2.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear early and just frosted. Shower clouds building before I left. Moderate W wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:26 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:35 – 09:05
(83rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Mainly just a single Canada Goose noted, its presumed partner probably on the nest. A pair and a single Canada Geese visited briefly before being chased away.
- Six adult Black-headed Gulls flew through together.
- At least four *Brambling were seen on the N side. The three birds that flew W over the football field c.07:15 may have been some of these. Parties of 17 and six finches had been seen flying W earlier but were too far away to hear and visually identify. These could well have been some of the many Bramblings being reported in the area at the moment.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose; inbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs outbound
- 2 Stock Doves: pair
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: adults, together
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: mostly (near) adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 85 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 23 finches, possibly Brambling: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
One of the fishermen reported Barn Swallows and unidentified martins yesterday afternoon.
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- *15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps still
Counts from the lake area:
- 5? Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- *15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps still
Counts from the lake area:
- 5? Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
On / around the frosted street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
The best of the sunrise.
Singing its heart out in dappled sunlight is a Wren.
Yet another in my sequence of poor Brambling photos! A male here. They only ever seem to be around when the light-level is still rather low for photography.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:10 – 10:05
(80th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- My first Racing Pigeons of the season where two groups totalling c.40 birds that shot across heading NW.
- I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- At least one Brambling heard calling along the E side. Not seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- c.40 Racing Pigeons
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 19 (16♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 50 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *4 Herring Gulls: two second years and two first years
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both first year
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:10 – 10:05
(80th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- My first Racing Pigeons of the season where two groups totalling c.40 birds that shot across heading NW.
- I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- At least one Brambling heard calling along the E side. Not seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- c.40 Racing Pigeons
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 34 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 19 (16♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 50 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *4 Herring Gulls: two second years and two first years
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both first year
On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
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
2 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
12 Tufted Duck
3 Swallows
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
133 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling-type Goose
29 Tufted Ducks
5 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Sky Lark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
22 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
Little Ringed Plover
8 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
3 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling Goose
73 Tufted Duck
Brambling
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Long Lane, Wellington
6 Redshank
18 Teal
(Martin Grant)
2011
Nedge Hill
Ring Ouzel
4 Common Redstart
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood,Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
3 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
1 Tree Pipit
(JW Reeves)
2007
Priorslee lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Sand Martin
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
9 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
1 Swallow
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Herons
1 Cormorant
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
259 Jackdaw
4 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Meadow Pipits
21 Wrens
18 Robins
22 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
3 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
4 Jays
6 Greenfinches
2 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)