25 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 11.0°C: A few areas of thin high cloud taking the edge off the sun at times. Very light mainly easterly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:51 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:35

(100th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *three Black-headed Gulls dropped in: two first years and one apparent adult – perhaps a second year as adults should be at their breeding sites.
- *a first year Herring Gull dropped in at 05:30; then c.08:30 one first year and two second years visited.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls present at 05:30 flew off to join two more passing over.
- for the first time in a very long while I failed to hear (or see!) the Cetti's Warbler.
- just two Sedge Warblers singing both in locations where they have been singing for several days.
- five Reed Warblers heard today.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the Ricoh hedge throughout. Another was singing from the north-west area near the Teece Drive gate and then presumably this bird was heard singing as it moved West alongside Teece Drive.
- the one Common Whitethroat still singing.
- the Garden Warbler was singing very intermittently again

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Canada Geese: a pair flew East; a pair and a trio flew West
- 3 Greylag Geese: a trio flew West
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair arrived and were chased away by the cob Mute Swan
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 20 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes only
- *3 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *4 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *2 Grey Herons

Hirundines etc. noted:
Clear skies so only the local nesting birds visited
- 1 Barn Swallow flew through

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Cetti's Warbler!
- 18 (17) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
- 24 (21) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler again
- 2 (2) Lesser Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Continuing chilly overnight

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 harvestman Platybunus triangularis (also known as Rilaena triangularis)

Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]

Butterflies:
- *3 Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: all males
- *1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 1 Peacock Aglais io

Moths:
- *1 Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella

Caterpillar:
- *1 as yet unidentified

Bees, wasps, etc.:
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- *Willughby's Leafcutter Bee Megachile willughbiella
- *Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
- *Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Other flies:
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *Tachinid fly Tachina fera
- *cranefly Tipula sp.
- *otherwise unidentified flies.

Bugs:
- Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Plant:
- *Lords & Ladies Arum maculatum [Cuckoo Pint]

A very little mist and no low cloud today.

A first year Black-headed Gull. At this age birds develop a variable amount of dark on the head but always show dark tail-tips.

A first year Herring Gull – perhaps. I saw it earlier in flight while the light-level was still low. It had the paler inner-primaries of this species but they were not as extensive as I would have expected and I wondered about Yellow-legged Gull. I really cannot be sure. Most of the literature concentrates on birds in winter plumage.

A Grey Heron carefully steps across the rocks on the dam-face whilst trying not to attract the attention of the other Grey Heron that had been chasing it.

A male Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: tucks in to a flower of Lady's Smock (Cuckooplant or Milkmaid) Cardamine pratensis. Note the similarity in part of the scientific names. The butterfly feeds on the flower as we see here.

The pattern on the under-side of the hind-wing is shared with the female: she lacks any orange in her fore-wing.

My first Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi of the year. The veins are never green but black. On the underside of fresh specimens the black is edged pale yellow. This soon wears away.

My first Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria of the year.

This is a Green Long-horn moth Adela reaumurella waving its long-horns (antennae for detecting females).

Another view. I see this species most year though frequently as a small fighting group around the tops of bushes and trees.

An accident: I only noticed this caterpillar as I was looking through my photos. It is as yet unidentified.

This is a Willughby's Leafcutter Bee Megachile willughbiella. This is only my second record of this species here though my bee identification skills are not great and I have probably overlooked it in the past.

Here a Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis. I see this species around this date (only) most years.

A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

For a change a male Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare. With wings folded across the abdomen it is difficult to see that the yellow spots are rectangular (and not triangular as they are on females).

As so often a male Syrphus so it remains either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis

A male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria. I think this is a great-looking fly. Spectacularly ugly but good at doing what it says on the tin (it is the fly that is yellow and not the dung! Females are much browner)

Another spectacular fly. It is the Tachinid fly Tachina fera

A cranefly of the genus Tipula. Despite the clarity of the wing-pattern I cannot match it with photos on the NatureSpot web site.

Unidentified fly species #1.

And species #2. Note the white halteres.

And species #3. A Muscid fly but which?

Very strange: this is the harvestman Platybunus triangularis. It is my fourth this year. Last year I saw just one and it was my first-ever.

This is a Lords & Ladies Arum maculatum with the fruiting spike visible. The spike is pollinated by moth flies Psychodidae sp. and turns in to a cluster of bright red berries by the end of August. All parts of the plant are poisonous to Man.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 3 midges
- 3 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30

(97th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- yesterday's Mallard ducklings seen again.
- I did not hear any Sedge Warbler song.
- a Lesser Redpoll was heard giving its rolling flight call notes and then its twangy call notes while I was in squirrel alley. I could not determine whether it was flying over or in the tree tops. An unusual date.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 3 Greylag Goose: departed together
- 2 Mute Swans
- *19 (16♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 22 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warbler
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

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

The duck Mallard with her two ducklings.

More Long-tailed Tit food delivery service.

And more.

They are clearly better at finding insects than I am.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
2 Lapwings
2 Common Sandpiper
3 Reed Warblers
14 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
12 Tufted Duck
5 Song Thrushes
3 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane
3 Common Whitethroats
2 Linnets.
7 Yellowhammers
Blackcaps
Chiffchaffs
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Skylark
20 Wheatear
2 Fieldfare
1 Lesser Whitethroat.
2 Common Whitethroats.
3 Blackcaps.
2 Chiffchaffs.
1 Linnet.
2 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
1 Whimbrel
2 Curlew
6 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
35 Swallows
2 House Martins
Grey Wagtail
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
2 Swift
1 Grasshopper Warbler
(John Isherwood, J W Reeves, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
9 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpiper
(Andy Latham)

Nedge Hill
Swift
12 Wheatear
1 Whinchat
Lesser Whitethroat
2 Whitethroat
Blackcap
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
19 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Turtle Doves
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
Sand Martins
Swallows
1 Tufted Duck
1 Sedge Warbler
4 Reed Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Tufted Duck
1 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
5 Wheatears
1 Whinchat
1 Sedge Warbler
Common Whitethroat
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
Swallows
1 Grey Wagtail
6 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
4 Herons
4 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrels
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Skylark
23 Sand Martins
12 Swallows
29 Wrens
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Reed Warblers
11 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Jays
7 Greenfinches
21 Redpolls
5 Reed Buntings.

Lanes
3 Whitethroats
2 Skylarks
3 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaff
4 Linnets
6 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

24 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 9.0°C: Some early low cloud soon burned off. Misty early. A light easterly breeze. Moderate visibility, becoming good.

Sunrise: 05:53 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:30 // 07:40 – 09:45

(99th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- there was a pair of Canada Geese and a pair of Greylag Geese. There was also singles of each which were staying close together as if they might be a mixed pair.
- the cob Mute Swan only had the geese to chase today.
- four Sedge Warblers singing, three in new locations one of which was alongside Teece Drive: very unsuitable
- four Reed Warblers heard.
- Blackcaps continue to be recorded in improbably high numbers. I hope there are many insects about.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the Ricoh hedge throughout. Still get even a glimpse of this bird!
- two Common Whitethroats were singing at the West end c.05:20. Later just one. A third(?) was singing from inside the Ricoh grounds at c.09:15
- a Garden Warbler was singing very intermittently from the same favoured area as I heard one last Saturday.
- three Starlings were noted flying to & from the estate and the fields.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew East
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
nothing else

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair eventually departed after much chasing
- 3 Greylag Geese: a pair arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (7♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year, briefly
- *2 Grey Herons

Hirundines etc. noted:
clear skies so only the local nesting birds visited
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 16 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Sedge Warblers
- 4 (4) Reed Warblers
- 23 (21) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats: ? a third: see notes

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Nothing in the continuing chilly conditions

Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
Despite the drop in the breeze I noted very few insects on the wing before I departed.

Bees, wasps, etc.:
- unidentified mining bee seen too briefly to identify
- *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]: another earliest date for me here

Damsel- / dragon-flies:
- *Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma naja [Large Redeye]: my first April record of this species

Alder Flies and allies:
- *Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Other flies:
- only a few unidentified flies.

At dawn cloud to the North and clear to the South. It never became totally overcast before starting to break.

More love (or lust) among the Great Crested Grebes. After a brief display they both dived. Sadly only one of them came up with weed and they did not do their full "weed dance" where they rise vertically. As good as it got.

Taken very early before there was much light. The two Grey Herons seemed determined not to see each other.

While waiting fruitlessly for the Lesser Whitethroat to appear two male Greenfinches appeared. Here is one.

And the other.

Handsome.

Away he goes.

Very few insects still. A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris.

A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

My first Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea of the year: a male. Another insect appearing on its earliest date for me.

My first Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma naja of the year and my first-ever April record of this species.

One of at least seven Alder Flies Sialis lutaria on one of their favourite locations – the boxing ring on the dam.

Probably a female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus also on the boxing ring.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 1 midge
- *1 probable Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

This is one of the Nephrotoma craneflies, probably Spotted Cranefly N. appendiculata. This species has a broad dark stripe down the abdomen which separates it from Tiger Cranefly N. flavescens which has a broken dark stripe down its abdomen. The abdomen is not visible here. Spotted Cranefly is more likely on date and abundance.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:35

(96th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- my first Mallard ducklings of the year here. Talking later to one of the dog walkers who reported both Moorhen and Coot juveniles also seen yesterday afternoon.
- I did not see any Great Crested Grebes but forgot to look at the nesting platform!
- unexpected was what I presume was yet another Sedge Warbler (my fourth his year). In the same place as I recorded birds on 11 and 13 April. It seems most unlikely the same bird has been involved. Where it has chosen to sing is only a vaguely suitable breeding locations. I have no records of birds nesting here. Investigation is difficult as it is alongside an active Long-tailed Tits nest that I do not want to disturb.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, together

Noted on / around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese only: more inside the island?
- 2 Greylag Goose
- 2 Mute Swans
- *15 (13♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens
- 24 Coots again
- ? Great Crested Grebes

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

Noted around the area:

Flies:
- 1 male plumed midges
- *1 wood gnat from the genus Sylvicola

Mrs. Mallard with her two ducklings.

A Long-tailed Tit arrives with supplies for the hungry brood.

Home delivery service!

A Robin looking care-worn...

 ...probably from a busy nesting season.

 It looks very like a cranefly but is from the closely-related wood gnat genus Sylvicola. The clues are in the smaller size (not always apparent from photos) but notably the relatively long and splayed antennae.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Nedge Hill
2 Redstart
7 Wheatear
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
(Ian Grant)

2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
5 Common Sandpipers
2 Reed Warblers
6 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
20 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
1 Little Ringed Plover
3 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
Lesser Whitethroat
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
11 Greylag
1 Tufted Duck
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
14 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
11 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
17 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Lapwings
1 Green Woodpecker
6 Skylarks
4 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
8 Wheatear
28 Fieldfare
2 Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Reed Warblers
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Common Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Tufted Duck
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Trench
8 Tufted Duck
8 Swallows
3 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebe
1 Ruddy Duck
4 Common Sandpiper
3 Swift
32 House Martin
3 Swallow
3 Reed Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
6 Blackcap
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Chiffchaff
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
14 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
7 Sand Martins
14 Swallows
1 House Martin
3 Stock Doves
3 Grey Wagtails
30 Wrens
2 Sedge Warblers
1 Reed Warbler
1 Common Whitethroat
9 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
8 Greenfinches
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

Lanes to the East of Priorslee lake
6 Stock Doves
2 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
3 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Linnets
1 Reed Bunting
7 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

23 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 9.0°C: Much as yesterday with clear skies initially before low cloud scudded in from the East, though this cloud was less extensive and quicker to disperse with sun from c.08:00. Still a keen easterly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:55 BST

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

My car was being serviced so different visiting times to recently

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 08:05

(98th visit of the year)

New bird species
An addition to me 2026 bird list for here: a Yellow Wagtail was heard flying north-west c.07:00. II brings my bird species count for here to #82.

Also an addition from an earlier date. Fisherman Daz showed me a photo of a male Wheatear that was on the dam on 14 April. This is a day earlier than the female I photographed there.

Other bird notes:
- *the cob Mute Swan once again had a pair of visiting adult Mute Swans to dispatch. These were perhaps the pair that flew West earlier toward The Flash. One of them was the bird with the blue Darvic ring 7JSS that was seen at The Flash yesterday: the other perhaps 7JXV.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- two Common Sandpipers seen.
- no Willow Warbler here today.
- five Sedge Warblers singing, only two in suitable breeding areas, both of which have been present for several days.
- a third Reed Warblers heard.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was again singing from the Ricoh hedge by 05:15 and seems to have homed in on the densest part of the hedge. The only one heard today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs flew East
- 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 9 Jackdaws
- 1 Yellow Wagtail

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Barn Swallows arrived c.07:30

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 17 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Sedge Warblers again
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 18 (16) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat still

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Nothing in chilly and breezy conditions apart from:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.

Around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
Nothing noted. My early departure was ahead of any insects emerging.

Fewer scudding clouds around dawn today.

It is amazing what you can do with a digital camera and a bit of photo editing. The left leg of this Mute Swan identifies it as 7JSS.

The other bird disappearing also with a blue Darvic ring on the left leg...

 ...which looks to me like 7JXV.

Away they go. No chance of reading the rings here as their left legs are not visible.

An almost reflective Grey Heron.

Tails are up! Love is in the air for these two Great Crested Grebes. Dare I mention a comb?

This spider was the only inhabitant of the street lamp poles around dawn. The distinctive shape to the tip of the abdomen identifies it as one of the Stout Sac Spider of the Clubiona
group but which specifically I could not say.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

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

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:35 – 09:35

(95th visit of the year)

Generally quieter than recently, perhaps due to my later visit.

Bird notes:
- the resident pen Mute Swan is presumed to have been on the nest throughout. Now the vegetation has greened up there seems to be no way to see her from the paths around the water.
- a Willow Warbler sang briefly and was then seen to fly off North.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: a noisy group of adults

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived
- 7 Greylag Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived; the other pair seen mating
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

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

Noted around the area:

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

Hoverflies:
- *male Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Flies:
- *female root-maggot fly
- *Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina or similar
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

Very quiet here. Just a few insects I found in the area sheltered from the brisk easterly wind. This is a male Syrphus hoverfly, either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis

Not at all sure about this fly. It may be a female root-maggot fly: then again...

On (slightly) firmer ground here. This is a Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina or similar.

While this orange-bodied fly with a striped thorax is almost certainly the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa.

Different individual: same species: different angle. The striped thorax is not easily seen. I included it as it clearly shows the slight bulge along the leading edge of the wing that identifies all Phaonia species.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Richardson's-type Canada Goose
8 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
6 Swallows
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Fieldfare
3 Blackcaps
3 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
29 Wheatear
1 Lapwing
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Green Woodpecker
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Tufted Duck
12 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

In the lane / fields to the E
5 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
5 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtail
6 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Common Whitethroat
3 Wheatears
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Mike)

Ercall Woods
3 Pied Flycatcher
Buzzards
2 Ravens
(Mike)

2007
Priorslee Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Common Sandpipers
100+ Sand Martin
5 Swallow
1 House Martin
23 Wrens
19 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Garden Warblers
7 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
3 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)