8.0°C: Early broken high cloud briefly moved away before medium-level cloud spread from the S. Rain after 07:30, sometimes persistent. Light ESE breeze. Very good visibility but moderate once rain arrived.
Sunrise: 06:19 BST
* = a photo today
A significant number of Willow Warblers was logged with ten birds noted at the lake, two between the lake and The Flash and then another ten around The Flash. Not all the birds were singing. There were probably more individuals: seeing them in the dull and rainy conditions was not easy. The number is not unusual during Spring passage though it is about week later than usual. Few, if any, will stay and breed in this area.
Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:45 // 07:40 – 09:15
(86th visit of the year)
Very little seen in the dull and wet conditions
Bird notes:
- On my first walk-around I noted five ducklings with the duck Mallard, down from ten yesterday. On my second walk around there seemed to be only four duckling.
- Sand Martins appeared over the water c.08:15 and numbers built up until a passing Sparrowhawk caused them all to gather high in the sky with most of them moving away. A very few other hirundines with them.
- I read that this year's RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch noted a big increase in Jay numbers that they attributed to the invasion of the species from the Continent last Autumn due to the failure of the acorn crop. This seems to be mirrored here were I suspect there are three pairs preparing to nest.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: inbound
- 9 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one (near) adult; one first year
- 3 Cormorants: duo and single
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 14 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.25 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 10 (9) Willow Warblers
- 16 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (11) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose again
- 2 Mute Swans
- *3 (2♂) + 5>4 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (1) Tufted Duck: arrived and almost immediately departed
- 5 Moorhens
- 27 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 Early Thorn moth (Selenia dentaria)
- plumed midges of at least two species
- *1 White-legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)
Noted later:
- *1 spider sp., probably Eratigena sp.
With early high cloud dispersing and the rain clouds yet to appear there was an interesting sunrise.
Initially tingeing much of the eastern sky.
"Always have some foreground interest" the photography experts say. Will this tree do?
If not here is the sun without too much foreground.
It is now being eaten by the encroaching rain clouds.
The Early Thorn moth (Selenia dentaria) taken with camera flash.
A White-legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger).
This spider was some 15 feet up at the top of a lamp pole. It is related to the house spiders with the genus recently split in to those species with banded legs and those, as here, with plain legs. Thus it is of the genus Eratigena. Most species in this genus are usually to be found under stones....
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:35
(83rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- All five Greylag Geese were on their own. Perhaps they have partners sitting on eggs inside the island.
- When I first heard and then saw the two Mallard ducklings there were no adults nearby. A pair flew in and seemed to adopt / be the parents of the ducklings.
- A Great Crested Grebe has reappeared.
- At least *two Bramblings high in trees in the SE corner.
Birds noted flying over here:
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:50 – 07:35
(83rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- All five Greylag Geese were on their own. Perhaps they have partners sitting on eggs inside the island.
- When I first heard and then saw the two Mallard ducklings there were no adults nearby. A pair flew in and seemed to adopt / be the parents of the ducklings.
- A Great Crested Grebe has reappeared.
- At least *two Bramblings high in trees in the SE corner.
Birds noted flying over here:
None
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 10 (8) Willow Warblers
- 10 (8) Chiffchaffs also
- 9 (8) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these a single arrived
- 5 Mute Swans
- *18 (15♂) + 2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 52 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 26 Coots still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Herring Gulls: one second year and one first year
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 10 (8) Willow Warblers
- 10 (8) Chiffchaffs also
- 9 (8) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these a single arrived
- 5 Mute Swans
- *18 (15♂) + 2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 52 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 26 Coots still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Herring Gulls: one second year and one first year
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Elsewhere:
Nothing of note
High in the tallest trees were these two male Brambling. I could hear others calling.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 drake Mallard flew out of the upper pool
- 1 Moorhen on the grass beside the upper pool
- 2 Willow Warblers alongside the upper pool
- 1 Chiffchaff also singing alongside the upper pool
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- *11 plumed midges
- *2 owl midges
One of the smaller plumed midges with one of the owl midges.
(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
2 Grey Herons
1 Greylag Goose
2 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
2 Barn Swallows
1 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Swallows flew through
2 Meadow Pipits
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Duck
9 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Swallow
1 Reed Bunting
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
5 Lapwings
1 Swallow
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Skylarks
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Redstart
13 Wheatear
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
East Priorslee
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Sand Martins
2 Greylag Geese
3 Stock Doves
1 Lapwing
(Ed Wilson)