0.0°C > 5.0°C: Started mainly clear but hazy with a few high clouds. A bank of medium level cloud encroached from the S and W to cover the sun after 08:20. Calm start: light SE wind later. Moderate visibility.
Sunrise: 06:10 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 09:20
(67th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The pair of Canada Geese was present throughout.
- A group of four immature Herring Gulls flew S at c.08:20. A few minutes later an immature and a near adult flew N with two near adults flying N another few minutes later.
- *One of the Jays was confusing me by giving its Tawny Owl-like call note just before dawn. Two seen together later.
- Rather fewer Jackdaws noted passing this morning. Probably as a result of the hazy conditions I could not see birds further away.
- Two Skylarks flew high S over Castle Farm Way at away to the S at c.08:00.
- I was just completing my third pass before I heard the Cetti's Warbler at the W end giving partial bursts of song interspersed with calls.
- A Redwing was in the NE trees.
- *Up to four Mistle Thrushes noted. One was singing my the Teece Drive gate at 05:25: one was singing further W in the Ricoh copse at 06:20: two were again on the SW grass at 08:50.
- A group of four Siskin flew over the dam.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 15 Canada Geese: groups of five and seven outbound; trio inbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 26 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Collared Doves: single and pair
- 8 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 2 Sparrowhawks
- 31 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
- 2 Skylarks: see notes
- 4 Siskin
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted. (figures in brackets relate to singing birds)
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard again
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck: of these 3 (2♂) departed
- 6 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- Little Grebe(s) heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes still
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult for less than 30 seconds!
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard again
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck: of these 3 (2♂) departed
- 6 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- Little Grebe(s) heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes still
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult for less than 30 seconds!
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn
Nothing
Notes later:
- *Plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
- *Plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
Today's slightly wobbly and more lop-sided waning moon.
Not more exciting from this angle either.
More twigs in the way. Jays are always shy and rarely give clear views.
A different individual from an angle giving a different view of its plumes.
This may, or may not, be a female of the same species. A much shorter body and simple antennae. All these were on the walls of sailing club HQ.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20
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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20
(64th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Now rather fewer Tufted Ducks. Several ducks were seen going inside the island. Will we see them nesting here again this year?
- More Coots than I have noted recently. Was this because there was a lot of fighting going on with birds more visible? Or perhaps the fighting was triggered by there being new arrivals looking for territories?
- Two female Siskins were at the top end in Alders. No males seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Jackdaws
Warblers noted. (figures in brackets relate to singing birds)
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
On /around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: a pair of these arrived
- ? Greylag Geese: heard only calling from inside the island
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 29 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 75 (46♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Noted on / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere
Bird notes:
- Now rather fewer Tufted Ducks. Several ducks were seen going inside the island. Will we see them nesting here again this year?
- More Coots than I have noted recently. Was this because there was a lot of fighting going on with birds more visible? Or perhaps the fighting was triggered by there being new arrivals looking for territories?
- Two female Siskins were at the top end in Alders. No males seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Jackdaws
Warblers noted. (figures in brackets relate to singing birds)
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
On /around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: a pair of these arrived
- ? Greylag Geese: heard only calling from inside the island
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 29 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 75 (46♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Noted on / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere
Nothing
Mr Wren
"Did you just take my photo?"
"I suppose you want me to sing"
"Oh: towards the camera".
"I'll put my tongue away if you insist"
That's right: you hide behind twigs as usual. Note the under tail markings of this species.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
- 1 Moorhen in the lower pool
- 1 Moorhen in the lower pool
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
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Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Nothing of note
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+ Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
1 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
66 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)
2011
The Flash
48 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)