1.0°C > 10:0°C: Cloudless with frosty start. Calm early with light SE breeze later. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:57 BST
* = a photo today
Despite strong Spring sunshine from cloudless skies it remained surprisingly chilly and very few insects were tempted out.
Priorslee Lake: 04:55 - 06:35 // 07:30 - 09:50
(71st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A male Pheasant was on the academy playing fields at first light.
- Both Canada Geese were visible for part of the while. I assume this means the clutch is not complete and so long as the eggs do not get chilled then they do not to be brooded all the while
- A pair of Gadwall was unexpected. This species was scarce this last winter with only one previous record since most birds departed in early January.
- The drake Tufted Duck 'appeared' and then 'disappeared' . Whether it flew in and out or was just lurking in the reeds is hard to say
- Now three singing Reed Warblers.
- Also three Common Whitethroats with two males chasing and singing. The third bird was heard scolding and was likely a female though it was not seen well-enough to confirm.
- A pair of House Sparrows seen in the SW copse where I saw one carrying nesting material last year. I did not confirm breeding there.
- Another late record of an overflying Siskin. I note from the excellent River Dee Estuary site (http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/lsight.htm) that a small movement of this species has been evident there recently.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 5 Canada Geese: single and two pairs inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- 36 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Siskin
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8+ Sand Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers again
- 14 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 19 (13) Blackcaps
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroats
Counts from the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (5♂) Mallard again
- 1(1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 17 Coots only
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn
- 3 plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
- *1 spider sp., perhaps Clubiona brevipes
Later noted:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *2 Tapered Droneflies (Eristalis pertinax)
- *1 Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)
- >10 Alder Flies (Sialis lutaria)
As a postscript to yesterday I forgot to include in the fly-overs three un-aged Black-headed Gulls that flew SE at 05:45.
A different perspective.
The pair of Gadwall, the duck on our left with the orange side to her bill.
This closely matches photos on the interweb of the spider Clubiona brevipes, though I know that there are many species in the genus. I am taking advice.
Woodhouse Lane: 08:25 - 09:05
(15th visit of the year)
A slightly longer walk down the hill as far as the piles of 'completed' compost left in a field.
Notes:
- no sign of any returning Whitethroats as yet.
- a VERY distant female Wheatear was atop a favoured rock, often used by passage migrants. So, so far away ...
- At least four Linnets in the roadway.
Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 1 Pheasant heard
- 2 (2) Skylarks
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
- 4 Linnets
- 5 (1) Yellowhammers
Between the lake and The Flash
- One Moorhen on the upper pool.
- 1 (0) Blackcap by the upper pool
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Growing out of the dam / retaining bank were several of these flowering Oxford Ragwort plants (Senecio squalidus).
(Ed Wilson)
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(15th visit of the year)
A slightly longer walk down the hill as far as the piles of 'completed' compost left in a field.
Notes:
- no sign of any returning Whitethroats as yet.
- a VERY distant female Wheatear was atop a favoured rock, often used by passage migrants. So, so far away ...
- At least four Linnets in the roadway.
Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 1 Pheasant heard
- 2 (2) Skylarks
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
- 4 Linnets
- 5 (1) Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
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- One Moorhen on the upper pool.
- 1 (0) Blackcap by the upper pool
After having shuffled around a bit before I photographed it yesterday morning the Herald moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix) has now left the Priorslee Avenue tunnel after its week's residence.
The Flash: 06:40 - 07:25
(59th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Stock Dove calling from the SE wooded area.
- The Willow Warblers just keep on coming.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 - 07:25
(59th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Stock Dove calling from the SE wooded area.
- The Willow Warblers just keep on coming.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 6 (6) Willow Warblers
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 26 (23♂) Mallard
- 19 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 23 Coots again
Nothing else of note.
Trench Lock Pool: 10:50 - 11:15
(9th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Only noteworthy sighting was a male Reed Bunting. I have always wondered why they are not common here with suitable vegetation along the retaining dam, albeit that this is mostly populated by flocks of House Sparrows. My only previous record here was on 01 April 2017.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 6 (6) Willow Warblers
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 26 (23♂) Mallard
- 19 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 23 Coots again
Nothing else of note.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 10:50 - 11:15
(9th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Only noteworthy sighting was a male Reed Bunting. I have always wondered why they are not common here with suitable vegetation along the retaining dam, albeit that this is mostly populated by flocks of House Sparrows. My only previous record here was on 01 April 2017.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
None
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- no Willow Warblers
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 5 Canada Geese: two pairs and a single; perhaps a 6th on eggs somewhere?
- 2 Mute Swan: one bird sitting on the nest throughout
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 8 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
My 2021 bird species list for moves on to 43 with one addition today:
- Reed Bunting
Also noted:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) in flower
- no Willow Warblers
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 5 Canada Geese: two pairs and a single; perhaps a 6th on eggs somewhere?
- 2 Mute Swan: one bird sitting on the nest throughout
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 8 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
My 2021 bird species list for moves on to 43 with one addition today:
- Reed Bunting
Also noted:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) in flower
And the flowers in close-up. Note all the flower bracts are black tipped. This plant is native to the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily and escaped from the Oxford Botanical Gardens in 1794. It is now widespread in the UK. It starts flowering much earlier than the native Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Looks like an aphid on one of the rays of the right-hand flower.
Trench Middle Pool: 10:10 – 10:45
(9th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Where do all the Moorhens (and Coots) go during the breeding season? I am sure they are lurking somewhere.
- A good count of Willow Warblers here.
- A Grey Wagtail again
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
Hirundines etc. noted:
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Middle Pool: 10:10 – 10:45
(9th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Where do all the Moorhens (and Coots) go during the breeding season? I am sure they are lurking somewhere.
- A good count of Willow Warblers here.
- A Grey Wagtail again
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 36 Canada Geese again
- 20 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 12 Coots only
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps again
Counts from the water:
- 36 Canada Geese again
- 20 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 12 Coots only
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
My 2021 bird species list for here remains at 40 with nothing new today:
Also noted
- 1 Terrapin sp. (probably Yellow-bellied Slider). First of year anywhere for me.
(Ed Wilson)
Also noted
- 1 Terrapin sp. (probably Yellow-bellied Slider). First of year anywhere for me.
(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
2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
20 Wheatear
1 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
(Ian Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
5 Tufted Duck
12 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
6 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
31 Tufted Duck
1 Heron
1 Buzzard
6 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
5 Lapwings
1 Green Woodpecker
3 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaffs
6 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow Wagtail
5 Common Sandpiper
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Yellow Wagtail
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
1 Common Sandpiper
Swallows
Sand Martins
Common Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
The Nedge
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Sedge Warblers
Reed Warbler
Common Sandpipers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Cuckoo
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
27 Sand Martins
11 Swallows
5 House Martins
1 Sedge Warbler
8 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
25 Wrens
23 Blackbirds
5 Greenfinches
1 Siskin
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings.
Lanes to the east of Priorslee Lake
6 Pheasants
8 Sky Larks
2 Whitethroats
4 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Greenfinch
6 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)