31 Aug 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 14.0°C: Clear when I left home but low overcast here. A very few breaks appeared after 09:00. Moderate ENE breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

* = a photo from today

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:10

(187th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- For some reason the congregation of Coots that have been in the north-west area for weeks had moved to the north-east area today. There were also more of them: some of the missing birds from The Flash perhaps? The Mute Swans have also decamped from the West end concrete ramp to the East end.
- I have logged the two Grey Herons as flying over. It is possible that one left the lake area to chase the other away.
- One or more Tawny Owls were calling from the Ricoh copse at 04:50. Both the quavering hoot and the screech notes were heard. I get very confused by the literature which used to says that the male hoots and the female screeches. Indeed this is noted by none other than Sir David Attenborough during a BBC Radio 4 Tweet of Day HERE.

I read somewhere (though I cannot remember where) that both sexes can give either call and indeed my most recent Field Guides do not ascribe any call note to a particular sex. So did I hear one or two birds?
- The trio of Sand Martins was unexpected. Many have usually left by this date.
- Just one Jackdaw seen on roost dispersal. I did hear others calling: probably the small group that seem to inhabit trees left in the new estate to the North of the lake.
- After several blank days a lone Pied Wagtail flew over, possibly on roost dispersal. After logging at least 14 overhead on 16 August this was my first fly-over.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: outbound
- 78 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 2 Grey Herons: together
- 1 Jackdaw only
- 65 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Sand Martins
- 4 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin again

Warblers noted (no song recorded unless specifically noted):
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: calls only
- 4 Chiffchaffs
- 5 Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 10 Moorhens once again
- 102 Coots
- 12 + 13 (6 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 28 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- *12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn

A bumper haul of strange things

Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)

and:
- *1 ichneumon probably Netelia tarsata
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *several small flies of different species
- *1 Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)
- *1 other unidentified caddis fly
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp.
- 3 plumed midges
- *2 springtails on at least Pogonognathellus longicornis
- 1 Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
- 3 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

Noted later

Too dull for many insects to be flying

Bees etc.:
- *German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Hoverflies:
- *Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- *Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni)

Spiders
- *stretch spider sp.

Mammals:
- unidentified Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) or Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris). This shot across the concrete ramp pre-dawn. I saw no tail so perhaps a Water Vole? I have previously heard the characteristic 'plop' of a Water Vole diving in to the lake but I have never seen one to prove it. I still haven't!

Fungus:
- *possible Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor)

First winter large gull puzzles. I think there are more than one bird involved in these photos - there were several flying around and I got confused. This one caught my eye because of its white head and I wondered about it being a Yellow-legged Gull. Examination of the photo shows that what appears to be paler inner primaries is an illusion. Those primaries are spread and the inner webs are paler than the normally visible outer webs. These outer webs are all uniformly dark. Also the median coverts - the feathers in front of the secondaries - are two-toned, darker at the bases. So it is a first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Here are two flying first winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls that look quite different, one having a paler head. All these photos were necessarily taken at long range in poor light and have been enlarged as best I could.

A first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull with a darker head. No contrast in the upper wing.

From a different angle and perhaps a different bird. The spotting on the upper tail ahead of the solid black tail band is evident.

How do they do that? Note the head is held horizontal.

Another German Wasp (Vespula germanica) eating wood to take back to extend its nest. This shows more clearly than the photo I took yesterday that the yellow on the side of the thorax is not parallel-sided as it would be on a Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris). This individual was remarkably sanguine about my presence, allowing me to use camera flash to enhance the contrast.

This ichneumon was on the over-hanging shield on one of the street lamps so we are looking straight up at it. It is one of the several species of large, nocturnal, orange-bodied species that, as usual, are not easy to identify. It is either Netelia tarsata or Ophion luteus. The date would favour the former.

The Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is very popular at the moment. There are not too many other flowers around and many of them are well past their best and are probably not producing much pollen or nectar. A Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) lines up for breakfast.

One of the Syrphus sp. of hoverflies, either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis. As it is a male (the eyes meet) it cannot be separated from a photo. Only when I was checking the photo did I notice the stretch spider lurking in the foliage to its left. Unlike yesterday's Broad-banded Epistrophe (Epistrophe grossulariae) the black and yellow markings of Syrphus hoverflies is not horizontal.

One of the few caddis flies I can identify with its patterned wings and long antennae. It is a Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis).

And here is one of the many caddis flies I cannot identify. At this range the all-important arrangement of spurs on the legs cannot be discerned so the fact that I do not have the key to use for its identification matters little.

Not one of my best but included as this tiny green-bodied midge(?) has improbably long front legs.

Another 'not seen a fly like this before'. Almost seems to have a humped-back. There is a genus of hump-backed flies, the Phoridae, but this does not seem to have an abdomen that is itself arched, just to be sitting with it whole body arched. Other features that might help identify it' if I knew where to look' are its unusual resting posture with its wings apart; wings that show a dark spot; and some shading on the outer leading edge. Pass.

Another longicornis, this time the springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis.

I found this bracket fungus on some cut wood. It looks somewhat like Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) but certainly at the moment the colour is not very 'versi'. There are several other Trametes species but these doesn't look much like this example either.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30

(183rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- All six adult Mute Swans found. But only three of the cygnets were noted. For some days now the cygnets have been away from any of the adults and not always together, usually as two pairs.
- Three juvenile Great Crested Grebes were again with the only parent I noted. They were still being fed and not independent as I had previously thought.
- I thought that being here before the geese returned would make it easier to count the Coots. Oddly there were even fewer to count (see note under the main lake above)
- Two Grey Wagtails were noted flying off.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted:
- 2 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap again

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- *6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 27 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 18 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 18 Moorhens
- 38 Coots only
- 1 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults; one departed
- 5 Cormorants: one seen arriving
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
- 1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)

Later:

Nothing noted

This is one of the six (near) adult Mute Swans. It seems this one has been lurking on its own at the top end for a few days. Looking at the neck I wonder whether it has come off worse in an attack by the resident pen. In birds this is called 'nature'. In humans it is frowned upon and probably illegal. 

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- 1 Chiffchaff calling by the upper pool

and
- 1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella) on one of the street lamp poles

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa)
- 10 midges of various sizes
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)

(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

2013

Priorslee Lake

Possible Little Ringed Plover

Raven

(John Isherwood)

2012

Priorslee Lake

Hobby

Common Tern

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Nedge Hill

Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Yellow Wagtail

Little Grebe

Shoveler

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

58 Tufted Duck

(Ed Wilson)

30 Aug 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 15.0°C: Noticeably cooler than of late. Clear start with just wisps of high cloud. An area of medium-level cloud to the south-east spread had across by c.08:10 but tended to melt away by 09:00 leaving slightly more thin high cloud. Light NNE breeze. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 06:17 BST

* = a photo from today

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 – 08:40

(186th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A check on the mobile family groups of Great Crested Grebes suggested that there are two families with three juveniles; three families with two juveniles and one family with a single juvenile. I did not see any 'spare' adults today.
- Hard to know how many Barn Swallows I saw. A group of four appeared over the water at 06:05 and apparently moved on. A few minutes later a group of five was noted and also apparently moved on. Then a group of six did the same, followed by groups of seven and then six before they all moved away. Were these all one group adding and shedding individuals? Or different groups? Two were seen much later over the Ricoh grounds and were likely local breeders (from the village?)
- After yesterday's blank day I saw my highest count of both Jackdaws and Rooks for some while.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 25 Canada Geese: 19 outbound in two groups; six inbound together
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Stock Dove
- 102 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 52 Jackdaws
- 42 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >9 Barn Swallows: see notes
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted (no song recorded unless specifically noted):
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: several bursts of song again
- 7 Chiffchaffs: one singing strongly, albeit briefly
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 4 Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: arrived together
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 8 (?♂) Mallard again
- 10 Moorhens again
- 85 Coots
- *12 + 13? (6 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron once again
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 4 Common Grass-veneers (Agriphila tristella)
- *1 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana)

and:
- *1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris) caught in web
- several small flies of different species
- 1 Yellow Swarming Fly (Thaumatomyia notata) [they don't seem to do much 'swarming'!]
- *1 Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

An update on yesterday's moth sitting at a strange angle. The Shropshire recorder has identified it as a Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella). This is often an abundant species, primarily as a migrant and thus more common in southern counties. It is surprising that it is my first ever in Shropshire.

Noted later

Too cool for many insects to be flying

Bees etc.:
- *Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Hoverflies:
- *Broad-banded Epistrophe (Epistrophe grossulariae)

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni)

Mammals:
- pipistrelle-type bat

Early doors: a clear (and cool) start to the day.

There was enough high cloud to the North to give a bit of colour later.

Especially at sun-up.

In this family of Great Crested Grebes the juvenile (on the left with facial stripes) is almost as large as its parent.

Unlike this family. The parent was trying to prevent all three juveniles from climbing aboard – they are a bit big for that.

This is my first Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix moth (Pandemis corylana) for some years. I do not have the dates of previous sightings but they were before 2014.

My first Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) for a while. It was going at high speed in to a flower of Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).

And here it is leaving and now covered in pollen.

Another chance to see.... a Broad-banded Epistrophe (Epistrophe grossulariae). This hoverfly can best be distinguished by the parallel black and yellow bands. There is a similar species with orange rather than black antennae so good luck separating them! Another insect that was investigating Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).

I have not got anywhere near identifying this small fly with its prominent red eyes and, relatively, long wings with a dark shading at the tip. Different.

A better of view of what I believe to be a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus). It did not run away from the torch light today.

This Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) had unusually descended from the very top of the street lamp pole because....

... a Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris) was caught in its web. Note that the yellow line on the side of the wasp's thorax is parallel sided.

Compare with this wasp gnawing away at the wooden fence between Teece Drive and the Wesley Brook. The yellow markings are slightly triangular and that makes it a German Wasp (Vespula germanica). These two species of wasp cannot be separated by their abdomen pattern. The facial markings differ but....!

Plane of the day #1. This announces itself as belonging to Delta Air Lines.

Courtesy of the Flight Radar 24 (FR24) app. here is all you need to know about the flight.

Plane of the day #2. A freighter of Ethiopian Airlines.

And again information from FR24. To clarify the departure point was Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport also known as Roger Milliken Field and is near Greer, South Carolina. Roger Milliken (who he?) was an American textile heir, industrialist, businessman, and political activist who  died in 2010. I have no idea what the aircraft might be hauling. Liege is possibly mainly a fuel stop.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:45 – 09:45

(182nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Probably more Canada Geese than I counted as some earlier arrivals had likely disappeared inside the island before I could see them.
- I only noted five adult Mute Swans. I suspect the sixth hides inside the island in those days I do not see it.
- Apart from all the geese there were lower numbers of Mallard, Tufted Duck and Coot. Not sure why so. Some Mallard and Coots I did see were inside the island and not easy to find.
- Three juvenile Great Crested Grebes were back with the only parent I noted.
- I am sure the fishermen were none too pleased to see seven Cormorants.
- The Common Buzzard noted overhead was in addition to the bird heard calling from squirrel alley and which then flew off.
- Two Barn Swallows flew through together

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 4 Jackdaws

Warblers noted:
- 1 Blackcap

Noted on / around the water:
- *>115 Canada Geese
- 1 Canada x Greylag Goose: arrived with other geese
- 5 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 13 (?♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 13 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens again
- 45 Coots only
- 1 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- *7 Cormorants
- no Grey Herons

Noted on / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
- 1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
- *1 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea)
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) (was Dysstroma truncata)

Noted later

A few insects around at this later time

- *Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

There seems to be some traffic congestion as the Canada Geese return!

These three sorted themselves out anyway.

There are four Cormorants in this view. The bird on the right is a juvenile looking very brown. The adult to its left has another bird standing facing the other way almost directly behind it – you can just see its wing tips. Another adult-looking bird dries it wings after feeding here to the annoyance of the fishermen. There were another three this morning. It is strange there are none visiting the Balancing Lake at the moment. Perhaps the Canadian Pond Weed hampers them.

Being here later in the morning means there are a few insects about. Here is a Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

This species is very aggressive towards any other individual that enters its territory but is seems to endure a careful close approach by people.

Why are they always so high up the street lamp poles when they are supposed to be grass moths? This is a none-too-clear view of an Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea).

Another moth here this morning was this Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata). A very variable species with a long flight period.

A Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax). Because the eyes do not meet this is a female so we have to check it is not a Tapered Dronefly (E. pertinax). Only male Tapered Droneflies have a tapered abdomen. Checking the leg markings confirms it as a Common Dronefly. It shows a facial stripe so why is not a Stripe-faced Dronefly (E. nemorum)? That species is noticeably smaller and more delicate than this individual.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- *1 Snout moth (Hypena proboscidalis)
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *1 owl midge Psychodidae sp.
- 9 other midges of various sizes
- 8 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)

This Snout moth has the appropriate scientific name of Hypena proboscidalis. This is probably one of the darker second brood specimens though the two broods overlap somewhat during August. The food-plant of the caterpillars is nettles – no shortage of those in the area.

This owl midge Psychodidae sp. is one with obviously hairy wings.

(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

2012

Priorslee Lake

Black Tern

(Arthur Harper)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Yellow Wagtail

Kingfisher

(Ed Wilson)

29 Aug 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

15.0°C: Mostly cloud. A few brighter spells later. Calm again to start with light East breeze springing up. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:16 BST

* = a photo from today

Another day looking for hot air balloons. In the cloudy and, later, windier conditions only five launched.

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 – 08:20

(185th visit of the year)

A follow-up to yesterday's unknown wader that I heard calling at 05:10. Engaging brain, helped by reading the Belvide blog detailing their visitors I now realise it was a Wood Sandpiper. I have rarely seen this species in the UK and am not that familiar with its flight call. Reference again to xeno-canto means I am confident of its identity. It is a new species for by Priorslee bird lust ever so a real pity I did not see it as well.

Here is a Wood Sandpiper call similar to what I heard

Today's bird notes:
- It is very odd that there were c.50 Rooks and a few Jackdaws on roost dispersal yesterday and none at all today.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: outbound together
- 4 Stock Doves: two duos
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Jackdaws or Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 7 Barn Swallows
- 11 House Martins

Warblers noted (no song recorded unless specifically noted):
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: several bursts of song
- 7 Chiffchaffs: one giving a few song notes
- 2 Reed Warblers
- 3 Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 8 (?♂) Mallard
- 10 Moorhens
- 79 Coots
- 14 + 11 (6 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- *1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron again

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Very little after overnight rain

Moths:
- 3 Common Grass-veneers (Agriphila tristella)
- *1 other micro moth to be identified
- *1 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)

and:
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *1 unidentified ichneumon
- several small flies of different species *one perhaps being Tricholauxania praeusta
- 1 unidentified caddis fly
- *1 Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes)
- *1 small brown beetle
- *1 stretch spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *1 Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
- 3 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

Noted later:

 I left here before most insects were flying

Bees etc.:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Mammals:
- pipistrelle-type bat

This seems to be a juvenile / first winter Yellow-legged Gull. The head and neck look too pale for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The tertials (the folded feathers in front of the tail) show straight line between the dark centres and the white edging.

I am scratching my head over this moth. It is sitting at an unusual angle, though exposing the dark underwing could be a useful clue. The upper wing has a remarkably straight leading edge until the curve of the wing tip and these features ought to make it easy to identify. Sadly not as yet!

Two for the price of one. The moth on the left is a Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens). It always reminds me of a Rick Wakeman on the front of one of his LP covers. The other is a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes).

I suspect an ichneumon from its long antennae.

Rather similar in overall shape is this fly. Looking at it in more detail it has short antennae and a rounded head almost separated from its thorax both of which perhaps suggest a species of cranefly. The 'thick thighs' suggest otherwise so I do not have much idea as to what it might be.

A tentative identity of this small, pale orange fly with wings extending well beyond the end of its abdomen. The most common fly fitting this description is Tricholauxania praeusta. As usual there are similar species.

I can tell you that this beetle is not at Alder Leaf Beetle (or a Stag Beetle!). I cannot tell you what it is other than it is very small and dark brown.

Some spiders I can at least partly identify. This is one of the stretch spiders in the Tetragnatha group caught at a rather strange angle as it hurries away from my torch light.

I am more confident about this being a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus). Just slight hesitation as the diagnostic white cross at the top of the abdomen is rather indistinct and the metathorax looks rather larger than I would have expected. Perhaps the angle as it too scurries away from the torch light.

Just five balloons launched from the Telford Balloon Festival on this grey morning with the wind taking them away towards Wales. If you missed the 'night glow' here is a 'day glow' as the pilot fires the burner to warm the air in the envelope and gain more height. This University of Bristol Balloon Club piloted balloon is a Cameron Z-105. Cameron Balloons are based in Bristol.

The pilot is just starting the burner on this Lindstrand LTL Series 2-80 balloon. I believe the '80' refers to the cubic capacity of the envelope. The company, founded by a Swede Per Lindstrom, is based in Oswestry.

While the burn continues it moves alongside a Head Ax8-105 balloon marked 'Sapper'. Its appropriate registration of G-ENGR was allocated when it was operated by the Royal Engineers Balloon Club. It now has a private owner in South Wales.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:25 – 09:15

(181st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A second Canada x Greylag Goose was a surprise. Only one was here during June / July when they were moulting and when I noted one yesterday I expected it to be the same bird. Not necessarily so.
- One of the adult Mute Swans has been tucked up at the top end and not with any of the others on several days recently. I hope it is well and just keeping out of the way of the aggressive pen.
- Today it was the turn of the drake Gadwall to show.
- Some of the low number of Tufted Ducks were noted getting off the island. Perhaps there were others still inside?
- Two juvenile Great Crested Grebe were not noted. Each adult had one of the four juveniles with it.

Also
- One of the fishermen reported several recent sightings of both one and two Kingfishers flying to and from the island.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers seen or heard

None

Noted on / around the water:
- *c.115 Canada Geese: all but three arrived in five large groups
- 2 Canada x Greylag Geese: arrived with other geese
- 6 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 31 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 12 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 13 Moorhens
- 51 Coots only
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- *31 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorant: departed as two separate duos
- 2 Grey Herons

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:
Nothing noted

One of the approaching groups of Canada Geese. It is always interesting to watch how the steady lines of incoming birds start to perform all manner of aerobatics to manoeuvre themselves to their intended touch-down spot. Two here are starting to 'spill air'. Sometimes they turn upside down to do this. Exactly how they learn this trick is hard to say.

A juvenile / first winter Black-headed Gull. Much of the juvenile gingery plumage has faded to brown. Indeed it almost look black until you compare it with the black of the tail.

(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

2013

Priorslee Lake

Whinchat

(John Isherwood)

2011

Nedge Hill

Peregrine

(John Isherwood)