3.0°C > 7:0°C: Fine and clear, but with some high cloud and rather hazy.. Calm / very light wind. Moderate / good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:06 BST
* = a photo today
I took a break between the lake and The Flash to have my scheduled second Covid jab.
Priorslee Lake: 05:15 - 08:20
(68th visit of the year)
A new arrival this morning was a Reed Warbler chuntering away from deep in the reeds in the NW area. Bird species #90 for me here this year.
Other bird notes:
- For the last two days Pheasant calls have been rather distant and perhaps even from the main part of the Priorslee estate.
- Two first year Black-headed Gulls dropped in at 05:35 and spent about 10 minutes on buoys before heading back E.
- Both singing Willow Warblers were in new locations.
- Another sighting of a Reed Bunting flying out of the W end roost area and heading a long way off W. Seems rather strange when there is a nesting pair there.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 5 Greylag Geese: single and pair outbound; pair inbound
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Stock Dove
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls: both immatures, separately
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult again
- 16 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Barn Swallow
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (2) Willow Warblers
- 19 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 21 (12) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 2 Greylag Geese: again quickly chased off by the Canada Goose
- 2 Canada Goose: one sitting on eggs
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: as usual, heard only
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Herons
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: first year birds, together, briefly
Nothing else of note - I made an early departure before any insects were around.
A few high clouds giving some colour to the hazy sunrise.
The long view. Calm waters.
A pair (I assume: size is the only distinguishing feature between the sexes) of Greylag Geese.
My best effort with Willow Warbler this morning. There were only two singing birds to choose from.
A slightly grubby bill wide open as this Song Thrush claims its territory. Did I mention ...
I wish was a supple.
Both ways.
And underneath too.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:00 - 09:50
(56th visit of the year)
A pair of Shoveler tucked up against the island were a new species for me here in 2021 - #64.
Other bird notes:
- More Tufted Duck today.
- A pair of Great Crested Grebes asleep and unmissable in the middle of the water.
- Not a single Willow Warbler seen or heard: also fewer Blackcaps. Perhaps partly a timing issue as I was much later than recently.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- no Willow Warblers
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 14 Canada Geese: two of these arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 29 (24♂) Mallard
- 29 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes!
Also noted:
- >5 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- White Deadnettle (Lamium album) in flower
- 2 Grey Squirrels
A long-distance shot of a sleeping pair of Shoveler against the island. This species often seems to take its time to move away to breed. Very few breed in Scotland, our nearest breeding colonies are in Germany.
- no Willow Warblers
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 14 Canada Geese: two of these arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 29 (24♂) Mallard
- 29 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes!
Also noted:
- >5 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- White Deadnettle (Lamium album) in flower
- 2 Grey Squirrels
A rather better photo of flowering White Deadnettle (Lamium album) than I took in Woodhouse Lane.
(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
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
7 Wheatear
6 Lapwing
Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)
2013
Nedge Hill
21 Wheatears
3 Common Redstart
Common Whitethroat
(Peter Jordan, Ian Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Sedge Warbler
25 Swallows
6 House Martins
1 Sand Martin
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
Swallows
House Martins
Sand Martins
2 Reed Warblers again
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Lapwing
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Redstart
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
4 Willow Warblers
15 Sand Martins
27 Swallows
2 Gadwall
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Kestrels
9 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Sand Martins
6 Swallows
2 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
17 Willow Warblers (11 in song)
4 Redpolls
Nedge Hill
2 Willow Warblers
Trench Lock
2 Sand Martins
7 Swallows
2 Chiffchaff
3 Willow Warblers
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpipers
1 Garden Warbler
Chiffchaff
Reed Bunting
1 Ring-necked Parakeet
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
The Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)
Wood Lane
1 Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Swallow
1 Sand Martin
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Common Sandpiper
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Sky Lark
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Willow Tit
5 Greenfinch
1 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam)
Lanes east of Priorslee Lake
4 Pheasants
4 Sky Larks
4 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
8 Linnets
4 Yellowhammers
1 Redwing
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Stock Dove
2 Jay
2 Kestrel
(Martin Adlam)
1 Willow Tit
5 Greenfinch
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)