2 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: Early low cloud with some very light drizzle gave way to sunny intervals and fair-weather clouds. A light northerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:42 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:00 – 07:00 // 08:10 – 09:45

(77th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Great (White) Egret arrived at 06:18 again was just beaten in the "first seen flying" stakes this morning by one of the two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an outbound party of 16 Jackdaws.
- a group of c.12 Sand Martins dropped in briefly c.09:00 and were seen climbing away high to the north-west. About 10 minutes later c.12 were noted high overhead before also heading off north-west. The same?
- all four Blackcaps noted were males. One was, strangely, not heard singing.
- on my first walk around I noted four singing Goldcrests. None was heard (or seen) on my second lap when it was fully light.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair outbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs outbound
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: immature
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- c.175 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 2 Meadow Pipits

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: a pair and a single throughout; two pairs arrived and departed.
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (8♂) Mallard
- 9 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 28 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly around dawn
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.12 Sand Martins: see notes

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warbler
- 16 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Flies etc.:
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- several small midges
- 1 unidentified cranefly

Beetles:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *1 weevil sp.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 comb-footed spider, possibly Anelosimus vittatus
- *1 money spider-type

Plants:
- *flowering Wild Cherry Prunus avium

Of note around the area later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 possible Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa [Early Mining Bee]

Hoverflies:
- *1 Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Other flies:
- *numerous unidentified flies

Beetles:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

The Great (White) Egret flies off...

...to perch rather precariously in the trees.

Basking in the sun is what Obsidentify was 94% sure was an Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa.

This is the same bee in my shadow. Obsidentify was no longer sure what species of mining bee it was.

This is the hoverfly Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans . It looks somewhat like a Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax but is noticeably smaller with a much more prominent scutellum. This is my earliest date by over a week for seeing this species.

This is a Tapered Dronefly and surprisingly tapered as a female (the eyes do not meet).

A number of flies came out to bask in the sun. Here is one.

And another. Neither identified.

A 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Obsidentify helpfully suggested "Weevil". Thank you.

A 100% certain identification of this spider by Obsidentify as a comb-footed spider Anelosimus vittatus. The rubric in NatureSpot says that the dark area extends down the length of the carapace (abdomen). So? Note this is a male with the "boxing glove" palps.

And a money spider-type.

Flowering Wild Cherry Prunus avium though I am not sure how "wild" any of the trees and shrubs around the lake are.

Plane of the day. There are not too many 4-engined jets operational and most of them are, as here, freighters.

The slightly misleading information from FlightRadar24. It is owned by Kalitta Air but was not flying from Gander to "not available" but from Hill Air Force Base outside Salt Lake City in Utah to Fairford in Gloucestershire. The CMB flight code refers to the radio call-sign "Camber" and indicates a civilian aircraft operating a US Department of Defence (War?) mission. The aircraft is 33 years old and originally flew as a passenger aircraft with Korean Air who later converted it as a freighter. Kalitta has been flying it with this identity for nine years.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- *several unidentified midges
nothing else noted

A midge primer though their identity remains somewhat of a mystery. A female here and although the abdomen is banded it is too slim to be the midge Chironomus plumosus.

This seems to be the male of the same species.

Another female midge and slight more robust.

This is what I think a female Chironomus plumosus should look like with a broad and marked thorax and a substantial body.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:05 – 08:05

(75th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of (Common) Teal accidentally flushed from the top end. A drake seen later beside the island presumably one of these.
- *a surprise was seeing two brownhead Goosander.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Collared Doves together: not apparently any of the local birds

Noted on / around the water:
- 25 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 20 (16♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 12 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- *2 (0♂) Goosander
- 4 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- no Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Flies:
- 1 female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

These two brownhead Goosander were a surprise. My previous sighting here was on 16 February. My only other April record here was on 1st April 2023.

A Willow Warbler. It was singing which helps to separate it from the similar-looking but very different sounding Chiffchaff.

Here we see the more prominent supercilium and that the legs are not black (though this is not a 100% reliable feature as some Chiffchaffs have paler legs). One reliable behavioural difference is that Chiffchaff is always on the move flitting through the branches constantly dipping its tail and flitting after prey. The slightly larger and more robust Willow Warbler almost never dips its tail and works through the vegetation usually gleaning insects from off of the branches.

Yesterday I photographed a Song Thrush apparently collecting nest material from alongside the Wesley Brook. Here is a female Blackbird...

...doing the same thing (sorry about the stick! I am sure there is an AI photo editor that could remove the stick but hey-ho)

A spider taking refuge in a fold in a street lamp pole. The diagnostic mark at the top of the abdomen is not visible but it looks to be a good candidate for a Garden Spider Araneus diadematus.

(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 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 11.0°C: Medium-level overcast. An almost calm start with a light westerly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:45 BST

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

Some of yesterday's warbler seem to have moved on.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 07:10 // 08:10 – 09:50

(76th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Grey Herons yesterday: two today.
- the Great (White) Egret arrived at 06:18. Later it again took to the air and flew North over the new(ish) estate, only to return a few minutes later.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 61 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
that's all folks!

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Geese: apart from one pair all the others arrived.
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived and departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- 5 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- *8 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly around dawn
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- *2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Hirundines etc. noted:

None. Again surprising on a cloudy day

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warbler
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Flies etc.:
- fungus gnats
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- several species of unidentified fly

Lacewings etc.:
- *2 Common Green Lacewings Chrysoperia carnea

Beetles:
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

Spiders:
- 1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- *2 other unidentified spiders.

Of note around the area later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

Flies:
- *1 unidentified small cranefly

Say "ah"! Sleeping beauties.

One of the Grey Herons departs.

Maximum "flying barn door".

I have no idea what this Honey Bee Apis mellifera was doing but whatever it was it would not stop to pose for a good photo.

One of the smallest craneflies I have seen. I have no idea as to the species. Note the white feet to the front two pairs of legs. Also the prominent white halteres. It is sitting on a leaf of Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus which gives some idea of the insect's size. The only internet illustration of a cranefly with white halteres is a Gnophomyia tristissima but that is overall dark-toned and lacks the white feet.

One of two Common Green Lacewings Chrysoperia carnea. This species overwinters as an adult and changes to a brown colour...

...to merge with the leaf litter – as shown by this individual which is yet to revert to the normal green colour.

This morning's Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni. It looks odd. The white on the right elytra is the flash from my camera. The yellow mark in the middle of the back must be the reflection of the street lamp which was still lit at this time.

The same Walnut Orb Weaver spider Nuctenea umbratica as yesterday was seen with two others, neither of which I can identify. This small one was high up on a street lamp pole.

This one was sitting in a web beside a street lamp pole. I had difficulty persuading the camera to "see" the spider and not its shadow on the pole.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- *2 unidentified midges
- *1 cranefly, just perhaps of the genus Gnophomyia

nothing else noted

One of the "standard" female midges.

Another cranefly: but what species? Another good question. I cannot find a good match on any of the internet sites I use. The relatively long and banded antennae are a puzzle. Google Lens suggested the genus Gnophomyia. See above: this does not have white halteres neither is it dark-toned.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:15 – 08:05

(74th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the recently seen pair of (Common) Teal not noted: that probably does not mean much as they seem good at hiding away.
- a Treecreeper was noted by my Merlin app at the top end. I could not see or hear it: only a calling Blue Tit that Merlin did not report. So was there a Treecreeper?
- no Siskins seen or heard.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 16 Wood Pigeons: flew high North in an open group
- 1 Jackdaw again

Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese: much noise from inside the island
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 20 (15♂) Mallard
- 22 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, very briefly

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Willow Warblers
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- no Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Flies:
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

Springtails:
- *1 springtail Orchesella cincta

This Song Thrush was so close it had to peer down at me looking slightly cross-eyed. This shows the heart-shapes spotting to good effect.

A springtail Orchesella cincta. This species is relatively easy to identify with the yellow band across the abdomen (the vertical mark is camera flash) and the pale areas on the antennae.

(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 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 12.0°C: A morning of three halves: early low cloud with very light drizzle; a clearance and some sun c.08:15; then medium overcast. Light south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:47 BST

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

A small arrival of Blackcaps at both the lake and The Flash. Slightly surprising as they would have had to battle yesterday's stiff breeze.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 07:00 // 08:05 – 09:40

(75th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Grey Herons today.
- on several occasions recently I have seen the Great (White) Egret take to the air and fly North over the new(ish) estate, only to return (I presume the same bird!) a few minutes later. Puzzling behaviour.
- the sky was an unrelieved grey with little contrast to see any early passing Jackdaws and Rooks.
- a Willow Warbler was seen in the same area as one has been heard singing for the last three days. Strangely this bird was not heard to sing.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Jackdaws
- no Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens only
- *26 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- no Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Hirundines etc. noted:

None. Somewhat surprising on a cloudy day

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 13 (13) Chiffchaffs
- *5 (5) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Flies etc.:
- *several fungus gnats one perhaps of the genus Bolitophila.
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *possible Fever-flies Dilophus febrilis
- many species of unidentified fly

Beetles:
- *1 unidentified weevil

Earwigs
- *1 Common European Earwig Forficula dentata

Spiders:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
- *$1 crab spider Diaea dorsata
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica

Of note around the area later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- several unidentified bumblebees seen in flight only

Flies:
- *1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

The brief burst of sunshine provided a dramatic vista. Looking north-west from the dam.

And here looking south-west.

One for cloud fans. This is part of a wide panorama photo on my phone camera and as a result the lamp pole leans. If I straighten the pole the dam has a severe incline and the water flows out!

A Coot takes to the wing with feet tucked up. Note the red mark at the top of the legs – not often visible. Note the pale, nay white, in the flight feathers. Is the pale on the inner- or outer-webs of the feathers? It is hard to tell.

On the outer flight feathers (the primaries) it seems it is the inner webs that are pale. Still difficult to be sure about the inner flight feathers.

One of four male Blackcaps I heard singing this morning.

They will soon be able to hide behind the leaves so we had better look while we can.

A Song Thrush with an unusually(?) rufous cap.

A pair of Grey Wagtails, the female upper left with the pale throat.

I think this is one of the many species of fungus gnat. I cannot decide whether there is shading on the wings or it is the abdomen markings that are showing through. Either way it does not help me identify it. I don't think there are hairs at the side of the abdomen. It is holding its legs parallel to its body and it seems to be spurs on the legs that look like abdomen hairs.

My thoughts here are that these are likely to be a pair of Fever-flies Dilophus febrilis.

This looks to be a delicate crane-fly type with oversize wings. There is a suggestion this could also be a fungus gnat, this of the genus Bolitophila. I can only find a photo of a single dead specimen on the internet which is not helpful.

This tiny 'fly' is frustrating me as I am sure I ought to know at least the family to which it belongs. It is not easy to make out but note: the strongly banded antennae; and the delicately patterned wings held tent-wise over its back.

A fly I can (almost) identify: one of the 100 or so species of moth fly Psychodidae sp.

A weevil. I can't be more specific. Obsidentify's best suggestion was a species of Caddis Fly! Google Lens suggested Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus. Reference to NatureSpot suggests that is wrong as the Vine Weevil is 10mm (about twice the size of this individual) with adults not emerging until Summer.

Raising the end of its abdomen and pincers in threat is a Common European Earwig Forficula dentata. The pronounced curve to the pincers suggests this is a male.

The distinctive shape to the end of the abdomen identifies this as one of the Stout Sac Spiders from the genus Clubiona. The "boxing glove" palps identify it as a male.

Not easy to see this small (<5mm) crab spider with green legs and metathorax against the lichen on the street lamp pole. At the time I was not sure I was taking a photo of anything other than debris! The abdomen is patterned brown with pale edges. It is Diaea dorsata and a new species for me.

A Walnut Orb Weaver spider Nuctenea umbratica

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- numerous midges

Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:05 – 08:00

(73rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *a visiting adult Mute Swan was soon chased away
- *what I assume are were the same pair of (Common) Teal were noted at the top end.
- at least four Siskins it trees at the top end.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 6 Greylag Geese
- *3 Mute Swans: a visitor – for a while!
- 23 (18♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 17 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- 1 unidentified bumblebee seen in flight only

Flies:
- 2 male plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Mute Swan interlopers not welcome. "I'm going!"

The pair of (Common) Teal get on with the job of sifting breakfast. The drake in the foreground.

A Song Thrush poking about the side of the Wesley Brook. It appears to be collecting nesting material rather than food. The crown of this individual looks much less rufous than the bird I photographed at the Balancing Lake.

(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)