4.0°C > 7.0°C: Medium-level cloud apart from a sliver of clear sky to the East pre-dawn giving a good sunrise. Very light south-westerly breeze, increasing moderate. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:52 BST
All times now BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:05 – 07:25 // 08:35 – 09:55
(72nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- back to six Great Crested Grebes.
- the Great (White) Egret was the first bird I saw in flight today: it arrived at 06:25.
- Sand Martins kept 'appearing' and 'disappearing' again. Eight was my highest count though almost certainly more passing through.
- as yesterday a Willow Warbler was heard singing just once along the North side as I made by first circuit.
- a single Starling seen again.
- a Mistle Thrush was from trees singing alongside and while it was doing so two other birds went chasing down Teece Drive. It is a while since I hears or saw this species in the Teece Drive area: recent sightings have been alongside Teece Drive.
- a pair of Grey Wagtails was seen on the dam-face. It is several weeks since I last saw any here.
- one of three singing(!) Greenfinches was also seen doing its bat-like display flight.
- after singing from several different locations any Reed Bunting have gone quiet. Have they failed to find any mate and moved on? Or are these often quiet birds getting on with breeding?
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 11 Canada Geese: three pairs flew East; one pair and a trio flew West.
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults; together
- c.120 Jackdaws: of these c.100 flew past in one very loose formation.
- 5 Rooks
- 1 Siskin
Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: of these a pair throughout; a pair and a trio arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- *8 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *6 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- *>8 Sand Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler: see notes
- 15 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
It had only recently clouded after an earlier frost so just...
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:05 – 07:25 // 08:35 – 09:55
(72nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- back to six Great Crested Grebes.
- the Great (White) Egret was the first bird I saw in flight today: it arrived at 06:25.
- Sand Martins kept 'appearing' and 'disappearing' again. Eight was my highest count though almost certainly more passing through.
- as yesterday a Willow Warbler was heard singing just once along the North side as I made by first circuit.
- a single Starling seen again.
- a Mistle Thrush was from trees singing alongside and while it was doing so two other birds went chasing down Teece Drive. It is a while since I hears or saw this species in the Teece Drive area: recent sightings have been alongside Teece Drive.
- a pair of Grey Wagtails was seen on the dam-face. It is several weeks since I last saw any here.
- one of three singing(!) Greenfinches was also seen doing its bat-like display flight.
- after singing from several different locations any Reed Bunting have gone quiet. Have they failed to find any mate and moved on? Or are these often quiet birds getting on with breeding?
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 11 Canada Geese: three pairs flew East; one pair and a trio flew West.
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults; together
- c.120 Jackdaws: of these c.100 flew past in one very loose formation.
- 5 Rooks
- 1 Siskin
Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: of these a pair throughout; a pair and a trio arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- *8 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *6 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- *>8 Sand Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler: see notes
- 15 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
It had only recently clouded after an earlier frost so just...
Flies etc.:
- *1 unidentified fungus gnat
Of note around the area later:
- *1 unidentified fungus gnat
Of note around the area later:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- several unidentified bumblebees seen in flight only
- several unidentified bumblebees seen in flight only
Plants:
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris
Mainly cloudy but a thin strip of clear sky to the East led to a sunrise worth getting out of bed (early). These landscape format photos come from my Samsung mobile phone.
Four drake and one duck Tufted Duck go for a fly-about. The leading drake has his tuft flying in the breeze.
Another. As I have commented in previous years Sand Martins (and other species of hirundine) only descend low-enough to photograph in poor weather when there is not-enough light for crisp photos.
This insect on a street lamp pole pre-dawn has many of the hallmarks of a fungus gnat. The hairs sticking out of the abdomen are a puzzle as I cannot match them with any photos on NatureSpot.
Just one flower of Marsh Marigolds, (or Kingcups) Caltha palustris was showing this morning. Almost tow weeks earlier than last year though it may take some days for a significant number of flowers to appear.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Compare with this large male of the plumed midge Chironomus plumosus [this was actually taken at The Flash].
A Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede Cylindroiulus punctatus. The banded appearance is the best identification feature of this species.
(71st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- both Mute Swans noted though never together.
- the recent (Common) Teal were not seen.
- one Siskin at least still in the area.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *Marsh Marigold (aka Kingcups) Caltha palustris
Colouring up well.
Maximum colour – and I toned this down!
This is what my "big camera" made of the early sunrise.
Maximum colour.
And now the sun rises.
And heading back.
A duck leads two drakes, one with tuft flying in the breeze.
Great Crested Grebes displaying early.
A Cormorant tries, reasonably successfully, to hide.
A Sand Martin. Note the breast band.
A Blue Tit posing.
Apologies: I included this to show that the throat of female Grey Wagtails is (usually) pale whereas...
...the male has dark in the throat.
Here he hides his throat but shows his long tail. This species has a longer tail than Pied Wagtail and it is pumped more vigorously.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- *1 male small plumed midge
- *1 male small plumed midge
Arthropods:
- *1 Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede Cylindroiulus punctatus
- *1 Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede Cylindroiulus punctatus
Spiders:
- *1 unidentified small spider
- *1 unidentified small spider
A male of the smaller (and unidentified) midge species.
A small spider I cannot identify. None of the suggestions from Obsidentify or Google Lens check out with photos on NatureSpot. The well-marked legs suggest it is likely one of the Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders of the Metellina group.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:30 – 08:30
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:30 – 08:30
(71st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- both Mute Swans noted though never together.
- the recent (Common) Teal were not seen.
- one Siskin at least still in the area.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: of these a trio arrived.
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 13 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Of note around the area:
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: of these a trio arrived.
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 13 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Of note around the area:
Flies:
- more male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
3 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
31 Tufted Duck
3 Redwings
5 Sand Martins
7 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling Goose
2 Common Teal
49 Tufted Ducks
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Iceland Gull
(John Isherwood and et al)
The Flash
1 Shoveler
2 Pochard
(John Isherwood)
Horsehay Pool
2 Mandarin Ducks
(Paul Spear)
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
16 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
47 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridges
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
Sand Martins
7 Gadwall
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Skylarks
1 Fieldfare
3 Redwings
Lapwing
Green Woodpecker
14 Linnets.
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
25 Sand Martins
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
47 Redwings
4 Meadow Pipits
12 Tufted Duck
4 Jays
433 Wood Pigeons
(Ed Wilson)
- more male and female plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
A Blue Tit here as well.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
3 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
31 Tufted Duck
3 Redwings
5 Sand Martins
7 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling Goose
2 Common Teal
49 Tufted Ducks
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Iceland Gull
(John Isherwood and et al)
The Flash
1 Shoveler
2 Pochard
(John Isherwood)
Horsehay Pool
2 Mandarin Ducks
(Paul Spear)
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
16 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcaps
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
47 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridges
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
Sand Martins
7 Gadwall
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Skylarks
1 Fieldfare
3 Redwings
Lapwing
Green Woodpecker
14 Linnets.
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
25 Sand Martins
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
47 Redwings
4 Meadow Pipits
12 Tufted Duck
4 Jays
433 Wood Pigeons
(Ed Wilson)