12.0°C > 13.0°C: Cloudy with showers. Moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility but poor in showers.
Sunrise: 06:12 BST
No photographs today
Today's plan was thwarted by rain showers and a brisk wind. A late start to avoid a shower suggested that I should go directly to the Castle Farm Way lay-by to get any view of the balloon lift. With rain and wind there were no balloons flying and I was more or less trapped by the frequent showers. All the totals below come from watching from the dam-top or the shelter of my car.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 08:20
(173rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I presume some of the Coots stayed hidden in the reeds. My count was well-down on previous days.
- At least 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in c.05:45 with most having gone by 06:00. Then after c.08:00 17 more dropped in. In both groups the majority were adults with almost all the others being juveniles / first-winters.
Counts of birds noted flying over here:
- 13 Canada Geese: 10 outbound together; trio inbound
- 6 (?♂) Mallard
- 329 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: most ages not determined
- 1 Common Buzzard
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 5 Barn Swallows flew West c.07:00
Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose arrived, It was soon chased away by the cob Mute Swan.
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens
- 54 Coots only
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: at least five juveniles / first-winters. [Football field not visited]
- c.90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron: departed 06:30
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
Green Sandpiper
3 eclipse Teal
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Greenshank
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Black Swan flew over
233 Canada Geese over
11 Greylag Geese over
123 Jackdaws
234 Rooks
143 Greenfinches
1 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcaps
Cormorant flew over
(Ed Wilson)
Bird notes:
- I presume some of the Coots stayed hidden in the reeds. My count was well-down on previous days.
- At least 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in c.05:45 with most having gone by 06:00. Then after c.08:00 17 more dropped in. In both groups the majority were adults with almost all the others being juveniles / first-winters.
Counts of birds noted flying over here:
- 13 Canada Geese: 10 outbound together; trio inbound
- 6 (?♂) Mallard
- 329 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: most ages not determined
- 1 Common Buzzard
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 5 Barn Swallows flew West c.07:00
Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose arrived, It was soon chased away by the cob Mute Swan.
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens
- 54 Coots only
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: at least five juveniles / first-winters. [Football field not visited]
- c.90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron: departed 06:30
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Priorslee Lake
Green Sandpiper
3 eclipse Teal
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Greenshank
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Black Swan flew over
233 Canada Geese over
11 Greylag Geese over
123 Jackdaws
234 Rooks
143 Greenfinches
1 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcaps
Cormorant flew over
(Ed Wilson)