30 Jun 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: 

12.0°C > 15.0°C: Cloudy. Occasionally threatened to brighten. Didn't. Moderate SW wind tended to drop away. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:50 BST

Priorslee Lake: 04:09 – 06:05 // 07:05 – 09:30

(125th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- What I have taken to be the same adult Black-headed Gull was seen several times on buoys and flying to and fro.

- One new brood of two juvenile Coots. Also several recent broods put in a re-appearance. Just 17 extant juveniles from 10 broods is a poor showing after last year's bumper numbers.

- This morning the Jackdaws did not show on their usual roost-dispersal flights. I assume they have found better feeding elsewhere – but how does word get around?

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 25 Cormorants (groups of four, one and 19)

- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults

- 33 Wood Pigeons

- 10 Jackdaws only

- 7 Rooks only

- 2 Greenfinches

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 7 Swifts

- 1 House Martin

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs

- 17 (14) Blackcaps

- 3 (1) Garden Warblers

- 5 (2) Common Whitethroat

- 9 (8) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans

- 14 (?♂) Mallard

- 1 Grey Heron again

- 8 Great Crested Grebes

- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens

- 26 + 17 (10 broods) Coots

- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult; arrived

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult; arrived

NB: * means there is a photo today.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

- 1 Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata)

- 1 Garden Grass-veneer moth (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

On the wall of the academy beside the security light

Nothing

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

Two additions to this year's list on another overcast morning:

- Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

- Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavescens)

The insect etc. list in full:

Butterflies:

- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Moths:

- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Bees / wasps:

- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

- Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

- Common Wasp (Vespula (Paravespula) vulgaris)

Damsel-/Dragon-flies:

None

Hoverflies:

- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

- *Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)

- *Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)

Bats

None

Other things:

- *Mirid bug Closterotomus norwegicus aka Potato Capsid

- Froghopper Aphrophora pectoralis

- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): larvae and pupae again

- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata): adults and pupa

- *Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

- *Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavescens)

- Black Snipe fly (Chrysopilus cristatus)

- Semaphore fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus)

- *Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)

- Stretch-spider (Tetragnatha sp.)

Additional flowering plant species recorded for the year at this site:

- *Bistort (Polygonum bistorta [was Persicaria bistorta])

First of all an apology. For a variety of reasons I resorted to a back-up camera this morning and shouldn't have. Many of the images are not quite in focus for reasons that I do not understand.

I have noted before that the Mute Swan cygnets are often in a 2 + 3 arrangement with their parents – like this (one of the parents is hiding behind reeds).

This is a female Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae). Apart from the usual way of sexing hoverflies - the eyes meet on females - on this species the abdomen pattern is slightly different - the central longitudinal band is narrow on males and may not be present at all on the third yellow segment.

This a male Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta). Only males are 'long'. Females are shorter and broader in the beam (quiet!). I have never knowingly seen a female, possibly because they are less distinctive. He is sharing an Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) with a small green bug.

Another smart cranefly, today sitting with wings held open making identification easier. It is a female Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavescens) - the female ovipositor gives the pointed end to the abdomen. Yesterday's cranefly had a dark mark in the wing (the stigma): this species lacks that. Amazingly my 2019 first record for Tiger Cranefly was also on 30 June.

This is the Mirid bug Closterotomus norwegicus. I have shown this before, also on Knapweed, as here. I now discover that it has a vernacular name - Potato Capsid. Capsid bugs are part of the Mirid bug family. I can find no explanation for the Norwegian scientific epithet or for the 'Potato' name - it is known to feed on nettles.

I had been wondering where these Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva) were this year. In recent years they have acquired the vernacular name of Hogweed Bonking Beetle (my poor mother would turn in her grave). This year the Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) has flowered early and many are very much past their prime. Of course we need more than one beetle to live up to its name ...

Another. Not sure that this species can be sexed visually.

This is a Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius).

This the flowering head of Bistort (Polygonum bistorta [was Persicaria bistorta]). Grows close to the water's edge, especially along the south side. The first I have noted this year - usually it is July before I log it but - hey! - we are nearly there anyway.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:10 – 07:00

(111th visit of the year)

Notes:

- The 2018 immature Mute Swan again not seen

- No Mallard ducklings noted. Most of the adults were on the island, too distant to reliably sex.

- Two Jays having a noisy dispute with Magpies in squirrel alley.

- Reed Bunting heard calling and then in sporadic song – same bird?

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 1 Jackdaw

- 1 Rook

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 1 Swift

- 4 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs

- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:

- 2+ 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 73 Greylag Geese

- 92 + 2 (1 brood) Canada Geese

- 17 (?♂) Mallard (see notes)

- 10 (8♂) Tufted Duck

- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again

- 5 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens

- 12 + >16 (7? broods) Coots

- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults; one flew off

Otherwise of note:

- 1 Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata) on a lamp pole.

- Harlequin Ladybird pupa (Harmonia axyridis)

- very many Caddis flies (Mystacides longicornis) dancing at the edge of the water

An illustration of the challenge in sexing Mallards as they moult through what is called eclipse plumage – the drakes become as cryptically plumaged as the ducks as they drop all their flight feathers. It is a drake in the foreground, retaining the yellow-green bill. The duck behind with the dark bill with orange sides.

These two juvenile Moorhens have been joining the Canada Geese for the bread hand-outs and are now following the geese on to the grass and in the gardens along Wordsworth Way.

My best picture yet of a Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata). Seen on a lamp pole.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Nothing of note

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

(Ed Wilson)

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's sighting Here

2014

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2010

Priorslee Lake

Common Sandpiper

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 drake Ruddy Duck

(Ed Wilson)

29 Jun 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: 

12.0°C > 13.0°C: Cloudy at medium level; a few brighter bits; also a few spits of rain. Fresh and gusty WSW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:49 BST again

Priorslee Lake: 04:07 – 06:10 // 07:05 – 09:32

(124th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- A pair of Great Crested Grebes seemed to be inspecting the reeds at the S end of the dam as a potential nest site – about time something started happening other than endless displaying or sleeping.

- The Sand Martin was a surprise. A most unusual date for this species to be seen here. It is normally a passage bird and then seen much more often in Spring than post-breeding.

- So where were all the Rooks? And many of the Jackdaws? In the dull and breezy conditions birds were late starting (or did they just have that Monday morning feeling?). Some of the Jackdaws were seen low to W, partially obscured from my vantage point. That does not explain why numbers were quite so low.

- A new juvenile Pied Wagtail still being fed along the dam-face. It was coping very well with the strong wind.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 25 Cormorants (groups of 14, two and nine)

- 1 Grey Heron

- 19 Wood Pigeons

- 114 Jackdaws

- 10 Rooks only

- 3 Starlings

- 1 Greenfinch

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 3 Swifts

- 1 Sand Martin

- 2 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

Not much song on a cloudy windy morning.

- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs

- 10 (8) Blackcaps

- 2 (2) Garden Warblers again

- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

- 6 (6) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans

- 15 (?♂) Mallard again

- 1 Grey Heron

- 7 Great Crested Grebes

- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens

- ?? + 12 (6 broods) Coots: adults not counted

- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult arrived

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult: 'gas and go'

NB: * means there is a photo today.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

- *1 Single-dotted Wave moth (Idaea dimidiata)

Nothing on the wall of the academy beside the security light

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

A surprising number given the dull and windy conditions.

Butterflies:

- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Moths:

- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Bees / wasps:

- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

- Common Wasp (Vespula (Paravespula) vulgaris)

- *Ichneumon, probably a female Amblyteles armatorius

Damsel-/Dragon-flies:

None

Hoverflies:

- *Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

- Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)

- Pellucid (Hover)Fly (Volucella pellucens)

Bats

- 2 Pipistrelle-type bats

Other things:

- *Froghopper Aphrophora pectoralis

- *Unidentified nymph of a Mirid bug

- *Mirid bug possibly Deraeocoris ruber

- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): only larvae and pupae noted again

- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata): adult, *larvae and *possible pupa

- *Cranefly Nephrotoma flavipalpis

- *Black Snipe fly (Chrysopilus cristatus)

- *'Long-legged fly' of genus Dolichopus – either D. plumipes or D. wahlbergi

- *Semaphore fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus)

- Stretch-spider (Tetragnatha sp.)

- *Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)

Additional flowering plant species recorded for the year at this site:

None

This is a Single-dotted Wave moth (Idaea dimidiata). My earliest date for this near-annual species. Moth species #44 here this year.

This looks like a nymph of a Mirid bug. Very few nymphs are shown on the web so I cannot be more specific. Lurking in the head of a Knapweed.

This froghopper, taken between wildly waving grass, is a good match for Aphrophora pectoralis. I used the key in the latest issue of British Wildlife.

Here we are looking at the stamen in the centre of the flower of Hedge (or Larger) Bindweed (Calystegia sepium). Three different species of bug are feasting. The outer two look like the Mirid bug Deraeocoris ruber or similar.

This is what I normally expect to see feasting inside bindweed flowers – Marmalade Hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) seem to love the nectar or pollen (or both).

Yet another insect that has stumped me. I think a bug (and not a fly, though it is not easy to tell). Any ideas?

This cranefly is sitting with wings closed, obscuring the body-pattern. The markings on the thorax and the stigma in the wing point to it being Nephrotoma flavipalpis.

A sharper image of a male 'long-legged fly' of genus Dolichopus – either D. plumipes or D. wahlbergi. As previously noted the tuft on the middle legs is supposedly attractive for the females. Note how the eyes can appear red and green at the same time. Presumably the angle of the light determines this.

This is, I think, a female. Without the leg tuft it is hard to be sure it is not some other species entirely. However there were dozens and dozens of the males around despite the overcast conditions so there had to be females somewhere.

Here is a female about to be impressed – or not.

A male Semaphore fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus) with the white tips to the wings used to display to females, often as groups of males typically dance together (not around handbags though). Note the green eyes.

And here is a female.

Many ichneumon wasps are exciting insects to photograph as they run around waving their long antennae. This is probably a female Amblyteles armatorius - the males have a yellow tip to the abdomen. There are a number of similar less common black-and-yellow ichneumons. (What I did not notice at the time was the male Black Snipe fly (Chrysopilus cristatus) lurking at the right)

This a ladybird pupa, but which species? There are very few photos of pupae on the web. I suspect a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata).

This is certainly the larva of a 7 Spot Ladybird.

One to puzzle over. I wondered whether the brown area was a spider sp. attacking the fly but if it is a spider it is a strange shape. And what is the pupa doing in the middle?

Rather differently patterned from many this is a Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum). The best clue is that it only has three spirals. Most snails – indeed many Garden Snails - have more.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:15 – 06:55

(110th visit of the year)

Notes:

- The 2018 immature Mute Swan hiding again?

- Two groups (of four and three) Mallard ducklings were 'medium-sized' and therefore different from the ten ducklings seen yesterday.

- A report of the Fire Brigade being called out over the weekend to retrieve ducklings that had fallen / been swept in to a drain!

- Adult Mallard reappeared from wherever many were hiding yesterday.

- The Common Sandpiper was only my second record here this year and might just be my first ever post-breeding record here.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

None

Hirundines etc. logged:

- House Martin(s) heard only

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs again

- no Blackcaps

Counts from the water:

- 2+ 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 70 Greylag Geese

- 63 + 2 (1 brood) Canada Geese

- 24 (17♂) + 7 (2 broods) Mallard (see notes)

- 9 (8♂) Tufted Duck

- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again

- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens

- 14 + >15 (7? broods) Coots

- 1 Common Sandpiper

- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults; one flew off

Nothing else of note:

I nearly trod on this bold juvenile Robin. It then almost stood on my foot. Here it is at my feet.

A longer view. Seemed to be unfazed by the camera flash.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of note

- 1 Inlaid Grass-veneer moth (Crambus pascuella) on a lamp pole: presumed same as yesterday – same pole but different position.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

(Ed Wilson)

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's sightings Here

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's sighting Here

2013

Priorslee Lake

15 Cormorants

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Priorslee Lake

Common Sandpiper

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

(Ed Wilson)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Siskin

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

2 drake Ruddy Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

28 Jun 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: 

11.0°C > 15.0°C: Variable cloud with left-overs from late night showers fading before more building. Moderate / fresh and gusty WSW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:49 BST

Priorslee Lake:  04:06 – 06:10 // 07:05 – 09:00

(123rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Many of the Mallard were always 'at the other end' and in moult making sexing them impossible without a telescope.

- A relatively unusual sight of three Grey Herons happily sitting alongside each other – no social distancing for them.

- The party of five Cormorants looked to be circling in but saw me taking their photo and carried on.

- A Common Sandpiper again. Could not get close-enough to age the bird.

- Explain to me why a few days ago Rooks predominated in the post-roost dispersal; yesterday the number of Jackdaws was almost the same; and this morning there were many more Jackdaws.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 7 Cormorants (2 singles; 1 group)

- 1 Sparrowhawk

- 26 Wood Pigeons

- 516 Jackdaws

- 260 Rooks

- 4 Starlings

- 4 Greenfinches

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 5 Swifts

- 1 House Martin only

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 12 (11) Chiffchaffs

- 11 (9) Blackcaps

- 2 (2) Garden Warblers

- 5 (3) Common Whitethroats

- 9 (8) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans

- 15 (?♂) Mallard

- 3 Grey Herons

- 9 Great Crested Grebes

- 3 Moorhens again

- 36 + 12 (7 broods) Coots

- 1 Common Sandpiper

- 2 Black-headed Gulls: both adults: did not stay

NB: * means there is a photo today.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise: - raining hard

- *1 Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata)

On the wall of the academy beside the security light

Nothing

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

Butterflies:

- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)

- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Moths:

- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Bees / wasps:

- Common Wasp (Vespula (Paravespula) vulgaris)

Damsel-/Dragon-flies:

- Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)

Hoverflies:

- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

- *Syrphus sp. - S. ribesii or S. vitripennis

Bats

None

Other things:

- *Mirid bug Leptopterna dolobrata

- *Mirid bug possibly Deraeocoris ruber

- Mirid bug Closterotomus norwegicus

- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): only larvae and pupae noted

- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)

- Black Snipe fly (Chrysopilus cristatus)

- Scorpion Fly (Panorpa sp.)

- Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

- *Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)

Additional plant species recorded in flower for the year at this site:

- *Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

- *possible Hairy Tare (Vicia hirsuta)

- *possible Oil-seed Rape (Brassica napus subsp. oleifera)

Not a very inspiring sunrise with remnant shower clouds fading away.

Just a quick burst of colour to warn of the showers later in the day

Two of a group of five Cormorants that circled as if to come and fish but decided against it. Both these are immatures with some white on their bellies. Not enough white to be juveniles of this year. The pale in the underwing of the leading bird is a puzzle.

One of the trio of Grey Herons present this morning. The bright brown-orange bill of a breeding bird has been lost. The extended plumes on the wings are still present.

One of the others flying off with the low sun shining through the wing.

And the third also flying off. Note the wing-tip is just dipped in the water – they often seem to do this: just the very tip.

A Common Whitethroat nicely lit by the low sun and standing out well against the dark background. With a brown eye this is an adult. Does not look grey enough on the head for a male, though they are losing their breeding finery by now.

Frustrating. This is a female skipper – it lacks the dark scent gland in the forewing. It is just not possible to be 100% certain that it is an Essex Skipper and it is most likely 'just' a Small Skipper. An Essex Skipper - now widespread despite its name - shows all dark 'dipped in ink' tips to the antennae. To be absolutely certain the underside of the antennae tips needs to be examined. July is their usual emergence date and we are not quite there yet, though many insect species are flying earlier due to both global warming and the warm and sunny March.

A 'grey' moth. This is a Little Grey (Eudonia lacustrata).

This is one of the 'Syrphus pair' - S. ribesii and S. vitripennis – where only females can be separated on the basis of the colour of the top part of the hind leg. The hind leg cannot be seen here but it is a male anyway. Not too dissimilar to the Eupeodes corollae or Migrant Hoverfly I photographed yesterday, the most obvious difference being the yellow scutellum between the thorax and the abdomen. The bright red eyes are just the way the light is falling on this specimen.

Another chance to see... a Mirid bug Deraeocoris ruber (possibly). This is a rather variable species. Further confusion arises from the recent coloniser D. flavilinea. The separation of these species is not clarified on the web.

Very smart. This, surprisingly, is another example of the Mirid bug Leptopterna dolobrata. The sexes differ markedly and this is a female.

This seems to be a Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus). The scientific name refers to the striations across the shell that are not so pronounced in other snail species. Why 'Strawberry'? No idea – no information on the web and the shell colour is very variable. (The background is one of the fishermen's black car. The snail walked there of its own volition - honest, Dave!)

I have been defeated by this before... The out-of-focus leaves in the background indicate this is a species of vetch and the only white (also pale lilac) vetch in my Flora is Hairy Tare (Vicia hirsuta). Does not look 'hairy' but then again....?

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are not that common around the lake. Here is the first I have seen here this year.

This is likely a farmland escape. It resembles Oil-seed Rape (Brassica napus subsp. oleifera) in that the buds slightly overtop the flowers. But it seems not quite right in that leaves are not grey-green and are rather more rounded. Could this be a natural cross with a native brassica? I found this in Teece Drive which is some way from any fields.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:15 – 06:55

(109th visit of the year)

Notes:

- The 2018 immature Mute Swan was around OK

- Some of the geese came (silently!) off the island boosting otherwise low numbers. A few more noted still inside.

- Two groups of five small Mallard ducklings. Those in one of broods almost looked small-enough to be yet another new brood. Almost all those logged as adults were asleep on the island and could not be sexed, such is the state of moult of the drakes. Indeed several of them could have been from the party of almost full-grown juveniles.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 1 Common Buzzard

- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. logged:

- no Swifts

- 6 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs

- 3 (2) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:

- 3+ 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 30 Greylag Geese

- 58 + 2 (1 brood) Canada Geese

- 10 (?♂) + 10 (2 broods) Mallard (see notes)

- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck

- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 3 Moorhens

- 13 + >9 (6? broods) Coots

Otherwise noted:

- 1 Light Emerald moth (Campaea margaritaria) - on a Neighbourhood Watch sign!

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman on its usual lamp pole

- 1 spike of Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii): cannot recall seeing any orchid here previously

Your neighbourhood is watching you. A Light Emerald moth (Campaea margaritaria) perches on Neighbourhood Watch sign.

It decided to go for a wander and show itself better. When fresh these moths are very pale green. They soon become very very very pale green.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of note

- 1 Inlaid Grass-veneer moth (Crambus pascuella) on a lamp pole

- 1 Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata) on another lamp pole

A grass-moth without blue eyes. This is an Inlaid Grass-veneer (Crambus pascuella) and a very clear and fresh specimen.

Another one of those pesky 'grey' moths This is also a Little Grey (Eudonia lacustrata)

(Ed Wilson)

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Note

These photos were all taken recently at Priorslee Lake by Phil Nock. Thanks to him and his daughter for their interest.

A lurking reflective Grey Heron.

A rather soggy-looking Great Crested Grebe.

A female Kestrel on the hover. Would not like to see those talons descending on me.

A Chiffchaff leaves its perch.

And now at rest again – well as at rest as Chiffchaffs ever are.

A male Common Whitethroat singing away.

Difficult at this time of year as they glean the insects from leaves within the foliage – a Long-tailed Tit partly breaks cover.

A Mistle Thrush has found something to eat. I assume not a Cherry stone. Bullfinches could probably tackle these.

A smart Goldfinch.

A male Reed Bunting.

Another view of the male Reed Bunting.

(Phil Nock)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

(Ed Wilson)

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's sightings Here

2009

Priorslee Lake

Yellow Wagtail

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

Common Tern

(Ed Wilson)