5 Mar 26

The Flash only

7.0°C > 10.0°C: A cloudy period most of the time. Some sun but hazy / misty. Light easterly breeze. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:48 GMT]

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

A slight domestic crisis meant I was unable to make an early start. Later commitments meant I only had time to visit The Flash.

The Flash:  09:10 – 10:35

(47th visit of the year)

Notice
The Flash has been designated a Nature Reserve by Telford & Wrekin Council. When I find out a bit more about what that means in practice I will relay the information here.

Bird notes:
- When I get an increase in Mallard numbers is this real or some birds are flying about and I count them twice.
- now two drake Pochard.
- a noticeable reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- no Great Crested Grebe seen or heard
- three Chiffchaffs: all heard singing.
- a Blackcap was heard in song near the feeding station.
- the feeding station remains quiet with up to six *Siskins on the feeders and four *Chaffinches taking spill from the ground.
- *Siskins were also again in Alders along the West side.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Wood Pigeons flew high North in a loose group. I do not count the local movements

Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: one at the nest site throughout
- *34 (23♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Pochard
- *25 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *53 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Herring Gull: first? year

Around the area:

Nothing else of note

The Ivy was in full sun but exposed to the easterly breeze. I noted one unidentified fly!

This notice announcing the Local Nature Reserve has appeared on several lamp posts around the water.

The map delineating the area was on the back of the notice but could only be viewed upside down. So I have inverted it. I will attempt to find out what the designation means in practice.

Good light on a flying drake Mallard: the under...

....and upper-wing showing.

The Pochard are being very difficult. They seemed to have worked out where they can be equidistant from three sides at the top end.

A Mrs. Tufted Duck. I am not sure whether I have caught her mid-blink or whether she has something in her eye.

"Where are the girls?" ask these four drake Tufties.

Yesterday I noted the Black-headed Gulls picking some things off the surface of the water. I had another attempt to find out what.

I struck lucky with this bird about to pluck....

...a tiny fly, perhaps because the legs are concave to allow it to use the surface tension of the water to remain afloat it is a type of water-boatman.

 Gone!

What I believe to be a first year Herring Gull coming in to first summer plumage.

A female Blackbird that visited the feeding area briefly.

A distant Nuthatch shinning up a tree. Unlike Treecreepers that can only go "up" Nuthatches are as adept as going down as well as up trees. Note the short tail which gives them a very recognisable shape in flight.

A male Chaffinch eating the spillage. A less-brightly coloured individual than some.

And a female, this one with viral infection on, especially, her left leg.

Mr. Sad Chaffinch.

"Shall I get my nails painted?" ponders a female Chaffinch.

Perhaps not. They look as if they could do with a trim!

More Siskins on the West side Alders. A female.

And a male.

While I was busy photographing the Siskins this Robin appeared.

Whether it thought I might have food or was just wanting to know what I was doing is a mystery.

A female Siskin awaiting for space on the feeders.

And a male Siskin keen to get to the feeders. Note the bill and compare...

...with the bill on this male. Not easy to see: is the upper mandible not fully developed?

Plane of the day. Not very exciting. It is a 4-seat Piper PA-28 Archer operated by the Shropshire Aero Club out of Sleap Airfield near Wem. This aircraft has had the same identity and six owners during the 30 years it has been in the UK. I can see no reason why it was given the letters "LORR".

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Horsehay Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
20 Goosander
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Paul King)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
21 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
4 Great Crested Grebes
8 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
6 Gadwall
28 Pochard
57 Tufted Duck
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
55 Magpies
1 Linnet
2 Siskin
12 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.10 Herring Gulls
2 Common Gulls
9 Mute Swans
12 Tufted Duck
8 Great Crested Grebe
(Mike Cooper)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
11 Pochard
90 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
607 Wood Pigeon
11 Greenfinches
23 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)