 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 8.0°C: Clear with a touch of frost in sheltered places. Light / moderate north-west breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:31 BST

Photos today.

None. I hope to include a selection with tomorrow's blog

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 09:10

(80th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Pheasant was heard calling along the South side again.
- The pair of Gadwall seem to have gone again.
- A Stock Dove was seen displaying over the North side again.
- A Buzzard was standing on the football field. Probably the same bird was circling over later.
- One of the Chiffchaffs has yet to get in to its stride, starting each song sequence with a whole series of 'chiff-chiff-....
- Six Goldcrests were heard singing.
- A Yellowhammer could be heard from the dam-top, singing from the fields to the East.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: trio outbound
- 25 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Collared Doves: singles again
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

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

Hirundines etc., noted: this is usual when skies are clear
none

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese: the resident pair; three other pairs arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair briefly
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 7 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 2 Grey Herons

Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn: too clear and cold?
- 1 species of springtail

Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
- 19 midges of at least three species

Noted later:
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

Moon-set over the lake

A clear sunrise without any colour. The drake Mallard apologises for its inelegant display.

I think this Common Buzzard is one of the birds that may be preparing to nest in the Ricoh grounds. It has clearly fed recently as it is showing a very full crop.

The upper surface of the same bird. White in the wing-feathers is not typical though the plumage of this species is very variable. The full crop shows well again.

A Chiffchaff trying to hide amongst what I think are willow catkins.

The same bird having a 'chiff' (or a 'chaff').

A different and rather unkempt Chiffchaff.

On the same rock on the dam-face as I saw a Grey Wagtail the day before. I assume the same bird.

 Stepping out.

The other side (honest: I did not reverse the photo!)

Mr. Bullfinch in the sun.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:15

(74th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming at the top end. Later one was heard and then seen drumming in squirrel alley. I did not see any bird flying across the water. Perhaps two males?

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 9 (9) Chiffchaffs
- no Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Noted on / around the water
- 24 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: six eggs at least
- 12 (10♂) Mallard only
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 22 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant

On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted

Of interest noted elsewhere:
- many unidentified flies of several species on the Ivy bank.

Now at The Flash. A rather strange cloud formation I noted.

Good Friday was the last time I got a look at the Mute Swan's eggs when the pen (she has the green Darvic ring) was turning and arranging six eggs. The clutch is typically six to eight eggs though there can be more. There were nine last year before they all mysteriously disappeared. She laid eleven in 2021 though only five fledged.

A rather disheveled Long-tailed Tit.

A perky Wren in typical pose, stubby tail erect and belting out its seven second song as it claims its territory.

You can almost see what it ate for breakfast.

Another view.

Last one. How could I resist?

(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
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Snipe
(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
34 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Tufted Ducks
12 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Heron
15 Tufted Ducks
Woodcock
1 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipits
7 Redwings
39 Fieldfare
149 Jackdaws
Brambling
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Skylarks
1 Redwing
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
20+ Sand Martins
3 Swallows
1 House Martin
7 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)

2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pintail x Mallard
11 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Buzzard
2 Sand Martin
5 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
118 Jackdaws
4 Stock Doves
3 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
19 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
3 Jays
8 Greenfinches
10 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)