8.0°C > 9.0°C: Dull and overcast. One brief spell of light drizzle. A few brighter moments later. Fresh southerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:23 GMT
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 09:15
(64th visit of the year)
Best bird today was the Peregrine that flew fast East at 06:40. Not new for the year but always good to see.
Other bird notes:
- What I assumed to be the same Pheasant was heard calling from the south-west area; along the South side; and then from the south-east copse.
- Yesterday's pair of Gadwall gone again. The duck Pochard still present.
- Many of the Mallard flew off. Four drakes and a duck seen later on a roof in Teece Drive were probably some of these.
- The Cetti's Warbler sang frequently from the bramble thicket behind the sailing club shelter. Could I see it? No!
- The mild weather triggered all the Song Thrushes in to full voice. I counted 14. The Blackbirds did not want to be left out and I counted eight of those in song – twice my previous highest count of singing birds this year.
- Two Mistle Thrushes were together in the tall trees along the North side. One was in song. They flew off but I did not see where to..
Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair flew East; a lone bird flew North
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 19 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- *1 Peregrine
- 1 Starling
Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese: three pairs, one of which arrived
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 16 (11♂) Mallard: many flew off
- 1 (0♂) Pochard again
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck only
- 13 Moorhens
- 60 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes again
- 62 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately again
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
- several Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *unidentified spider sp.
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
Nothing noted or of note elsewhere.
Here is one of the White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger).
And here is the other!
I have seen this spider with its distinctive white teardrop markings on the abdomen in previous years. I am sure I had it identified. I can't match it though. This was in the sailing club shelter pre-dawn.
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(59th visit of the year)
*A Grey Wagtail in Derwent Drive and then on the roof of one of the houses was my first record of this species here this year. Number 57. Strangely I have yet to see a Common Buzzard over here this year.
Other bird notes:
- A Pheasant was calling from the East side again.
- The drake Shoveler present for the last two mornings was not seen.
- Two of the four drake Goosanders were first year birds.
- I have no idea why there were so few Moorhens seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Wood Pigeons flew high North together
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water
- 24 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 31 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- *6 (4♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: one third year and one second year
- 5 Cormorants
On / around the street lamp poles or of note elsewhere
Nothing noted
Due allowance for the low light please! A duck Goosander about to splash down with her tail spread, acting as an air-brake. It is almost possible to count the number of tail feathers. A first winter drake Goosander in the foreground.
*A Grey Wagtail in Derwent Drive and then on the roof of one of the houses was my first record of this species here this year. Number 57. Strangely I have yet to see a Common Buzzard over here this year.
Other bird notes:
- A Pheasant was calling from the East side again.
- The drake Shoveler present for the last two mornings was not seen.
- Two of the four drake Goosanders were first year birds.
- I have no idea why there were so few Moorhens seen.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Wood Pigeons flew high North together
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water
- 24 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 31 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- *6 (4♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: one third year and one second year
- 5 Cormorants
On / around the street lamp poles or of note elsewhere
Nothing noted
The only two Goosanders present when I arrived were this pair standing and preening on the island.
A quizzical-looking Wren, tail cocked as usual.
(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
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Kittiwake
2 adult Little Gulls
(J Reeves / Jim Almond / Andy Latham)
2011
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
18 Tufted Duck
5 Great Crested Grebe
12+ Sand Martin
3 Chiffchaff
17 Pied Wagtails
23 Linnets
11 Greenfinches
(Mike Cooper, (Martin Grant, Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
c.12 Tufted Duck
4 Teal
2 Chiffchaff singing
1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
30 Tufted Duck
6 Sand Martins
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
( Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Great Crested Grebe
1 Heron
6 Gadwall
19 Tufted Duck
2 Reed Buntings
( Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
15 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
46 Golden Plover
4 Stock Dove
281 Wood Pigeon
27 Wren
38 Robin
21 Blackbird
1 Redwing
4 Chiffchaff singing
3 Jay
35 Magpie
159 Jackdaw
3 Reed Bunting
( Ed Wilson)