3.0°C > 9.0°C: Fine apart from a few patches of medium-level cloud. Light and variable winds. Moderate visibility, poor at times.
Sunrise: 06:07 BST
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:35 // 07:40 – 09:45
(95th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- no sign of the Gadwall today.
- *a duck Mallard with 11 very new ducklings.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a drake Tufted Duck early only.
- possibly as many as six Common Sandpipers. I noted four on the south part of the dam face at c.05:50. A dog-walker approaching from the North end put up what I think on calls were two more – I did not see them. Only two noted after 08:00.
- a smaller party of Herring Gulls appeared overhead c.05:45, flying straight through high East.
- *a probable first year Yellow-legged Gull.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were an unusual sight at this date on the football field at 06:20. They were joined by a third and after a brief skirmish they all flew off.
- a Sedge Warbler was singing in the south-east copse throughout. A few spluttering song notes were heard from the South side reeds early. Later one, perhaps this bird, was singing lustily from the hedge separating the area from the M54.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 14 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived and this and a single departed
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair visited briefly
- 2 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- *3 (2♂) + 11 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: departed
- 8 Moorhens
- 29 + 4 (1 brood) Coots
- 9 Great Crested Grebes
- 6? Common Sandpipers: see notes
- 3 Herring Gulls
- *1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- no Cormorants
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >6 Sand Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- *1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- *20 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warblers: perhaps a third: see notes
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
- 18 (14) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles
Pre-dawn:
Nothing on dew-covered poles
Noted later:
Not quite warm or sunny-enough for many insects to be out and about:
Nothing on dew-covered poles
Noted later:
Not quite warm or sunny-enough for many insects to be out and about:
Hoverflies:
1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax only
1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax only
Alder flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies:
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
*several other different species
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
*several other different species
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
New flower species for the year:
*Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Mum Mallard with eleven tiny ducklings. I needed the camera to count the ducklings and they constantly changed position.
The putative Yellow-legged Gull. A first year bird. The inner primaries are not pale-enough for a Herring Gull of the same age yet the upper tail is too well-marked for a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
One of the trio of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls that were on the football field c.06:15. I cannot make out what it has picked up.
In the three and half years since I first became aware of a Cetti's Warbler being present this is by far the best photo I have even taken. Does anyone know how to erase sticks in photos?
It is unusual to see a Chiffchaff out in the open until they are searching for insects on Autumn migration. This one is on the fence that encloses the sailing club's yachts.
With a black back there is no chance this is a migrant White Wagtail. It is an ordinary male Pied Wagtail.
This is Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, identifiable by the larger petals on the outside of the umbels. I am sure it should not be flowering at this date. It normally flowers from June onwards, the first umbellifers of the year are usually Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:35
(92nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a pair of Great Crested Grebes, probably the same, were noted at each end of the water. A third was noted close-up to the island but at the opposite end to the putative nest site that was unoccupied.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese: "some" of these departed
- 1 Mute Swan: the other presumed to be on the island.
- *16 (14♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 31 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- *23 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Herring Gulls: all immatures of various ages
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, very briefly again
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 9 (9) Willow Warblers
- *10 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Of note later.
A Chiffchaff. I suspect a female because it was only calling and not singing. There are no plumage differences between males and females of this species.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
8 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
1 Sand Martin
4 Swallows.
1 Sedge Warbler
10 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
191 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane
2 Red-legged Partridges
1 Whitethroat
4 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Swallow
2 Blackcap
6 Skylark
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Martin Grant)
2013
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
5 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
2 Swallows
Chiffchaff
2 Yellowhammer
6+ Skylarks
3 Linnet
(Ian Grant, Martin Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
1 Siskin
Common Whitethroat
(John Isherwood/Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
12 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John. Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Reed Warblers
1 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
6 Swallows
2 Reed Warblers
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Gadwall
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
111 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
4 Swallows
1 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
11 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
3 Ruddy Duck
9 Common Sandpiper
11 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcaps
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Swallow
1 Willow Tit
5 Greenfinch
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
*Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
A not-very-inspiring sunrise.
Wisely stick close to mum – there were two Carrion Crows in close attendance looking for a meal should the ducklings come close-enough.
Confirmed: eleven.
Another view.
Whatever it was it lead to a dispute.
I can't decide which is better. You choose.
This certainly shows the rufous on the rump to good advantage.
And it is not often you get to see the under tail so clearly!
Yes you.
A small midge that was sitting on the rail of the 'boxing ring'. No idea as to the species.
An unknown (to me) species of fly.
Not a new species for the year simply a pleasant view of a bunch of Cowslip flowers Primula veris.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:35
(92nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a pair of Great Crested Grebes, probably the same, were noted at each end of the water. A third was noted close-up to the island but at the opposite end to the putative nest site that was unoccupied.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese: "some" of these departed
- 1 Mute Swan: the other presumed to be on the island.
- *16 (14♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 31 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- *23 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Herring Gulls: all immatures of various ages
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, very briefly again
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 9 (9) Willow Warblers
- *10 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Of note later.
Nothing
A bachelor party of drake Mallard. The bird second from the left with the brown-tones flanks is the puzzling hybrid with what. A Wood Pigeon has gatecrashed the party in the right foreground.
Something I don't see too often: a Coot in flight above the water. Normally they are content to skitter across with feet pattering on the water.
Two Great Crested Grebes displaying. They are doing a lot of that so far this year with not too much sign of nesting.
Looking coy.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
8 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
1 Sand Martin
4 Swallows.
1 Sedge Warbler
10 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
191 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane
2 Red-legged Partridges
1 Whitethroat
4 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Swallow
2 Blackcap
6 Skylark
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Martin Grant)
2013
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
5 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
2 Swallows
Chiffchaff
2 Yellowhammer
6+ Skylarks
3 Linnet
(Ian Grant, Martin Grant)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
1 Siskin
Common Whitethroat
(John Isherwood/Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
12 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John. Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Reed Warblers
1 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
6 Swallows
2 Reed Warblers
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Gadwall
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
111 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
4 Swallows
1 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
11 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
3 Ruddy Duck
9 Common Sandpiper
11 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcaps
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Swallow
1 Willow Tit
5 Greenfinch
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)