Priorslee Lake: 04:10 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 09:05
[Woodhouse Lane: 07:10 – 07:50]
The Flash: 05:45 – 06:30 again
10.0°C > 12.0°C: Cloudy. Moderate SSW wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:48 BST
Two noteworthy sightings today
- At 04:30 a noisy party of at least 80 large gulls flew S to the W of the lake. Most odd.
- In Woodhouse Lane I heard four times and saw on one occasion a Yellow Wagtail. It suggests this species is breeding in the fields near here though I was unable to pin it down. This would be a first for me in this area. It follows one over the lake on 28 May which I thought at the time was a rather late date for a migrant. The following day I thought I heard one fly off the dam ahead of me but as I saw nothing and it seemed unlikely I did not record it. Now however it seems quite probable.
Priorslee Lake: 04:10 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 09:05
(147th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- On several days recently I have almost subliminally noted calling Little Grebe, uncertain as to whether to log it. Today I heard the characteristic trill for sure – but from where?
- There was an additional single Great Crested Grebe for a while this morning – as well as the ‘extra’ pair that have been present for several days. At 08:25 I saw a single bird low over the water, climbing away and leaving. Strangely after this time it was the pair that I could no longer find!
- A party of 16 presumably Racing Pigeons flew W. Much later either a lost bird or a local Feral Pigeon followed.
- At least 7 Starlings were collecting food from the football field. I thought the juveniles had all fledged. Are they feeding unusual second broods: or replacement clutches of failed attempts?
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 1 Greylag Goose (inbound)
- 10 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- c.80 large gulls (as highlighted)
- 17 Feral / Racing Pigeons
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- 3 Collared Doves
- 36 Jackdaws
- 22 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
With breezy and overcast conditions many hirundines etc. around most of the time
- >50 Swifts
- >4 Barn Swallows
- >25 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 15 (13) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 2 (1) (Common) Whitethroats
- 7 (4) Reed Warblers
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 (8♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- Little Grebe heard
- 6 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes (see notes)
- 1 Moorhen again
- 26 + 22 (8 broods) Coots
Again nothing was on the lamp poles pre-dawn.
Seen later:
- A Fox along the S side at 04:25 was my first here this year.
- Appropriately I noted my first Foxglove flowers (Digitalis purpurea). From the size of the spike I must have overlooked this for some days.
The characteristic bell-like structure of the individual flowers.
(Ed Wilson)
Notes from Woodhouse Lane (07:10 – 07:50)
(18th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- One calling Chiffchaff seen accompanying another that was carrying food.
- Yellow Wagtail(s) as highlighted.
- A family party of Goldfinches with at least three juveniles.
- Also a family party of Linnets with juveniles. It was heartening to see breeding success this declining species.
- The singing Reed Bunting was in the fallow area near the composting centre this morning – a better place to attempt to nest than the crop fields from where I have previously logged it singing.
Totals of ‘interesting’ species (singing birds)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 5 (4) Skylarks
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) (Common) Whitethroats
- 2 (2) Song Thrushes again
- 2? Yellow Wagtails
- 2 (2) Chaffinches
- >10 Goldfinches
- >6 Linnets
- 7 (4) Yellowhammers
- 1 (1) Reed Bunting again
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 05:45 – 06:30
(140th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- A skein of 22 Canada Geese passed N to the W of the pool without deviating. Even more present here as well.
- It is now almost impossible to separate the Mallard ducklings from the adults and I will no longer attempt to do so. Raising 13 to adult status is a higher number than in most years.
- Where were all the adult Coots hiding?
and
- Another instar Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) on a lamp-pole.
- A very nondescript and unidentifiable caddis fly sp. on another lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 1 Stock Dove again
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans as usual
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 72 Canada Geese
- 40 (>22♂) + ?? (2 broods) Mallard (see notes)
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen only
- 12 + 11 (3 broods) Coots
Unlike the caddis fly at the lake this specimen lacks any features to aid identification. With nearly 200 species on the British list and most requiring, at a minimum, examination of the arrangement of spurs on the legs I think we will leave this as caddis fly sp.
An instar Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina). The red hues indicate it is not an adult. The white areas are from the flash need to illuminate it this gloomy morning.
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash:
At or around the lower pool (singing birds):
- 1 (1♂) Mallard flew off
- juvenile Moorhen(s) heard again
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
Nothing of note at or around the upper pool.
(Ed Wilson)
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Notes from Woodhouse Lane (07:10 – 07:50)
(18th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- One calling Chiffchaff seen accompanying another that was carrying food.
- Yellow Wagtail(s) as highlighted.
- A family party of Goldfinches with at least three juveniles.
- Also a family party of Linnets with juveniles. It was heartening to see breeding success this declining species.
- The singing Reed Bunting was in the fallow area near the composting centre this morning – a better place to attempt to nest than the crop fields from where I have previously logged it singing.
Totals of ‘interesting’ species (singing birds)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 5 (4) Skylarks
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) (Common) Whitethroats
- 2 (2) Song Thrushes again
- 2? Yellow Wagtails
- 2 (2) Chaffinches
- >10 Goldfinches
- >6 Linnets
- 7 (4) Yellowhammers
- 1 (1) Reed Bunting again
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 05:45 – 06:30
(140th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- A skein of 22 Canada Geese passed N to the W of the pool without deviating. Even more present here as well.
- It is now almost impossible to separate the Mallard ducklings from the adults and I will no longer attempt to do so. Raising 13 to adult status is a higher number than in most years.
- Where were all the adult Coots hiding?
and
- Another instar Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) on a lamp-pole.
- A very nondescript and unidentifiable caddis fly sp. on another lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 1 Stock Dove again
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans as usual
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 72 Canada Geese
- 40 (>22♂) + ?? (2 broods) Mallard (see notes)
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen only
- 12 + 11 (3 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
At or around the lower pool (singing birds):
- 1 (1♂) Mallard flew off
- juvenile Moorhen(s) heard again
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
Nothing of note at or around the upper pool.
(Ed Wilson)
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