31 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Low cloud and soaking drizzle slowly brightened and dried. Later more spits and spots. Light north-east breeze. Moderate visibility at best in drizzle; good later.

[Sunrise: 06:47 BST]

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:45 – 12:00

(76th visit of the year)

A rain delayed start and a short visit viewing from the dam-top area only.

Bird notes:
- A drake Gadwall was noted moving around much of the water. I did not see any sign of a duck; nor did he seem interested in any particular location where she might have been hiding.
- A Skylark was noted singing very high overhead and moving away to the South. It did not seem to be associated with the remaining fields to the East of Castle Farm Way.

Birds noted flying over here:
- a few Wood Pigeons only

Warblers species heard from the dam-top area only: no counts made
- Willow Warbler
- Chiffchaff
- Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted
- 2 Sand Martins: flew through c.11:30

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- *1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: departed

Of note.

Nothing

The key features of drake Gadwall are visible here despite the extreme range. Note the all black bill and dark rear end with the white of the speculum just showing in the folded wing.

I found this on the rail of the 'boxing ring' on the dam. It is shaped rather like a froghopper though it is not clear where the elytra (wings) are joined. There almost looks to be an eye at the right end. Are those legs I can see underneath?

A side-elevation shot suggests it is not a froghopper and probably not an insect at all, though what it is I would not like to say. I tried to pick it up and invert it but it slipped between my fingers and was lost among the stones on the ground. I will never know.

Plane of the day. This SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad appeared between the clouds. Its registered owner lives in Berkshire. Flight trackers indicate it was en route from Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire, its likely base, to Carlisle Airport. This French designed aircraft was built in 1990. It is relatively unusual for private aircraft in having a retractable undercarriage. Their cruising speed is often not thought to justify the added complexity. There are expensive consequences if the pilot forgets to lower the wheels before landing! Commercial aircraft have co-pilots who read out check-lists and verify compliance to ensure the undercarriage is deployed. A belt-and-braces audible alarm sounds if the procedure is not followed and the ground is close.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:35

(70th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A number of the Tufted Duck seem to have departed since yesterday. They were rather restless yesterday with small parties flying around much of the time I was present.
- The duck Goosander was a surprising find on this date.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap still

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Noted on / around the water
- 20 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese again
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: *four eggs visible
- 25 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 23 (16♂) Tufted Duck
- *1 (0♂) Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Cormorants

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- *1 plumed midge sp.

Elsewhere:

Nothing of interest

The Mute Swans have four eggs.

The duck Goosander present this morning. The pale line between the base of the bill and the eye suggests this is probably a first year bird that will probably not breed this year.

A Willow Warbler that has managed to hide all the features that separate it from a Chiffchaff! Perhaps you could judge the supercilium too long. Perhaps the legs are too pale? Perhaps the left wing shows the primary feathers are too long. Perhaps. But it was singing so I know it is a Willow Warbler.

A non-singing Song Thrush. I disturbed this from its search for food on the ground so it could be of either sex. There are no plumage differences that would allow the sex to be determined.

A midge that I am more used to seeing on street lamp poles at the lake pre-dawn. The banded abdomen means it is a good candidate for Chironomus plumosus, though the antennae do not look especially "plumosus". There are similar species that require a microscope and the appropriate identification key to resolve.

(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

3 Great Crested Grebes

13 Cormorants

4 Greylag Geese

22 Tufted Duck

5 Sand Martins

6 Redwings

8 Chiffchaffs

>500 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

50 Tufted Ducks

4 Chiffchaffs

4 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

6 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cormorant

7 Wigeon 

2 Gadwall 

1 Pochard 

42 Tufted Ducks 

1 Great Black-backed Gull

Mediterranean Gull.

Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull.

>1500 Black-headed Gulls

2 Redwings

65 Magpies

25 Siskins

2 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes 

6 Swans

2 Pochard 

85 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

3 Buzzards

1 Little Grebe 

5 Great Crested Grebe

4 Gadwall

36 Tufted Duck

c.160 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

4 Great Crested Grebe 

3 Greylag Geese 

32 Tufted Duck

Trench

1 Cormorant

43 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

Little Ringed Plover

1 Cormorant

1 Mallard x Pintail

18 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

1 Little Ringed Plover

1 Kittiwake

33 Wren

29 Robin

24 Blackbird

3 Chiffchaff

39 Magpie

3 Greenfinch

6 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

8 Great Crested Grebe

2 Pochard

27 Tufted Duck

1 Snipe

3 Chiffchaff

2 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Barn Owl

1 Little Grebe

5 Great Crested Grebes

1 Shoveler

30 Tufted Ducks

2 Water Rails

321 Wood Pigeons

2 Sky Larks

5 Meadow Pipits

33 Wrens

21 Robins

21 Blackbirds

1 Fieldfare

3 Redwings

1 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Tit

18 Greenfinches

8 Siskins

1 Linnet

6 Reed Buntings

1 Yellowhammer.

(Ed Wilson)

30 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 12.0°C: A clear start soon gave way to showers somewhat earlier than I expected from the forecast. Thankfully these were mainly light. A calm start with a light southerly breeze springing up. Very good visibility except in showers.

Sunrise: 06:50 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:20

(75th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- In addition to the resident and presumably breeding Canada Geese there was another pair on the water when I arrived. These soon flew off. A trio arrived and these too soon departed. Two more arrived accompanied by a Greylag Goose. Then a party of five arrived. Finally a group of four pitched in. Why are so many geese are still flying around? I would have expected them to be on their breeding grounds.
- The pair of Gadwall that flew in was a surprise. I had assumed they were long-gone for the summer.
- Before the football field was fenced off it was not uncommon for as many as 50 Wood Pigeons to be feeding there soon after first light, often ignoring the dogs running about. For some reason they do not seem to see the fence as protecting them and most days there are none.
- It was only yesterday that I noted I had not heard Chaffinch song since 12 March. Of course I did today!
- There are still a few Siskins about. Both yesterday and today a group of five flew out of trees at the West end. Today I noted another single bird.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 9 Canada Geese: two trios outbound; one trio inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 3 Feral Pigeons: a trio
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 2 Herring Gulls: adults
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Rook

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 15 (15) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted
- 6 Sand Martins: by 08:45

Counts from the lake area:
- 18 Canada Geese: see notes
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall: arrived as a pair
- *10 (8♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 9 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Noted on the damp street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 different species of fly
- *at least 2 springtails
- *1 Clubiona sp. spider

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn
Nothing of note

As my mother used to say if the day started too bright it would not last.

She was right.

A trio of ducks with a drake Mallard leading the pair of newly arrived Gadwall.

The Gadwall pair came slightly closer, the drake bring up the rear.

One of the two species of fly I found on the street lamp poles pre-dawn. This small species with red eyes I see reasonably often.

The other species of fly. It looks like one of the Muscid flies. This is a group I almost never see pre-dawn. A springtail lurks behind its back right foot. [The crack is the vertical join in the lamp pole.]

As yesterday a Clubiona sp. spider and as yesterday another springtail is getting in on the action (extreme bottom right)

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:30

(69th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from trees near The Priorslee.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *3 (3) Willow Warblers again
- *10 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap again

Hirundines etc., noted

None

Noted on / around the water
- 16 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: eggs not visible
- 20 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 36 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens only again
- *24 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- no Cormorants

On / around the street lamp poles
Nothing noted 

Of interest elsewhere:
- A bumblebee seen, this time high in a willow tree feeding on nectar. Too distant to identify.
- *Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
- *male catkins from an unidentified pine tree.

None of today's Willow Warblers was being camera-friendly this morning. This was the best I could do through all the twigs and branches it was determined to hide behind. Note the long supercilium, the all pale bill and its very bright pink feet.

Compare with this greyer-looking Chiffchaff. As well as the less-distinct supercilium this individual has black feet as well as dark legs.

I am just missing the tip of his bill here.

I don't think I have ever seen in to a Coot's nest before, much less seen the clutch of eggs. The nest has been made against the wall of Derwent Drive and is therefore easy to see.

A soggy Robin in the bath. An unfortunately positioned pebble gives its head a strange profile but you get the idea.

Mr. Bullfinch still eating his greens.

 From a different angle.

"Hooray!" Not quite sure what he is celebrating!

Rather better than my attempt to photograph a Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) at the lake a few days ago.

This is a male catkin from a long-needled but unidentified species of pine tree. The female part of the tree becomes the cone.

Plane of the day: it is a Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140 owned by a real estate company called Moving Style Ltd. of Burscough, Ormskirk, the 20th owner of this aircraft. There is no transponder fitted to this 1967 build machine so I cannot say where it had come from or where it was going.

(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

1 Little Grebe

4 Great Crested Grebes

3 Cormorants

1 Grey Heron

19 Tufted Duck

4 Meadow Pipits

1 Redwing

1 Blackcap

7 Chiffchaffs

197 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cackling Goose

2 Common Teal

42 Tufted Ducks

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Horsehay Pool

Mandarin Ducks

(JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

15 Tufted Duck

1 Peregrine Falcon

3 Blackcaps

12 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood )

The Flash 

46 Tufted Duck 

3 Blackcaps

4 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

Raven

(John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Warbler

1 Swallow

14 Tufted Duck

2 Ruddy Duck

1 Sparrowhawk

5 Great Crested Grebe

1 Little Grebe

1 Grey Heron

20 Redwing

4 Siskins

2 Linnet

9 Greenfinch

4 Reed Bunting

10 Meadow Pipit

1 Willow Tit

(Martin R Adlam)

29 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Yesterday was dull: today was duller! Initially calm with the low 'Telford hat' below a medium overcast. An increasing southerly breeze broke the low cloud briefly only for more general low cloud and the lightest of drizzle to replace it. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:52 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:15

(74th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Pheasant was again heard calling from the Ricoh copse.
- Chaffinch song was first noted on 19 February. Birds are still around (I saw three this morning) but strangely I have heard no song since 12 March.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Feral Pigeons: a single and a duo
- 31 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult

That was all!

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 15 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted
- 1 Barn Swallow: flew through at 08:30

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair throughout; a third arrived and was soon chased off
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 8 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- 3 Cormorants: arrived together; all departed, two together; the third somewhat later
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the rather wet street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 probable fungus gnat
- *1 springtail sp.
- *1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
- *1 Clubiona sp. of spider

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn
- *Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *stretch spiders Tetragnatha sp

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn
- a few nondescript midges

On the wall of the sailing club HQ today.
Nothing was found

As good as it got this morning – and much better than it was for most of the time.

I think this is most likely a fungus gnat as it is similar to several species shown on the NatureSpot web site. It does not exactly match any shown there. To get some idea of scale the dark vertical mark is just part of the numeral '1', one digit of the street lamp's identity stencilled on the pole.

Despite its colouration this is a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina). This species over-winters as an adult and changes colour to brown so as to match its surroundings.

This spider is one of the Clubiona sp. As so often at the moment a tiny springtail has crashed the photo bottom left.

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn there is an array of spiders none of which is visible once the day breaks. This is a Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius). For once I persuaded the camera to focus on the spider and not its shadow on the wall.

 Less well-marked but the same species. There were at least seven of these spiders.

Also present were two stretch spiders Tetragnatha sp. Here is one...

...and the other. This one has been in the wars and has lost one of its front legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:15

(68th visit of the year)

*As I commenced my walk-around I noted a Sand Martin circling over the water. It made two passes and departed North. This is a species I do not see here every year, only noting passage birds. The water body seems either too small or too enclosed to tempt arriving hirundines to spend time feeding low over the water as happens almost daily at the Balancing Lake. Bird species #64 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- *Now three Mute Swan eggs. As I explained to some of the interested locals the birds will not sit on the eggs full-time before the clutch is complete. Until then the eggs only need to be prevented from becoming chilled. The pen needs to continue to feed to produce the rest of the eggs and to build up her weight. She will probably not feed for the 28 days or so while she incubates the clutch, though the cob may bring some food for her. All the eggs need to develop at the same rate so that all the cygnets hatch at the same time.
- A Stock Dove was calling from trees near the Priorslee Academy.
- Three pair of Great Crested Grebes were noted with two of the pairs asleep. This is quite possibly the highest number of adults I have seen here.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from trees near The Priorslee.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 9 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted
- *1 Sand Martin

Noted on / around the water
- 19 Canada Geese
- 12 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: also *three eggs
- 26 (21♂) Mallard: no duckling seen
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 38 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant

On / around the street lamp poles
Nothing noted

Of interest elsewhere:
- A bumblebee seen. It was flying around low to the ground, likely a queen looking for a nest site. I was unable to determine which species.

 I think this is called 'splash-down'. A Greylag Goose arrives.

Three eggs in the Mute Swan's nest this morning. It must take a lot of effort to lay something as large as these eggs.

A distant fast-flying bird on a dull day does not make for good photographs. It is just about possible to identify this as a Sand Martin with its short forked tail; white underside and dark breast – actually a breast-band when seen clearly.

The breast-band is more obvious here as is the white throat extending on to the side of the neck.

The darker House Martin would show a very obvious white rump as well as appearing more contrasting overall.

Yummy. A male Bullfinch eating buds.

"Mummy will be proud to see me eating my greens".

(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

2 Little Grebes

3 Great Crested Grebes

4 Cormorants

1 Grey Heron

31 Tufted Duck

3 Redwings

5 Sand Martins

7 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cackling Goose

2 Common Teal

49 Tufted Ducks

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

4 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

3 Great Crested Grebes

17 Tufted Ducks

1 Blackcap

2 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

3 Tufted Duck

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Gadwall

7 Wigeon

Iceland Gull

(John Isherwood and et al)

The Flash

1 Shoveler

2 Pochard

(John Isherwood)

Horsehay Pool

2 Mandarin Ducks

(Paul Spear)

2012

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes

16 Tufted Duck 

2 Blackcaps

12 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

4 Great Crested Grebes 

47 Tufted Duck

1 Blackcap

5 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Red-legged Partridges

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

Oystercatcher

Blackcap

5 Chiffchaffs

Sand Martins

7 Gadwall

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

6 Sky Larks

1 Fieldfare

3 Redwings

Lapwing

Green Woodpecker

14 Linnets.

(Ed Wilson) 

2006

Priorslee Lake

 Barn Owl

25 Sand Martins

3 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

47 Redwings

4 Meadow Pipits

12 Tufted Duck

4 Jays

433 Wood Pigeons

(Ed Wilson)

28 Mar 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 6.0°C: There is dull, there is very dull and then there is this morning. Initially scattered below medium overcast. Intermittent light rain after 06:45 with clouds lowering. More persistent rain after 09:45. Moderate southerly wind. Very good visibility, reducing in rain.

Sunrise: 06:02 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:15

(73rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Pheasant was heard calling from the Ricoh copse near to Priorslee Avenue.
- The small passage of Wood Pigeons flying high North. After I returned home yesterday I noted a few small such groups flying over all morning.
- A single Sand Martin flew through c.08:15. By 08:45 there were three feeding low over the water.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 7 Canada Geese: quartet outbound; trio inbound
- 6 Greylag Geese: two trios outbound
- 4 Feral Pigeons: two duos
- 27 Wood Pigeons: of these 12 flew very high North
- 1 Collared Dove
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Cormorant

Warblers noted (the number of these singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- *2 (2) Willow Warblers
- *16 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted
- 4 Sand Martins

Counts from the lake area: some birds presumably sheltering from the rain
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 10 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 small black beetle
- *midges with and without plumes
- springtail(s)
The Lead-coloured Drab moth (Orthosia populeti) has finally moved on / died / been eaten

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn
- *>6 midges with and without plumes
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)

Of note elsewhere:
- on the wall of the sailing club HQ
-* many more midges with and without plumes

Today's immature Cormorant. Until I looked at this photo I had not appreciated how thick Cormorants' legs are.

Again

A Willow Warbler out in the open. Note the pale legs (not so pale as the feet). Also the eye-stripe (supercilium) extends further behind the eye than it does on Chiffchaff. There is also a yellowish wash to the throat and breast and an overall more olive tone. It always helps when they sing!

Here he is again. The mandibles are essentially grey on this species. I will try again on a sunny morning.

For comparison a Chiffchaff. Not really helpful in showing difference, most of which, other than the pale lower mandible, are not apparent from this angle. Again the very dull conditions do not help.

A 'classic' plumed midge with banded abdomen makes it a good candidate to be a male Chironomus plumosus.

This midge I found in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel has imperceptible plumes on its antennae and apparently no bands of the abdomen.

This one on the wall of a sailing club HQ looks to be the same species. The wings folded over the abdomen give the impression it is very 'waisted'. The true abdomen shape is just about visible through the wings.

An un-plumed midge and therefore presumably a female. Directly ahead of her at the edge of the photo is a tiny springtail. There may be more but the resolution is not good enough.

A very differently shaped and marked midge also on the wall of a sailing club HQ. Apparently no antennae at all.

I have seen this small black beetle with swollen hind-femurs several time before. I still have no idea as to its identity as there are a myriad of small black beetles to choose from.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:15

(67th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I heard the Pheasant call again. As before I was too far away for me to locate its position. Possibly behind the small football field at the top end.
- One of the Greylag Geese was obviously paired with a Canada Goose: a pair arrived; the fourth seemed to be on its own.
- The pen Mute Swan was asleep on the nest. I was told two eggs were seen yesterday.
- *The first Mallard ducklings of the year were noted.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming at the top end. Later a male was seen in trees near The Priorslee and shortly after heard to drum from there. The same bird?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws

Warblers noted (the number of these singing in brackets):
- *11 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Noted on / around the water
- 21 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- *29 (22♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- *1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 45 (32♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Cormorants

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

The first Mallard ducklings of the year this morning. Here is one of the three that were whizzing around at high speed in all directions. I am not even sure that the duck in the photo is their mother. There were two duck Mallard in the area and the ducklings chased after both of them at different times.

The odd couple. The all-white drake is paired with a duck Mallard. He has Mallard genes as he has the curly tail-feather. The internet seems split on whether these all-white birds should be called Peking Ducks or Aylesbury Ducks. Elsewhere on the web Aylesbury ducks look like a cross between a Mallard and an Indian Runner duck and nothing like this in shape. I will continue with the Peking moniker in the logs.

I was photographing this Chiffchaff through multiple layers of twigs and sedge-stems. At least the dark legs are reasonably clear.

A different bird against the (non-existent) light.

Very smart. A Nuthatch.

 I just about managed a plane of the day. This Sikorsky S-76C II Plus Spirit helicopter was flying through the base of the clouds and just popped out long-enough for me to grab a shot. The M- registration tells us it is registered in the Isle of Man but to the UK company Trustair Ltd. of Chorley, Lancs.

(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

2 Little Grebes

4 Great Crested Grebes

9+ Cormorants

1 Grey Heron

2 Swans

2 Shoveler

30 Tufted Duck

10 Chiffchaffs

 5 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebes

1 Cackling Goose

51 Tufted Ducks

3 Chiffchaffs

1 Meadow Pipit

2 Fieldfare

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

7 Meadow Pipits

c.150 Fieldfare

c.30 Starlings

1 Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

7 Wigeon

22 Tufted Duck

1 Glaucous Gull

1 Yellow-legged Gull

1 hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull

1 Mediterranean Gull

c.400 Black-headed Gulls

63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

4 Herring Gulls.

(Tom Lowe, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill

2 Lapwing

(Martin Grant)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

1 Glaucous Gull

Iceland Gull

1 Yellow-legged Gull.

(Tom Lowe)

2012

Priorslee Lake

10 Chiffchaffs singing

4 Blackcaps singing

1 Sky Lark

1 Willow Tit

1 Raven flew over

3 Great Crested Grebes

11 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

38 Tufted Duck

5 Chiffchaffs singing

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes 

6 Gadwall

c.15 Tufted Duck

1 Fieldfare

11 Linnets

5 Chiffchaffs

c.40 Sand Martins

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 

4 Great Crested Grebes

30 Tufted Ducks

Siskins

2 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

10 Meadow Pipits

Linnets

Sky Larks

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Great Crested Grebes

2 Cormorants

14 Tufted Ducks

3 Ruddy Ducks

1 Kittiwake

242 Wood Pigeons

4 Stock Doves

2 Buzzards

1 Kestrel

3 Meadow Pipits

3 Grey Wagtails

9 Pied Wagtails

26 Wrens

3 Fieldfare

94 Redwings

2 Swallow

13 Sand Martins

1 Blackcap

1 Willow Warbler

7 Chiffchaffs

18 Magpies

4 Jays

127 Jackdaws

13 Greenfinches

7 Siskins

7 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)