6.0°C > 10.0°C: Mainly clear early. Then patches of cloud at multiple levels made it generally overcast. Almost calm. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:15 BST
* = a photo today
The clear night seemed to have allowed many of the Willow Warblers to move on. I noted just four at the lake; one between the lake and The Flash; and a more modest eight around The Flash.
Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:40 // 07:45 – 09:25
(88th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The Great Crested Grebes continue to confuse. Four seen at the same time on one occasion. Usually just one or two visible. Can appear anywhere and everywhere in the water.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two singles outbound; pair inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: singles
- 17 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures
- 45 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
One of the fishermen reported "good numbers of swallows and martins" late yesterday afternoon.
Despite the paucity of records here at least two House Martins had returned overhead their breeding site in Newport yesterday afternoon – nine days earlier than I recorded in 2021.
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (3) Willow Warblers
- 18 (14) Chiffchaffs
- *14 (9) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 7 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks: pair and drake arrived separately
- 7 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Rather little as the poles were covered in a heavy dew
- *1 unidentified hairy caterpillar
- several plumed midges
Noted later:
- *amongst many small flies on various lamp poles was a Muscid or Face Fly Musca autumnalis.
One of the fishermen reported "good numbers of swallows and martins" late yesterday afternoon.
Despite the paucity of records here at least two House Martins had returned overhead their breeding site in Newport yesterday afternoon – nine days earlier than I recorded in 2021.
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (3) Willow Warblers
- 18 (14) Chiffchaffs
- *14 (9) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 7 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks: pair and drake arrived separately
- 7 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Rather little as the poles were covered in a heavy dew
- *1 unidentified hairy caterpillar
- several plumed midges
Noted later:
- *amongst many small flies on various lamp poles was a Muscid or Face Fly Musca autumnalis.
Definitely a sunrise worth getting up for.
From a slightly different vantage point. This was the only time in the morning when there were clear skies.
This is almost certainly the Muscid fly Musca autumnalis, distinguished by the black line running down the brown belly. Despite its scientific appellation it is common from Spring right through to Autumn. It is also known as the Face Fly as this species "lands on the faces of cattle where it feeds on tears, sweat and blood (from the bites of other flies). It also feeds on nectar". [credit to the NatureSpot web site Here] [Should that not be Blood, Sweat and Tears?]
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:45 – 07:40 again
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(85th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Seems likely that some of the Tufted Duck have moved out though it seems to be the ducks that are in short supply. Could they be hauled out nesting on the island?
- There were six immature Herring Gulls comprising all three ages – first, second and third year birds. All but one of these arrived. Several seemed to leave but the overall number did not change – did more arrive or were they just flying around?
- Two silent Bramblings were noted high in trees in the far reaches of the wooded area on the top left.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 8 (8) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps again
Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 20 (18♂) Mallard: no ducklings found
- [the all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck) not seen]
- 38 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *6 Herring Gulls: at least: all immatures: see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year: departed
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
Bird notes:
- Seems likely that some of the Tufted Duck have moved out though it seems to be the ducks that are in short supply. Could they be hauled out nesting on the island?
- There were six immature Herring Gulls comprising all three ages – first, second and third year birds. All but one of these arrived. Several seemed to leave but the overall number did not change – did more arrive or were they just flying around?
- Two silent Bramblings were noted high in trees in the far reaches of the wooded area on the top left.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 8 (8) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps again
Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 20 (18♂) Mallard: no ducklings found
- [the all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck) not seen]
- 38 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *6 Herring Gulls: at least: all immatures: see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year: departed
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
Nothing noted
Two of the six Herring Gulls (at least) seen here this morning. The bird on the right looks like an adult but note the black in the bill. In flight it showed a smudge of black on the tail, part of the remnant tail-band: so a third year bird. The bird on the left is probably a first year bird from the extent of brown in the folded wing though the obvious pale tip and base to the black bill are more indicative of a second year bird. Ideally I would like to have seen this bird in flight.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 1 Moorhen in the lower pool
- 1 Willow Warbler singing near the upper pool
- 1 Chiffchaff singing from trees between the pools
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2 plumed midges
- *2 owl midges
- *2 Porcellio spinicornis aka Brickwork Woodlouse
I do like these tiny owl midges.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
12 Cormorants over
3 Grey Herons
2 Tufted Duck
4 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
Green Woodpecker
9 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
193 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
Tree Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
Willow Warblers
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Ringed Plover
6 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaff
1 House Martin
4 Sand Martin
(Martin Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Willow Tits
2 Jays
(Martin Grant)
Nedge Hill
4 Common Redstart
31 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
The Wrekin
5 Pied Flycatcher
1 Common Redstart
2 Tree Pipit
6 Willow Warbler
Marsh Tit
Goldcrest
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Crossbill
(Glenn Bishton)
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
1 Reed Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Osprey
4 Gadwall
12 Sand Martin
2 Swallows
6 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Blackcap
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
6 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
5 Sand Martin
Swallows
4 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Swallows
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pintail x Mallard
17 Tufted Duck
1 Grey Heron
2 Willow Warblers
8 Chiffchaffs
5 Blackcaps
20 Wrens
2 Linnet
6 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
2 Willow Warblers
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
1 Fieldfare
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Swallow
1 Buzzard
4 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
4 Yellowhammer
3 Greenfinch 3
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
3 Common Sandpiper
8 Chiffchaff
5 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcaps
1 Garden Warbler
3 Swallows
1 Kestrel
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Sky Lark
1 Willow Tit
2 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
(Ed Wilson)