Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:30 // 07:20 – 09:15
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:15
14.0°C > 15.0°C: Alternate periods of clear skies and broken low cloud. Light and variable wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:05 BST
Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:30 // 07:20 – 09:15
(204th visit of the year)
I was told "a pair of Peking Ducks" was present yesterday. My informant did not recognise my suggestion they might be Mandarin Ducks. I would welcome any feedback on any other observation.
On Tuesday 20th August a bird flew over calling. I knew the call but at the time could not place it. I read yesterday about a significant movement of Tree Pipits and I suspect that is indeed what I heard though my recollection of the call is inadequate to claim it this late in the day.
Bird notes from today:
- The cygnets were exercising their still stubby wings again.
- Still more change in the Great Crested Grebes: now six (near-) fledged juveniles. The latest brood contains 3 juveniles. Only four other adults were located with two of these having a prolonged scrap - egged on by Coots that seemed to want to join in.
- A party of 10 Feral or Racing Pigeons flew, unusually, E at 06:10.
- Most of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were too far away to positively age.
- Single Swift over Teece Drive 06:20 not seen again.
- No early large group of House Martins high over: at least 15 later, including juveniles.
- 16 Pied Wagtails on the ‘football' field was my highest count
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 127 Greylag Geese (pair outbound; 125 inbound in 10 groups)
- 51 Canada Geese (all outbound in five groups)
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 29 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Feral / Racing Pigeons (1 group)
- 1 Stock Dove
- 170 Wood Pigeons
- 17 Jackdaws
- 20 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
- 4 Barn Swallows
- >15 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 14 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcaps only
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 (5 drakes) Mallard
- 1 Grey Heron
- 5 + 9 (>2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 + 5 (5 broods) Moorhens
- 82 + 1 (late brood) Coots
- 25 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles / first-winters
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls ('gas and go') again
- 1 Kingfisher
On the lamp poles pre-dawn:
A clear night with the poles covered in dew did not make for a good 'catch'
- 1 wasp sp.
- 4 unidentified flies
The following logged later:
- Butterflies
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Moths
- 1 small unidentified grass moth
- Damselflies etc:
- 1 unidentified dragonfly sp.
- Hoverflies (in alphabetic order of scientific name):
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Drone Flies (Eristalis sp.)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
And other things:
- 1 digger wasps sp., probably Ectemnius cephalotes
- 1 Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:15
(195th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- Neither juvenile Great Crested Grebes was begging from the adults which were keeping well away.
nothing on lamp poles:
also
- 4 Grey Squirrels at least - too many
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 7 (2) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 7 Canada Geese
- 35 (20 drakes) Mallard
- 16 (9 drakes) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 + 2 (2 broods) Moorhens again
- 15 Coots only
- 1 Black-headed Gull: flew off
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the lake and The Flash:
- an adult and three second-brood juvenile Moorhens on the grass beside the upper pool
- a Blackcap calling near the lower pool
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------