1.0°C > 2.0°C: Area of cloud to E and S gradually encroached to cover most of the sky. Light NNE breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:47 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:00
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:00
(53rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Most Black-headed Gulls have presumably departed for their breeding grounds on inland waters. Many will be going to Easter Europe – be careful out there!
- Back to three Great Crested Grebes: a pair display in the NW area, though once they had done so they went back in to the reeds. Another mostly sitting alongside reeds in the NE area. Where were they yesterday?
- The Grey Heron flew in from, unusually, the W at 06:30. I did not see it after 07:00.
- Jays are starting to give their Buzzard-like mewing call. I only ever hear this call in Spring so I assume it is part of their territorial behaviour. We will have to see how they get on now their usual nest area is overlooked by new houses
- Once again both Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff were singing away.
- The low Jackdaw count can be attributed to the dark clouds to the E: there was only enough contrast in the sky to locate the closest passing birds.
- There were at least 50 Siskins in various areas surrounding the lake.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 11 Canada Geese: four pairs and a trio, none flying in any particular direction
- 1 Stock Dove again
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 19 Jackdaws only
- 1 Rook
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese; pair throughout; another pair for a while
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard again
- 40 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Bird notes:
- Most Black-headed Gulls have presumably departed for their breeding grounds on inland waters. Many will be going to Easter Europe – be careful out there!
- Back to three Great Crested Grebes: a pair display in the NW area, though once they had done so they went back in to the reeds. Another mostly sitting alongside reeds in the NE area. Where were they yesterday?
- The Grey Heron flew in from, unusually, the W at 06:30. I did not see it after 07:00.
- Jays are starting to give their Buzzard-like mewing call. I only ever hear this call in Spring so I assume it is part of their territorial behaviour. We will have to see how they get on now their usual nest area is overlooked by new houses
- Once again both Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff were singing away.
- The low Jackdaw count can be attributed to the dark clouds to the E: there was only enough contrast in the sky to locate the closest passing birds.
- There were at least 50 Siskins in various areas surrounding the lake.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 11 Canada Geese: four pairs and a trio, none flying in any particular direction
- 1 Stock Dove again
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 19 Jackdaws only
- 1 Rook
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese; pair throughout; another pair for a while
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard again
- 40 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
On / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing at all.
Later:
Later:
Nothing of note
This male Siskin was playing 'king of the castle' on a small tree. Just one of more than 50 Siskins seen around the lake.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 08:05 – 08:55
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:05 – 08:55
(50th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *The pair of Mute Swan were seen mating.
- Two Great Crested Grebes were as large as life, seen in several different places as they explored the water. As noted at the lake: where were they yesterday?
- The Mistle Thrush could be heard singing from somewhere near the upper pool between here and Priorslee Avenue
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves
- 1 Jackdaw
On /around the water:
- 12 Canada Geese: two of these arrived
- *3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 3 (3♂) Pochard again
- 65 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 Moorhens once more
- 26 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
On /around the street lamp poles:
- *1 presumed cranefly sp.
Of note:
Bird notes:
- *The pair of Mute Swan were seen mating.
- Two Great Crested Grebes were as large as life, seen in several different places as they explored the water. As noted at the lake: where were they yesterday?
- The Mistle Thrush could be heard singing from somewhere near the upper pool between here and Priorslee Avenue
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves
- 1 Jackdaw
On /around the water:
- 12 Canada Geese: two of these arrived
- *3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal again
- 3 (3♂) Pochard again
- 65 (40♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 Moorhens once more
- 26 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
On /around the street lamp poles:
- *1 presumed cranefly sp.
Of note:
Nothing else
The resident pair of Mute Swans looking coy. I suspected that...
...they were about to indulge in what might be described as foreplay before...
... she lifts her tail and let mating commence. She seems to get the short straw.
Caught just as he was about to launch himself is our ringed Grey Wagtail.
(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
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Gary Crowder)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Goldeneye
1 Shoveler
27 Wigeon
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Gull
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
3 Lapwing
Linnet
Pheasant
Skylark
Yellowhammer
(John Isherwood)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Mute Swan
6 Great Crested Grebe
(Martin Grant)
2010
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
6 Gadwall
36 Pochard
60 Tufted Duck
1 Barn Owl
Stock Dove
c.25 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
12 Tufted Duck
332 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Merlin
c.200 Wood Pigeon
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
9 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Teal
6 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
106 Coots
1 Water Rail
c.450 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
275 Wood Pigeon
178 Jackdaws
27 Starlings
4 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
19 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)