Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 07:50
16°C > 17°C: Broken low and medium cloud with a few breaks. Some more unexpected and un-forecast light drizzle. Light WSW breeze. Very good visibility even in drizzle.
Sunrise: 06:01 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 07:50
(99th visit of the year)
Despite my comments yesterday about the possible exodus of House Martin there were still c.40 over the estate this morning. (Also new juveniles were heard calling over my house in Newport)
Meanwhile for the second day running a small party of Barn Swallows has flown high S suggesting that these might be starting their long haul to southern Africa
Other bird notes from today:
- the geese on the lake were inbound stop-overs. The ‘new’ cob Mute Swan seems much more sanguine about their appearance and mingling with the cygnets than did the previous resident cob
- the new brood of juvenile Great Crested Grebes once again remained firmly on the back of the parent
- the fly-over Feral Pigeons were in a single party, probably Racing Pigeons, heading E
- Green Woodpecker(s) remain very noisy. Seem to roost along the N side (I think they nested here). Other(?) birds heard elsewhere
Today’s bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 60 Greylag Geese [60 (4 groups) outbound]
- 115 Canada Geese [115 (11 groups) outbound]
- 1 (♂?) Mallard
- 8 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Feral Pigeons again
- 73 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. seen today
- 4 Barn Swallows
- >40 House Martins
Warblers noted:
- 10 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 Blackcaps
- 2 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 6 Canada Geese
- 7 (5♂) + 2 (1 broods) Mallard
- 6 + >5? (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 + 10 (7? broods) Moorhens
- 90 (near) adult + 9 dependent juvenile Coots
- 30 (3 juveniles) Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
And other notes
- moths on the lamps
- 1 Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer) again – different lamp each day
An early departure before the insects were up ...
The sunrise, such as it was.
Just to prove The Flash does not have the monopoly on great early morning lighting ....
... just ahead of the light drizzle. A few trees showing signs of water-stress and rather prematurely brown.
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On this day..........
2015Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2012
Nedge Hill
2 Redstart
7 Ravens
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Shag
3 Kingfishers
(Ed Wilson)