9.0°C: Low overcast with mist, murk and drizzle / light rain. Light northerly wind. Poor / very poor visibility.
Sunrise: 06:04 GMT
Just one photograph today. I kept the camera dry and anyway it was very dull.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 06:35 // 07:30 – 08:40
(70th visit of the year)
Bird notes
Another addition to the bird year list here today:
- at least two Sand Martins were flying around after 07:45. They were kept appearing and disappearing so I am not sure whether they were always the same two. This is a few days later than my "first date" for the last two year. This is likely in part due to the several fine days when birds have had no need to feed on insects low over the water.
My bird species count for here in 2025 moves on to #79.
Other bird notes:
- yesterday's Shoveler not seen again (the Garganey had already departed before me yesterday).
- two pairs of Tufted Duck appeared between my first and second (post-The Flash) circuits.
- only five Great Crested Grebes again.
- no gulls seen
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 13 Canada Geese: two pairs, a trio and a sextet all outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons
That's all folks!
Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese
- 4 Mute Swans: plus one long dead
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 49 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron: only seen flying off the dam c.06:00
Warblers recorded (figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
On the West end street lamp poles
Pre-dawn:
Flies:
4 male plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
4 male plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
Nothing else on the wet poles
Noted later:
Noted later:
Nothing
New this morning were the first Sand Martins of the year. This isn't one of them. It is one I took later in the day at the SOS Reserve at Venus Pool. The weather was not much better but at least I was in a hide!
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
(68th visit of the year)
Bird notes
Also an addition to the bird year list here:
- a lone Fieldfare called as it flew North.
My bird species count for here in 2025 moves on to #57.
Other bird notes:
- one of the Mute Swans was again sitting on the island for some of the time.
- seven singing Chiffchaffs.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Fieldfare
Noted on / around the water:
- 37 Canada Geese: at least 13 of these flew off
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 20 (14♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ? -type
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and then either departed or went fishing
Of note:
Nothing else
(Ed Wilson)
Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
Of interest
- 3 (3♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 4 Moorhen: one pair on each pool.
(Ed Wilson)
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)
- 3 (3♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 4 Moorhen: one pair on each pool.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)