4.0°C > 9.0°C: Much as yesterday with clear skies initially before low cloud scudded in from the East, though this cloud was less extensive and quicker to disperse with sun from c.08:00. Still a keen easterly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:55 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
My car was being serviced so different visiting times to recently
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 08:05
(98th visit of the year)
New bird species
An addition to me 2026 bird list for here: a Yellow Wagtail was heard flying north-west c.07:00. II brings my bird species count for here to #82.
Also an addition from an earlier date. Fisherman Daz showed me a photo of a male Wheatear that was on the dam on 14 April. This is a day earlier than the female I photographed there.
Other bird notes:
- *the cob Mute Swan once again had a pair of visiting adult Mute Swans to dispatch. These were perhaps the pair that flew West earlier toward The Flash. One of them was the bird with the blue Darvic ring 7JSS that was seen at The Flash yesterday: the other perhaps 7JXV.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- two Common Sandpipers seen.
- no Willow Warbler here today.
- five Sedge Warblers singing, only two in suitable breeding areas, both of which have been present for several days.
- a third Reed Warblers heard.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was again singing from the Ricoh hedge by 05:15 and seems to have homed in on the densest part of the hedge. The only one heard today.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs flew East
- 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 9 Jackdaws
- 1 Yellow Wagtail
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Barn Swallows arrived c.07:30
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 17 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Sedge Warblers again
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 18 (16) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat still
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Nothing in chilly and breezy conditions apart from:
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
Around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
Nothing noted. My early departure was ahead of any insects emerging.
It is amazing what you can do with a digital camera and a bit of photo editing. The left leg of this Mute Swan identifies it as 7JSS.
(95th visit of the year)
Generally quieter than recently, perhaps due to my later visit.
Bird notes:
- the resident pen Mute Swan is presumed to have been on the nest throughout. Now the vegetation has greened up there seems to be no way to see her from the paths around the water.
- a Willow Warbler sang briefly and was then seen to fly off North.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: a noisy group of adults
Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived
- 7 Greylag Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived; the other pair seen mating
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
Around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
Nothing noted. My early departure was ahead of any insects emerging.
Fewer scudding clouds around dawn today.
The other bird disappearing also with a blue Darvic ring on the left leg...
...which looks to me like 7JXV.
Away they go. No chance of reading the rings here as their left legs are not visible.
An almost reflective Grey Heron.
Tails are up! Love is in the air for these two Great Crested Grebes. Dare I mention a comb?
This spider was the only inhabitant of the street lamp poles around dawn. The distinctive shape to the tip of the abdomen identifies it as one of the Stout Sac Spider of the Clubiona
group but which specifically I could not say.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
group but which specifically I could not say.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 3 midges
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 08:35 – 09:35
- 3 midges
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 08:35 – 09:35
(95th visit of the year)
Generally quieter than recently, perhaps due to my later visit.
Bird notes:
- the resident pen Mute Swan is presumed to have been on the nest throughout. Now the vegetation has greened up there seems to be no way to see her from the paths around the water.
- a Willow Warbler sang briefly and was then seen to fly off North.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: a noisy group of adults
Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived
- 7 Greylag Geese: of these a pair departed and a pair arrived; the other pair seen mating
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (18♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Hoverflies:
- *male Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
- *male Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Flies:
- *female root-maggot fly
- *Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina or similar
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- *female root-maggot fly
- *Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina or similar
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Very quiet here. Just a few insects I found in the area sheltered from the brisk easterly wind. This is a male Syrphus hoverfly, either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis
Different individual: same species: different angle. The striped thorax is not easily seen. I included it as it clearly shows the slight bulge along the leading edge of the wing that identifies all Phaonia species.
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Richardson's-type Canada Goose
8 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
6 Swallows
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Fieldfare
3 Blackcaps
3 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
29 Wheatear
1 Lapwing
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Green Woodpecker
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Tufted Duck
12 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
In the lane / fields to the E
5 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
5 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtail
6 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Common Whitethroat
3 Wheatears
(Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Mike)
Ercall Woods
3 Pied Flycatcher
Buzzards
2 Ravens
(Mike)
2007
Priorslee Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Common Sandpipers
100+ Sand Martin
5 Swallow
1 House Martin
23 Wrens
19 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Garden Warblers
7 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
3 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Not at all sure about this fly. It may be a female root-maggot fly: then again...
On (slightly) firmer ground here. This is a Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina or similar.
While this orange-bodied fly with a striped thorax is almost certainly the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Richardson's-type Canada Goose
8 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
6 Swallows
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Fieldfare
3 Blackcaps
3 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
29 Wheatear
1 Lapwing
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Green Woodpecker
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Tufted Duck
12 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
In the lane / fields to the E
5 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
5 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtail
6 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Common Whitethroat
3 Wheatears
(Ed Wilson)
The Wrekin
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Mike)
Ercall Woods
3 Pied Flycatcher
Buzzards
2 Ravens
(Mike)
2007
Priorslee Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Common Sandpipers
100+ Sand Martin
5 Swallow
1 House Martin
23 Wrens
19 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Garden Warblers
7 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
3 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)