6.0°C > 8.5C: Broken cloud to start; this mainly filled in with a few light showers. Moderate WSW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 06:06 GMT
A shock this morning after two weeks in the relative warmth of the southern USA
A ‘normal’ summer routine this morning with an early circuit of the lake; then a walk to The Flash; a circuit there; a walk back ahead of the chaos of the school-run; then another circuit of the lake
Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:02
(28th visit of the year)
Three new species for my site year-list this morning
- 3 Goldeneyes: a drake, a duck and an apparent 1st year drake. Typically wary and flighty these left at 08:30. As far as I can recall this is my first record of multiple birds here
- at least 4 Chiffchaffs, two of them singing. At this time of year all birds, singing or not, are likely males passing through and exact numbers are therefore hard to determine
- a Nuthatch heard giving its territorial call from alongside Teece Drive
My year species total here now stands at 66
Notes from today:
- the resident pair of Mute Swans and last year’s 3 cygnets still present, mainly at the W end. Another pair of adults remains in the NE area with 3rd pair in the SE area. The 4th cygnet went for a fly with the three resident cygnets. When they all landed the resident cob chased it away from his brood, though it also later chased his own cygnets, albeit rather half-heatedly
- the pair of Canada Geese present when I arrived soon left. Another (?) pair flew in later
- 2 Grey Herons calling and sparring overhead: none at the lake
- 2 Little Grebes in the NE area; later another (?) in the SW area. All now in summer plumage
- very few Black-headed Gulls with a small party of 24 staying only a few minutes
- 1 Green Woodpecker heard and then seen along the N side
- c.100 Jackdaws flew low over Teece Drive as I arrived – I got my timing wrong after two weeks away and was late arriving. However I would not have been able to see these birds from any of my normal viewing points. Just a scatter of mainly singles seen thereafter
- a Goldcrest in song
- a Sky Lark heard singing from the fields to the E
- 3 Reed Buntings in song
and
- nothing on the lamps
- a few Blackthorn [Sloe] (Prunus spinosa) flowers
- both Daisies (Bellis perennis) and Dandelion sp. (probably Taraxacum officinale) seen in flowers
- many other plants noted growing with no flowers yet visible
Today’s bird totals
Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 3 Greylag Geese (pair and single inbound)
- 2 Canada Geese (pair outbound)
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- >115 Jackdaws
Singing warblers
- 2 Chiffchaffs
The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 23 (13♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (2♂) Goldeneye
- 3 Little Grebes
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 63 Coots
- 24 Black-headed Gulls
The four cygnets go for a fly together (the lake really does slope – well it does when you are jet-lagged).
Another view with an almost level horizon.
All three birds just about fit in the photo here.
The first Blackthorn [Sloe] (Prunus spinosa) flowers just open.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:45 – 07:25
(16th visit of the year)
A Chiffchaff heard singing: my 43rd species here this year
Other notes from today
- only 1 Mute Swan seen: likely the other inside the island
- probably a few more Canada Geese also inside the island
Birds noted flying over
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 16 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose as usual
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- 38 (23♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
And between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen at the upper pool
- Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna [was Ranunculus ficaria]) in flower in ditches
A Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna [was Ranunculus ficaria]) flower between the lake and The Flash.
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)