Priorslee Lake: 04:25 – 09:05
The Flash: 09:10 – 09:45
8.0°C > 10.0°C: Cloudy with some spells of rain, heavy c.05:00. Light N wind. Good visibility
Sunrise: 05:10 BST
Priorslee Lake: 04:25 – 09:05
(129th visit of the year)
I concentrated here today to check for any migrants brought down by the rain and cloud. I found more passing gulls and many hirundines etc. but otherwise nothing special
Bird notes from today
- the brood of seven very small (just hatched) Mallard ducklings was a surprise
- Little Grebe(s) heard calling in the NE area: not seen
- confirmed (at least) three juvenile Great Crested Grebe juveniles: one of them was on the water briefly
- two broods of Coots that have been noted previously were probably still hiding in the reeds so the lower number of juveniles recorded is probably not significant
- two Lesser Black-backed Gulls circled low for a while before moving on. Later three stopped on the water briefly, with one of these staying several minutes. All the other gulls flew straight over
- the number and species constituency of the Swifts and hirundines varied throughout and undoubtedly many more birds were involved. I have provided what seemed to be the maximum ‘instantaneous’ count for each species
- I could only confirm six singing Reed Warblers again, though before I left birds had started singing in different places. Different birds or just exploring edges of territories? As many as nine birds could have been involved
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 7 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Stock Doves
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 23 Jackdaws
- 16 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted
**all numbers minima (see notes)
- 25 Swifts
- 15 Sand Martins
- 15 Barn Swallows
- 20 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds)
**somewhat affected by the rain
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 20 (19) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 2 (2) (Common) Whitethroat
- [no Sedge Warbler]
- >6 (>6)? Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (8♂) + 7 (1 brood) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron again
- Little Grebe(s) heard only
- 4 + 3? (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens again
- 20 + 12 (3 broods) Coots
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
On the lamp poles pre-dawn
- 1 different spider sp.
Seen later
- 1 pipistrelle-type bat
Breakfast time for the juveniles. Seems to be two juvenile Great Crested Grebes here ....
But not so. Something I could not see without the aid of the camera there is a trio of juveniles.
Hard to see juvenile #3 at hand-over.
And after the food-pass it now looks as if there is just a single juvenile.
Did I say ugly-looking?
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:10 – 09:45
(122nd visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- the cygnets were out on the water today. The cob swan was chasing the Canada Geese as they attempted to muscle-in on the food being provided
- two broods of Mallard ducklings located. The brood with eight ducklings was with a single duck Mallard today – they have usually been with a pair of adults. The brood of three ducklings seemed to have been left by their parents flying off to join the food scramble
- as at the lake it is likely that many more individual Swifts and House Martins were involved
- party of Long-tailed Tits included my first juveniles of the year here
also
- a blue iris flower, perhaps a garden escape
- a single bedraggled Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus) flower
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Hirundines etc. noted
- >25 Swifts
- >6 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 5 (5) Blackcaps again
The counts from the water:
- 3 + 6 Mute Swans
- 18 Canada Geese
- 19 (13♂) + 11 (2 broods) Mallard
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens
- 24 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
The pen Mute Swan and the six cygnet.
And a close view of the cygnets. They do look cute and cuddly – not at all like baby Coots!
(Ed Wilson)
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