4.0°C > 8.0°C: Early clear spells again gave way to high cloud thickening and lowering somewhat. Moderate NNW wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:21 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:25 - 09:15
(36th visit of the year)
Birds notes:
- A Pheasant was calling along the N side again. pre-dawn only.
- Of the 105 Wood Pigeons recorded flying over 52 were in six apparent migrant groups flying N/NE, though not so obviously high as in previous days.
- Two Common Buzzards were on the academy playing field early.
- Today's Cormorant was a full adult.
- Only three Chiffchaffs noted, all in song.
- Seven Meadow Pipits positively ID-ed flying over. Several singles/small groups of jerkily flying small birds were likely also this species but too far away to hear.
- *Today's putative White Wagtail was proven to be a female Pied Wagtail from photos.
- Four Lesser Redpolls seen again in dead willowherb heads.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Canada Goose: single inbound
- 15 Greylag Geese: pair and quartet outbound; pair, trio and quartet inbound
- 2 (?♂) Mallard
- 13 Feral Pigeons: two groups
- 1 Stock Dove: yet again
- 105 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: five adults; one first year
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 43 Jackdaws only
- 3 Starlings: singles
- 8 Redwings: one group
- 7+ Meadow Pipits
- 3 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 15 (7♂) Tufted Duck again
- 8 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 2 Little Grebes: both seen
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adult and two first years all briefly
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: departed again
My 2021 bird species list for here remains unchanged at 75 (or 74!).
Nothing on the lamp posts pre-dawn - too cold and too much dew?
In this view as the bird runs after and stretches for a morsel it is possible to rule out White Wagtail. The area above the tail is clearly black as it is in Pied Wagtail. In White Wagtail it is always grey. So this is a female Pied Wagtail. (Severn-Trent apologises for painting one of the stones on the dam a distracting bright red.)
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 - 10:15
(Ed Wilson)
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(24th visit of the year)
A Chiffchaff singing high in the trees above squirrel alley was my first of the year here. Three days later than in 2020 and 19 days later than 2019. But six days earlier than 2018.
My 2021 bird species list for here thus moves on to 53.
A Chiffchaff singing high in the trees above squirrel alley was my first of the year here. Three days later than in 2020 and 19 days later than 2019. But six days earlier than 2018.
My 2021 bird species list for here thus moves on to 53.
Other bird notes:
- It was reported that the pen Mute Swan has so far laid a single egg. She was on the nest while I was present so I could not confirm.
- Many Tufted Duck were hauled out on the island. The ducks can be hard to find when they are: these may well be under-recorded as a result.
- A pair of Coot seen mating. Birds are already sitting on nests around the water.
- A noisy group of five Jays flying around at the top end.
- Single Lesser Redpoll and Siskin noted briefly in the Alders. It has been the best year I can recall for both of these species here.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- *4 Greylag Geese: two of these departed
- 3 Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 69 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls drifted in; one adults and three first-year birds
- *1 Herring Gull: the usual, throughout
- *1 Cormorant: departed
Nothing else of note.
A lucky shot. Just as I raised the camera this adult Cormorant began to close its wings and a few moments later it took off and flew away.
- It was reported that the pen Mute Swan has so far laid a single egg. She was on the nest while I was present so I could not confirm.
- Many Tufted Duck were hauled out on the island. The ducks can be hard to find when they are: these may well be under-recorded as a result.
- A pair of Coot seen mating. Birds are already sitting on nests around the water.
- A noisy group of five Jays flying around at the top end.
- Single Lesser Redpoll and Siskin noted briefly in the Alders. It has been the best year I can recall for both of these species here.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- *4 Greylag Geese: two of these departed
- 3 Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 69 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls drifted in; one adults and three first-year birds
- *1 Herring Gull: the usual, throughout
- *1 Cormorant: departed
Nothing else of note.
One of the Greylag Geese flies off. Unusually it has its bill closed - they are usually noisy in flight.
A bird identification challenge for you.
Easier now our second year Herring Gull has resurfaced.
Another dive. It was playing with weed and dropping it in the water and then retrieving it.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
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
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Bramblings
2 Chiffchaffs singing
(Martin Grant)
Priorslee Flash
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
14 Pochard
25 Tufted Duck
1 Lapwing
2 Sand Martins
26 Greenfinches
23 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Cormorants
24 Tufted Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Tree Sparrow
2 Reed Buntings
1 Chiffchaff singing
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebe
12 Swan
6 Gadwall
20 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Mute Swan nest building
16 Tufted
(Mike Cooper)
The Flash
c.25 Tufted Duck
Chiffchaff singing
(Mike Cooper)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
12 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrel
2 Stock Dove
1 Green Woodpecker
31 Wren
36 Robin
6 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tit
44 Magpie
9 Greenfinch
8 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
33 Tufted Duck
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Chiffchaff singing
1 Redpoll
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)