7.5°C > 8.5°C: Strip of clear to the E soon filled in; then cloudy with some drizzle at time; clearing somewhat after 09:00. Calm start with moderate NNW breeze springing up. Very good visibility except in drizzle.
Sunrise: 06:38 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:41 – 07:00 // 07:50 – 09:17
(48th visit of the year)
A Lapwing was heard displaying, apparently over the old Celestica site to the N. I was not in a position to see the bird but nevertheless it becomes my 83rd confirmed species logged from the lake area this year
Other notes from today:
- the two Grey Herons were keeping very much together and one bird was seen in the trees along the N side – prospecting a nest site?
- very strange Jackdaw passage this morning with many just in pairs along multiple flight lines and at many different heights. First 2 birds at 05:56 with 22 logged ahead of the main numbers which started passing at 06:10 and had gone by 06:20. The largest group of 16 was unusually after this time and at 06:32
- as expected good numbers of Sand Martins arrived with the dull and drizzly weather. Single Barn Swallow seen on several occasions – same bird?
- all warbler song was rather intermittent this morning with some birds, Blackcaps especially, perhaps moving about and therefore over-recorded
and
- no moths on the lamps and with the dull breezy weather no insects seen
- seems I was premature to dismiss the likelihood of seeing Cowslips (Primula veris): a few flowers emerging today in a very sheltered spot
- several fruiting bodies of a fungus – perhaps Psathyrella gracilis; perhaps not
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair)
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 (2?) Mallard
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- 203 Jackdaws (at least 48 groups recorded)
- 1 Rook
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Goldfinches
Hirundine counts
- >50 Sand Martins
- 1+ Barn Swallows
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 8 (7) Blackcaps
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose
- 7 (6?) Mallard
- 6 (4?) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons together
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
A couple of Cowslips (Primula veris).
Once the wind had stopped momentarily here is an individual head.
A couple of delicate fungus – perhaps Psathyrella gracilis; perhaps not.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 07:10 – 07:45
(36th visit of the year)
Notes
- one pair of Mallard sitting on house-roofs in Derwent Drive: this pair assumed to be one of the pair seen later on the water as they seemed no longer on the roof
- significant reduction of Tufted Ducks
- me first Grey Heron at the lake since 17 January (I did see a fly-over on 14 March]: only briefly seen and did not notice it arrive or leave
- the two Great Crested Grebes seen displaying
and
- some White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) noted
Birds noted flying over today
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Rook
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers again
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 26 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 16 (14?) Mallard (see notes)
- 14 (8?) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
The best this morning was this White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) plant.
Between the lake and The Flash alongside the path
- drake Mallard on the lower pool
- single Moorhen on the upper pool
- singing Chiffchaff around the lower pool again
- singing Willow Warbler in one of the gardens adjacent to the lower pool
- singing Blackcap around the upper pool
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 09:26 – 09:35
(16th visit of the year)
A brief visit to see whether the drizzle and cloud had brought anything in here – apart from a few Sand Martins the answer was NO
Fishermen all around the lake may be affecting numbers
Notes from here
- the remaining cygnet still present
- a singing Reed Bunting again
Birds noted flying over here
None
Hirundine counts
- c.10 Sand Martins (see notes)
Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
NB: these birds were all heard from beside the Blue Pig – I did not walk around
- 1 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warblers
- 1 (1) Blackcap
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese again
- 7 (6?) Mallard
- 6 (4?) Tufted Ducks only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: one on nest
- 2 Moorhens
- 25 Coots only
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in ...........
2016Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
3 Greylag Geese
5 Common Teal
4 Wigeon
31 Tufted Duck
1 Kittiwake
c.12 Sand Martins
2 Swallow
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Shoveler
43 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
1 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Red-legged Partridge
4 Sky Larks
6 Meadow Pipits
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Linnet
2 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
13 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Cackling Goose
(JW Reeves)
Leegomery
Woodcock
(JW Reeves)
Long Lane, Wellington
1 Redshank
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Swallows
20 Sand Martins
2 Meadow Pipits
(Martin Grant)
2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Shoveler
2 Sand Martin
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Shoveler
1 Snipe
1 Willow Warbler
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Blackcap
(John Isherwood)
2008
Nedge Hill
Whinchat
(Paul King)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Teal
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
318 Jackdaws
105 Wood Pigeons
1 Sky Lark
5 Meadow Pipits
22 Wrens
24 Robins
25 Blackbirds
58 Fieldfares
3 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
15 Greenfinches
1 Siskin
2 Redpolls
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)