1.0°C > 8.0°C: Frosty, clear and calm start. A few clouds after 11:0 with light WSW breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:04 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake :06:05 - 09:40
(18th visit of the year)
Three signs of Spring this morning:
- a singing Chiffchaff
- my first hoverfly of the year - a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- three more species of flower noted - Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Cowslip (Primula veris) and, rather belatedly, Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). I suspect the latter were planted and I do not seem to recorded them in previous years.
Notes:
- Rather fewer Moorhens than usual. These are to be found on the SW grass at first light where they feed before dispersing later. They do not use the grass when it is frosted.
- Now seven Great Crested Grebes with two pairs seen displaying.
- 30 large gulls arrived from the E at 06:25. Of these four were immature Herring Gull-types (Herring / Caspian / Yellow-legged) but they left again while it was too dark to attempt a positive ID. It was an overflying Buzzard that flushed most of the gulls. All the other large gulls were adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- Two of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls overhead were flying E: this is a most unusual direction for this time of day.
- Herons everywhere this morning with three seen concurrently around the lake; two seen being chased off; and then two overhead while two were still present around the lake.
- The Chiffchaff was somewhat of a surprise. It was c.06:40 as I crossed the Wesley Brook bridge to try for a better angle on the large gulls when I heard the call. "Surely not" I thought as this species rarely calls during winter. With that it started singing, which over-wintering birds will do on fine days in February. But at 06:40 when it is frosty!? My earliest ever date for a bird here (not singing) was on 25th February 2019.
- Two Starlings seen to leave a roost around the lake, together.
- A Grey Wagtail in the Wesley Brook when I went to try and relocate the Chiffchaff. A different bird from the one at The Flash yesterday - this one had no leg rings.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 15 Canada Geese: 13 outbound; pair inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Grey Herons
- c.425 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks again
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 5 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall: heard only
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens only
- 32 Coots
- Little Grebe heard only again
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls only
- 4 Herring Gull-types
- 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorant: one arrived and departed separately
- 3 Grey Herons
My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 65 with:
- Chiffchaff
Street lights:
Not visited pre-dawn:
Noted later
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Three flower species as highlighted
This is the Snow Moon some 20 hours before it is a full moon. It is only in winter that I can ever take its photo prior to the full moon.
Noted later
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Three flower species as highlighted
No sign of any Sahara dust in this sunrise.
My best attempt at an 'arty' sunrise.
Grey Herons seemed to be everywhere this morning. This one loudly complaining as it leaves.
A Grey Wagtail in the Wesley Brook.
And again: here it is clear it has no rings on its legs.
My first hoverfly of the year - a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
When it grows up a bit this will be a splendid Cowslip (Primula veris)
Not the best specimens, well past their best. These were Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), growing at the edge of the football field among yet-to-flower Daffodils. So I expect they were planted. I cannot recall seeing them in previous years.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane: 07:15 - 07:35
(1st visit of the year)
I made a short visit here to check the top fields for any early migrant Wheatears - this species likes being able to see the horizon which it can do from here. I drew a blank but did note:
- 1 Meadow Pipit calling over the fields
- 1 male Yellowhammer in stuttering song
Those species only seen / heard from here are not included on my Priorslee Lake species count.
Slight mist as well as the frost this morning looking down Woodhouse Lane to the thundering noise of the M54.
A sunny bird on a sunny morning. This male Yellowhammer was winding up and yet to give a full song. This species has multiple broods and sings until mid-August. He has six months of hard work and singing ahead of him. Typically hiding behind twigs.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 09:50 – 10:00 // 10:45 - 11:05
(1st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A singing Chaffinch was perhaps the best I could muster.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swan: the resident pair 7JTX & 7JUA
- 16 Canada Geese
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- no gulls!
Only 21 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Common Buzzard
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wren
Blackbird
Robin
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
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Woodhouse Lane: 07:15 - 07:35
(1st visit of the year)
I made a short visit here to check the top fields for any early migrant Wheatears - this species likes being able to see the horizon which it can do from here. I drew a blank but did note:
- 1 Meadow Pipit calling over the fields
- 1 male Yellowhammer in stuttering song
Those species only seen / heard from here are not included on my Priorslee Lake species count.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 09:50 – 10:00 // 10:45 - 11:05
(1st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A singing Chaffinch was perhaps the best I could muster.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swan: the resident pair 7JTX & 7JUA
- 16 Canada Geese
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- no gulls!
Only 21 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Common Buzzard
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wren
Blackbird
Robin
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
The fine weather tempted the Common Buzzards to soar. Here is one.
Signs of Spring - this is pussy willow about to open. These will be the furry male catkins and occur on many species of willow trees and shrubs. Most individual species of willow are hard to identify.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 10:05 – 10:40
(1st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Song Thrush in song
- Singles of both Pied and Grey Wagtail on the new concrete embankment.
- A Bullfinch here: I did not record this species here in 2020.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Common Buzzards: two pairs displaying
- 1 Siskin
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 Greylag Geese
- 56 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: as usual
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- *16 (6♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
27 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: also in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Buzzard
Magpie
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit parties
Goldcrest
Wren
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin
Dunnock
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
The Feral Goose not included
Otherwise of note
- A few flowers of Blackthorn [Sloe] (Prunus spinosa). The slightly lower elevation here than at Priorslee always means this species flowers about a week earlier here
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Middle Pool: 10:05 – 10:40
(1st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Song Thrush in song
- Singles of both Pied and Grey Wagtail on the new concrete embankment.
- A Bullfinch here: I did not record this species here in 2020.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Common Buzzards: two pairs displaying
- 1 Siskin
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 Greylag Geese
- 56 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: as usual
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- *16 (6♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
27 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: also in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Buzzard
Magpie
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit parties
Goldcrest
Wren
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin
Dunnock
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
The Feral Goose not included
Otherwise of note
- A few flowers of Blackthorn [Sloe] (Prunus spinosa). The slightly lower elevation here than at Priorslee always means this species flowers about a week earlier here
A single flower for your delight?
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
8 Pochard
4 Tufted Duck
164 Black-headed Gulls
78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>250 Rooks
20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
185 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Caspian Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
33 Wigeon
1 Common Teal
4 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
89 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
9 Pochard
89 Tufted Duck
1 Greater Scaup
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
18 Swans
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
96 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
1 other 'strange gull'!
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
2 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Sky Larks
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Cormorant
2 Gadwall
6 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
96 Coots
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
274 Wood Pigeon
135 Jackdaws
111 Rooks
78 Starlings
45 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
17 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
20 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)