6.0°C > 10.0°C: Early broken cloud mainly dissipated. Light / moderate westerly wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:41 BST
A small passage of Willow Warblers at both the Balancing Lake and The Flash. Also an increase in the number of singing Blackcaps at both locations.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:35 – 06:55 // 07:55 – 09:55
(71st visit of the year)
New Bird Species
New for my 2024 bird list here was a single Lapwing that flew high West at 08:35. Once upon a time these were regular all winter. Species #78 for me here this year.
Bird notes:
- I logged the nesting pair of Canada Geese as being present. In truth I only saw one bird, the other likely sitting on eggs in a hidden nest.
- *the pen Mute Swan is now almost continually on the nest.
- c.75 Jackdaws flew past from their roost as a single tight group far to the East silhouetted against a strip of clear sky. Just one other seen later.
- three pairs of Bullfinches were noted.
- I had not seen or heard any Reed Buntings for over a week. I saw a female in vegetation between the water and the new houses some way from any reeds or traditional nest sites.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 6 Canada Geese: a pair flew South; two pairs outbound.
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 4 (3♂) Mallard: together
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lapwing
- c.75 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
None. Clear skies usually preclude these visiting
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 17 (17) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (7) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; a pair arrived and were chased away: but see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair arrived and departed
- *2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1) Gadwall: departed
- 1 (1♂) Mallard: also 1 (1♂) on the lower pool and 2 (2♂) on the upper pool
- 15 (9?♂) Tufted Duck: one unsexed bird flew off at 06:25
- 6 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 17 (17) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (7) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; a pair arrived and were chased away: but see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair arrived and departed
- *2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1) Gadwall: departed
- 1 (1♂) Mallard: also 1 (1♂) on the lower pool and 2 (2♂) on the upper pool
- 15 (9?♂) Tufted Duck: one unsexed bird flew off at 06:25
- 6 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Flies:
- *2 male plumed midges
- 1 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
- *2 male plumed midges
- 1 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
Beetles:
- *1 unidentified weevil.
- *1 unidentified weevil.
Springtails:
- *1 globular springtail
- *1 globular springtail
Arthropods:
- *4 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
- *4 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Running Crab Spider Philodromus sp. probably P. dispar
- 1 tiny spider(ling?)
Noted later:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Running Crab Spider Philodromus sp. probably P. dispar
- 1 tiny spider(ling?)
Noted later:
Bees. wasps etc.:
- *Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida
- *Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *German Wasp Vespula germanica
- *Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida
- *Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *German Wasp Vespula germanica
Hoverflies:
- *Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus
- *Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus
Flies:
- dozens of at least five different species sunning on wood fence palings
- dozens of at least five different species sunning on wood fence palings
Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Bugs:
- *Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Note
Feedback from Simon on my question as to why I noted his bees moving around on the ground. He has no idea! One thought is that some of the bees that have over-wintered are now coming to end-of-life and perhaps could no longer fly. But they looked healthy-enough as they wandered about. Another suggestion was they were collecting moisture – all creatures need water. But why were they where I saw them when there were so many puddles about? It will remain a mystery.
- *Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Note
Feedback from Simon on my question as to why I noted his bees moving around on the ground. He has no idea! One thought is that some of the bees that have over-wintered are now coming to end-of-life and perhaps could no longer fly. But they looked healthy-enough as they wandered about. Another suggestion was they were collecting moisture – all creatures need water. But why were they where I saw them when there were so many puddles about? It will remain a mystery.
Barely broken skies early. It was against the sliver of clear sky that I noted the silhouetted party of c.75 Jackdaws.
The sunrise did colour later: of course I was in the wrong spot to get the reflection in the water.
The pen Mute Swan is almost permanently on the nest at the moment so I guess the clutch is complete and she is brooding them. Until that time she only needs to visit to keep the eggs from chilling. This ensures all the eggs hatch at the same time. She will now sit on the nest more or less continually for between 35 and 42 days.
A Common Buzzard drops down to join another already in the trees.
Birds will soon be able to hide behind the leaves so here is a Long-tailed Tit photo before they do.
It took a lot of effort with the photo editor to make a reasonable photo of this Goldcrest, silhouetted against the light.
And again!
A mining bee-fest this morning. This is a Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva.
I cannot see an orange tail but showing Obsidentify several different shots of this insect, edited with different contrast settings produced a 100% match for Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa every time. This species is also known as Early Mining Bee.
Mining bees are tricky. This seems to be a Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida.
While this is a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.
Not my best. A Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris. I am sure I will see more.
The slightly triangular shape to the yellow on the side of the thorax identifies this as a German Wasp Vespula germanica.
A different individual. I do look at my photos and think "did I really get that close to a wasp?"
A male Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.
The only 'different' fly I noted was this. The suggestion that Obsidentify came up with did not match the photos on NatureSpot so I am none the wiser.
A Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus with the wings hiding the grey spots.
No clearer from this angle.
When the light comes from a good angle the grey spots are visible. The species' alternative name of Grey-spotted Sedgesitter does not seen appropriate: yet why "boxer"?
Another two-fer from the street lamp poles, neither specifically identified. On the left a globular springtail: on the right a male plumed midge.
The weevil I found. It is on the shiny new identity marker for the recently installed street lamp which has yet to tone down making the contrast very difficult.
My first Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale of the year.
Seem there could be more White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger next year (or whenever the breeding cycle refreshes). I read on the web that females have the higher body mass so I presume they are larger rather than more dense.
This is a Running Crab Spider Philodromus sp. probably P. dispar.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 1 male plumed midge
- 1 male plumed midge
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
The Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. I noted on the wall of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:00 – 07:50
(73rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the four first year Mute Swans went even further on their test flight today, disappearing from view for a while before returning.
- I neither saw nor heard any Moorhens: very strange.
- a Collared Dove was seen doing its display flight, circling on wings held slightly bowed-down. The first time for me this year though they have been 'singing' for a while.
- the Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming both at the bottom end of squirrel alley and also way down alongside the footpath toward the Balancing Lake.
- a Mistle Thrush flew low over from West to East, giving its 'rattle' call. Not seen or heard otherwise.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- *2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 11 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 22 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- no Moorhens!
- 27 Coots
Noted elsewhere:
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- *2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 11 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 22 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- no Moorhens!
- 27 Coots
Noted elsewhere:
Beetles:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on fencing
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on fencing
(Ed Wilson)
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Sightings from previous years
2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
7 Greylag Geese
14 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
229 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
6 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
52 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
12 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Gull
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
33 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
2 Little Grebe
Chiffchaff
Reed Bunting.
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Brambling
1 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
>100 Fieldfare
> 50 Redwing
6 Lapwing
Meadow Pipit
Yellowhammer
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
9 Greylag Geese
2 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
1 Peregrine
4 Blackcaps
13 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
48 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Curlew
5 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Curlew
Wheatear
> 50 Sand Martin
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 male Common Redstart
21 Wheatear
(John Isherwood, Ian Grant)
2010
Priorslee Lake
White Wagtail
Wheatear
3 Sand Martin
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
17 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
25 Tufted Duck
2 Shoveler
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Lapwing
2 Curlew
1 Blackcap
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Skylarks
4 Chiffchaffs
8 Goldfinches
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
146 Jackdaws
1 Stock Dove
192 Wood Pigeons
2 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
27 Blackbirds
31 Fieldfares
3 Swallow
53 Sand Martins
4 Swallow
3 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
22 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)