8.0°C > 14.0°C: Mostly cloudy at low level. A few blue patches did not produce any sunshine. Some very light drizzle later. Moderate south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 06:40 BST]
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
A late start on a dull morning. As usual with late starts it was a visit to The Flash first.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 08:35 – 09:40 // 10:25 – 10:40
(78th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- fewer geese for some unknown reason.
- a single Tufted Duck – a drake
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: a pair flew North and a pair flew West
- 3 Stock Doves: a pair and a single
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair arrived from the East
- 2 Mute Swans
- 14 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens yet again
- 24 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived, staying no more than 10 minutes
- *1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 13 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Of note around the area:
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 13 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Of note around the area:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- at least two bumblebees seen in flight only
- at least two bumblebees seen in flight only
Flies etc.:
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus at rest
- very many annoying midges
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus at rest
- very many annoying midges
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 money spider-type?
- *1 money spider-type?
Also of note:
The fishermen camped overnight reported many pipistrelle-type bats last evening
The puzzling Mallard that I usually see at The Flash. The curled rail-feather and the white neck ring suggest a drake. There is some green on the head and some yellow on the bill. The flanks look like those of a duck Mallard. It is not an immature as it was exactly the same last year. Would be interesting to do a DNA analysis.
(4th full visit of the year)
This flower is Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa. I see it some years at the lake but a few weeks later growing in the shade. There is no "wood" along Woodhouse Lane these days so I guess this is a remnant population.
There are a few flowers of Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna around the lake and The Flash. In Woodhouse Lane there are several large clusters of these early Spring flowers.
This plant is Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens. The "green" in Green Alkanet refers to its evergreen foliage.
(76th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan does not seem to be settling down to nesting duty, spending most of her time out on the water.
- neither yesterday's (Common) Teal nor brownhead Goosander seen.
- an influx of Tufted Duck – almost all drakes.
- at least two Siskins heard from tree-tops at the top end.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *1 Grey Heron
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 23 (20♂) Mallard
- 26 (21♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: near adults, together briefly
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Of note around the area:
A complaining Grey Heron.
The female Pied Wagtail from the friendly pair that are on the dam most days.
Her partner steps out.
Today's unidentified spider. At the time I thought a money spider but that group mostly has dark legs.
If tree pollen gives you hay-fever look away. From an Acer species, possibly a Sycamore A. pseudoplatanus.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane: 09:40 – 10:25
(Ed Wilson)
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Woodhouse Lane: 09:40 – 10:25
(4th full visit of the year)
As with the Balancing Lake a later visiting time will have affected some numbers. In particular the composting site was active.
At the upper pool
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Coot: part of the time it seemed to be sitting on a nest: I could not find another
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Coot: part of the time it seemed to be sitting on a nest: I could not find another
At the lower pool:
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
I could not seen any of the previously recorded Moorhen or Coot
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
I could not seen any of the previously recorded Moorhen or Coot
In the lane
[with common species omitted] (the number in brackets refers to birds singing)::
- 1 (1) Pheasant
- 2 (2) Skylarks: neither of these close-enough to Castle Farm Way as to be audible from the dam area.
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Song Thrushes
- 2 Grey Wagtails
- 2 Pied/White Wagtails: in flight only so not separable
- 2 (1) Chaffinch
- 2 Linnets
- 6 Goldfinches
- *2 Yellowhammers
- 1 (1) Pheasant
- 2 (2) Skylarks: neither of these close-enough to Castle Farm Way as to be audible from the dam area.
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Song Thrushes
- 2 Grey Wagtails
- 2 Pied/White Wagtails: in flight only so not separable
- 2 (1) Chaffinch
- 2 Linnets
- 6 Goldfinches
- *2 Yellowhammers
Also noted:
Plants not yet recorded around the Balancing Lake:
- *Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa
- *Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens
- *Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea
- *Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa
- *Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens
- *Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea
Not good light to photograph Yellowhammers. This male on a "bad feather" day.
Yes you!
This flower is Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea. There are only five petals: each petal is deeply divided in to two lobes, a feature sometimes called bifid.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:25 – 08:30
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:25 – 08:30
(76th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the pen Mute Swan does not seem to be settling down to nesting duty, spending most of her time out on the water.
- neither yesterday's (Common) Teal nor brownhead Goosander seen.
- an influx of Tufted Duck – almost all drakes.
- at least two Siskins heard from tree-tops at the top end.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *1 Grey Heron
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 23 (20♂) Mallard
- 26 (21♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: near adults, together briefly
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Of note around the area:
Flies:
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *other midges
One of the two Lesser Black-backed Gulls that dropped in for a few minutes. The extent of black on the bill suggests this one is not yet in full adult breeding condition.
I think it is called "billing and cooing". A pair – you can't be sure these days – of Wood Pigeons full of the joys of Spring.
Another Willow Warbler. Note the long supercilium and the pale legs. The wings look long here and indeed they are marginally longer than those of the Chiffchaff as they have to propel the birds back from sub-Saharan Africa. Chiffchaffs' preferred wintering quarters are in the Mediterranean basin.
Unusual view of female midge from underneath. It was sitting on my windscreen (I was parked at the time!) Unusual for a small fly it is possible to make out one of the halteres. These are usually only visible on larger craneflies etc.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Greylag Geese
9 Tufted Duck
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
2 Common Teal
53 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
c.25 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
32 Tufted Ducks
75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls on the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Horsehay Pool
Hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Martin Ryder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Tufted Duck: both drakes this morning
7 Blackcaps
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
40 Tufted Duck
7 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Pool
5 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Redhill
6 Tree Sparrow
(John Isherwood)
2011
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(Martin and Ian Grant)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
178 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
168 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
28 Wrens
29 Blackbirds
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *other midges
Mrs. Mallard contemplates the water.
"Well if he goes..."
"...perhaps I had better take the plunge".
Grey Herons have been scarce here recently. This one was flying over.
"Barn door" pose. Looks smart here but...
...somewhat ragged in this view.
Is that how it is done? No wonder they look rather cross-eyed!
(Ed Wilson)
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2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Greylag Geese
9 Tufted Duck
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
2 Common Teal
53 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
c.25 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebe
2 Gadwall
32 Tufted Ducks
75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls on the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Horsehay Pool
Hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Martin Ryder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Tufted Duck: both drakes this morning
7 Blackcaps
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
40 Tufted Duck
7 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Pool
5 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Redhill
6 Tree Sparrow
(John Isherwood)
2011
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(Martin and Ian Grant)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
178 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
168 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
28 Wrens
29 Blackbirds
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)