0.0°C > 4.0°C: Early frost under clear skies was soon replaced by barely broken medium-level cloud. Light WNW wind. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:40 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:50 – 07:05 // 08:10 – 09:10
(78th visit of the year)
Another addition to my 2022 bird log for here. My first Willow Warbler this year was singing along the N side. Species #78 here this year.
Other bird notes:
- A distant calling male Pheasant again – third record this year.
- The larger numbers of Jackdaws in the last few days have been courtesy of clear skies to the E. Roost dispersal is taking them well away from the overhead at the moment.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Herring Gulls: all immatures flying S
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: also all immatures flying S
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 86 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- no Little Grebe(s) seen or heard
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- *a midge with a spot in each forewing.
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- no Little Grebe(s) seen or heard
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- *a midge with a spot in each forewing.
The sunrise looked promising but note the cloud on the left.
The cloud then extended further and this was as good as it got.
I found this on a lamp pole long after dawn. I cannot recall having seen previously a midge with a single black mark in each forewing.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:10 – 08:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:10 – 08:05
(75th visit of the year)
Two additions to my 2022 bird list for this site:
- a lone Rook flew North. This species is surprisingly scarce overhead here. For the past four years it has been May before I have noted it.
- *a group of at least five and probably several more, Brambling were high in the trees on the left at the top end. My last record of this species here was on 10 April 2018. Probably birds on their way back to Scandinavia after wintering further South.
It brings my 2022 bird species total for here to 58.
Other bird notes:
- Not sure where some of the Mallard might have been hiding – or some of the duck Tufted Duck. It may be that spending time trying to photograph the Brambling that I lost track of these birds.
- There was again much chasing around and synchronised diving by groups of Tufted Duck.
- There were three Great Crested Grebes again today with a pair staying close together by the island and one at the to end.
- A Grey Heron flushed from the top end was my first here for a while.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 8 Wood Pigeons high N together
- 1 Rook
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
On /around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese: of these six departed and a pair flew in
- 6 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: no eggs
- 19 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 57 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Herring Gull: all first years
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
On / around the street lamp poles:
Two additions to my 2022 bird list for this site:
- a lone Rook flew North. This species is surprisingly scarce overhead here. For the past four years it has been May before I have noted it.
- *a group of at least five and probably several more, Brambling were high in the trees on the left at the top end. My last record of this species here was on 10 April 2018. Probably birds on their way back to Scandinavia after wintering further South.
It brings my 2022 bird species total for here to 58.
Other bird notes:
- Not sure where some of the Mallard might have been hiding – or some of the duck Tufted Duck. It may be that spending time trying to photograph the Brambling that I lost track of these birds.
- There was again much chasing around and synchronised diving by groups of Tufted Duck.
- There were three Great Crested Grebes again today with a pair staying close together by the island and one at the to end.
- A Grey Heron flushed from the top end was my first here for a while.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 8 Wood Pigeons high N together
- 1 Rook
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
On /around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese: of these six departed and a pair flew in
- 6 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: no eggs
- 19 (15♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 57 (42♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Herring Gull: all first years
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
More of a bird but not sharp. The dark head indicates this one is a male as does the yellow bill.
Another view of a male.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- Moorhen(s) at both pools
- 4 Starlings
- 1 Chiffchaff in trees beside the lower pool
and
- *first Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcup) (Caltha palustris) of the year
I noted this bright yellow flower alongside the upper pool. It is a Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcup) (Caltha palustris). Two weeks earlier than I usually notice them.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- many crane flies and plumed midges
Nothing unusual
(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
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Greylag Geese
9 Tufted Duck
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
2 Common Teal
53 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
c.25 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
32 Tufted Ducks
75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls on the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Horsehay Pool
Hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Martin Ryder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Tufted Duck: both drakes this morning
7 Blackcaps
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
40 Tufted Duck
7 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Pool
5 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Redhill
6 Tree Sparrow
(John Isherwood)
2011
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(Martin and Ian Grant)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
178 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Sky Larks
3 Meadow Pipits
168 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
28 Wrens
29 Blackbirds
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)