6.0°C > 11.0°C: Yet another clear and fine start. Calm to start with a very light and variable breeze later, mainly westerly for a change. Good visibility with haze again.
Sunrise: 06:21 BST
Have the Willow Warblers all passed through / over? I heard a single song phrase from one bird at The Flash all morning.
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:45
(89th visit of the year)
Bird notes
Its that time when new bird species occur frequently. Today my first Common Sandpiper on its Spring migration. This is my "latest date" for six years for my "first of the year".
My bird species for this year now stands at 87.5.
Other bird notes:
- two or three visiting Mute Swans. The former resident pen with the blue Darvic ring 7JSS arrived with a first year bird and probably the same bird she has been with previously. The first year was soon chased away but she took longer for the new residents to force to leave. About 20 minutes later an adult arrived and was almost immediately forced to leave – perhaps the same pen?
- a pair of Gadwall again, around the south-west grassy area throughout.
- the duck Pochard is still present.
- nine was today's the highest Great Crested Grebe count.
- a most unusual (for the date) sight was the arrival of at least 57 large gulls from the West at 05:45. Too dark to specifically identify and I am not confident I could separate Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on call. After circling low for a few minutes without settling most departed to the North with 12 leaving to the West. A few minutes later 29 came in from the North, probably the earlier birds, circled again and left to the West.
- no hirundines noted.
- no Sedge Warblers heard: this species does occasionally breed here though most records are of passage birds.
- a single singing Reed Warbler again in the north-east reeds.
- a single Reed Bunting flew out of the West end reeds and away high East as if it were roosting here. Our local birds seem to be nesting already.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: a single inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: two singles outbound
- 26 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Herring Gulls
- c.57 large gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
- 18 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose
- *4 or 5 Mute Swans: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 6 Moorhens
- 36 Coots again
- 11 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Common Sandpiper
- no gulls
- no Cormorants
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 20 (16) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 20 (16) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles
Pre-dawn:
Somewhat milder last night: still very little.
Somewhat milder last night: still very little.
Springtails:
*1 springtail, possibly Tomocerus vulgaris
Noted later:
*1 springtail, possibly Tomocerus vulgaris
Noted later:
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Mining Bee Andrena sp.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*possible Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava
*German Wasp Vespula germanica
*Mining Bee Andrena sp.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*possible Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava
*German Wasp Vespula germanica
Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax: for some reason almost none today
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*possible Hairy-eyed Syrph S. torvus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax: for some reason almost none today
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*possible Hairy-eyed Syrph S. torvus
Alder flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies:
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies.
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies.
Beetle:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the 'boxing ring'.
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the 'boxing ring'.
New flowers for the year:
*Hedge Garlic or Jack-by-the-Hedge Alliaria petiolata
Just a few wisps of cloud in the sky to show this is a different pre-dawn view than similar photos over the last week or so.
Public service announcement. This sign is at the start of Teece Drive. I hope they are filling in the pot-holes. Well, actually I hope they are doing more substantial work. Plugging the pot-holes did not work last time. No school (sorry, academy) on these days but what will the residents do?
And here she is leading the first year bird (with some brown in the wings) as they are chased by the new residents.
A bad photo even for a record shot! This is a Common Sandpiper walking along the edge of the south-west grass. It wasn't there earlier, probably because there was a fisherman there. It wasn't there later because a dog-walker was allowing its dog in the water. So this was the only chance I had.
A species of Nomad bee, possibly Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava. Positive identification requires the abdomen to be seen clearly, unobscured by the folded wings. Even then there are several species that cannot be separated from photos.
Today it was the turn of a German Wasp Vespula germanica to have its photo taken. The triangular shape to the yellow bands on the side of the thorax is the identification feature.
To my eyes the yellow bands on this individual are narrower making it possibly a Hairy-eyed Syrph S. torvus. Examination with a hand-lens in good light is needed to confirm this so I'll pass.
The only creature I found on the street lamp poles pre-dawn was this springtail, possibly Tomocerus vulgaris.
The flower head of this Hedge Garlic or Jack-by-the-Hedge plant Alliaria petiolata is just opening. The leaves of this plant do indeed taste of garlic and are good in salads or just to munch.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25
(85th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 2Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (13♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- 19 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull: adult, briefly
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warblers
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Otherwise noted.
*Hedge Garlic or Jack-by-the-Hedge Alliaria petiolata
And a touch of colour.
Here is our erstwhile resident pen Mute Swan wearing the blue Darvic ring 7JSS.
And here she is again this time showing the metal BTO ring on her other leg.
They are magnificent birds.
Today's unidentified Mining Bee Andrena sp., identification not helped by its position against a very reflective Cherry Laurel leaf.
My first Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus of the year.
One of the Syrphus species pair S. ribesii / S. vitripennis.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25
(85th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 2Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (13♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- 19 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull: adult, briefly
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warblers
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Otherwise noted.
Moths:
*1 Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata: my first at this site.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
>6 Sand Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
24 Tufted Ducks
3 Sand Martins
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
12 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin.
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
(Arthur Harper, Ian Grant and John Isherwood)
The Flash
Cackling Canada Goose
4 Sand Martins
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)
Trench Middle Pool
House Martin
4 Sand Martin
2 Chiffchaffs
(Martin Grant)
Trench Lock Pool
12 Sand Martins
(Martin Grant)
2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
80+ Hirundines
1 House Martin
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
3 Linnet
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
1 Mallard
1 Buzzard
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
90 Wood Pigeons
2 Kestrels
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Grey Wagtails
6 Pied Wagtails
2 House Martin
24 Wrens
15 Robins
24 Blackbirds
1 Wheatear
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
13 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
2 Linnets
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
*1 Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata: my first at this site.
My first-ever Water Carpet moth Lampropteryx suffumata at / around The Flash.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
>6 Sand Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
24 Tufted Ducks
3 Sand Martins
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
12 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin.
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
(Arthur Harper, Ian Grant and John Isherwood)
The Flash
Cackling Canada Goose
4 Sand Martins
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)
Trench Middle Pool
House Martin
4 Sand Martin
2 Chiffchaffs
(Martin Grant)
Trench Lock Pool
12 Sand Martins
(Martin Grant)
2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
80+ Hirundines
1 House Martin
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
3 Linnet
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
1 Mallard
1 Buzzard
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
90 Wood Pigeons
2 Kestrels
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Grey Wagtails
6 Pied Wagtails
2 House Martin
24 Wrens
15 Robins
24 Blackbirds
1 Wheatear
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
13 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
2 Linnets
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)