6.0°C > 7:0°C: Cloudy at medium-high level tending to lower. A few spots of rain as I departed. Light S breeze, increasing somewhat. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:35 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:40 - 06:10 // 07:00 - 08:55
(82nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Down to two Mallard ducklings now.
- The Great Crested Grebes behaving as three pairs. They seemed to have no interest in hiding in the reeds
- A / the Sedge Warbler was initially singing along the water's edge along the S side: later presumably the same bird had moved in to the bushes alongside the M54. Who can say whether it was the bird by the slipway yesterday. Or the bird along the N side last week.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 7 Canada Geese: two pairs and a trio outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 3 Stock Doves: pair and single
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: three adults and one immature
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 94 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 12 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 14 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 21 (15) Blackcaps
- 3 (2) Garden Warblers
- 5 (4) Common Whitethroats again
Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose: just one of the 'residents' seen.
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen sitting on the nest throughout.
- *5 (3♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 17 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
- *2 plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 stretch spider sp (Tetragnatha sp.)
Nothing new noted later.
I was correct yesterday to pause over the ID of the small hoverfly. I am informed (thanks to friend Leon) that it is a Platycheirus sp. and most likely P. albimanus - other species with grey markings are very scarce. It is my first confirmed sighting of this genus. It has the rather unhelpful vernacular name of White-footed Hoverfly. The 'white-foot' refers to the pale swelling on the front tibia (foot) of the male. Not only is this feature hard to see but it is not unique to this species.
Looks better in natural light. Unusual for these to hang around after daylight.
A big clump of Lady's Smock or Cuckoo-plant or Milkmaid as you prefer (Cardamine pratensis).
Close-up on one of the heads.
(Ed Wilson)
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Woodhouse Lane: 08:00 - 08:25
(19th visit of the year)
I only walked to the top of the hill to check the top field. It was rather breezy to explore too far and little was noted.
Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 3 (2) Skylarks
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Blackcap
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats
- 2 (1) Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- A pair of Mallard still in the recently cleared area of the Wesley Brook above the upper pool. Another drake on the lower pool.
- Single Moorhens seen sitting on nests at both pools.
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff at the lower pool.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:15 - 06:55
(69th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- All the Tufted Duck in pairs. All the 'spare' drakes seem to have departed. So where was the drake that usually consorts with the duck Mallard?
- Low count of Coot.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Wood Pigeons again
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 24 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 22 (16♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 17 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Nothing else noted.
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 24 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 22 (16♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 17 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Nothing else noted.
(Ed Wilson)
NOTE:
Click Here for my trip to Belvide Reservoir on 21 Apr 21
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On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
2 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)
Wrekin
2 Wood Warbler
2 Tree Pipit
Pied Flycatchers
Common Redstarts
(Jim Almond)
2012
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
Hobby
(Martin Grant / Arthur Harper)
2010
Nedge Hill
20 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpipers
2 Ruddy Ducks