7 Mar 24

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

5.0°C > 6.0°C:  Low overcast after earlier mist. Light easterly breeze. Good visibility.

[Sunrise:  06:42 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

As yesterday it was a normal time visit to The Flash followed by viewing at the Balancing Lake from the dam area only.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:25– 10:25

(49th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- two Little Grebes appeared briefly from out of the reeds before vanishing again. But...

-...no Great Crested Grebes were noted.

- a loose party of 17 Wood Pigeons flew North.

- *at least 40 Siskins were in the Alders alongside Castle Farm Way. Once again I could find no Lesser Redpolls with them.

Counts of birds noted flying over:

- 23 Wood Pigeons

- 6 Herring Gulls

- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 2 Jackdaws

- 1 Greenfinch

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 Mute Swans

- 6 (4♂) Mallard

- 13 (7♂) Tufted Duck

- 1 (0♂) Goosander

- 4 Moorhens

- 37 Coots

- 2 Little Grebes

- no Great Crested Grebes

- 3 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Cormorant

- 1 Grey Heron

Later:

Nothing of note

Siskins in Alders Alnus glutinosa beside Castle Farm Way again gave me a photographic opportunity though I could have done with more light. A male here.

A male (top) and female.

Another male (bottom) and female.

Male.

A male with a rush of blood to the head.

That's better.

A male sitting up straight for once.

A male spitting out a seed case.

This male still has white fringes to his black crown. These will soon wear to leave him smart for the breeding season.

This passing Carrion Crow looked sinister-enough to put them all to flight.

And here go the Siskins.

I zoomed in on part of the flock.

And now zooming right in.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:35 – 11:45

(51st visit of the year)

The presence of a Reed Bunting in a garden to the West of the water was welcome news. This is a species I do not note here every year and most are single day records of birds looking for a nest site. It was probably four years ago that a male was present singing most of the summer. I never established whether it was paired and bred.

Other bird notes:

- the Mute Swans seem to be sussing out the island as their nest site this year.

- one pair of Gadwall seen just as I arrived but none was seen later. Are they hiding on the island?

- a Great Spotted Woodpecker called once from trees in wooded hilly area to the south-east (does this have a name?). My first record here for over a month.

- Magpies were having a very noisy meeting in the trees near The Priorslee. I noted at least 18 together with birds coming and going all the while.

- Goldcrests were either heard, seen or both in five locations though exactly how many individuals of these energetic sprites were involved is unclear.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Noted on / around the water:

- 15 Canada Geese: two of these departed

- 2 + 4 Mute Swans

- 2 (1♂) Gadwall: see notes

- 24 (17♂) Mallard

- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck

- 39 (24♂) Tufted Duck

- 14 Moorhens

- 37 Coots

- *1 Great Crested Grebe

- 3 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Herring Gull: third year

Also noted:

-        *Holly Leafmines: made by the larva of the Agromyzid fly Phytomyza ilicis.

The lone Great Crested Grebe was exploring the edges again. Here it has just passed under one of the footbridges, looking rather soggy from its exploits.

If you see any Holly Ilex aquifolium leaves with markings like this they were made by the larva of the Agromyzid fly Phytomyza ilicis, now recognised to be the only species that mines Holly leaves. All species of Agromyzid fly mine the leaves or stems of their particular food plant. Adults of this group are less than 5mm (0.2") and difficult to identify.

(Ed Wilson)

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Sightings from previous years

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged gull
(Gary Crowder)

Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
(Ian Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
5 Teal
8 Goosander
15 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
6 Gadwall
26 Pochard
5 Goosanders
62 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
76 Coots
62 Magpies
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
16 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Woodcock
425 Wood Pigeon
2 Grey Wagtail
37 Robin
26 Blackbird
7 Song Thrush
6 Redwing
47 Magpie
146 Jackdaw
10 Greenfinch
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
4 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
106 Coots
1 Water Rail
1 Curlew
23 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)