6.0°C > 9.0°C: Some lingering cloud but mainly clear. Light WSW breeze. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 07:41 GMT]
Short visits, still jet-lagged after a USA trip to watch aircraft
Priorslee Lake: 08:25– 09:15
(237th visit of the year)
Viewing only from the dam top area
Bird notes:
- The Mute Swan family went for a fly but did not seem at all confident. One cygnet barely made halfway and the rest struggled inches above the water to the other end. Odd as they all seemed to be flying quite strongly three weeks ago. I hope they are not suffering avian flu.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 23 Wood Pigeons: single party noted
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 65 (>26♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 210 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.30 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted.
Nothing else
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(230th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- At least 15 of the Tufted Duck arrived, presumably flushed from the Balancing Lake.
- One of the regular fishermen reported separate brief visits by both a Great White and a Little Egret in recent days.
- He also noted regular appearance by at least two Kingfishers. I saw one today.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water
- 5 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 46 (30♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 29 (>8♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 (1♂) Goosander
- 13 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
On / around the street lamp poles:
Bird notes:
- At least 15 of the Tufted Duck arrived, presumably flushed from the Balancing Lake.
- One of the regular fishermen reported separate brief visits by both a Great White and a Little Egret in recent days.
- He also noted regular appearance by at least two Kingfishers. I saw one today.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water
- 5 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 46 (30♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 29 (>8♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 (1♂) Goosander
- 13 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Noted later
Noted later
From around the Ivy bank which was still very active sheltered from the breeze and much of it in full sun:
- Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
and plenty of unidentified flies.
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
- Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
and plenty of unidentified flies.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall
8 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
149 Coots
286 Redwings
84 Fieldfares
c.350 Jackdaws but no Rooks seen.
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
42 Mute Swan
1 Wigeon
c. 45 Tufted
36 Pochard
c. 240 Coot
c. 400 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c. 120 Black-headed Gull
10 Herring Gull
3 Yellow Legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 male Stonechat showing well near to sailing club hut.
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
31 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
8 Lapwings
>550 Black-headed Gulls
187 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
239 Wood Pigeons
40 Robins
32 Blackbirds
60 Fieldfares
11 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
310 Jackdaws
150 Rooks
35 Greenfinch
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
18 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
3 Ruddy Duck
1 Wigeon
c.200 Coot
4 Cormorant
C.750 birds
24 Fieldfare
3 Redpoll
12 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Tit
(Martin Adlam)