Priorslee Lake: 04:05 – 05:35 // 06:25 – 08:00
The Flash: 05:40 – 06:20
9.0°C > 10.0°C: A few early breaks; then light rain for a while; then just dull. Very light NE wind. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:47 BST
Priorslee Lake: 04:05 – 05:35 // 06:25 – 08:00
(148th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- 1 first-summer Black-headed Gull was sitting on one of the buoys by 04:15 – had it roosted here? Left c.05:15.
- Tawny Owl calling again at 04:15.
- The first Swift was noted at 04:30 with numbers rapidly building until c.35 present. Groups of between 20 and 40 birds were present most of the time thereafter.
- At least 15 Starlings were collecting food from the football field. My largest count of the year doing so.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 2 Greylag Geese (inbound)
- 2 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 44 Jackdaws
- 43 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >40 Swifts
- >2 Barn Swallows
- >2 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs again
- 14 (14) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 2 (1) (Common) Whitethroats again
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans as ever
- 1 Canada Goose (departed)
- 13 (11♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 6 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 24 + 21 (8 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull (departed)
On the lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)
- 1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)
Seen later:
- >8 large bats flying around pre-dawn – all noctule-types?
Ahead of the rain there was a small sunrise this morning. Calm with mist over the lake very early.
A bit later.
Hardly sunrise at this later stage: a brief flaring between the clouds.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 05:40 – 06:20
(141st visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- I know I said I would no longer separate the Mallard ducklings: today they were strung out across the water for easy counting and I was able to confirm all 13 present and correct.
- The low count of Coot juveniles at least in part due to some still being brooded on this dark and chilly morning.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Swifts
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
- 3 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese again
- 81 Canada Geese
- 21 (16♂) + 13 (2 broods) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 23 + 6 (3 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash:
At or around the lower pool (singing birds):
- 1 adult Moorhen
- 1 (1) Blackcap
At or around the upper pool (singing birds):
- 1 (1) Coal Tit – there were two birds singing around The Flash also: three songsters of this species unusual.
- 1 Rather scruffy Silver-ground Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe montanata) on a fence stanchion.
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
Here are a few images from RSPB Burton Mere on 6 Jun 19 Here.
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The Flash: 05:40 – 06:20
(141st visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- I know I said I would no longer separate the Mallard ducklings: today they were strung out across the water for easy counting and I was able to confirm all 13 present and correct.
- The low count of Coot juveniles at least in part due to some still being brooded on this dark and chilly morning.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Swifts
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
- 3 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese again
- 81 Canada Geese
- 21 (16♂) + 13 (2 broods) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 23 + 6 (3 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
At or around the lower pool (singing birds):
- 1 adult Moorhen
- 1 (1) Blackcap
At or around the upper pool (singing birds):
- 1 (1) Coal Tit – there were two birds singing around The Flash also: three songsters of this species unusual.
- 1 Rather scruffy Silver-ground Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe montanata) on a fence stanchion.
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
Here are a few images from RSPB Burton Mere on 6 Jun 19 Here.
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