13 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 10.0°C: A change! Mostly cloudy with a spell of light rain c.07:45. Still a calm start with a light westerly breeze later. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:16 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:35 – 06:40 // 07:35 – 09:40

(91st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- four visiting Mute Swans had not been seen off when I departed. The previous resident pen 7JSS was with presumably the same first year bird. The other two were keeping together as if they were a pair. I never got to see the legs to determine whether either was ringed.
- the pair of Gadwall re-appeared from wherever they were hiding as I was about to leave.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a pair of Coots seen with two juveniles: my first of the year. The juveniles looked to be several days old having lost much of their spiky red hair.
- nine confirmed Great Crested Grebes.
- just two Common Sandpipers.
- as happened Friday a number of large gulls arrived from the West c.05:50. They were better behaved today and I managed to count 27. These circled low over the water, low-enough to count as visiting and also low-enough that I could see against the background they were all Herring Gulls and mostly adults. Very strange.
- two Reed Buntings flew together from the west-end reedy area and away high to the West.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: single outbound
- *19 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Rook
- 2 Ravens

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: of these four arrived
- *6 Mute Swans: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 32 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 9 Great Crested Grebes
- *2 Common Sandpipers
- 27 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 1 Cormorant

Hirundines etc. noted:
c.50 in a large mixed flock: confirmed identities:
- *20 Sand Martins
- 6 Barn Swallows
- *4 House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 21 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 17 (16) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn:

Moths:
*Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata

Flies:
*species of non-biting midge
*a "winter cranefly"

Spiders:
- *one to be identified – perhaps!

Noted later:

Insects

None too dull and cool

New flowers for the year:
*Ramsons Allium ursinum

Just to prove the sun did rise, but not so as you would notice.

Here she is again – the previous resident cob Mute Swan with the blue Darvic ring 7JSS.

A slightly better photo of one of the two Common Sandpipers present this morning. Still too dull for a good photo.

When this species is flying around locally it keeps the wings below horizontal at all times with flickering wing-beats. This is how I usually see them and they look very different when they decide to fly out with 'normal' wing-flapping.

Not much to photograph today. Have a Wood Pigeon.

I did manage a few acceptable shots of the many martins and swallows flying around. Here is a Sand Martin with the dark breast band.

And here a House Martin with a clean breast and darker cap. The white rump is probably the easiest field mark but you have to be able to see the upper side and today they were hunting insects high overhead.

A Brindled Pug moth Eupithecia abbreviata.

I think this is a species of non-biting midge and likely a female as the antennae are 'simple'. Beyond this...

One of the winter craneflies I suspect. Obsidentify thinks it is a species of hoverfly which it most certainly is not. It is sitting on one of the new street lamp identification stickers.

An unidentified species of spider found on one of the street lamp poles pre-dawn. Obsidentify is 99% certain it is a Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica. It seems much too small to me but then I guess all spiders start very small when they emerge from the egg so perhaps it is.

Since yesterday a very few flowers of Ramsons Allium ursinum have opened. Here is one.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
*plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
*Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]

A male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus. Now that the childish scribbling on the wall of the tunnel has been painted out I can actually see what creatures are lurking there.

One of the 100 or so Psychodidae species, variously known as Drain Flies, Moth Flies or Owl Flies. None is identifiable from photos.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 06:45 – 07:40

(88th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Great Crested Grebes seen. They do keep me on my toes.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, together

Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese: of these seven departed in fought groups
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these one departed and a pair arrived
- 1 Mute Swan: only one seen; the other almost certainly on nest now hidden by leaves
- 24 (19♂) Mallard
- *23 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps still

Of note.

Nothing else

Yummy water! A pair of Mallard in the almost dry Wesley Brook where it runs between the Priorslee Academy and the back of the houses in Everglades Road.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
1 Common Sandpiper
c.10 Sand Martins
>6 Barn Swallows
1 House Martin
2 Tawny Owls
2 Meadow Pipits
8 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
276 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Swallow
5 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Ringed Plover
>20 Willow Warbler
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Common Redstart
8 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
47 Black-tailed Godwit
6 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
1 Dunlin
3 Swallows
(Andy Latham)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
4 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow
23 Sand Martin
1 House Martin
5 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Fieldfares
3 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
2 Greenfinches
1 Siskin
1 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

12 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 10.0°C: Yet another clear and fine start with some wispy high cloud developing. Again a calm start with a very light and variable breeze later. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

More Willow Warblers passing today.

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 09:30

(90th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no sign of any Gadwall today.
- I could not locate the duck Pochard either
- just six confirmed Great Crested Grebes.
- four Common Sandpipers at 06:00 on and around the south-west grass. Fishermen and (separately) uncontrolled dogs meant they were nowhere to be seen later.
- A Little Egret flew South c.07:50.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: single outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 18 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Little Egret
- 8 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard again
- no Pochard
- 7 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- *4 Common Sandpipers: departed? see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 21 (18) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Reed Warbler
- 9 (9) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn and still very little to be found.

Spiders:
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:

Butterflies:
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria: two seen, neither would pose

Bees, wasps etc.:
*possible possible Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa [aka Early Mining Bee]
*possible Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
possible Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava

Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Alder flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Other flies:
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies.

A slightly different perspective on another hazy sunrise. Two Canada Geese are at the bottom of the view.

An only-slightly-better record shot of Common Sandpiper. Here are two of the four on the south-west grass area. Taken at c.05:50 so still pre-sunrise.

Black bill and yellow feet means this egret is a Little Egret.

My best suggestion for this is a possible Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa [aka Early Mining Bee]. I am sure it has nothing to do with the hole in the Cherry Laurel leaf.

And for this a possible Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica

A slightly different view.

Another possible Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava. I cannot decide whether it has a very furry face or whether it has something in its jaws.

A sunny Syrphus species of hoverfly, either. S. ribesii or S. vitripennis. A female. Again I am sure it has nothing to do with the hole in the leaf.

Today's lone creature on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn was this Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20

(86th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- three Great Crested Grebes. One at the bottom end loosely around the nest area where I noted mating earlier in the week. And a pair patrolling the top end and hiding beneath overhanging trees.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: of these three departed
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *15 (11♂) Mallard
- 20 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- *4 (4) Willow Warblers
- *10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again

Of note.

Nothing else

This duck Mallard flew up on to the hand rail of one of the footbridges, demanding to have its picture taken.

The only Willow Warbler today that would pose was this one, taken against what light there was c.06:35. The distinguishing feature here is the well-defined eye-brow (supercilium). Note also the length of the wings.

For comparison a Chiffchaff. No supercilium, just a pale area in front of the eye. I could convince myself the wings look shorter (as they should do) but this is accentuated by the angle. Definitely black legs.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
1 Greylag Goose
2 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
2 Barn Swallows
1 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Swallows flew through
2 Meadow Pipits
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Duck
9 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Swallow
1 Reed Bunting
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
5 Lapwings
1 Swallow
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Skylarks
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Redstart
13 Wheatear
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

East Priorslee
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Sand Martins
2 Greylag Geese
3 Stock Doves
1 Lapwing
(Ed Wilson)

11 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

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

Pre-dawn:
Somewhat milder last night: still very little.

Springtails:
*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

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

Alder flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Other flies:
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies.

Beetle:
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.

And a touch of colour.

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?

Here is our erstwhile resident pen Mute Swan wearing the blue Darvic ring 7JSS.

And here she is leading the first year bird (with some brown in the wings) as they are chased by the new residents.

And here she is again this time showing the metal BTO ring on her other leg.

They are magnificent birds.

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.

Today's unidentified Mining Bee Andrena sp., identification not helped by its position against a very reflective Cherry Laurel leaf.

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.

My first Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus of the year.

One of the Syrphus species pair S. ribesii / S. vitripennis.

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.

Moths:
*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)

10 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 9.0°C: Another clear and fine start with mist patches over the water. Calm to start with a very light easterly breeze later. Good visibility with haze again.

Sunrise: 06:23 BST

* = a species photographed today.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:45

(88th visit of the year)

Bird notes
One and a half new species for my year list here – that's taxonomists for you!
- *two White Wagtails were on the dam top c.08:50. The BTO (British Trust for Ornithology), who are keepers of the official British list, regard the UK's native Pied Wagtail and the White Wagtail that breeds on Continental Europe and occurs in the UK only as a migrant as separate races (or sub-species) of the same species. I had planned to remark today that until two weeks ago both Grey and Pied Wagtails were frequenting the dam area and the south-west grass and recently have disappeared.
- a Sedge Warbler was singing from South side reeds at c.09:00
My bird species for this year now stands at 86.5!

Other bird notes:
- of the seven Canada Geese two pairs and a single were chased away by the cob Mute Swan.
- a single Greylag Goose visited briefly. It was not chased by the swans.
- a pair of Gadwall again, around the south-west grassy area throughout.
- the duck Pochard is still present.
- ten was again today's the highest Great Crested Grebe count. On several occasions I could find no more that four!
- a lone Barn Swallow was the only hirundine I noted today.
- a single singing Reed Warbler: from the north-east reeds today.
- for the last few days one or two Mistle Thrushes have been on the south-west grass before 06:00.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese: a pair outbound; a single and a pair inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair inbound
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: see notes
- 1 Greylag Goose: briefly
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 7 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- *23 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles

Pre-dawn:
Still too cold at night for many things to emerge.

Spiders:
*1 unidentified spider

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
*Early Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa [Orange-tailed Mining Bee]
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Alder flies:
*Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Other flies:
many unidentified flies.

Beetle:
*Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the 'boxing ring'.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Philodromus species on the 'boxing ring' again

Another hazy red sunrise.

Position changed to emphasise the mist over the lake. Many 'dead' aircraft contrails in the distance left my the early arrivals in to Europe from the States. Most European airfields have an 06:00 local curfew so with the hour difference in clocks and about an hour's flying time to get there the aircraft pass over after c.04:00 out time.

A fiery sunrise.

Calm waters for a while.

Why is it Chiffchaffs are the only warblers that come and pose for me.

Yes you. Note that the feet, especially, are not always black as many bird books tell you they are..

It was one of several birds that were calling rather than singing and as it was in a known territory I assume it is a female. There are no plumage differences between the sexes.

I made squeaking noises to see whether a Reed Warbler would respond. As usual it was one of the tits that came to investigate: a sunlit Blue Tit.

"Satisfied?"

Male White Wagtails are relatively easy to separate from Pied Wagtails. Here the black on the head and breast means it has to be a male. A male Pied Wagtail would have a black back. Also note how 'clean' the flanks are (though not this clean on all individuals).

On both sexes the definitive separation it the tone of the base of the back / the upper tail. On White Wagtail it is pale grey and on Pied Wagtail it is black (male) or dark grey (female). It is not easy to see this "in the field"...

...where often, as here, the folded wings cover that area and make it look black.

Here is another male to prove the point that not all individuals have the very clean flanks, but the tone is always paler than on a Pied Wagtail.

With the proviso that almost all mining bees are difficult to identify from photos this does appear to be a good candidate for an Early Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa, known to Obsidentify as Orange-tailed Mining Bee.

A better side-elevation view of an Alder Fly Sialis lutaria. This species is almost always found neat water spending most of the day sitting around.

My first Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni on the 'boxing ring'.

The only creature on any of the street lamp poles pre-dawn was this small spider. At the time I assumed it was one of the "money spiders". Enlarging the photo shows that it isn't, but I am none the wiser.

Plane of the day. A Bombardier built Canadair Challenger 605, one of the smaller executive jets capable of carrying up to 12 people 4000 nautical miles.

As so often with executive jets FlightRadar24 does not identify them. We have ways..... The on-line Canadian Civil Aircraft Register identifies this three year old aircraft as being operated by Image Air Charter Ltd. based in Ontario. Starting in Toronto the aircraft had refuelled in Belfast and is here bound for Nice.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *one Great Crested Grebe seen flying off. Still two present thereafter.
- seven adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls appeared overhead together with *three briefly settling on the water.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults: see notes
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 11 Greylag Geese: of these six departed together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (9♂) Mallard
- 24 (19♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots again
- *3 Great Crested Grebes: one departed
- *3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults: see notes

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Of note.
The Brindled Pug moth Eupithecia abbreviata was most certainly not still on the same street lamp pole where it had been for three mornings.

The Great Crested Grebe that flew around and away. This species shows an unexpected amount of white in flight.

Note the large feet sticking well beyond the tail. These are very useful for chasing after fish but are set so far back on the body they are more or less useless on land and just about enable the birds to scramble on to their nesting platform of reeds etc.

A mart adult Lesser Black-backed Gull arrives...

...shows off its arm-pits...

...and drowns.

Oh: it didn't drown after all.

A passing Long-tailed Tit stopped to deal with an itch.

"Face this way please".

"Thank you".

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:

Bird notes:
No birds on the water – I assume the Moorhens are all busy nesting and keeping a low profile.

Also noted:
*first flowers of Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris

Not in an easy position to photograph: these are my first flowers of Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris this year.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
3 Greylag Geese
13 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Dunlin
>50 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
8 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Woodhouse Lane
4 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
3 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
10 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
1 Wheatear
Kestrel
Lapwing
> 50 Meadow Pipits
(John Isherwood)

2013
The Flash
Cackling Goose
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
10 Meadow Pipit
(John Isherwood)

2009
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
3 Wheatear
1 Redwing
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Sand Martin
Ruddy Duck
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
11 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
387 Jackdaw
2 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Skylark
1 Tree Pipit
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtails
17 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
17 Robins
18 Blackbirds
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
8 Greenfinches
5 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)