21 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

3.0°C > 10.0°C: Clear, if hazy early. At c.08:00 mist / fog rolled in only starting to lift after 10:00. Light and variable, mainly easterly breeze. Good visibility, then very poor / poor.

Sunrise: 06:15 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 06:30 // 07:40 – 08:45

(64th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a pair of Shoveler were new arrivals.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 32 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
that's all

Counts from the lake area:
all counts potentially affected by poor visibility
- 10 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; one pair departed; three pairs arrived
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (7♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 11 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- no Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs again

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Frosted poles did not help.

Moths:
- *1 Shoulder Stripe Earophila badiata

Flies:
- male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

Noted later:

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

Flower:
- *Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana confirmed

The early misty glow.

Sunrise through the mist.

The pair of Shoveler, the drake at the back. The females of most duck species need to be well camouflaged as they brood their eggs nesting on the ground.

A Pied Wagtail of course. But are the flanks "clean" enough to suggest the migrant Continental race/species White Wagtail?

This view confirms it is "just" a female Pied Wagtail. On White Wagtail the rump is grey and not black as here.

My fifth Shoulder Stripe moth Earophila badiata this year. I do not record this species every year. It is strange how many moth species seem to appear in cycles of good years and then absences.

Resolving yesterday's mystery species of violet. This detailed view confirms it as Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana (the leaves are from a different plant that I used to support the flower while I photographed it)

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane area: 06:30 – 07:40

(3rd full visit of the year)

The inhabitant of the two storm pools were:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 2 Coots: a pair on the upper pool with one apparently on a nest; none on the lower pool

Otherwise noted in the area (common garden birds omitted) (the number in brackets refers to birds singing)
- 2 Pheasants: heard
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- *2 (2) Skylarks
- 3 (3) Song Thrushes
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 5 (1) Chaffinches
- 1 (1) Greenfinch
- 4 Goldfinches
- *4 Linnets
- *3 (1) Yellowhammers: two females; song heard briefly

Of note.

Nothing else

An early view across the fields

And mist at the bottom of the lane.

One of two singing Skylarks.

A Linnet. This species is difficult to approach. Note the grey head, dark bill and warm tones on the breast side. Males in breeding plumage are often bright red on the breast sides.

I am slightly confused by the Yellowhammers this morning. This I would judge to be a female. There are no rufous tones to the brown feathers on the back and the face pattern is a very subdued yellow.

Again.

That suggests that both these are females. Would that be likely at this date? Note their rufous rump usually only seen as the birds fly away. What is there to the right...

...or left?

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:50 – 10:15

(62nd visit of the year)

Many smart new nest boxes have been erected in the last few days. I will keep an eye out and report on the use of those easily visible from the pathway.

Bird notes:
- the two Great Crested Grebes were playing submarine chase.
- *one male Siskin was singing from trees above the feeding station.

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

Noted on / around the water:
all numbers affected by the mist: much of the time the island was not visible
- 11 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (14♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck only
- 9 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs

Of note around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris
- *2 possible small ichneumons

Flies:
- many midges of several species again

Amphibians:
- *Common Toad Bufo bufo

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 money spider

Flowers
- *Oregon-grape Berberis aquifolium
- *Garden Grape-hyacinth agg. Muscari armeniacum
- *Primrose-cultivar Primula sp.

Probably the same Song Thrush I photographed here a few days ago. Was it too relishing the absence of noise from the academy playground?

Even in the mist you can rely on a friendly Robin to brighten things up.

Perhaps about the last we will see of Siskins until late Autumn (unless we get a cold snap). This male was twittering away above the feeding station.

One of two apparent ichneumon wasps. The long antennae suggest this family though the wasp-waist is obscured by the folded wings.

By one of the footbridges there were several Common Toads Bufo bufo in the water.

Not easy to persuade the camera to focus through the surface.

A mating pair. I had to check as I had not realised that "the female is around twice the size of the male" (thank you NatureSpot)

I am never sure how many of the plants that appear between the path and the water are merely garden escapes rather than "real" wild flowers. This is Oregon-grape Berberis aquifolium.

This is an escape: it is Garden Grape-hyacinth agg. Muscari armeniacum

These are certainly a Primrose-cultivar Primula sp. Had they been Cowslip P. veris then the flower clusters would be hanging down.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+ Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
1 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
66 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)

2011
The Flash
48 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

20 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 7.0°C: Mist slowly lifting and beginning to clear to this high overcast. Light easterly breeze. Poor visibility: very poor to start.

Sunrise: 06:13 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:10

(64th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a late *Fieldfare was seen and heard calling from trees near Castle Farm Way. Later five Redwings flew out of West end trees.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 10 Canada Geese: three flew South together; seven flew West together
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew South
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw

Anything else lost in the mist.

Counts from the lake area:
- 9 Canada Geese: a pair throughout; one pair departed; two pairs and a single arrived separately
- 2 Mute Swans
- 14 (10♂) Mallard
- 16 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 22 Coots: partial count in the mist?
- 5 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 1 Black-headed Gull: first-year, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult for c.20 minutes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed 06:35

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler still
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Dew-covered poles did not help.

Moths:
- *1 unidentified moth

Flies:
- *plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:

Flies:
- *1 wood gnat Sylvicola sp., probably S. fenestralis
- small plumed midges

Flowers:
- *Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
- *either Sweet Violet Viola odorata or Early Dog-violet V. reichenbachiana

Dreadful light – indeed what light? This is a Fieldfare. Visible here is its grey rump and the yellow on the bill.

A slightly better view shows that the spotting is only on the throat and the sides of the breast. Also that the spotting is against a warm buff background.

A pair of Pied Wagtails, the female on the left. This pair have been regular visitors to the dam-top for ten days or so. I often also note a pair on the south-west grass. Are these the same?

Bother. This dew-covered moth on a street lamp pole pre-dawn will have to remain unidentified. I went back later when the dew might have gone but so had the moth. There are several candidate species of moth with this general shape that are on the wing at this date.

Also dew-covered is this male midge. I think the size and the banded abdomen mean it is likely Chironomus plumosus.

One without dew.

Here a wood gnat Sylvicola sp. The three stripes of the thorax, the patterned wings with dark tip means it is probably S. fenestralis though (all together now) "there are several similar species".

Do I need to say? A Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. also found on a street lamp pole pre-dawn.

Just appearing on flower is Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum. The leaves of Lamium species do look somewhat similar to Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica though none of them stings – hence "dead nettle".

My photo does not show the specific identification feature to separate Sweet Violet Viola odorata from Early Dog-violet V. reichenbachiana. I have logged each of these species in previous years. I'll try and clinch the ID with a side-on photo of a single flower (if I remember!)

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:

(62nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- one pair of Mute Swans. For a long while I was not sure which of yesterday's two pairs these might be as neither seemed interested in visiting the nest site. Eventually one did..
- two adult Great Crested Grebes today

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: of these two pairs departed
- 4 Greylag Geese: arrived as two pairs at different times
- 2 Mute Swans
- 25 (19♂) Mallard
- 25 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: one adult and two first-years
- 1 Herring Gull: second year
- 2 Cormorants: one adult and one immature in trees only

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs

Of note around the area:

Flies:
- *1 wood gnat Sylvicola sp., probably S. fenestralis
- *several species of midge on street lamp poles

Springtails:
- *1 unidentified springtail

Water of a grebe's back. Great Crested of course.

It seems odd that while the plumage looks wet there are beads of water on the feathers.

Two Cormorants in trees on the island. The bird on the left with the white belly is an immature. The other bird was showing white thigh patches (not visible from this angle) and thus an adult.

It was very quiet around the wooded areas but I did find this Great Tit willing to pose.

As at the Balancing Lake a wood gnat probably Sylvicola fenestralis. Hickory's Smokehouse apologises for the split in their wooden post not being vertical.

A midge and a puzzling one – but then aren't they all. The antennae are not plumed suggesting this is a female. But those antennae are unusually long for a female.

Another midge: much smaller and stouter with an obvious mark in the wing. There seem to be no internet sites with more than token illustrations of midges.

This is a side-elevation view of an unidentified springtail on the edge of a sign. I included it because it shows that the body of this insect, like most springtails, is hairy.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
27 Tufted Ducks
6 Redwings
138 Jackdaws
1 Chiffchaff
1 Redpoll
7+ Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Mute Swans
1 Pochard
56 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
133 Lapwing
17 Golden Plover
1 Redshank
3 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
3 Teal
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Herring Gull.
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Duck
11 Golden Plover
17 Meadow Pipits
5 Chiffchaffs (4 in song)
Raven
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
40 Golden Plover
11 Lapwing
1 Red-legged Partridge
2 Green Woodpeckers
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
32 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
2 Brambling
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
39 Tufted Duck
146 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
c.35 Greenfinches
c.15 Goldfinches
c.10 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebe
36 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
435 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Peter Wilson)

2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
12 Cormorant
24 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Merlin
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Great Black-backed Gull
188 Wood Pigeon
1 Green Woodpecker
26 Wren
5 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
55 Magpie
14 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.250 Black-headed Gulls
146 Lesser-black Backs
15 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-leg Gulls
2 Common Gulls
36 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant
2 Water Rail
3 Siskins
2 Redpoll
3 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)

19 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

4.0°C > 11.0°C: Fine with early haze. Light and variable, mainly easterly breeze. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:15 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 06:25 // 07:45 – 09:15

(62nd visit of the year)

New bird species:
New for my 2025 bird list from here was a Meadow Pipit heard passing over c.06:20. Species #67.

Other bird notes:
- seven of the 90 Wood Pigeons noted overhead were flying very high North as did many more yesterday. Many of them were flying East today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 10 Canada Geese
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 90 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 13 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair arrived and much later departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 11 (8♂) Tufted Duck also
- 10 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes remain
- no gulls
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler again
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs again

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Frosted poles did not help.

Moths:
- *1 Red-eyed Buff Agonopterix ocellana [was Red-letter Flat-body]
- *1 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda

Flies:
- *male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Clubiona sp.

Noted later:

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

Hoverflies:
- *2 Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax

Other flies:
- *greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- small plumed midges

A hazy glow over the water at dawn.

This moth is a Red-eyed Buff Agonopterix ocellana, previously known as Red-letter Flat-body. It is not a common moth though I have records from 16 March in both 2021 and 2022. The "red eye" that separated this species from several similar species that fly at this time of year is just visible in the centre of the mark on the left wing. It seems to have worn off from the right wing.

This Small Quaker moth Orthosia cruda was very high up one of the street lamp poles pre-dawn and not easy to photograph. This species is the most abundantly recorded moth around this date. My 2026 moth species count here moves on to #9.

Obsidentify was 100% sure this is a Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva. Who am I to argue?

This is a male hoverfly – the eyes meet and it has short antennae. The leg colour means it is a Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax even though the abdomen does not look at all "tapered" as they usually do.

This is a greenbottle, one of many Lucilia sp.

My first Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria of the year. This is a female: males are larger and more obviously yellow.

They are a very odd shape.

This midge with the banded abdomen and plumed antennae is I believe to be a male Chironomus plumosus.

This would seem to be the female of the species.

The tip of the abdomen suggests this spider is a Clubiona sp. The pattern on the abdomen suggests it might be C. corticalis though as usual NatureSpot urges caution: "one of several very similar Clubiona species"

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane area: 06:25 – 07:45

(2nd full visit of the year)

The inhabitant of the two storm pools were:
- 2 Canada Geese on the lower pool
- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 2 Coots: one on each pool

Otherwise noted in the area (common garden birds omitted) (the number in brackets refers to birds singing)
- 2 Pheasants: seen
- 1 Stock Dove
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (2) Skylarks
- 4 (4) Song Thrushes
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 (1) Chaffinches
- 1 (1) Greenfinch
- 4 Goldfinches
- 2 Linnets
- *1 Yellowhammers: both males (no song)

Nothing else of note.

Looking toward Woodhouse Lane with majestic old trees marking the line of the lane. Sadly the regular flailing of the hedges means there are no replacements for these trees and as they die the scene will irrecoverably change.

Here looking down the lane.

At the bottom of the lane just before the bridge under the M54 is a composting site. Water vapour from the site is here spread out across the low-lying area. Note the frost-dotted spoil heap on the right. Full of insects and attractive to birds.

Yesterday it was a Blue Tit after morsels in the trees. Today a Great Tit. With a narrow black 'zip' down the abdomen this is a female.

Another very smart Yellowhammer.

"This is my better side"! The warm background colour is actually houses in the new estate.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:15

(60th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a second pair of Mute Swans again. The resident cob chased them down the other end and then gave up.
- where were many of the Mallard hiding?
- only one adult Great Crested Grebes seen. The nest (site?) was not in use
- every time I looked another Black-headed Gull had arrived!
- the feeding station was devoid of birds. I will only report usual sighting from now on.
- no Siskins seen or heard.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 4 Mute Swans
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- 27 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Black-headed Gulls eventually: two adults and five first-years

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs again

Of note around the area:

Butterflies:
- 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

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

Hoverflies:
- *1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Other flies:
- 5 midges on street lamp poles
- otherwise very few for some reason

Beetles:
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

The leg colour again identifies this as a Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax. This is a female (the eyes do not meet) and so her abdomen would not look tapered.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
18 Tufted Ducks
127 Jackdaws
158 Black-headed Gulls
22 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Chiffchaff singing
6 Redwings
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
2 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
81 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
25 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
1 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
6 Tufted Duck
2 Goosander
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martins
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Meadow Pipit
25 Wren
20 Blackbird
5 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff
34 Magpie
8 Greenfinch
8 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
32 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)