31 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:25am – 4:45am// 6:10am – 8:05am

Map

10.0°C > 11.0°C. Medium overcast with a few breaks; some low cloud later; cam / light SE wind later; moderate visibility.

(61st visit of the year)

Notes

The cob Swan was feeling slightly grumpy this morning making attempts to dislodge the 3 Canada Geese, but failed to give chase when they flew down the other end.
3 pairs of Tufted Ducks initially: later just a single pair but not before another duck flew E high over the lake and later another drake flew in from the W.
A single well-grown Moorhen chick was new.

Only one brood of Coots seen this morning.
4 Black-headed Gulls flushed when I arrived: a rather unusual date for this species at the lake – wait until the end of June for non/failed breeding birds to return. These flew off immediately without being positively aged – it was still too dark. All had full dark hoods but two at least seemed to have some black in the tail indicating immatures.

In better weather just 2 single Swifts logged: no hirundines noted

One of the Song Thrushes has been exposed to too many screaming Swifts and now ends some of its song-phrases with a very realistic impression.

The Lesser Whitethroat heard again today: singing frequently from the hedge on the E side of Castle Farm Way but clearly audible from many points around the lake.
Many more Rooks logged this morning, some of these also in family parties.
and

1 Green-veined White butterfly.

6 Silver-ground Carpet moths identified and at least as many probables flushed.

1 Common Marble (Celypha lacunana): no doubt the first of many – a common species easily flushed from grassy areas.

Counts

4 +5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes

1 Grey Heron

2 + 2  Swans

3 Canada Geese
3 Greylag Geese over

10 (7) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard

8 (4) Tufted Ducks

3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens

19 + 3 (1 brood) Coots
4 Black-headed Gulls

2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

2 Common Swifts

8 (8) Song Thrushes

4 (4) Reed Warbler

1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat

5 (3) Common Whitethroat

1 (1) Garden Warbler

10 (8) Blackcaps

7 (7) Chiffchaffs

Corvid roost dispersal: 103 Jackdaws (again) and 67 Rooks

3 (2) Reed Buntings

The Silver-ground Carpet is an abundant moth easily flushed from grassy areas. There are other species of carpet moth that can also be flushed by day but none is so pale as this species and most fly later in the year.

The beauty of nature? A spider sp. tucks in to a midge sp.

A Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) well lit against a neutral background – the calm water of the lake – makes an arresting shot.

and a Yellow Flag / Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus): none of these were so well-lit or helpfully positioned.

Put in the ‘best so far’ category: a small window in the reeds allowed the Reed Warbler to be seen – just!

This Green-veined White seemed moribund in the cool of the morning: with such clear markings and unusually obvious yellow tones on the underside of the hind wing I suspect this was freshly emerged and still ‘pumping-up’

A big meal for a growing Great-crested Grebe chick

This looks somewhat like a longhorn moth but is in fact a caddis fly Mystacides longicornis

I think I am rather pleased I am not a Reed Bunting chick: what Mum is about to feed me with does not look too appetising!

A Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana) in the grass

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane: 4:45am – 6:10am

(6th visit of year)

Went the top of the lane to get a better handle on the corvid movement: in addition to those in the counts yesterday some 30 birds were seen to the E and I was unable to decide whether they were Rooks going the ‘wrong way’ or Crows in usual numbers. The movement was not repeated and remains unresolved.

Best bird today was the singing Lesser Whitethroat – the same as heard from the lake: it gets logged in both places!

The area around the sluice was again quiet with just 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff. No Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Willow Tit or Bullfinch noted today – all usual in the area.

Notes
No Pheasants seen or heard.
Fewer Common Whitethroats than usual.
No Linnets seen or head again.

Counts of interest (singing birds in brackets)
4 or 5 (4 or 5) Sky Larks
4(4) Song Thrushes
1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
3 (2) Common Whitethroats
1 (1) Garden Warbler
2 (2) Blackcap
2 (2) Chiffchaff
6 (4) Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

30 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:30am – 6:05am// 7:10am – 8:25am

Map

9.0°C > 10.0°C. Low overcast lifted to medium overcast; light SE wind later; moderate visibility.

Best today was my 2nd record this year of Lesser Whitethroat at the lake. A bird sang continually between 8:00am and 8:10am as it moved E through the shrubs that divide the lake from the M54. It then started back, moved to the small scrubby patch on the SW shore and then shut up or flew off.

(60th visit of the year)

Notes
The cob Swan was feeling more benign today, allowing the Great Crested Grebes, Mallard and Coot and their juveniles to mingle with the cygnets: it even failed to react to the 2 Canada Geese that flew in and settled to browse the grass.
3 pairs of Tufted Ducks throughout.
Three broods of Coots seen this morning.

No early Swifts again until 5:30am when c.35 appeared high to the S. These left by 6:00am and no more until after 7:30am when c.15 were low over the W end.
2 single House Martins: one high to the W over the estate at 6:00am; and another in with the Swifts much later.

Just 3 Reed Warblers singing today, all doing so very intermittently.
Common Whitethroats continue to confuse: with young fledged birds seemed to be everywhere at the W end with many sightings accompanied by song. But how many different birds.
Much larger corvid passage this morning with many apparent family parties. Many of these were far to the E and I probably miss many more. Even more Rooks were seen later flying in the opposite direction.

Counts
4 +5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over again
2 Grey Herons
2 + 2 Swans
2 Canada Geese
5 (1) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
6 (3) Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhens
18 + >8 (3 broods) Coots
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.50 Common Swifts
2 House Martins
8 (8) Song Thrushes
3 (3) Reed Warbler
1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
5? (4?) Common Whitethroat
1 (1) Garden Warbler
9 (9) Blackcaps
8 (8) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: 103 Jackdaws and 21 Rooks
3 (2) Reed Buntings

The 2 cygnets at the lake hitch a ride with Mum. What has caused the red staining on the wing-tips of the adult? Perhaps I don’t wish to know.

As the RSPB Magazine puts it: the ‘aaah’ factor. Not sure I realised how disproportionately large the cygnets bills are.

 “the family that eats together ...”

The youngsters are now able to forage for themselves. Note how water-proof the juvenile ‘fur’ is, with droplets standing on the surface of apparently dry feathers.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 6:15am – 7:00am
Map

(53rd visit of the year)

Notes
1 pair of Tufted Ducks again.
3 confirmed broods of Coot but some staying hidden.

Counts

2 Great Crested Grebes
1 + 1 Swans
2 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
68 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
10 (8) Mallard
Neither feral Mallard-type ducks seen
2 (1) Tufted Ducks
2 Moorhens
9 + >7 (3 broods) Coots
and
4 Common Swifts
4 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
3 (2) Blackcaps
3 (3) Chiffchaffs

3 juvenile Coots revealed for the first time at this nest at The Flash this morning.

(Ed Wilson)

29 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:30am – 6:10am// 7:05am – 8:15am
Map

9.5°C > 11.0°C. Low overcast with mainly light rain / drizzle; calm start but light N / NNE wind later; moderate visibility.

(59th visit of the year)

Notes
A pair of Tufted Ducks when I arrived but these flew off (to The Flash?): later 3 drakes came from the E, did one circuit and left to the E.
Just one brood of Coots ventured out this damp morning though juveniles were also head begging from the reeds elsewhere.
Small number of gulls visited with a near-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull making passes at both Coot and Moorhen before a more serious attempt to snatch a juvenile Great Crested Grebe: luckily they are old enough to be able to dive out of the way.
No early Swifts this morning but very high parties of 15 and c.50 located at various times. on each occasion with 4 /5 House Martins. After 7:45am hirundines arrived at low level with at least 8 Swallows joining in.
Certainly 5 Reed Warblers singing today.
One family group of Common Whitethroats: another male was again continually display-flighting and calling.
A Goldcrest singing alongside Teece Drive was my first here since 17 April.
and
1 Silver-ground Carpet moth flushed from the grass.
The same Poplar Hawk-moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel now seem to be dead and hanging by one leg that is trapped by the peeling paintwork on the roof.
also
A sound like a distant Grasshopper Warbler on Valium turned out to be either a pump or generator running on the site of the new multi-faith school.

Counts
4 +5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over
2 Grey Herons (one over)
2 + 2  Swans
Canada Geese heard only
4 (2) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
5 (4) Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhens
23 + >3 (2 broods) Coots
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Herring Gull
>70 Common Swifts
8 Barn Swallows
>15 House Martins
9 (9) Song Thrushes
5 (5) Reed Warbler
5 (2) Common Whitethroat
1 (1) Garden Warbler
11 (11) Blackcaps
5 (5) Chiffchaffs
The now typical small corvid roost dispersal: 19 Jackdaws and 5 Rooks.
2 (2) Reed Buntings

This sub-adult Lesser Black-back Gull is just emerging from the water after a plunge at a juvenile Great Crested Grebe that dived safely out of its way. Note shed inner primaries as this bird starts to moult. Note also the black in the tail confirming its immature status – the paler parts of the wings is therefore also immature plumage rather than bleaching / wear on an adult.

A rather damp and scruffy-looking Common Whitethroat.

This is a closer view – rather too magnified because I was having trouble operating the camera under the plastic bag I was using to try and keep the camera dry. This clearly shows that some of the scruffy appearance is because it is a juvenile – note the very thin and broken eye-ring as well as the dark (bare?) chin. Also the brown greater coverts are short – not yet full-grown; and rather more broadly pale-edged.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 6:20am – 7:00am
Map

(52nd visit of the year)

Notes

1 pair of Tufted Ducks.

4 broods of Coot calling but mostly staying hidden.

A Bullfinch heard and seen singing: the song is given infrequently and usually only in late Winter / early Spring.

Counts

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 + 1 Swans

2 Greylag Geese

1 Cackling Goose

72 Canada Geese

The all-white feral goose

8 (7) Mallard

Again just the all-white feral Mallard-type ducks seen

2 (1) Tufted Ducks

No Moorhens

5 + >8 (4 broods) Coots

and

1 (1) Blackcap

3 (3) Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 8:25am – 8:50am

Map

(24th visit of the year)

Notes

Only 2 juvenile Great Crested Grebes noted today: one adult from the other pair is still sitting on the nest.

The pen Swan is also still on the nest.

The 5 Canada Geese goslings present again ...

As were the single brood of 3 Mallard ducklings.

A pair of Tufted Ducks today.

4 broods of Coots seen including a new brood with 6 juveniles – unusually high number. 3 more birds are still sitting on nests. Also more adults on the open water – non- and failed breeders.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull with a damaged wing remains on the buoys.

No Swifts or hirundines.

Juvenile Chiffchaff seen.

Family party of Goldfinches.

The counts

4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

2 Swans

7 + 5 (1 brood) Canada Geese

4 (3) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard

2 feral Mallard-type ducks

2 (1) Tufted Duck

No Moorhen

33 + 16 (4 broods) Coots

1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

and

1 (1) Blackcap

3 (2) Chiffchaffs

A family party with 6 juvenile Coots. Broods of 4 or 5 are much more usual.

(Ed Wilson)

28 May 14

No Sightings Today.

27 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:35am – 6:20am// 7:15am – 8:35am

Map

11.0°C > 14.0°C. Mainly overcast at medium level, but some breaks later; calm start but moderate N wind later; moderate visibility.

Nothing startling but an absorbing morning.

(58th visit of the year)

Notes
The female Mallard and 8 well-grown ducklings still present: the cob Swan took exception to them being too close to his cygnets and chased them away.
Just one of the three broods of Coots that were seen yesterday could be located today.
Small number of gulls over.
>25 Swifts in early build-up but these again left c.5:00am: much later c.15 birds were very high over the dam end – the change of wind direction was probably creating an up-draught over the dam and taking the insects high in the sky.
A single Sand Martin flew through: rather a late date for this species to be arriving.
The Sedge Warbler not heard today.
Despite several attempts to locate others, including ‘pishing’, back to the usual 2 Reed Warblers singing today.
The singing Common Whitethroat joined by a scolding bird – presumably his mate.
Not sure why there were so many singing Blackcaps this morning – 13 is my highest count this year: there were juveniles seen so perhaps between broods more birds are singing? Perhaps with fewer parental duties the birds were more mobile and moving ahead of me as I walked around?
Juvenile Chiffchaffs also noted.
and
Common Marbled Carpet and White Ermine moths on the only footpath lamp that seems functional at the moment.
2 Silver-ground Carpet moths flushed from the grass.
The same Poplar Hawk-moth still in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
My first damsel-/dragon-fly of the year – a single Common Blue Damselfly found.
The first spikes of Early Marsh Orchid just beginning to open.
also
The Moorhens nesting on the upper pool between the lake and The Flash have young. Both pools are now so overgrown that it is almost impossible to see the birds. Incidentally a few days ago an adult Moorhen on the grass alongside the upper pool did not scamper back to the pool when it saw me but ran the other way and climbed inside the shrubs at the back of the gardens here. Many people don’t realise that Moorhens are very good climbers (and will walk log distances).

Counts
4 +5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 + 2 Swans
4 Canada Geese over
4 (2) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
1 Moorhen
18 + 4 (1 brood) Coots
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
3 Herring Gulls over
>40 Common Swifts
1 Sand Martin
7 (7) Song Thrushes
2 (2) Reed Warbler
2 (1) Common Whitethroat
1 (1) Garden Warbler
16 (13) Blackcaps
8 (7) Chiffchaffs
Another small corvid roost dispersal: 18 Jackdaws and 5 Rooks
2 (1) Reed Buntings

A White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) moth. The similar Buff Ermine has, confusingly, a white form but on that species the black-dots are more organised in to a row. Muslin Moth is also similar but has fewer back dots.

A Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) moth. A very variable species but individuals with this orangey band are quite common.

I am no botanist so when I saw these small blue flowers I thought “eye-bright”. Not so as eye-brights have four petals, one of which is hooded. This is ‘just’ a forget-me-not and apparently a Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor) in which the flowers start yellowish and acquire pink and blue colour later. Only then did I notice a damselfly resting on a grass-stem behind ...

And here is that damselfly – a fine male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum), sadly not all quite sharp due to the rather poor light. My first of this year.

When I see the deep cuts in these petals I always think ‘Ragged Robin’ but, as here, I am usually wrong. This is plain old Red Campion (Silene dioica). Ragged Robin, which is in a different genus – scientific name Lychnis flos-cuculi – is unlikely at the lake: although the surround is very wet in places it is not really boggy which is that species’ preferred habitat.

An Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) just opening.

A different spike with a very different shape though as far as I can see it is just a different Early Marsh Orchid.

The south side of the lake is a blaze of yellow – all buttercups. On the far left the white flowers are Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) which has been abundant this year.

A close-up of one buttercup flower. it is probably Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) but there are 100s of closely-related and very variably members of this genus. The leaves are very bitter and cause blisters which deters most mammals from eating them – just as well as they are poisonous.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 6:30am – 7:05am
Map

(51st visit of the year)

Notes
1 drake Tufted Duck remains here.
Again 2 broods of Coots: 4 from one of the two broods seen yesterday; 2 very new juveniles peeking out from under the adult brooding them on the nest; no sign of the other brood seen yesterday.
2 Pied Wagtails, both males, on the E side grass were my first here for a while.

Counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 + 1 Swans
2 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
38 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
7 (7) Mallard
Just the all-white feral Mallard-type ducks seen
1 (1) Tufted Ducks
4 Moorhens
8 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
and
2 Swifts
5 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
3 (3) Blackcaps
3 (2) Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

26 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:55am – 6:05am// 7:00am – 8:25am
Map

6.5°C > 14.0°C. A clear, fresh and calm start with wreathes of mist over the water. Increasing SSE eventually moderate with some cloud bubbling up. Excellent visibility apart from the mist over the water.

Some late news and confirmation that a male Cuckoo was present each evening on 29 and 30 April and 01 May giving some of the evening dog-walkers their first sighting of this species for some years.

Also confirmation that the two cygnets were first noted on lunchtime Monday 19 May.

(57th visit of the year)

Notes
One pair of Great Crested Grebes still sheltering at least 2 young on the back of one of the parents: the 3 juveniles from the other pair were in the water allowing both parents to hunt and provide food.
The female Mallard and 8 well-grown ducklings still present.
A pair of Tufted Ducks early: these flew off towards The Flash and were probably seen there. Later these, or just perhaps another pair, were back.
3 broods of Coots.
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were circling very low over the footpath at the W end: somehow they had seen or smelt the dead Carp that had been retrieved from the lake and well-hidden by dog owners anxious to avoid their charges rolling in the rotting carcase.
c.10 Swifts early but these left by 5:00am: later eventually c.20 arrived and were joined by 2 House Martins.
A Sedge Warbler found singing sporadically in the NW area.
Now at least 4, and just perhaps a fifth, Reed Warblers, all singing from separate areas.
Only 1 Common Whitethroat was singing this morning, still ranging widely.
Juvenile Great and Blue Tits seen.
Starlings with juveniles in tow passing over.
and
A Green-veined White butterfly
The same Poplar Hawk-moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel but in a slightly different place today.
A Fox flushed from the S side was my first at this site this year

Counts
4 +5? (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 + 2  Swans
4 (2) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
2 (1) Tufted Ducks
2 Moorhens
19 + 13 (3 broods) Coots
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>20 Common Swifts
2 House Martin
8 (6) Song Thrushes
1 (1) Sedge Warbler
4? (4?) Reed Warbler
1 (1) Common Whitethroat
1 (1) Garden Warbler
9 (8) Blackcaps
8 (6) Chiffchaffs
Another small corvid roost dispersal: 33 Jackdaws and 16 Rooks.
1 (0) Reed Bunting

a misty start at the lake

It’s still a silly hair-do even if the demands of the young partially hidden on this Great Crested Grebe’s back would make it difficult to find time to visit the hairdresser.

Here’s dad with a nice Perch

“me, me, me: I got here first”! 

Looks as if it is too big for the juvenile who has almost dropped it. Another juvenile just visible trying to join in.

The parents think about helping

“let’s have another go”. Dad retrieves the fish

Now mum has a go – poor fish: I hope it was dead

and has eaten it herself!

The other group of young Great Crested Grebes look for their parents

Let’s go hunting ....

“what do you mean, you failed?”

“ooh! some tasty weed”

Lets all help

This Green-veined White butterfly is drinking nectar from a buttercup sp., showing here as quite dark in contrast to the very white butterfly.

Not sure whether this is a picture-winged fly or a small crane-fly sp. The latter I think. Note the spines on the surface of the leaves.

From this view of admittedly a different individual it does look like a crane-fly sp. But the wings are less clearly marked here.

And this third individual has neatly folded its wings: or is it something else again?

Although not taken at the lake this picture is of a soldier beetle abundant everywhere at the moment and seen at the lake today. It is probably Cantharis livia. An interesting name: Livia was the wife of Caesar who allegedly added powdered Cantharis beetles to the food of the imperial family. It was thought to be an aphrodisiac and she hoped they would then commit indiscretions which she could use to her advantage. Since the active ingredient, cantharidin, also provokes madness and gives rise to blisters this seems a risky strategy. Definitely “don’t try this at home” folks! (er?)

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 6:15am - 6:50am
Map

(50th visit of the year)

Notes
3 over flying Cormorants all seemed to be full adults, though they have lost their breeding white patches.
Two pairs of Tufted Ducks – one perhaps recently in from the lake. The two drakes chased one of the ducks and then chased each other all around the pool.
Still 2 broods of Coots but one brood of 5 and another of 4 whereas I had noted 3 in each brood previously. Both the broods were at least a week old so this cannot be a new brood: odd.
At least 12 Swifts over and towards their usual breeding area towards the church in St. George’s.
4 House Martins over: these seem to be coming from some distance to the E and none seems, so far, to have returned to the main Priorslee estate.

Counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants over
1 + 1 Swans
2 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
45 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
14 (13) Mallard
Both the all-white and mainly dark feral Mallard-type ducks seen
4 (2) Tufted Ducks
2 Moorhens
12 + 9 (2 broods) Coots
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over
and
c.12 Swifts
4 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
3 (2) Blackcap
2 (2) Chiffchaffs

4 young Coot try to get the next meal from their parent

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 8:35am – 9:05am // 9:35am – 9:50am
Map

(23rd visit of the year)

Notes
The pairs of Great Crested Grebes that hatched 4 juveniles now seems to have only 3: one bird from the other pair is still sitting on the nest.
The pen Swan is also still on the nest, presumably incubating.
A single brood of 5 Canada Geese goslings.
A single brood of 3 Mallard ducklings.
A drake Tufted Duck flew in from Middle Pool.
5 broods of Coots, some several weeks old and one just hours old.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull with a damaged wing is still here and commuting around the ‘buoys’
also
A Brown Rat here was my first sighting of this mammal this year.
A Small White butterfly was my first of the year
and
One of the fishermen who had been present all weekend said the lake was ‘thick with Swifts feeding low over the water’ when the rain was heaviest. But none was present this morning, just a few distant House Martins over the houses.

The counts
4 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
9 + 5 (1 brood) Canada Geese
4 (3) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
2 feral Mallard-type ducks
1 (1) Tufted Duck
2 Moorhen
23 + 19 (5 broods) Coots
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
and
5 House Martins
2 (2) Blackcaps

Another “wide-open and shouting” shot: a Wren without its tail cocked can momentarily be mistaken for a warbler.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 9:10am – 9:30am
Map

(12th visit of the year)

Other notes
The Great Crested Grebe juveniles still growing well.
2 adult Swans again: no sign of them pairing / breeding.
Greylag Geese continue to have a better breeding season than the Canada Geese: no Canada goslings seen.
Some late Tufted Ducks here: one drake flew off and was seen later at Trench Lock.
2 broods of Coots, each rather strangely with just a single parent: the other adults were separately well away and minding their own business.
2 Grey Wagtails seen, suggesting breeding here again.
A distant Raven heard: unexpected date.

The counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
20 + 20 (5 broods) Greylag Geese
35 Canada Geese
10 (7) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
4 feral Mallard-type ducks
4 (1) Tufted Ducks
5 Moorhen
5 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
and
2 Grey Wagtails
2 (2) Blackcaps
1 (1) Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

25 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:25am – 5:55am// 6:50am – 7:25am
Map

8.5°C > 10.0°C. A few early breaks but mainly low overcast and some drizzle and then rain. Calm initially but light E wind later. Moderate visibility, poor in rain.

The rain brought in c.40 Swifts, 8 Barn Swallows and c.20 House Matins: also 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the water for a while.

The rain was perhaps also responsible for the distinctly out of season pair of Linnets in the trees at the W end: these turned out to be my first of this year from the lake (all the others were in Woodhouse Lane area).

Also present was a late Common Sandpiper.

(56th visit of the year)

Notes
Both pairs of Great Crested Grebes with young but conditions too poor to get a count.
A female Mallard with 8 well-grown ducklings again.
3 Tufted Ducks hanging on.
Coots not counted: no juveniles seen.
No other gulls.
Juvenile Willow Tits seen, so this decreasing species still doing OK here.
and
The same Poplar Hawk-moth in the same place in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.

Counts
4 +? (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over
2 + 2  Swans
3 (1) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
3 (1) Tufted Ducks
2 Moorhens
? Coots
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>40 Common Swifts
8 Barn Swallows
>20 House Martin
9 (9) Song Thrushes
2 (2) Reed Warbler
2 (2) Common Whitethroats
1 (1) Garden Warbler
9 (8) Blackcaps
4 (4) Chiffchaffs
Small corvid roost dispersal: 31 Jackdaws and 4 Rooks
2 (2) Reed Buntings

In the gloom and rain some of the Swallows were resting on the boat platforms at the lake. Here one stretches its wings to let the rain run off its feathers as another takes off.


(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 6:05am - 6:40am
Map

(49th visit of the year)

Notes
Definitely 2 broods of Coots today.
The Willow Warbler not heard today.

Counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron over
1 + 1 Swans
2 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
52 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
7 (6) Mallard
Both the all-white and mainly dark feral Mallard-type ducks seen
2 (1) Tufted Ducks
4 Moorhens
8 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
No gulls
and
2 (2) Song Thrushes
4 (4) Blackcap
3 (3) Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)