2.0°C > 7.0°C: A clear start. Some cloud after 08:30 and then lowering cloud ahead of forecast rain. Moderate southerly breeze increasing fresh. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:20 BST
A few photos from today (*)
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:45 // 07:50 – 09:34
(85th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Common Buzzard seen overhead at 05:40 was almost certainly one of the pair breeding in the Ricoh grounds. This species is often active at dawn and dusk.
- I was apparently in the right place at the right time in clear conditions to see the Jackdaws passing to the East on roost dispersal. I didn't see many compared to yesterday's total.
- I saw my first female Blackcap of the year (females have brown caps)
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 7 Greylag Geese: quintet outbound; pair inbound
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 24 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 14 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (6) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 1 Sand Martin
- *c.20 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
All after 08:00. It is unusual at this date for Barn Swallows to dominate the feeding groups: usually it is Sand Martins that occur in the highest number.
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: the resident pair only had one visiting pair to chase away
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard again
- 4 Moorhens only
- 41 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 midge without plumed antennae
On the walls of the sailing club HQ:
Nothing noted
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- 20 midges of at least three species
- 1 cranefly
Noted later:
First flowers noted of:
- *Hedge Garlic or Jack-by-the-Hedge (Alliaria petiolata)
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) (Caltha palustris)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- 20 midges of at least three species
- 1 cranefly
Noted later:
First flowers noted of:
- *Hedge Garlic or Jack-by-the-Hedge (Alliaria petiolata)
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) (Caltha palustris)
The view at very early doors.
Even before 06:30 the incoming rain clouds to the West were visible.
The real sunrise...
...behind my favourite foreground. As the days get longer I will not be able to use this tree again.
A more or less plan view of the underside. Note the row of cream dots in the spread tail-feathers.
And now a more or less plan view from above.
This shows how the light catches the steel-blue upper-parts.
Perhaps the best photo? I will keep trying!
A Grey Wagtail on the 'boxing ring' on the dam. The black bib does not look very extensive and I wonder whether this is an older female. It was apparently paired but I never managed to get a good view of its companion.
A colourful Goldfinch.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:55 – 07:45
(79th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The Shoveler trio were still here: the drake Gadwall was not seen.
- A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from squirrel alley and also at the top end. I suspect different birds as I neither saw nor, more importantly, heard it move between the locations. Territorial birds usually call while in flight.
Birds noted flying over here:
None
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *8 (8) Willow Warblers again
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *8 (8) Willow Warblers again
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted
None
Noted on / around the water
- 35 Canada Geese: of these eleven departed as a duo and nonet (ennead?)
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: ? eggs
- 3 (2♂) Shoveler
- 23 (20♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 7 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens only
- 24 + 1 juvenile Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
On / around the street lamp poles or of interest elsewhere:
Nothing noted
Noted on / around the water
- 35 Canada Geese: of these eleven departed as a duo and nonet (ennead?)
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: ? eggs
- 3 (2♂) Shoveler
- 23 (20♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 7 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens only
- 24 + 1 juvenile Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
On / around the street lamp poles or of interest elsewhere:
Nothing noted
"A penny for your thoughts". A Wood Pigeon contemplates whatever. Perhaps it is just sunbathing.
The Willow Warblers are neck-breakingly high overhead!
As well as doing their best to hide.
Even the normally cooperative Dunnocks were hiding today.
(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
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
1 Greylag Goose
2 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
2 Barn Swallows
1 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Swallows flew through
2 Meadow Pipits
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Duck
9 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Swallow
1 Reed Bunting
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
5 Lapwings
1 Swallow
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Skylarks
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Redstart
13 Wheatear
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
East Priorslee
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Sand Martins
2 Greylag Geese
3 Stock Doves
1 Lapwing
(Ed Wilson)