7.0°C > 10:0°C: Broken medium-level cloud, tended to fill-in. Light sprinkles of rain c.10:00. Light NW wind after calm start . Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:47 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:50 - 06:40 // 07:40 - 09:25
(76th visit of the year)
Two new birds for my 2021 lake list:
- A Hobby flew fast W at 08:00. My earliest record here - it was May 20th in 2016 (matched by a report from a fisherman last year)
- A Yellow Wagtail flew W at 08:30
These records take my year total here to 96. Otherwise there were rather few birds flying over.
Bird notes:
- A pair of Mallard were chased on to the dam-face by two drakes. I could not see any ducklings.
- The Sedge Warbler was singing from the N side again still just a few feet away from a Reed Warbler.
- Now seven singing Reed Warblers, one of these from the scrubby area behind the reeds at the W end. Also one non-signing bird.
- The Garden Warbler still very mobile.
- Three Common Whitethroats seen singing. At 05:15 one bird heard giving a rather unusual song with snatches of Lesser Whitethroat song. Nothing seen at that time. Later at the same location a Common Whitethroat was seen singing a normal song.
- Now at least 30 Starlings visiting the football and academy playing fields. This is more than I have noted for several years for this declining species. Not sure the residents will be happy to have them nesting in their roofs.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Cormorants: separately
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Jackdaws only
- 1 Yellow Wagtail
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 17 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler still
- 8 (7) Reed Warblers
- 23 (15) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 3 (3) Common Whitethroats
Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose: one 'resident'; partner perhaps on eggs not seen.
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest throughout.
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: second year briefly
- 1 Grey Heron again
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn - rather disappointing in the milder and cloudy conditions:
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
Nothing noted later in the cloudy conditions:
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the lower pool; 2 (2♂) on the upper pool.
- Single Moorhen seen on each pool
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff calling at the upper pool.
- 2 (2) Blackcap: singing alongside both pools
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:45 - 07:35
(64th visit of the year)
*Best bird was what has to be a different Sedge Warbler, this at the very top-end in the waterside vegetation. The first year I have multiple records from here.
Other bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan seemed very attentive around his mate and the nest. Is something about to happen?
- More duck Mallard today. But many fewer drakes. One pair of these Mallard was on the path in squirrel alley.
- Very low number of Tufted Ducks found.
- 1 Common Sandpiper lurking on the island.
- The two Herring Gulls still here.
- No sound of the Willow Warbler from the island.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc. noted.
(64th visit of the year)
*Best bird was what has to be a different Sedge Warbler, this at the very top-end in the waterside vegetation. The first year I have multiple records from here.
Other bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan seemed very attentive around his mate and the nest. Is something about to happen?
- More duck Mallard today. But many fewer drakes. One pair of these Mallard was on the path in squirrel alley.
- Very low number of Tufted Ducks found.
- 1 Common Sandpiper lurking on the island.
- The two Herring Gulls still here.
- No sound of the Willow Warbler from the island.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- no Willow Warbler
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 6 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese: single and pair of these departed; pair of these arrived
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 21 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Herring Gulls: adult and second year still here
Also noted:
- *What seems to be a species of wood gnat on one of the lamp poles.
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 6 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese: single and pair of these departed; pair of these arrived
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 21 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Herring Gulls: adult and second year still here
Also noted:
- *What seems to be a species of wood gnat on one of the lamp poles.
Another glimpse between the twigs.
I found this on one of the lamp poles and at the time suspected it was a crane-fly. Enlarging the photos shows this not to be the case - crane-flies all have the head well separated from the thorax by a very thin neck. I think this has to be a species of wood gnat but which I have no idea.
Trench Lock Pool: 09:35 - 09:40 // 10:25 - 10:50
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 09:35 - 09:40 // 10:25 - 10:50
(10th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Most of the time there were just two Sand Martins over the water. Then as I was about to leave a mixed group including two Swift, a Barn Swallow and two House Martins arrived.
- Last week's Reed Bunting not re-found.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
Bird notes:
- Most of the time there were just two Sand Martins over the water. Then as I was about to leave a mixed group including two Swift, a Barn Swallow and two House Martins arrived.
- Last week's Reed Bunting not re-found.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: one of the local Carrion Crows ensured to wasn't going to land.
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff again
- 2 (2) Blackcaps still
Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs
- 2 Mute Swan: pen sitting on the nest throughout; cob chasing the geese.
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 7 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
My 2021 bird species list for moves on to 46 with the additions today being Swift, Barn Swallow and House Martin:
Also noted:
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) coming in to flower
- An unidentified yellow-flowering shrub. A garden escape?
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: one of the local Carrion Crows ensured to wasn't going to land.
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff again
- 2 (2) Blackcaps still
Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs
- 2 Mute Swan: pen sitting on the nest throughout; cob chasing the geese.
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 7 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
My 2021 bird species list for moves on to 46 with the additions today being Swift, Barn Swallow and House Martin:
Also noted:
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) coming in to flower
- An unidentified yellow-flowering shrub. A garden escape?
Identification of this attractive flowering shrub has eluded me. I found it more or less opposite the Blue Pig pub. It is probably not a UK wild flower but a garden escape.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Middle Pool: 09:45 – 10:20
(10th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Rather unusual here was the same Stock Dove noted on both banks and on the island.
- Low counts of geese (and Coots). Many no doubt on hidden nests.
- A Jay flew across between trees: my first here this year.
- A Carrion Crow noted feeding on a dead carp sp.
- All the Willow Warblers and some of the Blackcaps seemed to have moved on.
- Best bird of the day here was a singing Mistle Thrush also seen in flight. My computerised records only go back to 2014 here. With that proviso this is my first record here.
- Also worth noting is that I have multiple records of Dunnock on each of my last three visits. In previous years records have been 'hit and miss''.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
(10th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Rather unusual here was the same Stock Dove noted on both banks and on the island.
- Low counts of geese (and Coots). Many no doubt on hidden nests.
- A Jay flew across between trees: my first here this year.
- A Carrion Crow noted feeding on a dead carp sp.
- All the Willow Warblers and some of the Blackcaps seemed to have moved on.
- Best bird of the day here was a singing Mistle Thrush also seen in flight. My computerised records only go back to 2014 here. With that proviso this is my first record here.
- Also worth noting is that I have multiple records of Dunnock on each of my last three visits. In previous years records have been 'hit and miss''.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
None
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 24 Canada Geese again
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 8 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, briefly
My 2021 bird species list advance to 43 with the addition of Stock Dove, Jay and Mistle Thrush:
Not for the queasy. A Carrion Crow feasts on a dead carp sp. (I suspect Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)). Exactly how the fish got where I saw in some distance from the water is unclear - too big for the crow to drag.
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 24 Canada Geese again
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 8 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, briefly
My 2021 bird species list advance to 43 with the addition of Stock Dove, Jay and Mistle Thrush:
(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
Local area
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Greylag Geese
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Reed Warblers
1 Common Whitethroat
11 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Wood Warbler
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
16 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
Wood Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
3 Wood Warblers
1 Redstart
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Tree Pipits
2 Redpolls
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson, JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Tufted Duck
6 Swift
50 Swallow
25 House Martin
2 Sand Martin
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Wheatear
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)
Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
26 Wheatear
1 Greenland Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Swift
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
3 Sedge Warblers
6 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
9 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Little Grebe
2 Common Sandpipers
c.10 Sand Martins
c.45 Swallows
1 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Sand Martins
12 Swallows
2 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The lane to the E of Priorslee
6 Whitethroats
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
2 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
9 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Doves
2 Swallows
House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Swallows
House Martin
Ring Ouzel
Fieldfare
Common Whitethroat
Blackcaps
Chiffchaff
Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
1 Swallow
6 Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Greylag Geese
2 Ruddy Ducks
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Stock Dove
7 Swallows
3 Grey Wagtails
26 Wrens
17 Robins
30 Blackbirds
9 Song Thrushes
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
5 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)