27 Mar 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Overcast after earlier rain. Light rain / drizzle after 11:30. Moderate south-westerly wind. Very good visibility but moderate at best when drizzle set in.

[Sunrise: 05:56 GMT]

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

Another late start avoiding the early heavy rain.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:25 – 11:40

(70th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- where have the extra Coots come from?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair flew North
- 1 Great (White) Egret: flew West (the semi-resident present)

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- *21 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- no Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
NB: numbers are not strictly comparable with those of my early visits. Many warblers are particular vociferous around and soon after dawn.
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 9 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Of note around the area:

Flies:
- *very many unidentified midges

Fungus:
- *Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus

A pair of Tufted Duck. It is unusual to be able to approach this species here. Note the wave breaking against the duck's breast. A few more Tufties here today - but fewer at The Flash. Any connection? Most, though not necessarily all at The Flash, will soon be off to their northern breeding grounds.

About this time each year I lament the tardy arrival of the migrants that will hoover up many of the midges buzzing around my head.

Three of them more or less in focus. Note they seem to fly with their front legs curled under.

This is the third time this year I have found fresh Glistening Inkcap fungus Coprinellus micaceus in a very similar area along the North side. Something is rotting underneath!

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:15

(69th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- on my third viewing of the eastern edge of the island I noted a drake (Common) Teal. Was there a duck lurking nearby? Have they been hiding since I last noted them three days ago?
- a few Siskins remain: at least one heard at the top end and three seen near the top of squirrel alley.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese: of these a trio departed together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (16♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- no gulls

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs yet again
- no Blackcaps again

Of note around the area:

Flies:
- more male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
- *unidentified midge

Springtails:
- *1 possible Entomobrya intermedia
- 1 unidentified globular springtail

Just about visible with his head underwater is the drake (Common) Teal lurking beside the island.

I am still nowhere near being able to identify this, presumed female, midge with thicker than usual antennae.

A helpful springtail against the plain white background of an identification label on a street lamp pole. It does not mean I can identify it. The pattern on the abdomen is a good match for Entomobrya intermedia which NatureSpot notes as "2mm, sometimes larger". This was certainly larger than 2mm, at least 5mm I would judge.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
5+ Cormorants
31 Tufted Duck
1 Kittiwake
7 Fieldfare
6 Chiffchaffs
c.230 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Cackling Goose
2 Teal
49 Tufted Ducks
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
62 Tufted Duck
Steppe Gull?
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
26 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
3 Cormorants
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Dunlin
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
2 Shoveler
1 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
16 Fieldfares
1 Willow Warbler
4 Great Crested Grebe
4 Herons
4 Gadwall
29 Tufted Duck
c.215 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
16 Meadow Pipits
36 Robins
28 Blackbirds
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
127 Wood Pigeon
21 Wrens
3 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
8 Sand Martins
22 Siskin
6 Linnets
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam, Martin Grant)