10.0°C: Overcast. Light north-easterly breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:32 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:35 // 07:30 – 09:10
(106th visit of the year)
New bird species:
I managed to just about squeeze a new bird species for year here for me. A VERY distant male Pheasant was heard calling above the negligible noise of Bank Holiday traffic along Castle Farm Way c.05:30. I need all the help I can get as I am at least 12 species below "normal" for this date. Bird species #83.
Other bird notes:
- as so often recently a pair of Canada Geese flew in and were chased away by the cob Mute Swan.
- *the seven Greylag Geese goslings remain. Another adult pair were present at dawn only.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- an unusually high count of Tufted Duck for this date with seven drakes chasing one female.
- the "missing" Great Crested Grebes (only three birds noted) may well be sitting on nests hidden in the reeds.
- a first year Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the football field c.06:15.
- small groups of Swifts, Sand Martins and Barn Swallows were sometimes low over then water, sometimes in the air and sometimes apparently absent. How many different individuals were involved is impossible to say.
- a few changes in the warblers:
the same Sedge Warbler still along the South side. Single songsters each side of the path just inside the Castle Farm Way gate must surely be passing birds: not suitable habitat I would have thought..
six singing Reed Warblers with at least one other bird, likely a female, seen.
possibly three Common Whitethroats. One was singing persistently a few yards to the East of where the usual bird sings. A short time later two birds were seen around the usual nest site.
a Garden Warbler was singing from the Ricoh copse alongside Teece Drive as I walked to The Flash. I did not hear it when I walked back an hour later.
- a Mistle Thrush was heard calling from the south-east copse.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
That's all!
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived and departed
- *4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: a pair departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- *11 (9♂) Mallard
- 15 (11♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 4 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- *>6 Swifts
- >10 Sand Martins
- *>10 Barn Swallows
- no House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warbler: see notes
- 7 (6) Reed Warblers: see notes
- 17 (17) Blackcaps
- 3? (2?) Common Whitethroat: see notes
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler: see notes
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
disappointing again:
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver] (about to devour a male plumed midge)
- *1 exoskeleton from an unidentified spider.
Noted around the area later:
Chilly, overcast and cheerless: the only insect seen was....
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver] (about to devour a male plumed midge)
- *1 exoskeleton from an unidentified spider.
Noted around the area later:
Chilly, overcast and cheerless: the only insect seen was....
Beetles:
- *small leaf beetle, perhaps Gastrophysa polygoni
- *small leaf beetle, perhaps Gastrophysa polygoni
New flowers for the year
- *Red Campion Silene dioica or Melandrium rubrum
- *Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus [aka dogberry; water elder; cramp bark; snowball tree; European cranberry bush]
- *Red Campion Silene dioica or Melandrium rubrum
- *Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus [aka dogberry; water elder; cramp bark; snowball tree; European cranberry bush]
A drake Mallard about to...
...go water-skiing!
Another drake Mallard displaying its mauve speculum.
Not a stunning photo but it shows a Swift with tail spread as it makes a sharp turn.
Perhaps a female with shorter tail-streamers?
The only insect I found was this small leaf beetle, perhaps Gastrophysa polygoni.
A Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius about to devour a male plumed midge.
Chomp!
I noted two new flowers for the year here: this is Red Campion Silene dioica or Melandrium rubrum.
And this is Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus. The outer ring comprise large sterile flowers, the inner florets will open as small fertile flowers that develop in to shiny red berries by the end of August.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 11 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
- 11 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
(103rd visit of the year)
New bird species:
An addition to my bird species year list from here: at least four House Martins were over the North and East part of the area c.07:10. Species #65 this year.
Other bird notes:
- 1 hope the Long-tailed Tits have successfully fledged their young. I did not see or hear them today.
- No sight or sound of any Sedge Warbler either.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew past heading South
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, together in a noisy group
Noted on / around the water:
- 13 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: these departed as a pair
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen assumed to be present on the nest
- 15 (13♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck only
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: one still on the nest platform
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Around the area:
Nothing of note
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Ruddy Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
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2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Ruddy Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)