5.0°C > 8.0°C: Mainly a medium / high overcast; clearer, especially to the E, first thing. Light SE breeze increasing somewhat. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:22 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 06:50 // 07:50 – 09:20
(85th visit of the year)
At last: some hirundines with my first Barn Swallows of the year here taking my 2022 bird species total to 80. There were probably more individual birds than my totals indicate as I suspect some of them were moving through.
Other bird notes:
- I have no idea where the third Great Crested Grebe appeared from or where it went to. Most of the time I could only find one bird.
- Early on one Grey Heron was 'helping' another on its way. Both of these seemed full-winged. Later the often-seen individual with missing feathers in its right wing was seen flying over and was presumably a different individual.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: single and pair outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 3 Stock Doves: single and pair
- 19 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 2 Common Buzzards again
- *1 Grey Heron: see notes
- 29 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 17 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 15 (12) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) + 10 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull: third year, briefly
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults and all briefly
- 2 Grey Herons: see notes
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- five plumed midges of at least two species
- *1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
Noted later:
Nothing
Clearer to the East and therefore some colour in the dawn.
Soon faded away.
A Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea). My first 'green' one of the year, all earlier sightings were of individuals in their brown winter garb.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:55 – 07:45
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:55 – 07:45
(82nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- One pair of Canada Geese have taken over the Mute Swans' nest.
- Just two ducklings again. I was struck by how small they seemed and wonder whether they are from a different brood.
- The three Herring Gulls flew in at 07:25, cruised around for a few minutes and then two of them departed leaving one first year bird remaining.
- Still at least 10 Bramblings. Initially in the tall trees between The Priorslee and squirrel alley. Later high in trees along the E side. I did not even manage a poor photo of any of them today!
Birds noted flying over here:
- 6 Wood Pigeons: high N
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 4 Greylag Geese: of these two singles departed
- 5 Mute Swans
- 22 (19♂) + *2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard: same as yesterday
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 52 (31♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 3 Herring Gulls: one second year and two first years: see notes
On / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- *1 Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
Elsewhere:
Bird notes:
- One pair of Canada Geese have taken over the Mute Swans' nest.
- Just two ducklings again. I was struck by how small they seemed and wonder whether they are from a different brood.
- The three Herring Gulls flew in at 07:25, cruised around for a few minutes and then two of them departed leaving one first year bird remaining.
- Still at least 10 Bramblings. Initially in the tall trees between The Priorslee and squirrel alley. Later high in trees along the E side. I did not even manage a poor photo of any of them today!
Birds noted flying over here:
- 6 Wood Pigeons: high N
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 4 Greylag Geese: of these two singles departed
- 5 Mute Swans
- 22 (19♂) + *2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard: same as yesterday
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 52 (31♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- 3 Herring Gulls: one second year and two first years: see notes
On / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- *1 Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
Elsewhere:
Nothing of note
On one of the lamp poles in squirrel alley I found this Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus).
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Chiffchaff singing beside the lower pool
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- 1 plumed midge was all I could find
(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
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
>6 Sand Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
24 Tufted Ducks
3 Sand Martins
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
12 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin.
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
(Arthur Harper, Ian Grant and John Isherwood)
The Flash
Cackling Canada Goose
4 Sand Martins
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)
Trench Middle Pool
House Martin
4 Sand Martin
2 Chiffchaffs
(Martin Grant)
Trench Lock Pool
12 Sand Martins
(Martin Grant)
2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
80+ Hirundines
1 House Martin
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
3 Linnet
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
1 Mallard
1 Buzzard
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
90 Wood Pigeons
2 Kestrels
1 Sky Lark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Grey Wagtails
6 Pied Wagtails
2 House Martin
24 Wrens
15 Robins
24 Blackbirds
1 Wheatear
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
13 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
2 Linnets
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)