10 Feb 25

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

3.0°C > 4.0°C: Still overcast though cloud higher than yesterday. Occasional mainly light rain / sleet. Moderate north-east wind. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:36 GMT]

It was my usual "poor weather" itinerary, visiting The Flash first. I only explored the sheltered North side and dam area of the Balancing Lake.

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:25 – 12:05
(34th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- yesterday's drake Pochard not found.
- the pair of Great Crested Grebe put in a brief appearance, displaying and then not noted again. The other plumed adult bird was also present.
- there were no gulls at all when I arrived. A mixed species group flew in (with a few over at the same time).

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Pochard
- 16 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail: heard only
- 7 Moorhens
- 118 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Of note:
Nothing else

I am wondering whether this Canada Goose is unwell. It was on the dam-face well away from the other geese. It did go in to the water but stayed apart. After the dead Canada Goose at The Flash I hope I am mistaken in wondering about possibility of avian flu.

In more dull weather here is a not-very-good photo of a pair of Gadwall flying off, the drake on the right. I have included it as, in addition to showing the white area on the trailing edge of their wings, it illustrates that the drake's tail-feathers, when spread, are all-white.

A slightly better photo of the pair with the drake's white tail not so obvious. Note the white area on the wing is more extensive on the drake.

The drake again...

and the duck.

That does not look very elegant. This Moorhen was being chased by a Coot.

In fact the splash-down was more controlled than was apparent at first sight.

The Great (White) Egret is still here.

Plane of the day – the cloud just high-enough to see helicopters. This is an Airbus Helicopters H160B registered to T J Morris Ltd., Gilmoss, Liverpool. This company trades as the familiar Home Bargains stores. The M- part of the registration means it is registered on the Isle of Man. Tax reasons?

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:15

(32nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Friday's dead Canada Goose not noted. I forgot to look out for it but I was told it had gone.
- just a lone drake Shoveler remains.
- two extra Pochard since yesterday – a drake and duck – found.
- fewer Tufted Duck: many of the 'extra' ducks yesterday not seen and also fewer drakes. Where do they go / hide?
- for the last few days pairs(?) and small groups of Coots have been foraging on the grass around the water. It is normally the Moorhens that I see doing this. Perhaps a shortage of vegetation in the water which might possibly explain why so many of >140 Coots present at the end of 2024 have departed.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- 4 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 36 (25♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 43 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
- 2 Cormorants

Of note:
Nothing else

Not bad in the circumstances. A Long-tailed Tit looks at me. In this view it almost appears as if the bird has a ring on its right leg but...

...this view makes it clear it is just the leg shape.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
(Kris Webb)

Trench Lock Pool
Yellow-legged Gull
(Kris Webb)

Horsehay Pool
Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid
Glaucous x Great Black-backed Gull hybrid
1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
20+ Greater Black-backed Gulls
400 Herring Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull
(Kris Webb)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
5 Great Crested Grebes
14 Pochard
24 Tufted Duck
c.1200 Black-headed Gulls
c.900 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.300 Herring Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
44 Great Black-backed Gulls
5 Song Thrushes
18 Redwings
Tawny Owl
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Pool
204 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
83 Tufted Duck
104 Coot
110 Black-headed Gulls
34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
17 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
33 Swans
4 Gadwall
6 Wigeon
15 Pochard
70 Tufted Duck
2 Water Rail
2 Snipe
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow legged Gull
3 Adult Great Black-backed Gulls
2 Willow Tits
13 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Jim Almond, John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
18 Greylag Geese
12 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
6 Goosanders
c.80 Golden Plover
>1000 Black-headed Gulls
c.250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
Caspian Gull
9 Herring Gulls
22 Robins
14 Blackbirds
41 Redwings
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Jason)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
13 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
227 Coots
Glaucous Gull
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
c.170 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.120 Herring Gulls
302 Jackdaws
385 Rooks
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)