7.0°C: A few early clear spells. Then cloudy with a light shower before "rain stopped play" with a heavy shower. Moderate westerly wind, veering north-easterly during second shower. Very good visibility except during showers.
Sunrise: 05:19 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:25 // 07:20 – 09:25
(113th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *still seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- *the two very well-grown Mallard ducklings seen.
- a very low count of Coots even assuming half of those present are sitting on nests hidden in the reeds. Perhaps they were sheltering from the rain. Lucky them.
- three Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited briefly.
- no Grey Heron seen.
- the usual warbler update:
nine singing Reed Warblers one of which was in unsuitable-looking scrub: perhaps a passage bird?
the Garden Warbler was heard again – with difficulty as there were two shouting Song Thrushes, one on each side. The warbler is still not singing as persistently as this species usually does and I have yet to see it even move between song perches much less being able to think about photographing it.
I did not hear a Lesser Whitethroat today
two Common Whitethroats. At 05:30 one was singing close to the traditional breeding site: I did not see this bird. The recent arrival along the South side was still in full voice.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Wood Pigeons only again
That's all folks!
Counts from the lake area:
- *2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *8 (6♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 8 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 10 Coots only
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adults and a first year, all departed separately
- no Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
At least 80 birds swirling around over the water and sometimes up in the air. My best attempt to apportion them to species:
- 20 Swifts
- 20 Sand Martins
- *30 Barn Swallows
- *10 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (9) Reed Warblers
- 16 (16) Blackcaps
- no Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Not quite a blank morning
Flies:
- 2 plumed midges
Noted around the area later:
Almost nothing in cool and then wet conditions:
- 2 plumed midges
Noted around the area later:
Almost nothing in cool and then wet conditions:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Bugs:
- *Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
- *Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
A hungry brood of seven Greylag goslings.
The two well-grown Mallard ducklings still with their mother,
A Common Buzzard circling over Castle Farm Way....
...tail spread.
There was enough light to (almost) freeze the passing Barn Swallows. But not enough light to provide much in the way of colour.
My best from below...
...above...
...and the side.
I even managed a shot of a House Martin.
Sadly not quite in focus.
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 11 midges of at least three species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- *1 unidentified fly
- 1 unidentified cranefly
- 11 midges of at least three species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- *1 unidentified fly
- 1 unidentified cranefly
This unidentified fly falls in to the category "well I suppose they have to sleep somewhere". On a wall in the tunnel is an unusual location.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:15
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:15
(110th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the visiting first year Mute Swan was confirmed to be unringed.
- two pairs of Coots noted with two and four well-grown juveniles respectively.
- a Great Crested Grebe was seen bringing food to the bird on the nest platform
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese only: of these a pair departed to the North
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest)
- 20 (17♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens yet again
- 17 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
Bird notes:
- the visiting first year Mute Swan was confirmed to be unringed.
- two pairs of Coots noted with two and four well-grown juveniles respectively.
- a Great Crested Grebe was seen bringing food to the bird on the nest platform
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese only: of these a pair departed to the North
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest)
- 20 (17♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens yet again
- 17 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Flies:
- *at least 38 unidentified mayflies
- *at least 38 unidentified mayflies
Fish:
- *at least five, presumed Carp Cyprinus carpio ssp., thrashing around in close proximity
I counted 38 mayflies apparently dead on the same street lamp pole as yesterday. One was low-enough for a better photo. It does not help me identify the species.
One of at least five, presumed Carp Cyprinus carpio ssp., seen thrashing around. There were no fishermen around to ask: it seems to me both too early in the year and with the water likely too cold for them to be (thinking of) spawning. But what else?
(Ed Wilson)
- *at least five, presumed Carp Cyprinus carpio ssp., thrashing around in close proximity
(Ed Wilson)
