23 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 7.0°C: Variable amounts of mostly medium-high cloud. No sun.. Light north-westerly wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:06 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:35 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:30

(67th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Great (White) Egret deigned to visit again
- at least one Redwing heard calling in West end trees
- no Reed Bunting heard today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Greylag Geese: flew West together
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
that's all

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 2 Mute Swans: including 7JUE
- 13 (9♂) Mallard
- 17 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- *2 Herring Gulls
- *1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs again
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
dew on all the poles again.

Moths:
- *1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata: moth species #10 here this year

Flies:
- *male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Springtails:
- *at least one small globular springtail

Beetles:
- *1 unidentified weevil

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 unidentified money spider

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Plants:
- *Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
- *Cowslip Primula veris
- *Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus
- *Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
- *speedwell, probably Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica

Not a sunrise worth getting out of bed for.

A first year Herring Gull. Grey on the back but no grey panel in the wings until the second year. On this bird the tail band is somewhat more extensive and the upper-tail less marked than on many individuals at this age.

A Grey Heron masquerading as a flying barn door.

It gave me a great display.

Head plumes trailing in the breeze.

I think I am being watched!

Definitely.

I will keep trying for a better photo of the always furtive, if noisy, Cetti's Warbler. All the feature are visible here: the overall dark brown colouration; the large rounded tail; and the grey on the throat.

Not easy to see pre-dawn against the lichen-covered label on a street lamp pole. This moth is an Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata. It is moth species #10 here this year for me. This species is on my list for this site. However I have no records since I started my current logging system in 2014. A good find.

My first identified wasp of the year. The shape of the yellow on the sides of the thorax confirms this is a Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris. And very hairy it is too!.

A male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus. While this species is the largest of the non-biting midges in our area it is still only about 12mm [<0.5"]. That makes the globular springtail by the midge's left rear leg no more than about 1mm.

And the female of the same plumed midge species.

An unidentified weevil: but then aren't they all! Its proboscis is best seen as the shadow.

A Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. unusually with its front legs spread out.

This is Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia. Not exactly colourful.

Unlike the cultivars I photographed at The Flash a few days ago these seem to be "real" Cowslips Primula veris: the flowers are hanging down.

The first flowers are appearing on the racemes of Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus. As previously noted this alien species, often planted or a garden escape, can become invasive. It does however provide an early source of nectar.

Along often narrow and mostly muddy south-side path the blossom of Blackthorn Prunus spinosa is a splendid sight.

 Identification of species of speedwell is not easy, made more difficult here as the flowers are not fully open. It is probably Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25

(64th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- where were all the duck Mallard hiding? The only three I noted were sitting on different roofs with their escort.
- *a pair of (Common) Teal were tucked up against the island. A favourite spot.
- many of the Moorhens seemed to be hiding.
- a Cormorant arrived flying straight in to land on a tree on the island.
- no Siskins seen or heard again

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Noted on / around the water:
- 26 Canada Geese: probably more inside the island
- 9 Greylag Geese: these all departed in three groups
- 2 Mute Swans
- 28 (25♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 18 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, departed
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Of note around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Flies:
- many male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

To the left of the Canada Goose a pair of (Common) Teal are bust feeding. This species was my "target bird of the day" on my Merlin app. Sadly the photo its showed was of the very similar New World species known as Green-winged Teal!

One of the two Great Crested Grebes seen today. At first sight it looks as if it has a deformed bill. Closer inspection shows the lower mandible to intersect with one of the wavelets.

Confirmed from this view.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
c.45 Black-headed Gulls
c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Nedge Hill
15 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
24 Tufted Duck
c.160 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Great Crested Grebe
28 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
13 Cormorant
6 Greylag Geese
29 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
3 Stock Dove
242 Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Meadow Pipit
29 Wren
27 Robin
24 Blackbird
2 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
50 Magpie
6 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
3 Buzzard
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
700 Black-headed Gulls
125 Jackdaws
474 Wood Pigeons
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Grey Wagtails
20 Wrens
20 Robins
20 Blackbirds
7 Fieldfares
27 Redwings
9 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

22 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 8.0°C: Clear and hazy again early. Thin high cloud spreading from the West. Light north-westerly breeze. Moderate / good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:15 GMT

First time on "summer schedule": once around the Balancing Lake; up to, around and back from The Flash; and then around the lake again. When I can manage it without getting caught up in the school traffic!

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 06:50 // 07:55 – 09:25

(66th visit of the year)

New bird species:
Three additions to my 2026 bird list for here: in sighting order:
- a Blackcap was seen in spluttering song in the north-east area c.07:30. What I presume was the same bird was heard singing properly along the North side c.08:15. The same date as my first here in 2025.
- several House Sparrows had made it from the estate on to my (self-imposed) recording area in the bushes between Teece Drive and the football field.
- a Green Woodpecker was heard calling from the North side c.08:30. I could not locate the bird. Two days earlier than the last one I heard – at The Flash in 2025.
My bird species total here moves on to #70.

Other bird notes:
- a first-winter Black-headed Gull dropped in briefly: the only gull seen here today.
- yesterday's pair of Shoveler not seen.
- a Reed Bunting was calling along the South side; one was singing along the North side.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew West
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair flew East
- 1 Stock Dove
- 31 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
that's all

Counts from the lake area:
- 12 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose: departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 18 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
much dew on all the poles.

Flies:
- *male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >3 Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 money spider

Slightly better than the forecast fog and / or low cloud.

Taken later. Some of the early aircraft arriving from the USA have left some partial contrails in the sky.

This photo seems to capture both a male and a female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus: the male on the left with plumed antennae; the female on the right with a shorter, stouter abdomen and simple antennae.

It seems a midge has fallen victim to a money spider. Whether the spider happened upon the dead midge (no web is apparent) or whether it managed to catch and subdue it is unclear. Spiders do tackle prey items much larger than themselves. It almost looks as if the spider has more than eight legs. I assume the "extras" are its palps either injecting venom in to or sucking blood from the midge.

My photo of this Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. reveals that there was one of the small globular springtails present as well.

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 06:55 – 07:50

(63rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only one Great Crested Grebe noted: asleep near the putative nest site.
- a Blackcap seen and heard singing: perhaps the first true migrant here this year.
- no Siskins seen or heard

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *2 Cormorants: together

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: probably more inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (17♂) Mallard
- 11 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens only
- *27 Coots
- *1 Great Crested Grebe
- *1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, departed

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Blackcap

Of note around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 3 Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris

Ms. Mallard does not look impressed with either of her suitors. [PS: it is the roof that slopes – honest!]

A Great Crested Grebe (pretending to be?) asleep near a putative nest site and ignoring the passing Coot.

An adult Black-headed Gull still to moult out a few white feathers around the base of its bill before it is in full breeding plumage.

Two smart adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

One of them leaving. This species has bright yellow legs in the breeding season. What we see here are the feet which are pink: the legs are tucked up.

Two Cormorants flying over, both adults in full breeding plumage, each with a large white thigh patch and extensive white throat patch and neck plumes.

This female Blackbird seems to be trying to decipher the patterns on the rock.

Give up and look for food instead.

It is just about possible to make this out as a male Blackcap.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
24 Tufted Duck
9 Meadow Pipits
4 Redwings
4 Chiffchaffs singing
2 Brimstone butterflies
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

The Flash
43 Tufted Ducks
1 Skylark
2 Chiffchaffs singing
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
8 Lapwings
3 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

Trench
2 Little Grebes
30 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
23 Tufted Duck
4 Sand Martins
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs singing
8 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Skylark
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
43 Tufted Duck
2 Sparrowhawks
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorant
33 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kittiwake
31 Wren
24 Robin
23 Blackbird
1 Redwing
4 Chiffchaff singing
34 Magpie
176 Jackdaw
7 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
10 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Willow Tit
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
49 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
2 Lapwings
c.950 Black-headed Gulls
509 Wood Pigeon
6 Stock Doves
613 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Pied Wagtails
24 Wrens
19 Robins
22 Blackbirds
5 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tits
17 Magpies
17 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

21 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

3.0°C > 10.0°C: Clear, if hazy early. At c.08:00 mist / fog rolled in only starting to lift after 10:00. Light and variable, mainly easterly breeze. Good visibility, then very poor / poor.

Sunrise: 06:15 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 06:30 // 07:40 – 08:45

(64th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a pair of Shoveler were new arrivals.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 32 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
that's all

Counts from the lake area:
all counts potentially affected by poor visibility
- 10 Canada Geese: one pair throughout; one pair departed; three pairs arrived
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (7♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 11 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- no Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs again

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Frosted poles did not help.

Moths:
- *1 Shoulder Stripe Earophila badiata

Flies:
- male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

Noted later:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Flower:
- *Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana confirmed

The early misty glow.

Sunrise through the mist.

The pair of Shoveler, the drake at the back. The females of most duck species need to be well camouflaged as they brood their eggs nesting on the ground.

A Pied Wagtail of course. But are the flanks "clean" enough to suggest the migrant Continental race/species White Wagtail?

This view confirms it is "just" a female Pied Wagtail. On White Wagtail the rump is grey and not black as here.

My fifth Shoulder Stripe moth Earophila badiata this year. I do not record this species every year. It is strange how many moth species seem to appear in cycles of good years and then absences.

Resolving yesterday's mystery species of violet. This detailed view confirms it as Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana (the leaves are from a different plant that I used to support the flower while I photographed it)

(Ed Wilson)

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

Woodhouse Lane area: 06:30 – 07:40

(3rd full visit of the year)

The inhabitant of the two storm pools were:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 2 Coots: a pair on the upper pool with one apparently on a nest; none on the lower pool

Otherwise noted in the area (common garden birds omitted) (the number in brackets refers to birds singing)
- 2 Pheasants: heard
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- *2 (2) Skylarks
- 3 (3) Song Thrushes
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 5 (1) Chaffinches
- 1 (1) Greenfinch
- 4 Goldfinches
- *4 Linnets
- *3 (1) Yellowhammers: two females; song heard briefly

Of note.

Nothing else

An early view across the fields

And mist at the bottom of the lane.

One of two singing Skylarks.

A Linnet. This species is difficult to approach. Note the grey head, dark bill and warm tones on the breast side. Males in breeding plumage are often bright red on the breast sides.

I am slightly confused by the Yellowhammers this morning. This I would judge to be a female. There are no rufous tones to the brown feathers on the back and the face pattern is a very subdued yellow.

Again.

That suggests that both these are females. Would that be likely at this date? Note their rufous rump usually only seen as the birds fly away. What is there to the right...

...or left?

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 08:50 – 10:15

(62nd visit of the year)

Many smart new nest boxes have been erected in the last few days. I will keep an eye out and report on the use of those easily visible from the pathway.

Bird notes:
- the two Great Crested Grebes were playing submarine chase.
- *one male Siskin was singing from trees above the feeding station.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
all numbers affected by the mist: much of the time the island was not visible
- 11 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (14♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck only
- 9 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs

Of note around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris
- *2 possible small ichneumons

Flies:
- many midges of several species again

Amphibians:
- *Common Toad Bufo bufo

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 money spider

Flowers
- *Oregon-grape Berberis aquifolium
- *Garden Grape-hyacinth agg. Muscari armeniacum
- *Primrose-cultivar Primula sp.

Probably the same Song Thrush I photographed here a few days ago. Was it too relishing the absence of noise from the academy playground?

Even in the mist you can rely on a friendly Robin to brighten things up.

Perhaps about the last we will see of Siskins until late Autumn (unless we get a cold snap). This male was twittering away above the feeding station.

One of two apparent ichneumon wasps. The long antennae suggest this family though the wasp-waist is obscured by the folded wings.

By one of the footbridges there were several Common Toads Bufo bufo in the water.

Not easy to persuade the camera to focus through the surface.

A mating pair. I had to check as I had not realised that "the female is around twice the size of the male" (thank you NatureSpot)

I am never sure how many of the plants that appear between the path and the water are merely garden escapes rather than "real" wild flowers. This is Oregon-grape Berberis aquifolium.

This is an escape: it is Garden Grape-hyacinth agg. Muscari armeniacum

These are certainly a Primrose-cultivar Primula sp. Had they been Cowslip P. veris then the flower clusters would be hanging down.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+ Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
7 Swans
1 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
66 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)

2011
The Flash
48 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)