5.0°C > 7.0°C: Not the fine day as forecast! Light rain from low cloud on arrival. It cleared to broken skies with some sunny intervals. Then after 07:30 low cloud with mainly light rain and drizzle returned. Light West wind. Good visibility except in drizzle.
Sunrise: 06:16 GMT
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 09:00
(66th visit of the year)
An amazing five species added to my 2023 bird list from here and only one of them a true summer migrant. In order of seeing them:
- while walking along the dam top a Skylark appeared singing overhead from one of the few remaining fields to the East.
- immediately afterwards a break in the Sunday traffic along Castle Farm Way allowed me to hear a Yellowhammer singing from the now truncated Woodhouse Lane area.
- *a few minutes later I heard a Linnet calling and located it high in trees near the Castle Farm Way access gate.
- back at the West end a lone Meadow Pipit flew over at 08:10.
- finally at 08:30 two Sand Martins flew through: the real summer migrants.
This year's species total rises to 78.
Other bird notes:
- A Pheasant called from deep inside the Ricoh grounds.
- I noted a pair of Gadwall at each end of the lake but suspect that it was a pair that had flown down the other end.
- I suspect I overlooked the duck Pochard yesterday. It was diving all the while and staying down for long periods: easy to overlook.
- A party of 55 Wood Pigeons flew high North at 06:25. 12 birds were noted on the same flight-line in small groups within a few minutes – probably birds trying to catch up?
- A big reduction in Black-headed Gulls numbers both here, and later, at The Flash. Just 11 birds came in from the West c.06:45 with only three of these settling and the others flying around before they all departed back to the West. At c.08:20 14 birds flew from the north-east circled once high up and carried on. Probably there will only be a few birds from now until the end of June and the finish of the breeding season.
- The Cetti's Warbler sang frequently from the north-west area first thing and then went for an explore along the North side.
- I noted five non-singing Song Thrushes as well as, typically, 13 in song.
- At least 20 Siskins were in trees near the Teece Drive gate by 06:45. I noted three more groups of 15-20 birds fly from the East to join them, all feeding very high in the Poplar trees alongside Teece Drive.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 7 Canada Geese: a trio and two pairs one of which was accompanied by...
- 1 Greylag Goose: this odd couple flew off
- 105 Wood Pigeons: see notes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 9 Jackdaws
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Warblers noted (the number of these singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 10 (10) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: two pairs flew off; one pair arrived; and a single paired with...
- 1 Greylag Goose: ...arrived and almost immediately flew off.
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall: possibly a second pair
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck only
- 11 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 11 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *3 Shoulder Stripe moths (Earophila badiata)
- *at least one springtail sp.
In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
Nothing. I was about five minutes later than yesterday and all the spiders had already retreated to their day-time lairs.
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- 2 owl midges Psychodidae sp.
Noted elsewhere:
- *flowers of Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum) [also known as Mouse-eared Chickweed]. [my app. gives C. glomeratum as the scientific name]
The early shower moves away to the south-east and a temporary sunny spell arrives.
This looks to be the same first year Cormorant that I have photographed before.
A female Reed Bunting climbing an angled tree-trunk.
Here she is looking at me. She lacks the black-head of the male but shares the white moustachial stripe.
"My right side".
Trying to hide behind a branch.
Shoulder Stripe moth (Earophila badiata) number one.
Number two.
The flowers of Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum).
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:05 – 10:20
(61st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *The pair of Shoveler still present.
- A Stock Dove flew out of the East side wooded area and away to the North.
- As noted at the Balancing Lake, most of the Black-headed Gulls have moved on.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Warblers noted (the number of these singing in brackets):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
Noted on / around the water
- 36 Canada Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Shoveler
- *23 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 32 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 12 Moorhens again
- 26 Coots again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gull: a second year bird: arrived
- 4 Cormorants again
On / around the street lamp poles.
Nothing noted
Of note elsewhere:
- *first flowers of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris).
Bird notes:
- *The pair of Shoveler still present.
- A Stock Dove flew out of the East side wooded area and away to the North.
- As noted at the Balancing Lake, most of the Black-headed Gulls have moved on.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Warblers noted (the number of these singing in brackets):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
Noted on / around the water
- 36 Canada Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Shoveler
- *23 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 32 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 12 Moorhens again
- 26 Coots again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gull: a second year bird: arrived
- 4 Cormorants again
On / around the street lamp poles.
Nothing noted
Of note elsewhere:
- *first flowers of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris).
The two pairs again.
Very smart and somewhat underrated: a male House Sparrow.
At a rather strange angle the white rump is visible, albeit with one wing across it.
A more normal angle as she attacks another bud.
And now for another bud.
Her neck is more supple than mine!
(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
3 Great Crested Grebes
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
18 Tufted Ducks
127 Jackdaws
158 Black-headed Gulls
22 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Chiffchaff singing
6 Redwings
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
2 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
81 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
25 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
1 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
6 Tufted Duck
2 Goosander
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martins
(Martin Adlam)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Cormorant
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Meadow Pipit
25 Wren
20 Blackbird
5 Redwing
5 Chiffchaff
34 Magpie
8 Greenfinch
8 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
8 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
32 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)