0.0°C > 6.0°C: Frosty start. Mostly clear, just a few patches of thin high cloud. Calm, with light SE breeze later. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:24 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:35 – 07:10 // 08:20 – 09:25
(84th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Again just a single Canada Goose noted, its presumed partner likely on the nest.
- At least two Brambling were seen on the N side.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose; outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 6 Racing Pigeons: together
- 63 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: (near) adults
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 24 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks again
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 16 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (9) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron: seen intermittently
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 16 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (9) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron: seen intermittently
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Noted later:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
- 1 Grey Squirrel
A good sunrise this morning. The start..
Spreading across what little cloud there was.
Reaching as far as the overhead.
The colour fading a bit. Light mist over the lake on the right.
Taking the morning sun was this Jay.
Looking eager to get on with things.
But we'll have a quick squawk first.
My first 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata) of the year here.
Calm mornings allow balloon flights to take place. The Wood Pigeons were none too impressed and scattered giving me my highest count for a while. The balloon is a Cameron A-400 operated by AirXcite Ltd., trading as Virgin Balloon Flights and based in Stafford Park (though I am not sure where the actually launch their balloons).
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:15 – 08:15
(81st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Just two ducklings remain from the first brood of the year.
- Once again I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- Three of the Herring Gulls spent most of the time in the shade inside the island making their age difficult to see. This seems rather odd behaviour – perhaps they are looking to pounce on any unattended eggs?
- More than 20 *Bramblings noted. 10 flew off W from trees around the medical practice car parks; five more were noted between The Priorslee and the water; then at least five more were in trees at the left top.
Birds noted flying over here:
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:15 – 08:15
(81st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Just two ducklings remain from the first brood of the year.
- Once again I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- Three of the Herring Gulls spent most of the time in the shade inside the island making their age difficult to see. This seems rather odd behaviour – perhaps they are looking to pounce on any unattended eggs?
- More than 20 *Bramblings noted. 10 flew off W from trees around the medical practice car parks; five more were noted between The Priorslee and the water; then at least five more were in trees at the left top.
Birds noted flying over here:
None
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs again
- *6 (6) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese again
- 4 Greylag Geese again
- 5 Mute Swans as usual
- 22 (19♂) + *2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 48 (32♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 4 Herring Gulls: probably two second years and two first years again: see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: first year
On / around the street lamp poles
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs again
- *6 (6) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese again
- 4 Greylag Geese again
- 5 Mute Swans as usual
- 22 (19♂) + *2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 48 (32♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 4 Herring Gulls: probably two second years and two first years again: see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: first year
On / around the street lamp poles
Nothing of note
Seen elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Just two Mallard ducklings remain from the brood of at least 10, perhaps as many as 15.
An obvious name for this species though the even more skulking females have brown caps.
And another. Neither quite in focus as they lurk behind branches.
The Bramblings at the top end were no easier. A female does her best to hide.
A male sits up but stayed behind numerous branches and twigs.
Then I noticed this male sitting still in the sun! I could almost find a way through the twigs!
He even gave me a song – well what passes for a song in the species: a nasal drawl.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen on the lower pool
- 1 Sparrowhawk over
- 1 Chiffchaff singing beside the lower pool
- 5 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)
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In the 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
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
3 Greylag Geese
13 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Dunlin
>50 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
8 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Woodhouse Lane
4 Sky Larks
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
3 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
10 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
1 Wheatear
Kestrel
Lapwing
> 50 Meadow Pipits
(John Isherwood)
2013
The Flash
Cackling Goose
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
10 Meadow Pipit
(John Isherwood)
2009
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
3 Wheatear
1 Redwing
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martin
Ruddy duck
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
11 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
387 Jackdaw
2 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Sky Lark
1 Tree Pipit
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtails
17 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
17 Robins
18 Blackbirds
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
8 Greenfinches
5 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)