20 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear with some thin high cloud to the E. Light N breeze. Good visibility: a bit hazy.

Sunrise: 06:02 BST

* = a photo today

With the car due an MoT (it passed) I was pressed for time. A quick canter around The Flash and two incomplete circuits of the lake means some lower than usual numbers.

Priorslee Lake: 05:10 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 08:00

(94th visit of the year)

I have feedback on yesterday's sighting of a Common Sandpiper with a colour ring. Thanks go to Richard Smith who co-ordinates Dee Estuary birding information and who produces an informative monthly newsletter Here. He is a keen spotter of waders with rings and put me in contact with the folks ringing this species. I can reveal that it was ringed as an adult female in May 2021 on a stretch of the Leithen Water, north of Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders. She may well be on her way back there.

Bird notes:
- A duck Mallard with three ducklings only. Was this the remnant of yesterday's brood of 11? Or a different brood?
- I glimpsed a small duck flying W at 05:20. Probably a Tufted Duck and possibly from the lake. Not included in the counts.
- 10 Black-headed Gulls flew S at 06:20. I was looking in to the light so ageing them reliably was not possible. Some had dark on their heads but many first year birds acquire complete or nearly complete head markings by this time of year.
- A Grey Heron flew over calling and very high up at 05:35.
- Two Cetti's Warblers were seen together with the male singing.
- Two Willow Warblers were a surprise after five blank days here. One was singing from the Ricoh copse and opposite the academy entrance early but not later. A bird was singing near the sailing club HQ later (but not earlier) and could perhaps have been the same bird?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: single outbound
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Black-headed Gulls: together; ages not determined
- 4 Herring Gulls: ages not determined
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Jackdaws only

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
See introduction: partial count
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warblers
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 12 (8) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose: keeping guard
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest
- *5 (3♂) + 3 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Herring Gulls: third years, together, briefly

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *4 different spider sp. including
*1 Clubiona sp.
1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
others unidentified

Noted on the side of the sailing club shelter:
- *2 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders

Later:

Nothing noted because of my early departure:

Not too many photos today during my abbreviated visit. The April full moon is waning fast – it seemed smaller than I expected.

Rather hazy and not too much cloud so an uninspiring sunrise.

Maximum colour.

This duck Mallard was shielding her ducklings. Just the three and only one in view here. Whether this is yesterday's brood of 11 that has been decimated or whether it is a different brood is hard to say.

Lots of spiders this morning. This has a distinctive pointed abdomen and is therefore a Clubiona sp., but which is impossible to say.

One of two Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders on the side of the sailing club shelter. 'Stretch' is a good name for this group of spiders.

One of the unidentified spiders. I cannot work out whether it has a white cephalothorax (head) or is carrying an egg sac.

Another spider I am not sure about. It may be a Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis) but it looks rather small.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20

(91st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The two Great Crested Grebes were together most of the time and did at least one short head-shaking display
- Contrary to my suggestion yesterday the Willow Warblers were probably not passing through: birds were in exactly the same locations today.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 2 Willow Warblers
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 33 Canada Geese: of these a pair and a trio departed
- 6 Greylag Geese: of these a trio arrived
- 5 Mute Swans
- 13 (10♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 21 (16♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere.

Nothing noted

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 1 Moorhen heard at the lower pool
- 1 Chiffchaff singing alongside the lower pool

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- Not checked

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014

Priorslee Lake

2 Great Crested Grebe

7 Tufted Duck

1 Cormorant

40 Swifts

2 Jays

4 Chiffchaff

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

(Tony Beckett)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Little Ringed Plovers

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 White Wagtail

1 Common Redstart

41 Wheatear

1 Fieldfare

1 Raven

(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin

1 Wheatear

11+ Tree Pipit

7 Common Redstart

6 Pied Flycatchers

(JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

2 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin

2 Ring Ouzel

2 Pied Flycatchers

(J W Reeves)

2010

Wrekin

2 Wood Warblers

3+ Common Redstarts

4+ Pied Flycatchers

2+ Tree Pipits

Tawny Owl

4 Green Woodpecker

1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

(J Reeves)

2008

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

5 Great Crested Grebes

4 Common Sandpipers 

20 Sand Martins

4 Swallows

2 Grey Wagtails

1 Wheatear

1 Redwing singing

8 Willow Warblers

9 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Tit

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Common Sandpiper

Grey Wagtail

4 Sand Martin

House Martins

Chiffchaff

1 Lesser Whitethroat

(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

3 Greylag Geese

3 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

2 Sand Martins

15 Swallows

House Martins

2 Stock Doves

26 Wrens

19 Robins

20 Blackbirds

10 Song Thrushes

1 Redwing

9 Blackcaps

9 Chiffchaffs

7 Willow Warblers

2 Sedge Warbler

10 Greenfinches

5 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

Lanes to east of Priorslee Lake

1 Sky Lark

1 Meadow Pipit

4 Blackcaps

3 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

2 Greenfinch

2 Linnets

2 Reed Buntings

8 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Skylark

2 Meadow Pipit

1 Fieldfare

2 Wheatear

1 Blackcap

2 Willow Warbler

2 Chiffchaff

2 Linnet

(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Flash

1 Common Sandpiper

(Ed Wilson)

19 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Clear though with a band of cloud to the E and then thin high cloud from the E later. Light NW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:04 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:05 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:30

(93rd visit of the year)

As I noted yesterday it is the time of year for several species of warblers to arrive. Today's I heard my first Sedge Warbler singing from the reeds in the NW area. This species usually passes through, perhaps staying a few days. Last year a pair nested, Species #84.

It is a pity this did not turn up yesterday when the Grasshopper Warbler was present: it would have meant that for the first time I had recorded warblers from five different genera on the same day – Acrocephalus (Sedge); Cettia (Cetti's); Locustella (Grasshopper); Phylloscopus (Chiffchaff); and Sylvia (Blackcap and Common Whitethroat)

Other bird notes:
- The lone Canada Goose was, as usual, keeping watch. Another pair arrived and a fight ensued. He (I assume it is the male standing guard) seemed unable to deal with both of the arrivals and the female came off the nest to help see them off.
- Another strange record of a Sky Lark calling and flying S over the dam while another was singing over the fields to the E.
- Two male Common Whitethroats were disputing the territory behind the sailing club shelter. They were chasing around and around barely pausing to sing and often singing in flight. Rarely have I taken so many empty frames in a single session trying to photograph one. Another bird, presumed a female, made off early in the dispute.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: pair outbound; single inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: single outbound
- 28 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: age not determined
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 22 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks again

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
together, briefly at 08:10

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 18 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 17 (12) Blackcaps
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 3 (2♂) + 11? ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens still
- 28 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- *2 Common Sandpipers
- no gulls again

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider
- *1 other spider sp.

Remember way back on 23 March I puzzled over what I thought was a spider with a white area on the carapace. Detective work by Nigel (and by me to find his response somehow in my junk mail) has identified it as a *Greater Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle (Pogonocherus hispidulus). I have reproduced the photo today.

Noted later:

Bees:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *up to three species of mining bee (Andrena sp.)

Hoverflies:
- *Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe elegans)
- *Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- *Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- *Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)

Spiders:
- *Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- *another Spider sp.

The April moon is now beginning to wane as evidenced by the cross-lit craters on the right side.

Not such a good sunrise thanks to the distant bank of cloud.

I needed to use the camera to count this bobbing and skittering group of Mallard ducklings. Eleven I think. I have no idea why four are yellow and the rest are brown.

One of the two Common Sandpipers. This one is wearing a red ring with 'CE' on its right legs and a standard BTO metal ring on its left leg. I will try and find out more details about when and where this bird was caught and ringed. It has a rather spotted-looking chest for some reason.

I mentioned the challenge of trying to photograph the two chasing Common Whitethroats. One of them singing away.

One flying away.

And the best of a duff bunch. Note the white throat (naturally) and the brown edging to the black feathers on the folded wing. The males – this is a male – have a greyer head than the females.

I am fairly confident that this is one of the Andrena group of mining bees. There are 67 to choose from - goodee! I am not at all familiar with any in the group. My best shot at an identity is Tawny Mining Bee (A. fulva)

This is a different species as it more slender. The folded wings cover the tip of the abdomen from this angle which might (or might not) have provided a clue to the species.

This matches photos of Short-fringed Mining Bee (A. dorsata) even though what I assume is the fringe does not look especially short.

This hoverfly is a Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe elegans). This species is often abundant in Spring and like Hawthorn blossom – it will have to wait a few days yet.

This male hoverfly is one of the Eristalis group: it is a Tapered Dronefly (E. pertinax). Only the males have an obviously tapered abdomen.

Fill-in camera flash enabled me to 'see through' the folded wings to the markings on the abdomen. This is a male Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare).

A male hoverfly of the genus Syrphus (S. ribesii or S. vitripennis). Males (individuals where their eyes meet) are not reliably separable on obvious features. On females the extent of yellow on the hind femur can be used to separate the species.

 A spider day today. This small spider I found on the lamp poles pre-dawn.

Another tiny spider. Not a good photo but it is distinctively marked on both the abdomen and the cephalothorax. The abdomen also appears very tapered.

Makes a change to see a Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) in the daylight. I did try to move the grass stem that was casting a shadow across the spider's body but it saw me (well it does have eight eyes) and shot away.

As threatened, from the early morning of 23 March on one of the street lamp poles pre-dawn was this Greater Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle (Pogonocherus hispidulus). Thanks again to Nigel for perseverance. I sent it to him because I thought it had eight legs: not so – six and two longish antennae.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25

(90th visit of the year)

I also saw a new species for my 2022 bird list for here: a Common Sandpiper flushed off the W side as I was walking around. They often spend time on the island though I could not relocate it there today. This species passes through here in Spring in small numbers. Species #60.

Other bird notes:
- It was another of those days with an inexplicably low count of Mallard
- A Willow Warbler was singing at the top of squirrel alley when I arrived. Later one was seen singing and moving through the small trees alongside the E of the water. Possibly the same bird passing through?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: (near) adult
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- *1 Willow Warbler: but see notes
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (4) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 30 Canada Geese: of these a single departed and a pair arrived
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 12 (11♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 24 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Herring Gull: second year bird

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere.

Nothing noted

Doing its best to hide behind twigs and branches is a Willow Warbler here showing its pink legs and relatively long wings.

May be the last I will see of this species this Spring. This bird was moving steadily northwards.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- No Moorhens seen or heard at either pool again
- 1 Chiffchaff calling alongside the lower pool

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- Once again only the usual plumed midges were noted.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Kittiwake

1 Sedge Warbler

3 Little Ringed Plover

4 Common Sandpiper

2 Blackcap

Sand Martin

Swallow

(John Isherwood)

East Priorslee

2 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Whinchat

7 Redstart

57 Wheatear

Fieldfare

Meadow Pipit

Siskin

Lesser Whitethroat

(Mick Wall, John Isherwood)

Redhill Lane

10+ Wheatear

4 Yellowhammer

(Mick Wall)

2012

The Wrekin

2 Ring Ouzel

(Observer Unknown)

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Grasshopper Warbler

26 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Swift

2 House Martin

2 Swallow

150 Sand Martin

7 Blackcap singing

1 Common Sandpiper

(Martin and Ian Grant)

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Pintail x Mallard

1 Kestrel

Tawny Owl 

1 Common Sandpiper

20 Swallow

20 Sand Martins

2 Blackcap

1 Garden Warbler

3 Chiffchaff

4 Reed Bunting 

(Martin Grant, Martin Adlam, Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

(Martin Grant)

The Flash

Common Sandpiper

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

3 Ruddy Duck

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

12 Sand Martins

8 Swallows

4 House Martins.

2 Stock Doves

1 Sky Lark

30 Wrens

18 Robins

26 Blackbirds

6 Blackcaps

11 Chiffchaffs

12 Willow Warblers

1 Willow Tit

5 Greenfinches

3 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

18 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 10.0°C: Patches of cloud, mainly at medium/high-level, sometimes rather thick. Light SW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:06 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:10 – 06:30 // 07:35 – 09:25

(92nd visit of the year)

It is the time of year for several species of warblers to arrive. I was not really expecting today's arrival - a Grasshopper Warbler singing in the SW area at 05:30 (but not heard after 06:00). This is a passage migrant that I record less than annually - 12 April 2016 and 11 April 2014 are my most recent records, both of single birds. One year in the noughties a bird sang daily for over six weeks and may well have bred. I did not so much as glimpse this arch skulker on that, nor any other, occasion. Species #83

The trilling of a Grasshopper Warbler (Courtesy of xento-canto)

Other bird notes:
- The lone Common Sandpiper was not seen before 08:30 and probably flew in.
- Many calling as well as singing Chiffchaffs today. Presumably pairs starting to get on with bonding and nest-building.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 6 Greylag Geese: two trios inbound
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 20 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Sand Martin, briefly at 07:50

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- *23 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 16 (10) Blackcaps
- 1 (1 Grasshopper Warbler
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat again

Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Ducks
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 19 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper: arrived
- no gulls

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- only plumed midges
It is now over a month since I saw my last moth!

Noted later:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- *Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *German Wasp (Paravespula germanica)

- *presumed Cheilosia hoverfly
- *Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
- *first flower of Ramsons (Allium ursinum)

Another sunrise worth looking at.

A different perspective.

The long view.

Now if only all species of warbler were as cooperative as Chiffchaffs.

Not one but two different birds posing.

This Wren looks as if it has had a hard night.

Seems not have affected his ability to sing loudly.

A Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) with gingery thorax and white hairs between the segments on the abdomen (the tergites).

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). On size a queen. It seemed to be looking for a nesting place.

Just caught flying away is another Buff-tailed Bumblebee and not, as might be presumed, a White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum). This latter species is rare away from the south coast and has a yellow band across the abdomen. Buff-tailed Bumblebees usually show a thin line of buff colouring between the white tail and the dark abdomen. It is often, as here, hard to see. The colour of the band across the abdomen is the best field mark.

This is one of several wasps I noted chewing away at the fence between the Wesley Brook and Teece Drive. Thanks to Martin for looking at it more closely than I did. This is a German Wasp (Paravespula germanica) and can be recognised by the yellow marks on the front side of the thorax being triangular (they are parallel-sided on Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)). Steven Falk's web site suggests this is only true of queen wasps though the NatureSpot web site suggests it is a feature shared also by males and workers. German Wasps tend to be a brighter yellow but that is probably of little practical use.

It was good to see a few hoverflies despite the lack of full sun. However we start with a puzzle. I am fairly certain this in one of the Cheilosia group. The wings are hiding any markings on the abdomen. Not that this is necessarily the problem as many of the 40 or so species are basically black. Pass!

And this is a Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger).

Annoying. At the time I thought this was most likely a mining bee and that my best chance of identification was a side-view. Only when I looked at the photo did I realise that it had short antennae and was not a bee but likely a hoverfly. There is not enough view of the abdomen pattern here for me at to attempt an identification. I needed a plan view. Very hairy though!

Just a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata). I am not sure I had ever noticed the 'white eyebrows' beside the central spot.

Just about on cue is this first flower of Ramsons (Allium ursinum).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:30

(89th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Definite preponderance of drake Tufted Duck at the moment. It would be nice to think that some of the ducks are sitting on eggs.
- Two Great Crested Grebes were noted and I wonder whether there is another somewhere. One bird was between the island and the S end as it often is. Another bird flew over the water toward the two bridges prompting the first bird to adopt a threat posture and swim toward it. Was the first bird protecting a nest site somewhere at the bottom end?
- No Willow Warblers seen or heard. Likely they have all moved on.
- I could not locate any Bramblings today. In tops of trees deep in the wooded area where I saw them yesterday there was a non-singing male Blackcap – they are not often to be found at such height.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Racing Pigeons
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- no Willow Warblers
- 9 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (4) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 6 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- *21 (18♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 22 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 2 Herring Gull: one first and one second year

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere.

Nothing noted

In tropical lands there used to be several species of duck known as tree ducks though as not all the species liked trees they are now called whistling ducks after their calls. This neither a whistling duck nor a tree duck but a duck Mallard pretending. I am not sure I have ever seen one in a tree before.

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker trying to hide behind twigs. This was at the bottom of squirrel alley by the academy where I have heard and seen one or more birds in recent days.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- No Moorhens seen or heard at either pool
- 2 Chiffchaffs: different birds calling and singing from trees between the pools
- 1 Blackcap singing near the lower pool
also
- *flowers of Lady's Smock / Cuckooplant / Milkmaid (Cardamine pratensis)

I am sure I will find better but these are my first flowers of Lady's Smock / Cuckooplant / Milkmaid (Cardamine pratensis) around here this year.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- only the usual plumed midges were noted.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014

Priorslee Lake

4 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Lesser Whitethroat

7 Wheatear

6 Lapwing

Whitethroat

(John Isherwood)

2013

Nedge Hill

21 Wheatears

3 Common Redstart

Common Whitethroat

(Peter Jordan, Ian Grant)

2012

Priorslee Lake

1 Sedge Warbler

25 Swallows

6 House Martins

1 Sand Martin

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Blackcap

(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill

1 Redstart

1 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2009

Priorslee Lake

17 Tufted Duck 

1 Common Sandpiper 

Swallows

House Martins

Sand Martins 

2 Reed Warblers again 

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

Lapwing 

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker 

Redstart

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

1 Wigeon

4 Willow Warblers

15 Sand Martins

27 Swallows

2 Gadwall

4 Tufted Ducks

2 Kestrels

9 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Sand Martins

6 Swallows

2 Blackcaps

4 Chiffchaffs

17 Willow Warblers (11 in song)

4 Redpolls

Nedge Hill

2 Willow Warblers

Trench Lock

2 Sand Martins

7 Swallows

2 Chiffchaff

3 Willow Warblers

2007

Priorslee Lake

4 Common Sandpipers

1 Garden Warbler

Chiffchaff

Reed Bunting

1 Ring-necked Parakeet

(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

The Flash

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Curlew

(Ed Wilson)

Wood Lane

1 Grasshopper Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Swallow

1 Sand Martin

4 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

3 Tufted Duck

2 Ruddy Duck

5 Common Sandpiper

1 Kestrel

1 Buzzard

1 Sky Lark

2 Grey Wagtail

1 Willow Tit

5 Greenfinch

1 Linnet

3 Reed Bunting.

(Martin Adlam)

Lanes east of Priorslee Lake

4 Pheasants

4 Sky Larks

4 Blackcaps

2 Chiffchaffs

2 Willow Warblers 

8 Linnets

4 Yellowhammers

1 Redwing

1 Tree Sparrow

1 Common Whitethroat

2 Stock Dove 

2 Jay

2 Kestrel

(Martin Adlam)

1 Willow Tit

5 Greenfinch

1 Linnet

1 Redpoll

4 Reed Bunting

(Martin Adlam)

17 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 11.0°C: Thin high cloud taking the edge off things. Light SE breeze. Good visibility: a little hazy.

Sunrise: 06:08 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:35 // 07:30 – 09:00

(91st visit of the year)

A rather belated new species for my 2022 bird list here was House Sparrow. I have heard them most mornings from outside by recording area: this morning two had made it in to the hedge between the football field and the academy and I can count them! Species #82

Bird notes:
- The four Mallard (three drakes) seen on the lake are assumed to include the three birds (two drakes) seen earlier, asleep on the football field at 06:00.
- All the 12 Tufted Duck arrived: a pair and then two separate groups of five. The two groups of five departed again shortly afterwards, also separately.
- Just one Common Sandpiper noted.
- Four Black-headed Gulls flew in at 05:35 – three adults and one first year. They stayed about 20 minutes spending part of the time feeding on the SW grass.
- The low count of fly-over Jackdaws yesterday (two) was due to the fog. I have no idea why I only saw four today.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair outbound
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures
- 4 Jackdaws only
- 3 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- 18 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 16 (11) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 12 (8♂) Tufted Ducks: see notes
- 6 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 4 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, briefly and with...
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults, also briefly

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
The poles were once again covered in dew
- *1 small caterpillar of a geometer moth sp.

Noted later:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Another day: another sunrise.

Maximum colour.

The actual sunrise was through high cloud and that took the red tones out of the sky.

A tiny caterpillar about which I can say very little. It is probably one of the geometer moths whose caterpillars are known as loopers. Their locomotion is a sequence of loops as they arch their backs each time they bring their stumpy prolegs and claspers at the back of the abdomen to meet the three pairs of legs on the thorax before stretching those legs forward again. Sawfly larvae can be very similar with three pairs of legs on the thorax but always have five or more pairs of prolegs.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25

(88th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The two Mallard ducklings again with what I assume to be their parents.
- Rather more Mallard today.
- Tufted Duck numbers recovered somewhat but still many fewer than two days ago,
- A Great Crested Grebe re-appeared. Is it hiding somewhere?
- The one Willow Warbler singing from the same area.
- Two Redwings flew over and looked as if they might stop in trees at the top of squirrel alley. I could not find there so I have logged them as carrying on. A late date from this species: I have noted them at Easter previously but then Easter is a moveable feast.
- At least five Bramblings in tops of trees deep in the wooded area at the top left.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Feral Pigeons: not the local birds
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures
- 3 Cormorants: together
- 2 Jackdaws: singles
- 2 Redwings: see notes

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water: all numbers potentially visibility effected
- 22 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- *16 (14♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 23 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *1 Herring Gull: third year?

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere

Nothing noted

The family party of Mallard once again out of the water. A Robin photo-bombing the scene.

I am not 100% sure of the age of this Herring Gull. The extent of the pale grey on the back is perhaps closest to a typical second year bird though the bill-pattern is more reminiscent of a third year bird. Individual large gulls develop at different rates and some can be tricky to pin down.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- A single Moorhens seen at each pool
- 2 Chiffchaffs: different birds calling and singing from trees between the pools
- 1 Blackcap singing near the upper pool

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- the usual plumed midges
- 5 Porcellio spinicornis aka Brickwork Woodlouse
- *1 Segestria senoculata

This spider was on the 'other wall' of the tunnel and as I did not want to fall in or paddle in the Wesley Brook I had little choice but to take a long-range shot and enlarge it more than somewhat. It looked rather unusual in that the markings on the abdomen do not look balanced left and right. I asked Nigel and it is worth quoting his interesting response: "It’s one of the tube spiders Segestria senoculata. It is one of the few spiders in UK with only 6 eyes instead of the usual 8 and the first three pairs of legs are usually held pointing forward. This is because it lives in a tubular structure like an old beetle hole or hole in a brick wall and has lines of silk radiating out of the mouth of the hole. These strands of silk don’t trap pray but act as signal lines to alert the spider of prey at which point it rushes out, grabs the prey and hauls it backwards into its tube – hence the forward pointing legs that it uses to shove itself, complete with prey, down the tube. It will seize dangerous prey (e.g. a wasp) in the middle from the top so that the wasp is bent double with the sting pointing away from the spider as it is dragged down the tube"

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014

Priorslee Lake

1 Cormorant

2 Grey Herons

8 Greylag Geese

10 Tufted Duck

1 Sand Martin

4 Swallows.

1 Sedge Warbler

10 Blackcaps

7 Chiffchaffs

191 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane

2 Red-legged Partridges

1 Whitethroat

4 Sky Larks

1 Blackcap

1 Chiffchaff

1 Linnet

2 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

1 Wheatear

1 Common Whitethroat

1 Willow Warbler

3 Chiffchaff

2 Swallow

2 Blackcap

6 Skylark

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

(Martin Grant)

2013

Nedge Hill

1 Common Redstart

5 Whitethroat

15 Wheatear

2 Swallows

Chiffchaff

2 Yellowhammer

6+ Skylarks

3 Linnet

(Ian Grant, Martin Grant)

2012

Priorslee Lake

1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Redstart

2 Wheatear

1 Raven

(John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 Common Sandpiper

2 Tufted Ducks

1 Lapwing

1 Siskin

Common Whitethroat

(John Isherwood/Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

1 Common Redstart

12 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Common Sandpiper

(John. Isherwood)

2009

Priorslee Lake

2 Reed Warblers

1 Pochard

17 Tufted Duck

6 Swallows

2 Reed Warblers

4 Blackcaps

5 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

1 Jay

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

1 Gadwall

7 Tufted Ducks

1 Common Sandpiper

111 Sand Martins

1 House Martin

4 Swallows

1 Blackcap

4 Willow Warblers

11 Chiffchaffs

1 Common Tern

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

3 Tufted Ducks

3 Ruddy Duck

9 Common Sandpiper

11 Chiffchaff

8 Willow Warbler

4 Blackcaps

1 Common Whitethroat

1 Swallow

1 Willow Tit

5 Greenfinch

1 Linnet

1 Redpoll

4 Reed Bunting

(Martin Adlam)