3.0°C > 7.0°C: A clear start. Clouded from the South. Cam start with a light / moderate easterly wind later. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:01 BST
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:25 // 07:35 – 09:30
(98th visit of the year)
Bird notes
Best today was my second Grasshopper Warbler of the year singing along the South side but only briefly c.08:50.
Other bird notes:
- the pair of Gadwall were on the south-west grass c.09:00.
- the duck Pochard was not seen.
- a drake Tufted Duck visited briefly.
- no Common Sandpipers.
- *a Grey Heron flew in to try and perch on top of a tree along the North side
- four singing Sedge Warblers: three along the South side; and one along the North side.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: inbound
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Rook
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: a single and a pair arrived but later departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: briefly
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 31 + 5 (2 broods) Coots
- *6 Great Crested Grebes
- no Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- *1 Grey Heron: arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 21 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Sedge Warblers
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
- 1 (1) Grasshopper Warbler
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
- 12 (9) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles.
Pre-dawn:
Nothing
Noted later:
Nothing
Noted later:
Alder Flies:
*Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
*Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
New flowers for the year:
*Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
*Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
*Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
*Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
A clear and calm start with a touch of mist over the water.
Great Crested Grebes always make a good photo subject.
A Grey Heron trying to land at the very top of tall trees.
An Alder Fly Sialis lutaria, this time as seen by my phone's camera.
A not very good photo of Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
This is better: it is Creeping Buttercup R. repens.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:30
(95th visit of the year)
Bird notes
The first Barn Swallow of the year for me here flew straight through, high northbound. Species #65.
Other bird notes:
- *a Common Buzzard was perched in trees at the top end.
- a confirmed Willow Warbler singing. In a new location so all the previous birds were just passing through.
- today's conundrum was did I or did I not hear the Sedge Warbler again? I was certain I did when I was some way away but it was not singing and did not respond to squeaking when I was close to where it has been the previous two mornings.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Barn Swallow
Noted on / around the water:
- 25 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- *1 Mute Swan: the other presumed to be on the island.
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Herring Gulls: two adults arrived; an immature, briefly
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 9 (7) Chiffchaffs
- ? (1) Sedge Warbler: see notes
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
Noted elsewhere:
Moths:
Frosted Green Polyploca ridens: its third day
Frosted Green Polyploca ridens: its third day
Lacewings:
Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea
Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea
New flowers for the year:
*Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea
*probable Hybrid Bluebell Hyacinthoides sp.
*Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
*Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea
*probable Hybrid Bluebell Hyacinthoides sp.
*Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
For some reason the cob Mute Swan decided to look fierce and put the two adult Herring Gulls to flight.
A Common Buzzard in a tree at the top end.
Keeping a watchful eye on me.
"Butter" and "mouth" spring to mind as this Goldcrest contemplates the world.
Unusual for one to sit still so long.
"I can still see you".
At this point it found and morsel and flew off not to be found again.
This is Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea , with attractive small flowers but it is a pernicious weed.
These seem to be an albino form of the same plant.
(Ed Wilson)
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2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Tufted Duck
1 Cormorant
40 Swifts
2 Jays
4 Chiffchaff
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Tony Beckett)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Ringed Plovers
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 White Wagtail
1 Common Redstart
41 Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
The Wrekin
1 Wheatear
11+ Tree Pipit
7 Common Redstart
6 Pied Flycatchers
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
The Wrekin
2 Ring Ouzel
2 Pied Flycatchers
(J W Reeves)
2010
Wrekin
2 Wood Warblers
3+ Common Redstarts
4+ Pied Flycatchers
2+ Tree Pipits
Tawny Owl
4 Green Woodpecker
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
(J Reeves)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Common Sandpipers
20 Sand Martins
4 Swallows
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Wheatear
1 Redwing singing
8 Willow Warblers
9 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
Grey Wagtail
4 Sand Martin
House Martins
Chiffchaff
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Sand Martins
15 Swallows
House Martins
2 Stock Doves
26 Wrens
19 Robins
20 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
1 Redwing
9 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
7 Willow Warblers
2 Sedge Warbler
10 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
Lanes to east of Priorslee Lake
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
2 Greenfinch
2 Linnets
2 Reed Buntings
8 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
2 Wheatear
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
2 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)