11.0°C > 12.0°C: Mainly cloudy; clearer to W to start; light drizzle from 07:40 and then rain between 08:50 and 09:15. Moderate S wind. Mainly good visibility
Sunrise: 06:49 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:54 – 07:00 // 07:50 – 09:39
(44th visit of the year)
Notes from today:
- with the onset of rain a party of 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew low over closely followed by a group of 6 Herring Gulls. Almost all these birds appeared to be full adults
- then a few minutes later two Sand Martins arrived and numbers gradually built until least 25 present. As soon as the rain stopped birds started to leave and withing five minutes had all gone. I assume these were all birds passing over high and unseen brought down by the rain. How ever many others pass?
- no idea why relatively few Jackdaws: it may be the rather brisk wing encouraged them to hedge-hop and pass out of my sight the other side of Castle Farm Way
and
- still no moths on the lamps
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair)
- 4 Canada Geese (pair and two singles)
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves (singles)
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- 249 Jackdaws (c.30 groups)
- 8 Rooks (6 singles / pairs)
- 2 Starlings
- 1 Goldfinch again
Hirundine counts
- c.25 Sand Martins
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 10 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 10 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
A male Reed Bunting: very little song heard from around the lake so far.
The first few flowers of a Wild Cherry (Prunus avium).
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash 07:05 – 07:45
(33rd visit of the year)
Two new birds for my year-log at this site
- a Willow Warbler was singing along the W side and my 56th species
- a pair of Shoveler by the island was therefore my 57th species
Other notes
- drake Gadwall still present
- did find duck Mallards today: one was with its mate in one of the gardens in Derwent Drive
- increased numbers of Tufted Duck: possibly more as birds seen in flight and perhaps arriving. But as likely birds just restless and feeling the need to move on to breeding grounds. A few might stay and try and breed
- Coot seen apparently catching and eating a freshwater mussel – really?
Birds noted flying over
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Starling
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 34 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 15 (13♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 36 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 8 Moorhens
- 16 Coots yet again
I told you it was awful light: a record shot of the pair of Shoveler here.
Between the lake and The Flash alongside the path
- 1 duck Mallard on the lower pool
- single Moorhen on the lower pool and two Moorhens on the upper pool
- singing Chiffchaff at the lower pool
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in ...........
2016Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
19 Tufted Duck
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
197 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling Goose
2 Common Teal
42 Tufted Ducks
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Horsehay Pool
Mandarin Ducks
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
15 Tufted Duck
1 Peregrine Falcon
3 Blackcaps
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood )
The Flash
46 Tufted Duck
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Raven
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Swallow
14 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Great Crested Grebe
1 Dabchick.
1 Grey Heron
20 Redwing
4 Siskins
2 Linnet
9 Greenfinch
4 Reed Bunting
10 Meadow Pipit
1 Willow Tit
(Martin R Adlam)