4.0°C: Clear early; a heavy shower sent me away. Moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:05 GMT
* = a species photographed today.
For the first time this year I adopted my Summer routine; once around the Balancing Lake; a walk to, around and back from The Flash; and another circuit of the Balancing Lake.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:45 // 07:40 – 09:25
For the first time this year I adopted my Summer routine; once around the Balancing Lake; a walk to, around and back from The Flash; and another circuit of the Balancing Lake.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:45 // 07:40 – 09:25
(61st visit of the year)
New Bird Species
Yet another addition to my 2024 bird list from here. *A lone Barn Swallow was hunting insects over the water during the heavy shower at c.08:45. [26 March was my first last year]. My 2024 bird species total here is now #77.
Other bird notes:
- in addition to six drake Mallard on the water I noted another on a roof in Teece Drive and three on the lower pool between the lake and The Flash.
- yesterday and again today a Stock Dove was noted calling from the North side.
- the birds always do their best to make me out to be a liar:
- there was at least one Redwing still in the trees today so my suggestion that yesterday's group might have been the last of this season was wrong.
- A few weeks ago I remarked that there were four Chaffinches singing in the area and that was the largest number for several years. The was none this morning, perhaps weather related. However I have heard no more than two for at least a week.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 7 Canada Geese: a single and two pairs outbound; one pair inbound
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 41 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Sand Martins
- *1 Barn Swallow
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 15 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 26 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn.
New Bird Species
Yet another addition to my 2024 bird list from here. *A lone Barn Swallow was hunting insects over the water during the heavy shower at c.08:45. [26 March was my first last year]. My 2024 bird species total here is now #77.
Other bird notes:
- in addition to six drake Mallard on the water I noted another on a roof in Teece Drive and three on the lower pool between the lake and The Flash.
- yesterday and again today a Stock Dove was noted calling from the North side.
- the birds always do their best to make me out to be a liar:
- there was at least one Redwing still in the trees today so my suggestion that yesterday's group might have been the last of this season was wrong.
- A few weeks ago I remarked that there were four Chaffinches singing in the area and that was the largest number for several years. The was none this morning, perhaps weather related. However I have heard no more than two for at least a week.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 7 Canada Geese: a single and two pairs outbound; one pair inbound
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 41 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Sand Martins
- *1 Barn Swallow
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 15 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 26 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn.
Flies:
- several midges
- several midges
Spiders:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Noted later:
- *1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus on the Teece Drive fence
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Noted later:
- *1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus on the Teece Drive fence
New flowers for the year:
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris
- *Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
- *Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris
- *Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
- *Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
A clear start.
A few wisps of cloud developing.
Just a hint of colour.
Did not look too bad looking West either.
Here comes the shower.
How do Cormorants land on buoys? One approaches (not the small red buoy)..
...a tail-first touch-down with feet as brakes....
...landing alongside...
.. repositioning and intense concentration...
...and a successful landing.
Records shots of the lone Barn Swallow braving the heavy shower.
Again.
This shows the long tail outer tail feathers, held together here.
One of two male Reed Buntings seen singing.
He still shows a surprising amount of white tips to the normally solid black areas acquired when breeding.
On the Teece Drive fence was this male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus.
Today's Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. seems to have managed to get its legs in order.
Around the upper pool between the lake and The Flash were my first Marsh Marigolds (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris of the year.
Near the lower pool I noted my first Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna of the year.
Not an easy plant to photograph: the long stem helps identify this as a Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
The Flash: 06:50– 07:35
(64th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a / the pair of Gadwall noted.
- *a Stock Dove was sitting on a roof in Westcroft Walk.
- just one Great Crested Grebe seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 + *4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 21 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 31 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Noted elsewhere
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the wooden railing along the West side
The cygnet Mute Swans frequently take to the air but never seem interested it looking beyond the confines of the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Common Quaker Orthosia serasai
- *1 Common Quaker Orthosia serasai
Flies:
- 1 cranefly, perhaps Tipula confusa
A few other midges not logged
- 1 cranefly, perhaps Tipula confusa
A few other midges not logged
At the very base of a wall in the Priorslee Avenue I noted this Common Quaker moth Orthosia serasai.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:50– 07:35
(64th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a / the pair of Gadwall noted.
- *a Stock Dove was sitting on a roof in Westcroft Walk.
- just one Great Crested Grebe seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 + *4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 21 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 31 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Noted elsewhere
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the wooden railing along the West side
The Stock Dove on the roof in Westcroft Walk.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sightings from previous years
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)