9.0°C > 12.0°C: Mostly medium-high overcast; clearer early and cloudier at lower level later. Light / moderate easterly wind. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:10 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:30 // 07:20 – 09:15
(67th visit of the year)
A frustrating morning, not only because the camera decided to lock-up again during much of the visit. I thought I heard a snatch of a Common Sandpiper calling but did not see anything. Then later my Merlin app was telling me I was hearing a Blackcap – which I wasn't. But then it was also telling me I was hearing a Red-legged Partridge – which I wasn't. I was hearing and seeing Long-tailed Tits which Merlin did not hear. It is about time for Blackcaps to appear and start singing but I prefer to trust my own ears.
Bird notes:
- the four Mute Swans all seem to be accepting each others presence at the moment.
- no Gadwall or Pochard noted.
- at least nine Great Crested Grebes, probably ten. Some partner-swapping seen amongst displaying birds.
- two Feral Pigeons flew high North. I do not specifically record this species unless it is clear they are not birds from the local houses.
- of the 56 over-flying Wood Pigeons 22 were noted flying high North / north-west and were possible migrants. It is puzzling that in late October / early November I record many thousands flying South without there ever being a commensurate Spring return passage.
- 12 singing Chiffchaffs again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: see notes
- 1 Stock Dove
- *56 Wood Pigeons: see notes
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 11 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 4 Mute Swans: plus one long dead
- no Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 11 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- *9? Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- no Grey Heron
On the West end street lamp poles:
Pre-dawn:
Moths:
*1 Shoulder Stripe Earophila badiata: on a different lamp pole to yesterday's individual
*1 Shoulder Stripe Earophila badiata: on a different lamp pole to yesterday's individual
Flies:
*1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
*1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
Spiders:
*1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
Noted later:
Once the camera had decided to start working again I managed a few photos. A portrait of a Great Crested Grebe.
Not what you might be thinking. Two Great Crested Grebes here with the closer bird just diving for its breakfast.
Today's Shoulder Stripe moth Earophila badiata was very high up on a different lamp pole to yesterday's individual.
For clear viewing this male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus had chosen to sit on the white part of the lamp pole identification label.
(66th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Mallard were difficult to keep track of as they were flying about and jumping on and off roofs.
- the white feral Mallard-type ’Aylesbury Duck’ was seen again, today climbing a path in to the hilly wooded area in the south-east corner.
- no Great Crested Grebe noted today.
- one Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard drumming from trees in squirrel alley. Also calls – the same bird?
- four singing Chiffchaffs again.
- a Mistle Thrush singing distantly again, today from trees around the Co-op store.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) white feral Mallard-type ’Aylesbury Duck’
- 22 (16♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls: two adults and immatures swirling about for a while.
Of note:
*1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
Noted later:
Nothing else
Today's sunrise part one. Too much cloud to see the waning moon.
Sunrise part two from a different perspective.
Is it love?
A first year Black-headed Gull...
...showing the upper wing pattern at this age.
A passing Wood Pigeon seems to be keeping an eye on me.
As does this other one. The white mark across the wing can be seen here.
A Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp. This group is also known as foliage spiders and requires microscopic examination for a specific identification. I do not recall previously noting one with a pale band at the rear of the metathorax. That does not aid its identification. The white specs are eye-shine from the camera flash.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:15
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:15
(66th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Mallard were difficult to keep track of as they were flying about and jumping on and off roofs.
- the white feral Mallard-type ’Aylesbury Duck’ was seen again, today climbing a path in to the hilly wooded area in the south-east corner.
- no Great Crested Grebe noted today.
- one Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard drumming from trees in squirrel alley. Also calls – the same bird?
- four singing Chiffchaffs again.
- a Mistle Thrush singing distantly again, today from trees around the Co-op store.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) white feral Mallard-type ’Aylesbury Duck’
- 22 (16♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls: two adults and immatures swirling about for a while.
Of note:
Nothing else
Photos
Camera u/s again. Is it something in the water?
(Ed Wilson)
Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
Camera u/s again. Is it something in the water?
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
Of interest
- 4 (4♂) Mallard: on the lower pool.
- 4 Moorhen: one pair on each pool.
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+ Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
1 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
66 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)
2011
The Flash
48 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
- 4 (4♂) Mallard: on the lower pool.
- 4 Moorhen: one pair on each pool.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+ Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
1 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
66 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)
2011
The Flash
48 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)