7.0°C > 9.0°C: Low overcast. Misty with dampness in the air. A calm start with a light south-easterly breeze developing again. Poor visibility becoming moderate.
[Sunrise: 06:41 GMT]
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:25 – 08:55
(52nd visit of the year)
I delayed my start until there was a chance that I might be able so see things as the mist began to thin.
A postscript to yesterday's Common Scoter sighting. I read on the Belvide (Reservoir) blog that a pair also visited there yesterday and that these were all part of a widespread small passage of this species through inland waters. Belvide is less than 10 miles East of here as the Common Scoter flies.
Bird notes:
- only three Goosanders seen: all brownheads.
- no Great (White) Egret today.
- six singing Chiffchaffs. I am reinstating my daily warbler tabulation for the season.
- no Reed Bunting heard.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Wood Pigeons
Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: one of these flew off West
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew off West
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 19 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (0♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- ? Coots: too misty to count accurately
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- no other gulls
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- no Great (White) Egret
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Cetti's Warbler (unusually)
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
Noted on the West end street lamp poles:
Springtails:
- *>29 unidentified springtails on the same street lamp ID sticker as seen the previous time I visited in daylight.
Noted later:
- *>29 unidentified springtails on the same street lamp ID sticker as seen the previous time I visited in daylight.
Noted later:
Plants:
- *catkins, probably from Goat Willow Salix caprea.
- *catkins, probably from Goat Willow Salix caprea.
Obviously willow catkins. Obsidentify is 85% sure these are from a Goat Willow Salix caprea.
In super close-up. If you suffer with hay-fever look away.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:00 – 10:30
(50th visit of the year)
New bird species:
A pair of (Common) Teal were near this island becoming my 56th bird species here this year.
Other bird notes:
- a pair of Greylag Geese flew in. Later a single also arrived. I am assuming that this is the bird that flew off later.
- the two drake Pochard remain.
- a Grey Heron flew off from the bottom end. A few minutes later two arrived together and perched in trees on the island for a few minutes before flying off again. My first record of this species here since 16 February.
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming and then a pair were noted in a tree along the East side,
- five Chiffchaffs: four heard singing.
- a Blackcap was singing from a traditional breeding site well away from any feeders.
- the feeding station had just one Wood Pigeon in attendance. I did not stay long.
- at least 10 Siskins were twittering in trees above the feeders but showed no inclination to descend.
- a Lesser Redpoll flew South.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- *3 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 (16♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 32 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: immature; arrived
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Otherwise noted around the area:
Flies:
- *1 small male plumed midge
- *1 possible fungus gnat
- *1 small male plumed midge
- *1 possible fungus gnat
Springtails:
- *3 springtails Orchesella cincta
- *many other springtails of several species
- *3 springtails Orchesella cincta
- *many other springtails of several species
Plants:
- *Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
A drake (Common) Teal in need of a handkerchief. Late last year between two and four teal were seen on many days, usually tucked up against the island. This is my first record since 29 December 2025.
I think this is a fungus gnat. There are over 500 species known from the UK and almost none of them is illustrated on the internet.
The best example of the three springtails Orchesella cincta I found, each on a different street lamp pole, favouring the poles with lichen.
- *Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
A Greylag Goose making a typically noisy arrival.
Undercarriage about to be deployed.
Undercarriage now down and turning on to final approach.
A missed approach and undercarriage being retracted.
Yes well: a record shot of the duck though in truth it could be almost anything!
Two Grey Herons arrived together. One is in the trees bottom right while the other...
...is concentrating hard on finding its landing site.
Pity about the branches. Presumably the Wren feels safer with these between it and me.
Having a good sing...
...in both directions.
Aargh! A human!
A different take on one of the many Robins.
Today's non-singing Chiffchaff high overhead against the leaden sky.
A typical example of the small male plumed midges.
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)
Holmer Lake
1 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
1 Oystercatcher
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
9 Cormorant
15 Tufted Duck
1 Woodcock
311 Wood Pigeon
36 Robin
24 Blackbird
10 Redwing
53 Magpie
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
6 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
103 Coots
1 Water Rail
1 Ring-billed Gull
141 Wood Pigeon
142 Jackdaws
23 Blackbirds
11 Song Thrushes
1 Redwing
14 Greenfinches
6 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson and et al)