11 Apr 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Early mainly light rain moved away East with some sunny intervals later. Moderate south-westerly breeze increasing fresh once the clearance passed. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:22 BST]

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

A late start avoiding the worst of the rain.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 08:10 – 09:50

(86th visit of the year)

A full walk-around after my late start though the numbers are not wholly comparable.

Bird notes:
- two Reed Buntings were seen to fly off high North together from the South side reeds.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Mute Swan: flew south-west 08:15
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 4 Wood Pigeons only

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese: at various times
- 4 Greylag Geese: at various times
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (8♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 12 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret: arrived ?

Hirundines etc. noted:
a big swirling mass, impossible to do more than estimate:
- >50 Sand Martins
- >10 Barn Swallows
- >6 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers again
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers again
- 15 (14) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:

Flies:
- 2 wood gnats, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis

Around the area later:

Nothing noted apart from:
windy and cool

Flower:
- Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

It is a while since I have seen a Grey Heron doing its "balancing on a buoy" trick.

One of the very many Sand Martins hunting insects over the water. Note the pale collar and that the head is the darkest part of the plumage from above.

On the underside note the dark breast band and also that the "arm-pits" are darker than the rest of the plumage.

Another flies by.

Here with the tail spread there is no obvious fork.

A plan view.

I have no idea why the breast band look raised here. It shouldn't be.

Another with the tail held in a 'V'.

The Barn Swallows were less cooperative (and there were fewer). This is a male with one of the streamers broken. It is reported that females prefer males with the longest or most balanced streamers (how do they know?).

Another of the few acceptable photos I took of a Barn Swallows. This one with equal length streamers.

 I think this has to be a female with short streamers.

The "arm-pits" on Barn Swallows are pale. Note also the pale spots at the base of the tail when spread. I will try harder!

House Martins were few and far between. This was my best. Note the tubbier appearance and the whiter belly extending on the rump. The 'arm-pits' are not darker in this species.

"Give us a song Mr. Chiffchaff" ( if "chiff-chaff- chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff..." can be called a song).

The wind blowing the plumage to reveal grey-looking feathers.

Now just what exactly is that red splodge?

It is the rear end of the crest of this Goldcrest which it raises when excited...

 ...seen again here...

...and here...

 ...and again.

Indulgent I know but I have rarely seen a Goldcrest so well for such a long period let alone been able to photograph it.

A vocal individual.

This flower is Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- 6 unidentified midges of at least two species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:15 – 08:05

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan on / at the nest throughout.
- yesterday the Tufted Duck were nearly paired: they were not today!
- three late Siskins flew out of trees behind Wordsworth Way.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant

Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese: of these seven departed together
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (16♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (4) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (8) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Moths:
- 1 caterpillar of a Geometer moth to be identified: same pole as yesterday

Flies:
- 1 midge
- 1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Metellina merianae

It can't be much fun being a duck (female) Mallard when you get pounced on...

...half-drowned...

 ...and fought over. There are four drakes here and she is still underwater.

It was on the same lamp post so I guess this is a better view of the same caterpillar as yesterday. It is almost certainly from the Engrailed moth Ectropis crepuscularia. I frequently record the adult (imago) during July.

This is a wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis. There are several similar species and microscopic examination is needed to positively identify them. There were also two on the street lamp poles at the Balancing Lake.

I think this is a Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Metellina merianae.

(Ed Wilson)

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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 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 8.0°C: Much high cloud making any sun very hazy, though tending the thin. Light but chilly south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:24 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

I guess it was the cloudier night that triggered another small arrival of Willow Warblers at both the Balancing Lake and The Flash.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:35 – 06:50 // 07:55 – 09:50

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
*Highlight today was the appearance of the first brood of ducklings this year: five with a Mallard.

Other bird notes:
- I am not sure how many of the geese are (temporary) residents and spend time hiding / nesting. One pair of Canada Geese seems to be trying to nest close to the Mute Swans and gets hounded for its troubles. Others seem to appear and disappear without being seen flying in or out.
- the arrival of the seventh Great Crested Grebe a few days ago caused disharmony: today I could only find four.
- a Common Sandpiper heard only at 05:50.
- two duos of Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited at 05:55 and 09:00. One of the early birds looked to have a tail band suggesting an immature: it was still too dark to be sure.
- all c.150 Jackdaws went past in one group at 06:02
- one of the many Chiffchaffs was seen carrying nesting material.
- one of the Sedge Warblers was heard from the same location as the previous two days: the same bird? This species is more often just a passage migrant here though it has occasionally bred.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West
- 2 Mute Swans: flew south-west 09:30
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- c.150 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- *10 (8♂) + 5 (1 brood) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper: see notes
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret: arrived ?

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.30 Sand Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 5 (5) Willow Warblers
- *20 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers
- 15 (15) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
a chilly morning

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa
- *1 possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis

Of note around the area later:

Bees, wasps etc.
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- *ichneumon-type

Hoverflies:
- Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger [Lunuled Aphideater]
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Other flies:
- only *unidentified flies.

Beetles:
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Plants
new flowers for the year:
- *Ramsons [or Wild Garlic] Allium ursinum
- Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon

Despite (or because of?) the extensive high cloud there was another great sunrise.

Very colourful.

Mrs. Mallard looking pleased with herself as she leads here five small ducklings.

Another Chiffchaff. Why do Willow Warblers never seem to sit out like this.

A Goldfinch sitting up straight.

Yes you! This was sitting on the academy's fence – not a photo I would take if school were in!

This unsatisfactory photo of an unidentified ichneumon-type which was, as usual, running around at high speed waving her long antennae around. A female because she has a long ovipositor.

A female Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Another.

And here one appears to be cleaning her tongue with her front legs – or vice versa.

My first Common Spotted Field Syrph hoverfly Eupeodes luniger of the year. The alternative name of Lunuled Aphideater refers both to the lunule-shaped yellow marks and its preferred diet of aphids.

A male hoverfly so its identity stays as Syrphus species, either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis.

One of many unidentified flies seen today.

One of two spiders that were the only things on the street lamp poles this morning. This is a Cucumber Green Orb Spider, one of the Araniella species, either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa

While this male spider is a possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis

The first flowers of Ramsons [or Wild Garlic] Allium ursinum.

Growing in and open grassy area was this single spike of a Cowslip Primula veris.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
- 9 unidentified midges of at least three species

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:55 – 07:50

(83rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan did not visit the nest while I was present.
- after the recent surfeit of drake Tufted Duck all those seen today were paired.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult

Noted on / around the water:
- 14 Canada Geese: also much noise from inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese: one of these departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (20♂) Mallard
- 8 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, briefly

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *6 (5) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- *6 (6) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Moths:
- *1 caterpillar of a Geometer moth to be identified

Alder Flies and allies:
- *1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Flies:
- *only a few midges

New flowers for the year:
- *Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon

Not so much a branch in the way, more most of a tree! The best I could manage with any of the Willow Warblers, all hiding in the vegetation.

This male Blackcap was slightly more cooperative, still with a small twig spoiling the view.

This is the caterpillar of a Geometer moth to be identified. The name "geometer" refers to its progression where it brings its the claspers to meet its front legs in a loop – it measures its length. They are also known as "loopers".

A better view of an Alder Fly Sialis lutaria.

This midge is a strange. The antennae are neither like a male and plumed (chimney-sweep brushes) or a female (simple antennae). Perhaps it is a male holding all the hairs together?

A better photo of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris

My first flowers of Yellow Archangel Lamium galeobdolon. This flower was also visible for the first time at the Balancing Lake but they were not as far open as these.

(Ed Wilson)

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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)