1.0°C > 5.0°C: Rather more than just a dusting of lying snow! A few early breaks, otherwise overcast; clearer to far E. Light NNW wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:31 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: : 05:30 - 09:15
(57th visit of the year)
A legitimate addition to my lake 2021 bird species list today. A Yellowhammer was singing from the hedge alongside Castle Farm Way and also clearly visible from the dam-top. Species #85 this year here.
Bird notes:
- One pair of Canada Geese throughout. A Greylag Goose arrived with a hybrid Canada x Greylag Goose and again a fight ensued. Once more it was the cob Mute Swan that finally ensured the newcomers left.
- Unsure about Great Crested Grebe numbers. I could only find four at any one time, though usually in a different place to where they were a few minutes previously.
- All four large gulls arrived together, had a drink and left. Luckily a trio of Herring, Yellow-legged and Lesser Black-backed were right next to each other otherwise I would have struggled to claim a Yellow-legged Gull.
- c.35 Sand Martins arrived c.07:40.
- All warblers were singing rather more intermittently. Perhaps the chilly weather. For the third day I did not hear the aberrant 'chiff-chiff-chiff-chiff-...' bird. Either it has learned to sing properly or moved on - I suspect the latter as there has been no song from the area it was inhabiting.
- The / a Mistle Thrush was again singing from the N side of the football field though it (or another?) was later singing from the Ricoh copse - its traditional song area.
- Three Meadow Pipits seen over only because they flew past a Herring Gull I was watching as it arrived.
- A pair of Grey Wagtails on the dam-face. I was not quick-enough to see whether the male was the ringed bird seen recently.
- Just two Linnets in the hedge between the football field and the academy playing fields. These had been feeding on the football field.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Canada Goose: single outbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: two singles outbound; pair inbound
- 26 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult again
- 8 Jackdaws
- 6 Starlings
- 3 Meadow Pipits
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- *c.35 Sand Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 5 (3) Willow Warblers
- 20 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (7) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 1 Canada x Greylag Goose with ...
- 1 Greylag Goose, both briefly
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- [no Little Grebe]
- 4? Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Herring Gull: adult
- *1 Yellow-legged Gull: adult
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: both adults. All gulls together and briefly
- 2 Grey Herons
Nothing else noted.
For one brief moment ... The colour soon faded and the cloud predominated thereafter.
And three gull species, briefly. From the left Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged.
Plain brown on the upper surface.
My attempt to get a better photo of the Linnets in the academy hedge was rather thwarted. Being cloudy it was still rather dull at the time they appeared and there were only two to choose from. The grey head suggests this is a male but otherwise it is showing little sign of summer plumage when the back is a rich chestnut and, though it is not possible to see at this angle. the breast gets red patches at the side. As a seed eater this species is a late breeder so perhaps that is OK for it to come in to breeding plumage later than other species.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane: 07:55 - 08:25
(9th visit of the year)
Another visit to the 'top of the hill' mainly to check for any migrants in the top fields.
Notes:
- Two drake Mallard flying in to the pool in the small copse.
- Two Sand Martins and three Barn Swallows flew S together - going back to Africa!
- Two Skylarks in song. No others seen.
- One Chiffchaff and one Blackcap in song.
- *Two Meadow Pipits, bother briefly in a tree alongside the concrete road.
- Three Pied Wagtails in the fields.
- One Siskin flew N.
- Five Yellowhammers, one in song.
(Ed Wilson)
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Woodhouse Lane: 07:55 - 08:25
(9th visit of the year)
Another visit to the 'top of the hill' mainly to check for any migrants in the top fields.
Notes:
- Two drake Mallard flying in to the pool in the small copse.
- Two Sand Martins and three Barn Swallows flew S together - going back to Africa!
- Two Skylarks in song. No others seen.
- One Chiffchaff and one Blackcap in song.
- *Two Meadow Pipits, bother briefly in a tree alongside the concrete road.
- Three Pied Wagtails in the fields.
- One Siskin flew N.
- Five Yellowhammers, one in song.
Another view of a bird I can rarely photograph.
This view is not just to allow me to complain about the twig in the way but a chance to see the long hind-claw rather more clearly. Its purpose it to spread the bird's weight, such as it is, to allow it to walk over long grass without sinking.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 - 10:10
(45th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- It looked to be the same second year Herring Gull. So where has it been for the last two weeks?
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 8 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 3 Jackdaws
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Barn Swallows flew through
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 4 (3) Willow Warblers
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: of these two departed and two arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese again
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- *32 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Herring Gull: second year
Also noted
- *What I think is Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) in flower.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:20 - 10:10
(45th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- It looked to be the same second year Herring Gull. So where has it been for the last two weeks?
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 8 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 3 Jackdaws
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Barn Swallows flew through
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 4 (3) Willow Warblers
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: of these two departed and two arrived
- 2 Greylag Geese again
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- *32 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Herring Gull: second year
Also noted
- *What I think is Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) in flower.
Perhaps our old friend but anyway a second year Herring Gull.
A Nuthatch complaining.
Yes we heard you the first time.
Really in full-cry with its territorial call.
With five petals this blue flower is a forget-me-not; speedwells have four petals. I have to look it up every year! Now which? My vote is for Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 10:20 - 10:25 // 11:15 - 11:40
(7th visit of the year)
Staying rather quiet here
Bird notes:
- A singing Willow Warbler was new for the year here
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 1 Herring Gull: first year
- 1 Cormorant
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Counts from the water:
- 8 Canada Geese: four pairs
- 2 Mute Swan: one bird sitting on the nest throughout
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 10 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 40 with new today:
- Willow Warbler
Also noted:
- *About to flower Bluebell (Hyacinthoides sp.). Whether they are genuine wild bluebells will be easier to tell once the flowers are open.
These bluebells will soon be in flower. But are they 'our' Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) or will they turn out to be the frequent garden escape Spanish Bluebell (H. hispanica)? Much easy to identify when they are flower. Bluebells have an amazing array of alternative names - wild hyacinth, wood bell, bell bottle, Cuckoo's Boots, Wood Hyacinth, Lady's Nightcap and Witches' Thimbles. Take your pick.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 10:30 – 11:10
(7th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Rather odd that all the hirundines should be here and none at Trench Lock. The Barn Swallows seemed to move through while the House Martins arrived. The House Martins were my first confirmed record in 2021.
- A pair of Grey Wagtails: neither was ringed.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Common Buzzards
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (2) Willow Warblers
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 29 Canada Geese
- 18 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans, one on nest throughout
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 13 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- *1 Cormorant
My 2021 bird species list for here also moves on to 40 with new today:
- Barn Swallow
- House Martin
An adult Cormorant taking it easy. Only because I know where to look could I see this lurking behind over-hanging trees on the island.
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 10:20 - 10:25 // 11:15 - 11:40
(7th visit of the year)
Staying rather quiet here
Bird notes:
- A singing Willow Warbler was new for the year here
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 1 Herring Gull: first year
- 1 Cormorant
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Counts from the water:
- 8 Canada Geese: four pairs
- 2 Mute Swan: one bird sitting on the nest throughout
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 10 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 40 with new today:
- Willow Warbler
Also noted:
- *About to flower Bluebell (Hyacinthoides sp.). Whether they are genuine wild bluebells will be easier to tell once the flowers are open.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Middle Pool: 10:30 – 11:10
(7th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Rather odd that all the hirundines should be here and none at Trench Lock. The Barn Swallows seemed to move through while the House Martins arrived. The House Martins were my first confirmed record in 2021.
- A pair of Grey Wagtails: neither was ringed.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Common Buzzards
Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (2) Willow Warblers
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 29 Canada Geese
- 18 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans, one on nest throughout
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 13 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- *1 Cormorant
My 2021 bird species list for here also moves on to 40 with new today:
- Barn Swallow
- House Martin
(Ed Wilson)
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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
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Snipe
(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
34 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Tufted Ducks
12 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Heron
15 Tufted Ducks
Woodcock
1 Sky Lark
3 Meadow Pipits
7 Redwings
39 Fieldfare
149 Jackdaws
Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Sky Larks
1 Redwing
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
20+ Sand Martins
3 Swallows
1 House Martin
7 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
(Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pintail x Mallard
11 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Buzzard
2 Sand Martin
5 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
118 Jackdaws
4 Stock Doves
3 Sky Larks
3 Meadow Pipits
19 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
3 Jays
8 Greenfinches
10 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)