13 Apr 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

6.0°C > 11.0°C: Clear start with cloud bubbling up. Hail shower c.12:00. Light southerly wind, moderate in shower. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:17 BST]

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

A late start after getting a jab at the local clinic.

Another significant passage of Willow Warblers.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:45 – 12:30

(88th visit of the year)

A different time-slot will have affected many of the numbers.

Bird notes:

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
That's all!

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest throughout
- 12 (10♂) + ? (1 brood) Mallard: duckling(s) seen scampering – no idea how many
- no Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens: also *one road casualty in Castle Farm Way
- *32 Coots
- *6 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins: overhead during the shower only

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 8 (5) Willow Warblers
- 12 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- *12 (10) Blackcaps

Noted around the area later:

Butterflies:
- Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines : quicker than I was in sheltering from the hail shower

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

Hoverflies:
- *Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]

Flies:
- only unidentified flies

Sad. Lying at the side of Castle Farm Way was a dead Moorhen. I presume road-kill. This species will walk long distances even though it is a strong flyer. The head appears to be missing. However I think if it had been predated then there would be evidence on the rest of the body.

A pleasing view of a Great Crested Grebe.

Busier than the Strait of Hormuz.

With puffy clouds it was a great day to ride the thermals. Did this Common Buzzard have to be SO high up.

It goes to show, though what I am not sure. I thought I had finally latched on to a Willow Warbler in a position I could get a reasonable photo. Wrong! It is a female Blackcap!

Most times I would be pleased with this as a photo of that energetic sprite, Goldcrest. After the photos I took Saturday I am not sure why I bothered,

"I am sitting up straight and looking alert" says Mrs. Pied Wagtail. The unusually dark back suggests a male at first glance. On a male the black of the throat joins up with the black on the head and neck. The literature suggests that some, especially older, females can show black feathers on the back. Here the black on the back is not uniform which it would be on a male.

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris tramples all over the blossom before....

...eventually settling down to feed.

A female Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare with triangular yellow spots. About the last insect I note before the hail shower sent us all scurrying for cover.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:35

(86th visit of the year)

New bird species:
*Another addition to my 2026 bird list for this site: two Common Sandpipers were seen flying around and briefly perching on overhanging branches on the island. Bird species #62 for me here. I see this species most year, more often on Autumn passage. Strange they were here today when there was none at the Balancing Lake.

Bird notes:
- I was told that a single duckling had been seen earlier at the top end.
- a Sedge Warbler was singing again, about 50 yards from where I heard one yesterday. I would suspect this is a different individual to that recorded yesterday. I have never had records of this species on consecutive days in earlier years.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (18♂) Mallard: see notes
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens again
- *23 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *2 Common Sandpipers

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 11 (10) Willow Warblers at least
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- *9 (7) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

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

Hoverflies:
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *female Syrphus species either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis

Flies:
- *1 Blow-fly from the Calliphoridae family
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *1 male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- otherwise only unidentified flies: fewer than I expected on a sunny morning

A Coot in full cry. This one was chasing Mallard off what it regarded as its territory.

Today's highlight: here are the two Common Sandpipers, the bird on the right flying with typically bowed wings.

An unusual view with the bird on the right with the tail spread, the white tips to the tail-feathers making a fan-shape.

Because this species is usually seen flying on those bowed wings, not raised above the horizontal then the underwing pattern shown here is not often seen. I am afraid the strong contrasting sunlight has lost some of the subtlety but you get the idea.

And again.

Poking her head out of a distant clump of Ivy is a female Blackcap.

For a change it is a female Syrphus species. It will still have to be recorded as either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis because the tibia of the hind leg is not visible - the only easily(!?) seen feature to separate the females of these two species.

A Blow-fly from the Calliphoridae family. Obsidentify suggested it was one of the cluster fly genus but most (though not all) these have golden hairs on the thorax. I cannot suggest a specific identity.

A male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
1 Common Sandpiper
c.10 Sand Martins
>6 Barn Swallows
1 House Martin
2 Tawny Owls
2 Meadow Pipits
8 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
276 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Swallow
5 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Ringed Plover
>20 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Common Redstart
8 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
47 Black-tailed Godwit
6 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
1 Dunlin
3 Swallows
(Andy Latham)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
4 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow
23 Sand Martin
1 House Martin
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Fieldfares
3 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
2 Greenfinches
1 Siskin
1 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

12 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: Early showers gave way to a few sunny periods. Moderate southerly wind, gusting fresh to strong. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:19 BST

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

A significant passage of Willow Warblers this morning.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 07:00 // 07:55 – 09:45

(87th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Canada Geese: a pair flew East and five flew North together
- 4 Greylag Geese: flew South together
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 42 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 10 Canada Geese: at various times
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (9♂) Mallard: of these 4 (3♂) were on the football field: no ducklings seen
- 5 (4♂) Tufted Duck: departed together
- 3 Moorhens only again
- 25 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Common Sandpipers
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults; one of these was on the football field
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret: arrived 05:56

Hirundines etc. noted:
fewer today:
- >30 Sand Martins
- ? Barn Swallows
- >1 House Martins: calls heard but none identified

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 8 (8) Willow Warblers
- 15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warblers
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 19 (16) Blackcaps: perhaps my highest-ever count here

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
in rain so very little noted

Butterfly / Moth:
- 1 unidentified caterpillar

Flies:
- 1 unidentified fly

Noted around the area later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- wasp Vespula sp.

Hoverflies:
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Flies:
- 1 Lucilia species of "greenbottle"
- 1 Muscid fly of the genus Phaonia
- many other unidentified flies

The early rain shower beginning to ease – for a while.

A Robin in contemplation.

A Blue Tit looks for a morsel to eat.

Successfully. Not sure what it has found.

Here it seems to be peeling off lichen from the twig.

"Perhaps this will be more nutritious"

Another caterpillar, unidentified so far. Obsidentify's suggestion was one of the "whites" but their caterpillars are green.

This Honey Bee Apis mellifera is more interested in drinking the nectar than collecting pollen on its pollen baskets.

This male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax has the decency to have the abdomen looking "tapered".

And a female.

Why do I only ever seem to see males of this species which means that I have to log them as Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis?

This is one of the Lucilia group of flies usually referred to as "greenbottles". As demonstrated here the colour can vary depending on the angle of the light.

A fly learning its alphabet. The wing shape indicates it is one of the Muscid flies of the genus Phaonia. I cannot match the thorax pattern with any of the photos on the NatureSpot web site.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- 3 unidentified midges of at least two species

Springtails:
- 1 springtail: have I ever seen a springtail here before?

What I believe to be the first springtail I have found in the tunnel. Not one I can identify, sadly.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:05 – 07:50

(85th visit of the year)

New bird species:
An addition to my 2026 bird list for this site: a Sedge Warbler sang twice, briefly from waterside vegetation along the East side. My earliest date for this species here though as I only ever record occasional one-day birds each year that is not too significant. Bird species #61 for me here.

Bird notes:
- the cob Mute Swan was chasing away an interloper as I arrived.
- two days ago the eight Tufted Duck were nearly paired: yesterday five of the six birds were drakes: today there were four pairs again!
- as at the Balancing Lake a good passage of Willow Warblers. There were perhaps more as along the East side they seemed wing-tip to wing-tip and hard to separate.
- a Siskin was heard leaving trees at the top end.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 14 Canada Geese: of these two pairs departed separately
- 3 Greylag Geese: departed together
- 3 Mute Swans: one being chased away
- 19 (16♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 24 Coots still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: seen on nest

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 9 (9) Willow Warblers at least
- 12 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Moths:
- 1 caterpillar of a Geometer moth to be identified: same pole for third day

Flies:
- 1 female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- 1 Root-maggot fly from the genus Leucophora.

Springtails:
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta

Flowers:
- Hybrid Bluebell Hyacinthoides x massartiana
- Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica

The resident cob Mute Swan splashes back down having just seen off the interloper.

Coots are inveterate nest-builders. Most nests are "complete" with the eggs being brooded. That will not stop the males (I assume) bringing more and more material.

This looks to be one of the Root-maggot flies. The banded abdomen suggests it is from the genus Leucophora. Further identification needs expertise!

I will have to recheck this bluebell when it is further developed. It is likely a Hybrid Bluebell Hyacinthoides x massartiana. Until recently the choice was between "our" Bluebell H. non-scripta and the introduced / garden escape Spanish Bluebell H hispanica. However I read that DNA analysis has shown that the "pure" Spanish Bluebell is very uncommon and almost all non-native Bluebells are hybrids.

These are certainly NOT "our" Bluebells on which all the flowers on a stem hang drooping on one side only.

Neither are these (though white form of "our" Bluebells do occasionally occur).

Usual caveat that I do not pretend to be a biologist. I believe these are Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica. They certainly a Forget-me-not species as the blue flowers have five petals, whereas the blueish flowers of speedwells have only four petals.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
1 Greylag Goose
2 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
2 Barn Swallows
1 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Swallows flew through
2 Meadow Pipits
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Duck
9 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Swallow
1 Reed Bunting
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
5 Lapwings
1 Swallow
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Skylarks
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Redstart
13 Wheatear
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

East Priorslee
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Sand Martins
2 Greylag Geese
3 Stock Doves
1 Lapwing
(Ed Wilson)

11 Apr 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Early mainly light rain moved away East with some sunny intervals later. Moderate south-westerly breeze increasing fresh once the clearance passed. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:22 BST]

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

A late start avoiding the worst of the rain.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 08:10 – 09:50

(86th visit of the year)

A full walk-around after my late start though the numbers are not wholly comparable.

Bird notes:
- two Reed Buntings were seen to fly off high North together from the South side reeds.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Mute Swan: flew south-west 08:15
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 4 Wood Pigeons only

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese: at various times
- 4 Greylag Geese: at various times
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (8♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 12 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret: arrived ?

Hirundines etc. noted:
a big swirling mass, impossible to do more than estimate:
- >50 Sand Martins
- >10 Barn Swallows
- >6 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers again
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers again
- 15 (14) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:

Flies:
- 2 wood gnats, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis

Around the area later:

Nothing noted apart from:
windy and cool

Flower:
- Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

It is a while since I have seen a Grey Heron doing its "balancing on a buoy" trick.

One of the very many Sand Martins hunting insects over the water. Note the pale collar and that the head is the darkest part of the plumage from above.

On the underside note the dark breast band and also that the "arm-pits" are darker than the rest of the plumage.

Another flies by.

Here with the tail spread there is no obvious fork.

A plan view.

I have no idea why the breast band look raised here. It shouldn't be.

Another with the tail held in a 'V'.

The Barn Swallows were less cooperative (and there were fewer). This is a male with one of the streamers broken. It is reported that females prefer males with the longest or most balanced streamers (how do they know?).

Another of the few acceptable photos I took of a Barn Swallows. This one with equal length streamers.

 I think this has to be a female with short streamers.

The "arm-pits" on Barn Swallows are pale. Note also the pale spots at the base of the tail when spread. I will try harder!

House Martins were few and far between. This was my best. Note the tubbier appearance and the whiter belly extending on the rump. The 'arm-pits' are not darker in this species.

"Give us a song Mr. Chiffchaff" ( if "chiff-chaff- chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff..." can be called a song).

The wind blowing the plumage to reveal grey-looking feathers.

Now just what exactly is that red splodge?

It is the rear end of the crest of this Goldcrest which it raises when excited...

 ...seen again here...

...and here...

 ...and again.

Indulgent I know but I have rarely seen a Goldcrest so well for such a long period let alone been able to photograph it.

A vocal individual.

This flower is Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- 6 unidentified midges of at least two species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:15 – 08:05

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan on / at the nest throughout.
- yesterday the Tufted Duck were nearly paired: they were not today!
- three late Siskins flew out of trees behind Wordsworth Way.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant

Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese: of these seven departed together
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (16♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (4) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (8) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Moths:
- 1 caterpillar of a Geometer moth to be identified: same pole as yesterday

Flies:
- 1 midge
- 1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Metellina merianae

It can't be much fun being a duck (female) Mallard when you get pounced on...

...half-drowned...

 ...and fought over. There are four drakes here and she is still underwater.

It was on the same lamp post so I guess this is a better view of the same caterpillar as yesterday. It is almost certainly from the Engrailed moth Ectropis crepuscularia. I frequently record the adult (imago) during July.

This is a wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis. There are several similar species and microscopic examination is needed to positively identify them. There were also two on the street lamp poles at the Balancing Lake.

I think this is a Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Metellina merianae.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
>6 Sand Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
24 Tufted Ducks
3 Sand Martins
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
12 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin.
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
(Arthur Harper, Ian Grant and John Isherwood)

The Flash
Cackling Canada Goose
4 Sand Martins
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Trench Middle Pool
House Martin
4 Sand Martin
2 Chiffchaffs
(Martin Grant)

Trench Lock Pool
12 Sand Martins
(Martin Grant)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
80+ Hirundines
1 House Martin
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
3 Linnet
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Mallard
1 Buzzard
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
90 Wood Pigeons
2 Kestrels
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Grey Wagtails
6 Pied Wagtails
2 House Martin
24 Wrens
15 Robins
24 Blackbirds
1 Wheatear
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
13 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
2 Linnets
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)