0.0°C > 7:0°C: Mainly clear and frosty. Calm / very light and variable breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:10 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:15 - 06:40 // 07:45 - 09:55
(66th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A / the lone Canada Goose arrived at 05:30. Shortly afterwards it was again upset by a Grey Heron that disappeared in to the reeds and it set off in pursuit only to receive the ire of the cob Mute Swan that chased it on to the SW grass. As long as it stayed there the swan left it alone.
- Now six Great Crested Grebes. They are confusing.
- A lone Common Sandpiper for the last three mornings. Hard to know whether this is the same bird pausing its journey. Or different birds passing through.
- A Mistle Thrush seen flying out of the Ricoh copse on to the football field. I have not seen or heard this species for several weeks. Looks like it is getting on with raising a family and too busy to sing.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 6 Greylag Geese: two trios outbound
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 19 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks again
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Barn Swallows, briefly
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 19 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 19 (15) Blackcaps
NB: yesterday's Garden Warbler was in error. I recorded a bird I suspected as being this species; later decided it was not and forgot to delete it from the log.
Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Common Sandpiper yet again
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
Also noted:
- 1 Brindled Beauty moth (Lycia hirtaria) on a street light both pre-and post- dawn.
- 5 Tapered Drone Flies (Eristalis pertinax)
An annoying area of cloud rather threatened to spoil the sunrise - these were the only clouds in the sky.
They gave rather a brooding look to sun-up.
A few wisps of mist in the foreground.
A different view of the sunrise through the trees. Spot the Wood Pigeon at one o'clock.
Mr. Mute Swan in hot pursuit of the Canada Goose, paddling fast.
Well: I was ready with the video today but sadly the Great Crested Grebes were without weed. If you are ready with the sea-sick pills then away we go. Apologies for my unsteady hand: at 55x magnification ...
Another day at the lake: another Chiffchaff photo.
A male Blackcap of course. Quick before the leaves hide these often skulking birds.
This morning's Brindled Beauty moth (Lycia hirtaria) as rendered by flash light.
(Ed Wilson)
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(13th visit of the year)
Another late and quick visit to the 'top of the hill'. There was a man walking his two dogs - well he was walking; the dogs were running hither and thither across all the cereal crops in the fields flushing any birds that might have been there. I am sure the nesting Sky Larks were none too happy.
Notes:
- Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were calling from Ward's Rough to the E and then came noisily bounding in to the small copse in the middle of one of the fields.
Some numbers:
- 2 Jays
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
- 5 (1) Skylarks
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 4 Meadow Pipits at least
- 3 (1) Yellowhammers.
also noted:
- Flowering White Deadnettle (Lamium album): first for me in 2021
Despite the disturbance from the dogs running all over the fields there were still a few Meadow Pipits on show. Same Ash tree. The pale surround to the eye gives them a permanent surprised look.
Of course there was a male Yellowhammer trying to hide and yet keep a watch on me.
And at great distance his less colourful mate.
Flowering White Deadnettle (Lamium album) (or White Dead-Nettle? my references are inconsistent). As their name implies deadnettles do not sting (well I suppose their name could imply they kill you! They don't.)
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash
- One Moorhen still at the upper pool.
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff by the lower pool still
- 1 (1) Blackcap by the lower pool
also noted
- The Herald moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix) in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel for the third morning.
(Ed Wilson)
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- One Moorhen still at the upper pool.
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff by the lower pool still
- 1 (1) Blackcap by the lower pool
also noted
- The Herald moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix) in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel for the third morning.
It is amazing when you engage brain. I worked out a way to get a better - not 'best' mark you - angle on the Herald moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix) in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. They are rather splendid moths.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:45 - 07:40
(54th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The third adult Mute Swan found today - still chasing geese.
- So where were all the Mallard today? The ducks are likely on eggs somewhere; but many of the drakes were also missing?
- A further reduction in he number of Tufted Duck. While a few might have been unseen, hauled out on the island I guess many are away to breed to the N and E of here.
- A third Great Crested Grebes noted.
- Much Blackcap noise and action this morning.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted.
(Ed Wilson)
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(54th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The third adult Mute Swan found today - still chasing geese.
- So where were all the Mallard today? The ducks are likely on eggs somewhere; but many of the drakes were also missing?
- A further reduction in he number of Tufted Duck. While a few might have been unseen, hauled out on the island I guess many are away to breed to the N and E of here.
- A third Great Crested Grebes noted.
- Much Blackcap noise and action this morning.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (5) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 8 Greylag Geese; four of these departed as a single and a trio
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 22 (20♂) Mallard
- 17 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
Otherwise noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (5) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 8 Greylag Geese; four of these departed as a single and a trio
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 22 (20♂) Mallard
- 17 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
Otherwise noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
10 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
6 Sand Martin
2 Swallow
11 Song Thrushes
11 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
112 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
4 Greylag Geese
25 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Curlew
6 Sky Lark
3 Meadow Pipit
5 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Linnets
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
East Priorslee
5 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtails
Common Whitethroat
62 Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
3 Common Redstart
Willow Warbler
2 Swallows
Linnet
Skylark
Chiffchaff
(Martin Grant, Ian Grant, John Isherwood)
Long Lane, Wellington
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
12 Lapwing
2 Stock Dove
4+ Skylark
5 Teal
(Martin Grant)
2012
Nedge Hill
1 White Wagtail
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow Wagtail
(John Isherwood/ Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
2 Linnets
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard
25 Sand Martins
6 Swallows
3 Skylarks
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
2 Jays
4 Linnets
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Common Sandpiper
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcap
1 Willow Warbler
1 Reed Bunting
8 Tufted Duck
(Martin Grant)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Little Grebe
2 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
7 Common Sandpiper
4 Swallow
3 Sand Martin
1 Kestrel
1 Raven
2 Sky Lark
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Wheatear
9 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcaps
1 Sedge Warbler.
5 Greenfinch
2 Siskin
1 Linnet
5 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam, John Isherwood)
7 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcaps
1 Sky Lark
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Willow Tit
4 Greenfinch
3 Linnet
5 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam, John Isherwood)