4.0°C > 9.0°C again: Clear early. Low cloud from lifted local mist for a while. Later increasing medium level clouds and eventually overcast. Light and variable wind. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:57 BST
* = a photo today
Note: all times now BST. With darker mornings for a few weeks it will be back to 'winter' schedule of two laps (at least) of the lake; and The Flash as a later visit.
Priorslee Lake: 06:00 – 09:15
(73rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Pheasant called once in the distance at 07:00.
- A pair of Canada Geese was present at 06:10. These were presumed to be the pair seen flying off at 07:30. The same, or another pair, was on the water at 08:40.
- As usual the Great Crested Grebes continue to confuse. A pair was displaying in the NW area at 07:00. At 08:10 two pairs were displaying close to a fifth bird in the SE area. At that time I could only see a single bird in the NW area. A few minutes later there were a pair displaying in the NW area but one of the two pairs seen in the SE area was no longer to be seen! Certainly six birds: I suspect a seventh.
- A Mistle Thrush was singing alongside Teece Drive as it often does currently. Two other Mistle Thrushes flushed off the dam in to trees across Castle Farm Way. For many years a single pair has bred in the Ricoh copse. This year I have seen additional birds both here and at The Flash, I have not worked out where there might be different territories.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese: a pair and a trio outbound
- 5 Stock Doves: single and two pairs
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: together
- 8 Herring Gulls: all immatures yet again; all flying S
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: also flying S
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 11 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks again
- 1 Raven
- 5 Meadow Pipits: two groups
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- no Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck: of these 1 (1♂) flew off
- 7 Moorhens again
- 29 Coots only
- 1 Little Grebe seen: none heard
- 6 (7?) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn
- 1 presumed Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea) yet again
- *1 Clubiona spider sp.
Noted later:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)
- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- no Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck: of these 1 (1♂) flew off
- 7 Moorhens again
- 29 Coots only
- 1 Little Grebe seen: none heard
- 6 (7?) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn
- 1 presumed Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea) yet again
- *1 Clubiona spider sp.
Noted later:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris)
- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
There was a sunrise...
..and bright sun for a while. The view from the dam with reflections in the water is always a pleasant sight.
Now this IS a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) with dark front legs.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:10
(68th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The Greylag Geese were as three pairs. The lone individual that seemed to be making overtures at a Canada Goose was not obvious.
- The cob Mute Swan was on the grass alongside Derwent Drive throughout while his mate was sitting on the eggs.
- One of 2021 cygnets continues to spend time close to the 2019 bird. The other cygnet is usually on its own.
- I suppose it was predictable that the Teal would reappear today.
- A Great Crested Grebe was by the island when I arrived and also when I departed. A pair was displaying at the top end. I suspect that there are three birds though I could never see them all at the same time.
- Only one Blackcap noted.
- A Mistle Thrush flew low over towards the NE at the same time as another was singing from trees near The Priorslee.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Mistle Thrush: see notes
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs remain
- 1 (1) Blackcap only
On /around the water:
- 32 Canada Geese: of these a pair flew off
- 6 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: it was reported that there are seven eggs
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 46 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 2 (3?) Great Crested Grebes
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 plumed midge, likely Chironomus plumosus.
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica) spider
Bird notes:
- The Greylag Geese were as three pairs. The lone individual that seemed to be making overtures at a Canada Goose was not obvious.
- The cob Mute Swan was on the grass alongside Derwent Drive throughout while his mate was sitting on the eggs.
- One of 2021 cygnets continues to spend time close to the 2019 bird. The other cygnet is usually on its own.
- I suppose it was predictable that the Teal would reappear today.
- A Great Crested Grebe was by the island when I arrived and also when I departed. A pair was displaying at the top end. I suspect that there are three birds though I could never see them all at the same time.
- Only one Blackcap noted.
- A Mistle Thrush flew low over towards the NE at the same time as another was singing from trees near The Priorslee.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Mistle Thrush: see notes
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs remain
- 1 (1) Blackcap only
On /around the water:
- 32 Canada Geese: of these a pair flew off
- 6 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: it was reported that there are seven eggs
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 46 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 2 (3?) Great Crested Grebes
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 plumed midge, likely Chironomus plumosus.
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica) spider
This tiny spider is a Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica) [or toad spider]. It was tucked in the crease of one of the lamp poles which it was able to do because it is a juvenile. Spiders grow throughout their lives (unlike, say, beetles that emerge fully grown). As they grow they periodically shed their 'old skin' – properly called their exoskeleton – for a larger one.
(Ed Wilson)
(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
2014
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
5+ Cormorants
31 Tufted Duck
1 Kittiwake
7 Fieldfare
6 Chiffchaffs
c.230 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Cackling Goose
2 Teal
49 Tufted Ducks
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
1 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
62 Tufted Duck
Steppe Gull?
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
26 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Cormorants
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Dunlin
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Flash
2 Shoveler
1 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
16 Fieldfares
1 Willow Warbler
4 Great Crested Grebe
4 Herons
4 Gadwall
29 Tufted Duck
c.215 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
16 Meadow Pipits
36 Robins
28 Blackbirds
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
127 Wood Pigeon
21 Wrens
3 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
8 Sand Martins
22 Siskin
6 Linnets
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam, Martin Grant)