13 Mar 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

5.0°C > 7.0°C: Mostly cloudy. A few sunny intervals. Moderate / fresh south-westerly wind. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:29 GMT]

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

I waited until the street were (partly) aired before venturing out on a chilly morning.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:25 – 11:10

(60th visit of the year)

Very quiet.

Bird notes:
- four brownhead Goosanders again.
- not a gull in sight.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *2 Common Buzzards

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- *32 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

An untidy Tufted Duck formation team about to splash down. All three are drakes. There are currently more Tufted Duck here (32) than there has been all-winter; apart from during the short period in early January when the water was almost frozen over.

A Common Buzzard circling over Castle Farm Way. This individual shows a full crop and must have fed very recently.

That full crop shows even better at this angle.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:15

(55th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- don't blame them but where were many of the Mallard hiding?
- no gulls here either.
- the feeding station was populated by five Wood Pigeons.
- a very few Siskins were heard in the tree-tops.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *2 Common Buzzards
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 (12♂) Mallard
- 38 (212♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no Black-headed Gulls

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs

Otherwise noted around the area:
- *1 presumed ichneumon

Is this the same Common Buzzard I photographed over the Balancing Lake. This one also has a full crop...

..more noticeable from this angle.

The only insect I noted braving the cool and windy conditions was this presumed ichneumon. The long antennae are a clue. I think I can detect a 'wasp-waist'.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1st winter female Greater Scaup
20 Tufted Duck.
1 Kingfisher
(Gary Crowder)

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
37 Tufted Duck
27 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Cormorant
24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
4 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Martin Grant)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
30 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
7 Lapwing
2 Stock Dove
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
6 Gadwall
4 Pochard
48 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
>1100 Black-headed Gulls
c.30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls, all on the water
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Woodcock
5 Cormorant
6 Grey Heron
19 Tufted Duck
4 Stock Dove
25 Robin
22 Blackbird
8 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
47 Magpie
143 Jackdaw
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
7 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Lapwing
148 Jackdaws
34+ Siskins
6 Redwings
14 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)