10.0°C > 12.0°C: Cloudy at multiple levels and often dull. Moderate south-westerly wind gusting fresh. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:03 GMT
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 09:15
(68th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan was inside one of the reed beds at times, presumably her chosen nest site.
- two Grey Herons were having a dispute at the West end c.06:00; whether either of these was the bird on the dam-face at 06:10 is unclear. Two were having a dispute at the East end c.08:40.
- the Great (White) Egret here again.
- a Raven overhead at 08:05 was only my second of the year here.
- at least 15 Sand Martins were high over c.07:50.
- a Reed Bunting was singing in the north-east area.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 10 Canada Geese: three pairs flew East; one pair South and another pair West.
- 4 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West; much later a pair flew East
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks: together
- 1 Raven
Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (7♂) Mallard
- 16 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes still
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- *2 Grey Heron at least: see notes
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 13 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
dew on all the poles again.
Moths:
- 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata again
- 1 Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata again
Flies:
- *male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
- *male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
Arthropods:
- *1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Noted later in breezy and cloudy conditions:
- *1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Noted later in breezy and cloudy conditions:
Plants:
- *Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Not much to show on a dull morning. The early bird (Great Crested Grebe) catches the fish (Perch Perca fluviatilis). The banding on the fish identifies it. Apologies for the quality of the photo – it was taken at 06:05 on a dull morning.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20
(66th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pair of (Common) Teal were again tucked up against the island.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant
Noted on / around the water:
- 26 Canada Geese again: probably more inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese: these either departed or disappeared inside the island
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (14♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 13 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Of note around the area:
- *Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Perhaps the same Grey Heron as yesterday performed for the camera again.
I don't remember noticing a beard previously.
Training to be a ballet dancer with "good toes".
As it prepares to land the airflow over the wing changes and the feathers are lifted up.
Not to be usurped the Great (White) Egret wanted to get its photo taken.
Another male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus with antennae suitable for sweeping chimneys.
Only my second White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger here this year.
Another low-light species: this is flowering Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20
(66th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pair of (Common) Teal were again tucked up against the island.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant
Noted on / around the water:
- 26 Canada Geese again: probably more inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese: these either departed or disappeared inside the island
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 (14♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 13 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
Of note around the area:
Flies:
- many male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
7 Chiffchaffs
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
19 Tufted Duck
3 Buzzard
30 Fieldfares
5 Redwings
7 Chiffchaffs
>700 Jackdaws
1 Raven
1 Marsh Tit
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Common Teal
50 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebe
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
37 Tufted Ducks
c.180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.50 Herring Gulls
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
11 Pied Wagtail
2 Redwings
Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs singing
12 Linnets
1 Siskin
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
28 Tufted Duck
c.225 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatears
(Ian Grant)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
46 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
25 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Skylark
1 Sand Martin
28 Wren
20 Robin
33 Blackbird
1 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
32 Magpie
117 Jackdaw
4 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Village
Raven
Blackcap
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
3 Skylark
1 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
6 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
- many male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
7 Chiffchaffs
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
19 Tufted Duck
3 Buzzard
30 Fieldfares
5 Redwings
7 Chiffchaffs
>700 Jackdaws
1 Raven
1 Marsh Tit
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Common Teal
50 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebe
7 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
37 Tufted Ducks
c.180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.50 Herring Gulls
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
11 Pied Wagtail
2 Redwings
Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs singing
12 Linnets
1 Siskin
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
28 Tufted Duck
c.225 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatears
(Ian Grant)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
46 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
25 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Skylark
1 Sand Martin
28 Wren
20 Robin
33 Blackbird
1 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
32 Magpie
117 Jackdaw
4 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Village
Raven
Blackcap
(Martin Adlam)
Nedge Hill
3 Skylark
1 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
6 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)