10.0°C > 12.0°C: Clear early after overnight showers. Another shower at 07:45. Then clear again. Light wind after shower with moderate south-west breeze later. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 07:35 BST
* = a photo from today.
Priorslee Lake: 06:20 – 09:15
(225th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- All the Canada Geese seemed to stay throughout with two more flying in.
- A duck Common Teal was noted again. Did I overlook it yesterday?
- The Tufted Duck did a lot of flying around and it was hard to keep track of them as they mingled amongst the geese.
- When I arrived at least 100 mainly Black-headed Gulls were circling around and around. More large gulls joined them. None seemed to settle on the water, the Black-headed Gulls heading towards the football field and the larger gulls all flying off South. The Black-headed Gulls returned with others later.
- A large group of at least 80 large gulls flew South to the far East.
- Unexpectedly a Chiffchaff was singing strongly along the North side, albeit briefly. Much later it, or probably another, was heard calling near the Teece Drive gate. It in my experience it is most unusual for Chiffchaffs to sing after very early October. By this date they have usually stopped calling as well. A warm sunny day in February would be the next time I would expect to hear song from this species.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 72 Greylag Geese: eight outbound together; 64 inbound together
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 142 unidentified large gulls: pre-dawn: see notes
- 127 Jackdaws
- 209 Rooks
- 8 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin yet again
Warblers noted:
- No Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs: see notes
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 2 Reed Buntings: too little contrast against the clouds to see them at the time they would probably have been leaving the roost.
Counts from the lake area:
- *98 Canada Geese: of these two arrived; none apparently departed
- *2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- *1 (0♂) Common Teal
- 18 (>5♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 211 Coots
- 11 Great Crested Grebes
- >150 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn
Dew on the lamp poles seemed to have reduced the numbers
- 2 November Moths agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.)
- *1 Yellow Swarming Fly (Thaumatomyia notata)
- *3 other different species of small fly
- *3 different species of spider
Noted later:
- *Shaggy Inkcap fungus (Coprinus comatus)
- *1 Yellow Swarming Fly (Thaumatomyia notata)
- *3 other different species of small fly
- *3 different species of spider
Noted later:
- *Shaggy Inkcap fungus (Coprinus comatus)
The Harvest Moon is on the wane.
It is some weeks since I last noted one of these Yellow Swarming Flies (Thaumatomyia notata).
Perhaps my best photo so far of this very small fly with the dark wing-tips.
Here are two new fruits pushing up.
The lifespan of the fruits is very short. This is what they look like after one day.
This is probably two days old.
Not my best photos of a tiny spider on one of the street lamps. Yet another unidentified species.
And here is its current activity courtesy of Flight Radar 24.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(216th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Nothing of particular interest.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Noted on / around the water
- 16 Canada Geese
- 25 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 40 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 7 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens only
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: adult and two immatures
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Cormorants again
- *1 Grey Heron
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Bird notes:
- Nothing of particular interest.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Noted on / around the water
- 16 Canada Geese
- 25 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 40 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 7 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens only
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: adult and two immatures
- 9 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Cormorants again
- *1 Grey Heron
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
- *Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Bizarre. This Grey Heron was being harassed by several Black-headed Gulls.
Another unusual view of the Grey Heron.
Regaining its composure in this view.
Still complaining though.
The bank of Ivy near the academy is an important nectar source at this time of year and it is home to many insects when the sun is out. There were two Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) this morning.
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Nedge Hill
2 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Gulls
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
87 Tufted Ducks
1 Kingfisher
23 Pied Wagtails
32 Robins
12 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
11 Redwings
c.130 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)