0.0°C > 4.0°C: Frosty start with broken cloud. Later more general lower cloud. Calm start with light N breeze later. Very good visibility early; less so later.
Sunrise: 06:24 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:30 - 09:05
(60th visit of the year)
Another addition to my 2021 bird species list this year:
- While I was in Woodhouse Lane I heard a rather distant Green Woodpecker to the NE. Due to the relative lack of traffic on a Saturday by straining my ears I could just still hear it from the dam-top . Species #88 in 2021.
Other bird notes:
- A single Barn Swallow seen arriving from the direction of Priorslee Village where they seem to nest most years, suggesting they are back on territory.
- Same number of Willow Warblers as yesterday. Only two of these close to where they were yesterday.
- Seemed to have been a significant further arrival of Blackcaps.
- *Four Linnets again in the hedge between the football field and the academy playing fields. Only seem to be present before the dog-walkers get active.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 3 Canada Geese: single and pair outbound
- 14 Greylag Geese: three pairs and a single outbound; two pairs and trio inbound
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: outbound with the single Greylag
- 2 Stock Doves: pair
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 4 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 5 Starlings
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers again
- *22 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 21 (17) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair arrived and were eventually seen off by the cob Mute Swan.
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 4 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 2 Little Grebes: both heard only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, together, briefly.
- 1 Grey Heron
Also noted:
- *Some fertile cones of a Field or Common Horsetail (or Mare's tail) (Equisetum arvense)
Well it looked promising .... but after an hour or so it failed to deliver much sun.
A Song Thrush sitting up straight.
Now muttering to itself.
If you have an itch you have to scratch it.
One day there will be enough light to get a really sharp picture of a Linnet. Until then ....
I think this is the fertile cone of a Field or Common Horsetail (or Mare's tail) (Equisetum arvense). Later there will be sterile green and multi-branched shoots.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11th visit of the year)
Once more to the 'top of the hill' and back.
Notes:
- Green Woodpecker calling in distance as highlighted under Priorslee Lake.
- Two Jays flying E: from the lake area.
- Two Skylarks in song. One other heard calling.
- Two Willow Warblers in song.
- Two Chiffchaffs in song and another calling.
- One Blackcap in song.
- Three Meadow Pipits over, heading N.
- One Linnet over.
- Two Yellowhammers only, one in song.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(48th visit of the year)
Rather short of time to get home for an appointment so a rather quick canter around.
Bird notes:
- I did not note the drake Tufted Duck accompanying the pair of Mallard as it has for many weeks.
- A Great Crested Grebe was visible as I arrived but not seen again despite searching all its usual lurking locations.
- A Stock Dove heard calling behind the medical practice again.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 5 (5) Willow Warblers
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 20 Canada Geese: four arrived after over-flying
- 7 Greylag Geese: three departed
- *3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 29 (23♂) Mallard
- 33 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Also noted
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Splash down! The 2018 cygnet returns from another spell of chasing geese - was chasing Greylags this morning. Allows the cob to take a break from doing so.
- 5 (5) Willow Warblers
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 20 Canada Geese: four arrived after over-flying
- 7 Greylag Geese: three departed
- *3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 29 (23♂) Mallard
- 33 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Also noted
- 2 Grey Squirrels
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
3 Greylag Geese
13 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Dunlin
>50 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
8 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Woodhouse Lane
4 Sky Larks
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
3 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
10 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
1 Wheatear
Kestrel
Lapwing
> 50 Meadow Pipits
(John Isherwood)
2013
The Flash
Cackling Goose
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
10 Meadow Pipit
(John Isherwood)
2009
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
3 Wheatear
1 Redwing
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martin
Ruddy duck
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
11 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
387 Jackdaw
2 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Sky Lark
1 Tree Pipit
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtails
17 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
17 Robins
18 Blackbirds
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
8 Greenfinches
5 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)