4.0°C > 13.0°C: Almost cloudless. Light easterly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:30 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 06:55 // 07:55 – 09:55
(82nd visit of the year)
New bird species:
Another addition to the bird year list from here: a Reed Warbler was singing along the South side. This my earliest-ever date – by one day ahead of 2023 and 2025. In the 201x period my first date was always in the second half of April and some years in to May. Species #75 here this year for me.
Other bird notes:
- *a group of about a dozen Tufted Duck were chasing about, diving. It was almost impossible to see how many there were and especially how many ducks were being hounded by the mass of drakes. Best effort on counting this species today.
- the Coots seem to have totally abandoned the dam-top grass and are back to using the south-west grass – when they are not fighting or at their nest sites
- there are two Cetti's Warblers here: I saw two disappear together in to an area where I suspected they nested last year.
- after many days without any records a Reed Bunting was giving a few disjointed song phrases along the South side.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Canada Geese: one pair flew East; one pair and a single flew West
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 97 Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese at various times
- 2 Greylag Geese: either arrived or were hiding on my first lap
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen not always on / at the nest site
- 7 (7♂) Mallard
- *20 (15♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 7 Moorhens again
- 32 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults: stayed >20 minutes
- no Cormorant
- 2 Grey Heron: one chased away
- 1 Great (White) Egret: arrived 05:51
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers again
- *15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 8 (8) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Poles dew-covered so:
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers again
- *15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 8 (8) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Poles dew-covered so:
Flies:
- 1 male small plumed midge
- 1 male small plumed midge
Beetles:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 small spider
Of note around the area later:
- *1 small spider
Of note around the area later:
Butterflies:
- *4+ Peacock Aglais io
- *4+ Peacock Aglais io
Bees, wasps etc.
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- probable other bumblebee species seen in flight only
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- probable other bumblebee species seen in flight only
Hoverflies:
- *Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Flies:
- *Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
- also unidentified flies.
- *Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
- also unidentified flies.
Beetles:
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 money spider Erigone sp.
The light in the wrong place to show this to good advantage. Another Long-tailed Tit feathering its nest. Where do they find the feathers?
Very unexpected: my earliest-ever Reed Warbler and it briefly came out of the (still dead) reeds to have a look about.
Sitting on a waving piece of grass was this female Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare. A female because the eyes do not meet but in this species also because the yellow spots on the abdomen are triangular. The spots are square on males.
My first Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major of the year. The long proboscis is for collecting pollen from deep in flowers and this furry creature does not sting. They may look cute but they have a dark side. The female lays her eggs in the nest of solitary bees and the larvae parasite the larvae of the bee. There are 10 species of bee-fly in the UK. This is the only species recorded in our area.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(80th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *a Little Grebe was, unusually, seen out in the open, in the middle of the water.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were here for some while, initially perching on roofs in Westcroft Walk / Collett Way. This species does nest on (flat) roofs inland: were they sussing any possible sites?
- a Stock Dove was seen doing a display flight over the top end.
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from somewhere near the academy: could I find it!? Nope.
- a Starling was noted going towards the estate: presumably to one of the usual nest sites. I do not often see them approaching over The Flash.
- the "bird of the day" challenge on my Merlin app was Bullfinch, a species I have not recorded for some weeks. To my surprise I heard one calling – before Merlin picked it up – and then saw a male in flight.
- no Siskin noted.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 money spider Erigone sp.
I could not find Artemis II. Perhaps they were still on the other side.
Not as spectacular sunrise as yesterday.
Some of the restless group of Tufted Duck go for a fly.
Crowded airspace!
A trio with undercarriage and flaps down.
One of the local Common Buzzards cruises over.
A pensive-looking Chiffchaff.
One of at least four Peacock butterflies Aglais io I noted.
An Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
A Honey Bee Apis mellifera takes off from a Dandelion flower.
An extra pale band across the abdomen helps to identify this male Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans.
This is a male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax. It does not look at all 'tapered' unlike...
...this one.
An Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni. Has it eaten the bird-droppings?
This morning's unidentified spider on one of the street lamp poles.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
- 4 unidentified midges
- 1 cranefly
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:00 – 07:50
- 4 unidentified midges
- 1 cranefly
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 07:00 – 07:50
(80th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *a Little Grebe was, unusually, seen out in the open, in the middle of the water.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were here for some while, initially perching on roofs in Westcroft Walk / Collett Way. This species does nest on (flat) roofs inland: were they sussing any possible sites?
- a Stock Dove was seen doing a display flight over the top end.
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from somewhere near the academy: could I find it!? Nope.
- a Starling was noted going towards the estate: presumably to one of the usual nest sites. I do not often see them approaching over The Flash.
- the "bird of the day" challenge on my Merlin app was Bullfinch, a species I have not recorded for some weeks. To my surprise I heard one calling – before Merlin picked it up – and then saw a male in flight.
- no Siskin noted.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese: more(?) inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese only
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen was again on the nest throughout
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 18 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers again
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Of note around the area:
Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese: more(?) inside the island
- 2 Greylag Geese only
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen was again on the nest throughout
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 18 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers again
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps
Of note around the area:
Moths:
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- *1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata
A distant silhouette against the reflection of the houses opposite. The yellow spot at the base of the bill and its size identify this as a Little Grebe.
A Brindled Pug moth Eupithecia abbreviata on the Neighbourhood Watch sign near the academy. These two moths bring my moth species count for 2026 at The Flash to just six.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Snipe
(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
34 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Tufted Ducks
12 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Heron
15 Tufted Ducks
Woodcock
1 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipits
7 Redwings
39 Fieldfare
149 Jackdaws
Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Skylarks
1 Redwing
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
20+ Sand Martins
3 Swallows
1 House Martin
7 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
(Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pintail x Mallard
11 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Buzzard
2 Sand Martin
5 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
118 Jackdaws
4 Stock Doves
3 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
19 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
3 Jays
8 Greenfinches
10 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- *1 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata
A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla I found on a street lamp pole at the bottom end.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Snipe
(Ed Wilson, A. Harper)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
34 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Tufted Ducks
12 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Heron
15 Tufted Ducks
Woodcock
1 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipits
7 Redwings
39 Fieldfare
149 Jackdaws
Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridge
2 Skylarks
1 Redwing
1 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
20+ Sand Martins
3 Swallows
1 House Martin
7 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
(Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pintail x Mallard
11 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Buzzard
2 Sand Martin
5 Meadow Pipit
4 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
118 Jackdaws
4 Stock Doves
3 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
19 Robins
27 Blackbirds
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
3 Jays
8 Greenfinches
10 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)