3.0°C > 9.0°C: A mostly clear and fine start with mist patches over the water though with low cloud patches far to the East. Another calm start with a very light easterly breeze later. Good visibility with haze.
Sunrise: 06:25 BST
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:40
(87th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a quartet of Greylag Geese arrived from the West at 05:55 and departed back to the West at 06:00.
- a pair of Gadwall again, around the south-west grassy area throughout.
- the duck Pochard is still present.
- ten was today's the highest Great Crested Grebe count.
- a Kingfisher was a surprising sight at this date flying low across the water. It seems unlikely that there are suitable breeding locations here.
- a small group of martins was overhead briefly again: at least four Sand Martins and one House Martin. I have assumed it was these that returned some 15 minutes later.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: singles
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: together
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout and separate
- 4 Greylag Geese: together, briefly
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 9 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- *10 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Kingfisher
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >6 Sand Martins
- >2 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warbler
- 21 (17) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles
Pre-dawn:
Most of the poles were slightly frosted.
Most of the poles were slightly frosted.
Moths:
*1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
Noted later:
*1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
Noted later:
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Syrphus sp. either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis.
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Syrphus sp. either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis.
Alder flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies:
*Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
plus many unidentified flies.
I noted yesterday I had yet to get a good photograph of a Reed Bunting this year. This isn't it: but it is my best so far. Its face was in deep shadow and required the help of the photo editor to get it this clear. It is a female: the male has a jet-black head with a white moustachial streak.
The Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla noted on a street lamp pole pre-dawn. My second of the year here.
Another one of those "well I suppose it is a Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax" photos. The eyes meet so it is male; the front legs are mostly pale so it is this species. But the abdomen does not look tapered.
My first Syrphus species of hoverfly this year. It is either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis – I needed to get a clear view of the hind leg to decide which and, as usual, the leg is covered by the folded wing.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30
(84th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *a relatively unusual sight was five Greylag Geese arriving in total silence and not eliciting any response from the birds already present.
- the two Great Crested Grebes were seen mating on the nest.
- an immature Herring Gull departed and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
Noted on / around the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- *10 Greylag Geese: of these five arrived together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (15♂) Mallard again
- 12 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens again
- 33 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Herring Gull: adults throughout
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: both adults together, briefly
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Also noted:
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
12 Tufted Duck
3 Swallows
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
133 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling-type Goose
29 Tufted Ducks
5 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
22 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
Little Ringed Plover
8 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
3 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling Goose
73 Tufted Duck
Brambling
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Long Lane, Wellington
6 Redshank
18 Teal
(Martin Grant)
2011
Nedge Hill
Ring Ouzel
4 Common Redstart
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood,Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
3 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
1 Tree Pipit
(JW Reeves)
2007
Priorslee lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Sand Martin
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
9 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
1 Swallow
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Herons
1 Cormorant
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
259 Jackdaw
4 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Meadow Pipits
21 Wrens
18 Robins
22 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
3 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
4 Jays
6 Greenfinches
2 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
*Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
plus many unidentified flies.
You can tell this photo of the dawn wasn't taken yesterday as there is a cloud in the sky.
A different perspective.
All the Great Crested Grebes seem to do is display to each other. How about nesting guys and gals?
Today a Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris with parallel sides to the yellow on the side of the thorax.
A Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major pretending to be a hoverfly.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(84th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *a relatively unusual sight was five Greylag Geese arriving in total silence and not eliciting any response from the birds already present.
- the two Great Crested Grebes were seen mating on the nest.
- an immature Herring Gull departed and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
Noted on / around the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- *10 Greylag Geese: of these five arrived together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (15♂) Mallard again
- 12 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens again
- 33 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Herring Gull: adults throughout
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: both adults together, briefly
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Also noted:
Moths:
1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata: exactly where it was two days ago. I presumably overlooked it yesterday.
1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata: exactly where it was two days ago. I presumably overlooked it yesterday.
Lacewings:
1 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea: on a different street lamp pole to the individual two days ago.
1 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea: on a different street lamp pole to the individual two days ago.
The unusually silent quintet of Greylag Geese begin their final approach.
One with undercarriage lowered.
And another.
The formation pair on finals...
... for a synchronised landing.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
12 Tufted Duck
3 Swallows
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
133 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling-type Goose
29 Tufted Ducks
5 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
22 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
Little Ringed Plover
8 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
3 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling Goose
73 Tufted Duck
Brambling
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Long Lane, Wellington
6 Redshank
18 Teal
(Martin Grant)
2011
Nedge Hill
Ring Ouzel
4 Common Redstart
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood,Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
3 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
1 Tree Pipit
(JW Reeves)
2007
Priorslee lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Sand Martin
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
9 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
1 Swallow
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Herons
1 Cormorant
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
259 Jackdaw
4 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Meadow Pipits
21 Wrens
18 Robins
22 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
3 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
4 Jays
6 Greenfinches
2 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)