5.0°C > 10.0°C: Another morning of wall-to-wall cloud, though rather higher than of late and so making it somewhat brighter. Calm start with light / moderate S breeze picking up. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:06 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:15 - 06:45// 07:35 - 09:20
(42nd visit of the year)
Best here was a Blackcap singing near the Teece Drive gate at 06:25, my first here this year. Not heard subsequently.
Generally a quiet morning. Many fewer Wood Pigeons: these did not seem to be migrating, just mostly heading NW.
Other birds notes:
- The male Pheasant calling along the N side again.
- Great Crested Grebes are a nightmare, numbers apparently changing daily and always difficult to keep track of. Certainly seven today.
- Very few Black-headed Gulls lingering now. Just one bird on the academy playing field.
- One Redwing alongside Teece Drive in full song again. Other(s) heard calling at the same time with four birds there much later.
- *At least six Chiffchaffs noted singing and another non-singing bird.
- No Lesser Redpolls and Siskins noted in or around the trees etc., just fly-over Siskins.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 11 Canada Geese: four pairs and trio outbound
- 6 Feral Pigeons: two groups
- 2 Stock Doves: pair
- 39 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: both first year birds
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 27 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Raven
- 3 Redwings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 5 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 6 Canada Geese: two pairs and two singles arrived; some departed
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (7♂) Mallard: only drakes seen
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck: one drake flew in and later departed
- 8 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 1 Cormorant: arrived at 06:10 and left at 06:30.
- 1 Little Grebe heard only
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, one only briefly
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 78 with the addition of:
- Blackcap
On the lamp-poles pre-dawn:
- *2 Common Plume moths (Emmelina monodactyla). Moth species #3 for me here this year.
Otherwise noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel.
The other Common Plume moth stayed until after daylight and here it is in natural light. Just about visible are the spurs on the legs, seen on most plume moths.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:50 - 07:30
(30th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I could not locate any Great Crested Grebes.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from alongside squirrel alley: only my second record at this site in 2021.
- Two Chiffchaffs, both in song
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 7 Feral Pigeons: two groups
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Redwings
- 1 Meadow Pipit
Counts from the water:
- 26 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 31 (23♂) Mallard
- 63 (39♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here stays at 56
Also noted
- 1 Grey Squirrel
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The Flash: 06:50 - 07:30
(30th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I could not locate any Great Crested Grebes.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from alongside squirrel alley: only my second record at this site in 2021.
- Two Chiffchaffs, both in song
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 7 Feral Pigeons: two groups
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Redwings
- 1 Meadow Pipit
Counts from the water:
- 26 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 31 (23♂) Mallard
- 63 (39♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
My 2021 bird species list for here stays at 56
Also noted
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
Between Priorslee Lake and The Flash
- Drake Mallard on the lower pool. The duck was likely tucked up out of sight somewhere close-by.
- No Moorhens heard or seen.
- Long-tailed Tits beside both pools again.
- Two Song Thrushes by the lower pool, one in song.
and
- 1 Sylvicola sp. wood gnat on a lamp pole
- 1 Grey Squirrel
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Between Priorslee Lake and The Flash
- Drake Mallard on the lower pool. The duck was likely tucked up out of sight somewhere close-by.
- No Moorhens heard or seen.
- Long-tailed Tits beside both pools again.
- Two Song Thrushes by the lower pool, one in song.
and
- 1 Sylvicola sp. wood gnat on a lamp pole
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 09:30 – 09:40 // 10:30 - 11:05
(5th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The fishermen reported that the Black Swan put in a reappearance yesterday but was chased away by the resident cob Mute Swan.
- Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen chasing around to the N. New for my 2021 bird list here.
- A non-singing Chiffchaff in the S end wood.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Greylag Geese: departing Middle Pool
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Herring Gulls: third year and first year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers: chasing to N
- 43 Starlings: three groups
Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs, one of which arrived
- 2 Mute Swan: the usual pair
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 8 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Black-headed Gull: departed
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 38 with new today:
- Herring Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Song Thrush
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 09:45 – 10:25
After one had calmed down a bit he stayed more or less still-enough for a slightly better shot. Such behaviour is not something I have seen too often. In the New World very many flycatchers do the same and often the crown stripe is almost completely hidden normally. The most spectacular is.................
A species I do not photograph often. This female Chaffinch dropped to the ground and started feeding amongst the Ivy. I think feeding on dead male Alder catkins.
With blue flowers and pink buds that should make it Rough Comfrey (Symphytum aspersum). This species was introduced from the Caucasus in the 18th century as cattle fodder. One of my references notes it is naturalised 'in a few scattered locations'' and that it 'flowers during June and July'. So a wet, dark area of Middle Pool in March would seem an unlikely place to find it. So back to the books. Are the bells too white for a comfrey? The date and location is much better for Common Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) but the leaves in view are much more comfrey-like. Can anyone help?
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 09:30 – 09:40 // 10:30 - 11:05
(5th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The fishermen reported that the Black Swan put in a reappearance yesterday but was chased away by the resident cob Mute Swan.
- Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen chasing around to the N. New for my 2021 bird list here.
- A non-singing Chiffchaff in the S end wood.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Greylag Geese: departing Middle Pool
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Herring Gulls: third year and first year
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers: chasing to N
- 43 Starlings: three groups
Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs, one of which arrived
- 2 Mute Swan: the usual pair
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 8 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Black-headed Gull: departed
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 38 with new today:
- Herring Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Song Thrush
(Ed Wilson)
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(5th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A third Great Crested Grebe. The usual two by the NE part of the island. The third tucked in by the sluice entrance in the SW corner. Many years ago pairs often bred at both the NE and SW parts of the island, though they usually ended up fighting and killing each other's juveniles. Recently just the one pair has nested, usually raising two broods.
- The adult Cormorant was tucked up in its favourite perch on the edge of the island and the white thigh patch was about the only visible part of the bird.
- Two Chiffchaffs were in song here - new for the year for me here.
- *Three Goldcrests seen. Two were have a big dispute and chasing and flying around with crests wide open and flaming crimson.
- A female Blackbird seen carrying food. She must have nestlings to feed.
- Goldfinches in the Alders from which male catkins were cascading. I could not tell whether the birds were the direct culprits or whether the catkins were dead anyway and merely being displaced.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 3 Jackdaws
Counts from the water:
Bird notes:
- A third Great Crested Grebe. The usual two by the NE part of the island. The third tucked in by the sluice entrance in the SW corner. Many years ago pairs often bred at both the NE and SW parts of the island, though they usually ended up fighting and killing each other's juveniles. Recently just the one pair has nested, usually raising two broods.
- The adult Cormorant was tucked up in its favourite perch on the edge of the island and the white thigh patch was about the only visible part of the bird.
- Two Chiffchaffs were in song here - new for the year for me here.
- *Three Goldcrests seen. Two were have a big dispute and chasing and flying around with crests wide open and flaming crimson.
- A female Blackbird seen carrying food. She must have nestlings to feed.
- Goldfinches in the Alders from which male catkins were cascading. I could not tell whether the birds were the direct culprits or whether the catkins were dead anyway and merely being displaced.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 3 Jackdaws
Counts from the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (13♂) Mallard
- 17 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 17 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 36 with new today:
Chiffchaff
Also noted
- Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) in flower.
- *Rough Comfrey (Symphytum aspersum)? Or Common Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)? Whatever it is it is in flower
This was more in hope than anything else. Two fighting Goldcrests chasing around amongst a veritable mess of twigs. "Set the camera to repeat and hope for the best". One bird is at the bottom left and the crimson crest of the other is at the extreme right. When excited they raise their yellow crest and expose normally hidden crimson feathers.
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (13♂) Mallard
- 17 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 17 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 36 with new today:
Chiffchaff
Also noted
- Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) in flower.
- *Rough Comfrey (Symphytum aspersum)? Or Common Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)? Whatever it is it is in flower
...............the Royal Flycatcher which I have only ever seen raise its crest once. It always raises its crest 'in the hand' - in reserves where they monitor populations there are great videos of them like this one above.
Not for the first time (or the last I am sure) this flower is a bit of a puzzle. It looks like a comfrey flower...
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
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
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)