Priorslee Lake: 04:25 – 05:55 // 06:55 – 09:40
The Flash: 06:00 – 06:50
7.0°C > 13.0°C: A few clouds; mostly clear, though rather hazy. Light E wind. Good visibility
Sunrise: 05:11 BST
After a day off in Anglesey looking at terns and auks, back to ‘normal’
Priorslee Lake: 04:25 – 05:55 // 06:55 – 09:40
(128th visit of the year)
A report by one of the fishermen of a Cuckoo singing along the N side yesterday afternoon – drat! He also reported c.20 pipistrelle-type bats yesterday evening
Bird notes from today
- not at all sure about the total number of Tufted Ducks. When I arrived there were three flying about. Soon after that three birds left to the W before, presumably the same, three landed from W a few minutes later. These were probably included in the five (four drakes) identified on the water when it was light enough. Five took to the air at 07:15 as if leaving, though at 07:20 a pair (of these?) was on the water. Then four birds (three drakes) flew in from the E at 07:30 before departing to the W at 07:45 with the pair remaining
- Little Grebe(s) heard calling in the NE area. Later two birds seen in the NW area – same?
- apparently one Common Sandpiper early. Later after I returned from The Flash there were two – birds from The Flash? The fisherman reported two birds yesterday as well
- when I arrived there were 17 Black-headed Gulls flying up and down low over the water – they may have roosted and I may have disturbed them. At 04:45 the automatic bird-scarers started in the fields to the E (must please residents in the houses) and these bird left to the SE. A very strange date for this number of gulls here
- the Tawny Owl flew past me yet again at 04:35
- could only confirm six singing Reed Warblers
- two Linnets in different locations around the lake: could they be nesting here?
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Greylag Goose (inbound)
- 4 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves again
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 34 Jackdaws
- 11 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted
- 10 Swifts
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 13 (12) Blackcaps
- 4 (3) Garden Warblers
- 3 (3) (Common) Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 6 (6)? Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose (arrived)
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 9 (7♂)? Tufted Duck (see notes)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 + 2? (1) brood Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 20 + 17 (4 broods) Coots
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
On the lamp poles pre-dawn
- 1 spider sp.
Later
- 1 Speckled Wood butterfly
- >5 ‘looper’ caterpillars (fisherman confirms an abundance this year)
- 1 Alder Fly (possibly Sialis lutaria)
- 1 Caddis fly sp., possibly Glyphotaelius pellucidus
- 1 Dagger fly Empis tessellata- 1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
- 1 ichneumon just perhaps an Ammophila sp
- 1 Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade hoverfly)
- 1 Eristalis sp. (Drone-fly)
- >1 Melanostoma scalare (Chequered Hoverfly)
- 1 Syrphus sp. hoverfly
- Cut-leaved Crane's-bill (Geranium dissectum) flowers new for me here
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Mainly clear at sun-up, if rather hazy.
Nothing special, just great light on this landing drake Mallard.
Only one of the Grey Herons was at the lake today: this other one flew over.
I always take any opportunity to photo a Jay. A passing bird showing the rounded wing shape well.
This is an Eristalis sp. hoverfly (aka Drone-fly). Not sure which.
This is the Dagger fly Empis tessellata
The flower of Wood Avens (Geum urbanum).
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:00 – 06:50
(121st visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- with the hatching of a new generation of Mute Swans – at least six, maybe more sheltering under the pen – I have elevated last year’s cygnet to adult status in the count. I was told that the new cygnets were first noted later yesterday
[- a report that a pair of Greylag Geese was seen with six goslings “a few days ago” with the birds being pursued by the cob Swan and the goslings not seen on subsequent days]
- one broods of Mallard ducklings located: with eight ducklings
- a pair of Tufted Duck seen in flight (departing?). Later just a drake seen
- a pair of Great Crested Grebes turned up yet again
- two more Common Sandpipers flushed and then seen in flight apparently looking for somewhere to land. Not see thereafter. How do these relate to the birds seen at the lake? Anyway by far my best year here for this species
- the Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in apparently with most of a slice of bread that it seemed to soak on the water, eat and then leave
- back to an early visit and all the warblers were still singing
- the over-flying Starling was calling as if there were juveniles nearby
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 1 Starling
Hirundines etc. noted
None
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
The counts from the water:
- 3 + 6? Mute Swans
- 20 Canada Geese
- 20 (16♂) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 26 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Just four cygnets here (the others being brooded again). Note the mini-wing on one of the cygnets – not sure I realised they hatched with wings so well developed, but then human babies have arms and legs so why not?
“You sing it, I’ll dance”. A trio of drake Mallard atop one of the roofs. Note the left bird is just beginning to lose its smart breeding plumage with some spotting on the belly and pale in the breast.
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash
At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 Stock Dove flew over
- 1 (1) Goldcrest
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel
At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
- 1 party of Long-tailed Tits
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:00 – 06:50
(121st visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- with the hatching of a new generation of Mute Swans – at least six, maybe more sheltering under the pen – I have elevated last year’s cygnet to adult status in the count. I was told that the new cygnets were first noted later yesterday
[- a report that a pair of Greylag Geese was seen with six goslings “a few days ago” with the birds being pursued by the cob Swan and the goslings not seen on subsequent days]
- one broods of Mallard ducklings located: with eight ducklings
- a pair of Tufted Duck seen in flight (departing?). Later just a drake seen
- a pair of Great Crested Grebes turned up yet again
- two more Common Sandpipers flushed and then seen in flight apparently looking for somewhere to land. Not see thereafter. How do these relate to the birds seen at the lake? Anyway by far my best year here for this species
- the Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in apparently with most of a slice of bread that it seemed to soak on the water, eat and then leave
- back to an early visit and all the warblers were still singing
- the over-flying Starling was calling as if there were juveniles nearby
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 1 Starling
Hirundines etc. noted
None
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
The counts from the water:
- 3 + 6? Mute Swans
- 20 Canada Geese
- 20 (16♂) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 26 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
The pair of Mute Swans at the nest with one cygnet visible.
Not too easy to count – five bills but I am sure six heads and bodies there somewhere.
Two pairs of Coots having a scrap with the only two juveniles (so far) looking and learning
All got rather heated (if rather distant).
The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull apparently dunking its food to soften it.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 Stock Dove flew over
- 1 (1) Goldcrest
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel
At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
- 1 party of Long-tailed Tits
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........