2 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 7.0°C: Fine and clear again. A chilly south-east breeze again. Very good visibility with some haze.

Sunrise: 06:42 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:05

(79th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *a pair of Shoveler was present for a while.
- *what I assume was yesterday's trio of Gadwall seemed to appear from nowhere to land near the dam, where they were yesterday.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- nine Great Crested Grebes counted.
- a single Willow Warbler was heard singing quietly and intermittently from the Ricoh hedge.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *13 Canada Geese: three pairs outbound; a single and three pairs inbound
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 42 Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 13 Canada Geese: of these nine arrived and later four departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Shoveler: see notes
- *3 (2♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 7 Moorhens
- 35 Coots again
- 9 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 2 Grey Herons

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 24 (23) Chiffchaffs again
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn:

Nothing on dew-covered poles

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Flowers:
*Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus

The clear but uninspiring sunrise.

Not a species I spend many pixels photographing. This pair of Canada Geese were well-lit by the sun so I made an exception.

As I did for this other pair.

The pair of Shoveler that dropped in briefly and remained 'distant'.

The pair Gadwall. If the drake is displaying then the duck does not look impressed.

The drake in full flap mode. I think he was just stretching his wings rather than displaying.

Another species I do not photo too often but this Wood Pigeon flew by at just the right distance to show the underwing...

...and the upper wing before...

...apparently dozing off.

Unusually this Jay sat in a bush and let me take its photo. It was darker than I would have liked at the time and there were a few too many branches in the way. But I'll take it!

A Goldfinch sitting on the academy fence...

....briefly. I am sure it is the fence that leans and not me!

Yesterday it was all male Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax. Here, with her eyes well-separated, is a female.

This a Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus flower spike. This popular shrub is a non-native species, being introduced from the near-East before my time, in 1576. It can become invasive, the upside being that its early flowers provide nectar for a range of insects when there the range of flowers is limited.
(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:10 – 10:10

(78th visit of the year)

I had a debate with council workers who had a hoist and shredding equipment at the top end of The Flash. I pointed out to them that it was the bird nesting season and that it was against regulations to do work on trees and vegetation, other than essential safety work, during this period. They told me that they would ensure there were no nesting birds by inspecting from the hoist first. I asked them why they thought the regulations existed. Not 100% sure of my ground I did not take it any further.

Here is what I found on the internet later:
"Protected Period:
The bird nesting season in the UK is generally considered to be from February to August, although it's wise to be cautious before and after this period as well.
Why it matters:
Wild birds, their eggs, and nests are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
What to avoid:
During the nesting season, it's best to avoid any vegetation works, including tree or hedge cutting, or site clearance, as these can disturb nesting birds or damage their nests.
If work is necessary:
If vegetation work is unavoidable, it's crucial to conduct thorough pre-work surveys to ensure there are no active nests present and to avoid disturbing nesting birds.
Signs of nesting:
Look for signs of nesting activity, such as birds regularly coming in and out of the vegetation, courtship displays, or nest building.
Consequences:
Intentionally or recklessly damaging or destroying a bird's nest while it's in use or being built is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Best practice:
It's always best to leave the area as undisturbed as possible during the nesting season, and to postpone any vegetation works until after the season is over. "

That seems clear to me. There are many months when the council could have done the work. Now is not the time to do it. The work does not seem "unavoidable". [The same argument could equally apply to the tree-felling done in Teece Drive].

Bird notes:
- one Mute Swan spent the entire time on the island, I assume at the nest site.
- the Tufted Duck may (appear to) have departed yesterday but were just one duck short of yesterday's number today.
- no Great Crested Grebe. Two days running was too much.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 18 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard ['Aylesbury Duck']
- 19 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 1 Herring Gull: second year

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 10 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Also noted:

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Council workers about to do what I do not think they are allowed to do at this date.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
7 Greylag Geese
14 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
229 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
6 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
52 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
12 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Gull
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
33 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
2 Little Grebe
Chiffchaff
Reed Bunting.
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Brambling
1 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
>100 Fieldfare
> 50 Redwing
6 Lapwing
Meadow Pipit
Yellowhammer
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
9 Greylag Geese
2 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
1 Peregrine
4 Blackcaps
13 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
48 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Curlew
5 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Curlew
Wheatear
> 50 Sand Martin
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 male Common Redstart
21 Wheatear
(John Isherwood, Ian Grant)

2010
Priorslee Lake
White Wagtail
Wheatear
3 Sand Martin
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
17 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
25 Tufted Duck
2 Shoveler
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Lapwing
2 Curlew
1 Blackcap
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Skylarks
4 Chiffchaffs
8 Goldfinches
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
146 Jackdaws
1 Stock Dove
192 Wood Pigeons
2 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
27 Blackbirds
31 Fieldfares
3 Swallow
53 Sand Martins
4 Swallow
3 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
22 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

1 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 7.0°C: Fine and clear. After an almost calm start a chilly south-east breeze picked up. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:43 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:15

(79th visit of the year)

New for the year here were two Barn Swallows over the water briefly at 08:45. My latest date for three years for my first sighting. Bird species #82 here for me this year.

Bird notes:
- *on my first circuit I noted a pair of Gadwall. Later there was another drake.
- the duck Pochard still here: no Tufted Duck.
- ten Great Crested Grebes counted.
- a significant proportion of the Wood Pigeons flying over were very high as if migrating. But they were mainly singles or twos and not all going the same way so I never noticed in time to separate them from the usual more local movements.
- many more Jackdaws passing on roost dispersal mainly because of the clear skies to the East.
- a single Willow Warbler was heard singing from the Ricoh copse.
- *I noted three Blackcaps having a scrap: at least two of them were males. Whether two were disputing a female or the trio were attempting to sort out a territory was unclear.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 13 Canada Geese: a duo, a trio and an octet outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 56 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 91 Jackdaws
- 12 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Geese: all but four of these arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived and departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- *3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- no Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived 06:25

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- *24 (23) Chiffchaffs
- *7 (6) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn:

Moths:
*1 March Moth Alsophila aescularia: on a different lamp
Nothing else on dew-covered poles

Noted later:
A few things despite the chilly east wind blowing on to the sunlit vegetation

Bees, wasps etc.:
*Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Mammals:
bat sp.: seen over the water c.06:00 and too large for a pipistrelle
*Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus: road casualty in Teece Drive

Flowers:
*probable Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa

 I was told "just one more tree to go". It is called "thinning" apparently. Pah!

Dawn just starting.

More colour later.

Very smart: the lone drake Gadwall.

Here is the duck Gadwall looking at me through one slitty eye.

She was one of a pair and here she is with her suitor. She now has the nictating membrane drawn across here eye. This a translucent third eyelid that can be used to protect the eye.

An aggressive-looking Chiffchaff.

A non-aggressive Chiffchaff.

"Give us a song". A pity about the twig in the way.

This is one of the three Blackcaps that were chasing around.

A different Blackcap.

Today's March Moth Alsophila aescularia seen among the detritus on a different street lamp pole to the previous two days. The same individual?

A female Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva. I think the adjacent hole in the leaf is coincidental.

A Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris.

There were male Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax everywhere. Here on Blackthorn Prunus spinosa blossom.

Here on a wooden fence along Teece Drive.

And here on a Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus leaf.

This plant with tiny white flowers is growing in profusion on the dam top around the boxing ring. I think it is Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa. There are similar species which mostly flower later in the year.

Gruesome: a Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus, apparently a road casualty in Teece Drive

Plane of the day #1: Flying over at 45,000 feet is a Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G600, marketed as a Gulfstream 600. Unless you can get a discount you need close on $58 million dollars to buy one new.

FlightRadar24 does not provide data for many of the executive jets (the owners want to keep their movements confidential) merely noting a "GA6C". This is the aircraft's identity from a different source. It is currently cavorting with the gnomes at Zurich having flown from the Chicago area. The registered owner in the US Federal Aviation Authority's database is a trust company so we will never know.

Plane of the day #2: this is a Boeing 747 Jumbo freighter. It was built in 2004 and has spent its entire career flying for Singapore Airlines Cargo division.

And the FlightRadar24 data for this flight. After four hours on the ground in Brussels it was next stop Mumbai.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25

(77th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Tufted Duck were almost all together at the top end and calling. Most of them took flight and departed. I could not see which direction they headed, Just four (three drakes) of the original 20 remained.
- a Great Crested Grebe still here! Two days running.
- just one singing Willow Warbler.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 14 (11♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard ['Aylesbury Duck']
- *20 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- 1 Herring Gull: second year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: near adult? seen only against the light and briefly

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- no Willow Warbler
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

These two Tufted Ducks seemed to be behaving as a pair while many others were milling about and chasing. The duck, on the right, is unusual in showing no sign of even a vestigial 'tuft' on the hind crown. It is also unusual for the white in the wing to be visible at rest. I can't turn her in to a rare species though.

A Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris coming to get you. This is of course the, relatively, harmless end.

Male Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax were everywhere here too. This one on an Ivy Hedera helix leaf.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Sand Martin
4 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
127 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Sand Martin
2 Teal
45 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane
1 Chiffchaff
2 Linnets
4 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Kittiwake
5 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood, Jim Almond, Arthur Harper)

Horsehay Pool
2 Mandarin Ducks
(Jim Almond)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

Trench
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
32 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
33 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler

2007
The Flash
1 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
184 Wood Pigeons
2 Stock Doves
1 House Martin
5 Sand Martins
1 Curlew
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipits
25 Wrens
20 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
2 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
10 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

31 Mar 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 10.0°C: Mostly clear overhead and to the East with just wisps of high cloud. More extensive medium-level cloud to the West. Almost calm. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:46 BST

Back to twice around the lake and then to The Flash.

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:00

(78th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only the new pair of Mute Swans remain.
- the duck Pochard still here: also a lone Tufted Duck.
- eleven Great Crested Grebes counted.
- of course after noting yesterday that the Cetti's Warbler had been uncharacteristically subdued recently it was shouting its head-off today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: quartet outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck: together
- 38 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 35 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 11 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron: flushed c.06:30 and not seen again

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 22 (22) Chiffchaffs again
- 8 (8) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn:

Moths:
1 March Moth Alsophila aescularia
On the same lamp pole as yesterday but in a very different position. Both days it has gone when I rechecked the poles later.
Nothing else on dew-covered poles

Noted later:
An earlier departure meant fewer insects around.

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Other flies:
cranefly, possibly Limonia nubeculosa

New flowers for the year:
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa

Early dawn.

Slightly later dawn.

Two Great Crested Grebes seem surprised.

I flushed this Common Buzzard then went and hid in a tree beside the M54. Two Jays decided it wasn't going to stay there and chased it out...

...and away.

You will be pleased to know that I did not photograph the other 21 singing Chiffchaffs.

A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax rubbing its hands (wee, front legs) together.

On a wall I found this cranefly, possibly Limonia nubeculosa.

Must try harder with my generally rubbish flower photos. These are Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:05 – 10:10

(76th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Great Crested Grebe back again!
- just one singing Willow Warbler.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 33 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (19♂) Mallard
- 17 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 27 Coots

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Spiders, harvestman etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

I came across a trio of fighting Goldcrests with their crests erect showing red. The bundle of bird disappeared in to a bush and only this one emerged leaving the camera struggling to keep up.

Too many branches for the camera to 'lock-on' to the bird.

Perhaps the best of the bunch.

A Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax. This is of course a species of hoverfly and here doing what it says on the tin.

My first Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. of the year.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
13 Cormorants
4 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Duck
5 Sand Martins
6 Redwings
8 Chiffchaffs
>500 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
50 Tufted Ducks
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Mediterranean Gull.
Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull.
>1500 Black-headed Gulls
2 Redwings
65 Magpies
25 Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
6 Swans
2 Pochard
85 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Buzzards
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebe
4 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebe
3 Greylag Geese
32 Tufted Duck

Trench
1 Cormorant
43 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Little Ringed Plover
1 Cormorant
1 Mallard x Pintail
18 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Kittiwake
33 Wren
29 Robin
24 Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
39 Magpie
3 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
1 Snipe
3 Chiffchaff
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Barn Owl
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Shoveler
30 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
321 Wood Pigeons
2 Skylarks
5 Meadow Pipits
33 Wrens
21 Robins
21 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
3 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
18 Greenfinches
8 Siskins
1 Linnet
6 Reed Buntings
1 Yellowhammer.
(Ed Wilson)