Priorslee Lake: 04:55 – 05:55 // 06:45 – 08:15
The Flash: 06:00 – 06:40
5.0°C > 7.0°C: Mostly cloudy with a few sunny spells. Light showers nearby. Moderate W / WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 05:28 BST
A rather abbreviated visit on a cheerless morning
Priorslee Lake: 04:55 – 05:55 // 06:45 – 08:15
(119th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- I assume the Coots were mainly tucked up in the reeds out of the chilly wind
- two Common Sandpipers again. Most unlikely to be the birds I saw during my last visit on Friday – these passage birds almost always move on due to disturbance during the day. That would be especially true at weekends
- one of the (many) singing Blackcaps was singing a wider repertoire than usual and could do both Blackbird and Song Thrush impressions
- only one Whitethroat found: one of the Garden Warblers was incorporating some Whitethroat phrases to add some confusion
- lots of noise from the two Sedge Warblers making it difficult to determine how many Reed Warblers were singing
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese (outbound)
- 6 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 2 Sparrowhawks (male and female)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Stock Dove again
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 5 Collared Doves
- 1 Jackdaw again
Hirundines etc. noted
- 3 Swifts
- >15 Sand Martins
- >10 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers as usual
- 26 (20) Blackcaps
- 4 (3) Garden Warblers
- 1 (1) (Common) Whitethroat
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 6 (6) Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese (departed)
- 12 (11♂) Mallard
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens
- 10 Coots only
- 2 Common Sandpipers again
Nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn
Also nothing seen later: another grey and cheerless morning
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:00 – 06:40
(112th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- last year’s cygnet not noted
- the Greylag Goose flew in
- the Canada Geese are still mainly in pairs. Much less calling and squabbling now. At least two birds sitting on nests inside the island
- three broods of Mallard contained 8, 1 and 5 ducklings. Each brood contained ducklings of consistent size in contrast to the single brood I noted last Friday
- one of the duck Tufted Ducks was continually calling for many minutes
- still no sign of Swifts or House Martins over the estate or St George’s to the N
also seen
- what was likely an Oak Tree Gall made by an Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Biorhiza pallida)
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 5 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines noted
None
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
The counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 22 Canada Geese
- 26 (14♂) + 14 (3 broods) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Moorhens
- 21 + 2 (1) brood Coots
Probably not the same crow but this one attempting to see off a Sparrowhawk.
Not quite sure who is chasing who.
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash
At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Coal Tit
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 1 Moorhen
- 1 (1) Blackcap
This Blackcap was also singing a wider repertoire than usual: it could also do a very good Song Thrush impression
- 1 Bullfinch
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Coal Tit
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 1 Moorhen
- 1 (1) Blackcap
This Blackcap was also singing a wider repertoire than usual: it could also do a very good Song Thrush impression
- 1 Bullfinch
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Nedge Hill
5 Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
4 Wheatear
(Arthur Harper)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Nedge Hill
5 Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
4 Wheatear
(Arthur Harper)