8.0°C > 10.0°C: A clear start. Cloud rapidly increased. Rain started at 06:45 and then very heavy between 07:45 and 08:30. Some sunny spells thereafter. Fresh to strong south-westerly wind. Mostly very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:29 BST
A small arrival of Willow Warblers at both the Balancing Lake and The Flash. Most will likely move on.
All numbers 'best effort' in the wind and rain, and coping with 'soggy notebook syndrome'.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 06:35 // 07:25 – 09:40
(76th visit of the year)
Two highlights: one more or less expected; the other not so.
- the first Common Sandpiper of this year's Spring passage was on the south-west grass by 07:35. One day later than my first in 2023. Bird species #80 here for me in 2024.
- a Curlew was heard calling and then seen high overhead at 08:45. It headed off North. My second record this year. As far as I can recall this the first occasion I have noted birds on two different dates in any one year.
Other bird notes:
- a pair of Gadwall was on the south-west grass again. Are they perhaps planning to nest here?
- 13 Sand Martins seemed to fly through at c.08:00. By 08:25 there were seven others(?) low over the water with two Barn Swallows.
- I remarked a few days ago that I had seen a pair of Starlings mating on a local roof. This species seems to have returned to its local breeding sites with seven birds noted on the football field flying off toward the estate.
- Certainly one Siskin heard in flight overhead. Another heard though I could not tell whether it was calling from trees or in flight.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 8 Canada Geese: a pair and two trios outbound
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Curlew
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 1 Siskin: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 20 (?) Sand Martins: see notes
- 2 Barn Swallows
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 9 (9) Willow Warblers
- 17 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (11) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; a trio arrived, soon departing as a single and a pair.
- 2 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 7 (6♂) Mallard: also 1 (1♂) on the upper pool
- 18 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Common Sandpiper
- *1 Herring Gull: second year
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 3 Grey Herons
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Very windy.
Flies etc.
- 1 unidentified midge
- 1 unidentified midge
Beetles:
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
- *1 Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
- *1 Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala
Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail
- 1 globular springtail
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Noted later:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Noted later:
Bees:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Beetles:
- at least 9 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni at various points
- at least 9 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni at various points
Flowers
- *first flowers of Ramsons Allium ursinum
- *Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris just beginning to flower
- *flower buds of Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon
- *first flowers of Ramsons Allium ursinum
- *Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris just beginning to flower
- *flower buds of Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon
The early clear skies soon retreated to the East and showers set in – again!
Two for one: the drake Gadwall in front of the Common Sandpiper.
The thick thighs on the hind legs of this beetle identify it as one of the flea beetles – they use these legs to leap away from predators just like fleas. The most likely identity for this individual is the very common Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.
This year's first flowers of Ramsons Allium ursinum.
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris also just beginning to flower.
And just flower buds so far for Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies etc.
- 3 plumed midge sp.
- 3 plumed midge sp.
Arthropods:
- 2 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 2 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp. possibly C. comta
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp. possibly C. comta
The abdomen shape suggests this is one of the Clubiona group of Stout Sac Spiders It is much smaller than those I usually see and is thus possibly C. comta. NatureSpot uses the name "Foliage spiders" for this group: not much foliage in the tunnel.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:55 – 07:40
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:55 – 07:40
(79th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- no Mallard ducklings found.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 10 (9) Willow Warblers
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- no all-white feral duck
- 18 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
Noted elsewhere, all on street lamp poles:
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 10 (9) Willow Warblers
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- no all-white feral duck
- 18 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
Noted elsewhere, all on street lamp poles:
Flies:
- *4 (3♂) plumed midges
- *4 (3♂) plumed midges
Beetles:
- *2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
- *2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
(Ed Wilson)
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Sightings from previous years
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Snipe
(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
34 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Tufted Ducks
12 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Heron
15 Tufted Ducks
Woodcock
1 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipits
7 Redwings
39 Fieldfare
149 Jackdaws
Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Skylarks
1 Redwing
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
20+ Sand Martins
3 Swallows
1 House Martin
7 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
(Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pintail x Mallard
11 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Buzzard
2 Sand Martin
5 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
118 Jackdaws
4 Stock Doves
3 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
19 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
3 Jays
8 Greenfinches
10 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)