9.0°C > 10.0°C: Early low overcast with patchy mostly light rain. Cloud lifted and rain mostly ceased. Then sunny after 09:00 until puffy clouds began to develop. Light / moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:33 BST
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:10
(79th visit of the year)
Two firsts and one probable last for the season:
- *three Common Sandpipers were present throughout. About an average 'first of Spring' date. Species #83
- one House Martin (species #84) was noted among a small number of Sand Martins and a lone Barn Swallow after 08:00
- a party of 19 Redwings flew East at 06:55.
Other bird notes:
- One of the presumed resident pair of Canada Geese seemed to been sitting on eggs for a while.
- A pair of Gadwall reappeared
- A Mistle Thrush was heard singing from the south-east copse.
- Another day when Reed Buntings were seen flying out of the west end roost area: two together today. I would have expected them all to be paired and holding a breeding territory by now.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: a pair outbound; a lone bird flew South
- 4 Greylag Geese: two pairs inbound
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: singles
- 2 Sparrowhawks: displaying pair
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 3 (3) Willow Warbler
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- *9 (8) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted: maximum 'instant' count – probably more birds involved:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: the resident pair chased off another pair that arrived
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (6♂) Mallard: of these 5 (4♂) were on the football field
- 8 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year, very briefly
- 3 Cormorants: all separate arrivals and departures
- 1 Grey Heron: presumably it was the same that was standing on the football field later
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 male plumed midges (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *several different species of springtail
- 1 Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede (Cylindroiulus punctatus)
- *1 probable White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Nothing of note
Noted later
- *Flowers of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
Noted later
- *Flowers of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
This one has found some food. When seen 'live' this species constantly bobs its tail.
A clearer view here. Something in the tip of its bill? Mud?
A male Blackcap doing its best to hide.
He will be even harder to see once the leaves open on the twigs.
Luckily this one was too busy singing to worry about me.
A male Grey Wagtail on rocks at the dam-face.
These Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) will look better on a sunny day when they lift their heads up.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:10
(73rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Stock Dove was calling from the wooded area along the East side.
- There did seem to be three pairs of Great Crested Grebes. As usual they are hard to keep track of.
- A Great Tit was seen apparently emerging from the hole the Nuthatches were inspecting a few weeks ago.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Hirundines etc., noted
Bird notes:
- A Stock Dove was calling from the wooded area along the East side.
- There did seem to be three pairs of Great Crested Grebes. As usual they are hard to keep track of.
- A Great Tit was seen apparently emerging from the hole the Nuthatches were inspecting a few weeks ago.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
Hirundines etc., noted
None
Noted on / around the water
- 18 Canada Geese
- 9 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: eggs not visible
- 22 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *19 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Cormorants
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 unplumed midge yet again
Of interest noted elsewhere:
- *Swan Mussel (Anodonta cygnea)
Noted on / around the water
- 18 Canada Geese
- 9 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: eggs not visible
- 22 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- *19 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Cormorants
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 1 unplumed midge yet again
Of interest noted elsewhere:
- *Swan Mussel (Anodonta cygnea)
Not a very pronounced supercilium on this individual.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
12 Tufted Duck
7 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Cormorant
1 Cackling Goose
39 Tufted Ducks
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
1 Sand Martin
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Gadwall
21 Tufted Ducks
6 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
372 Jackdaws
Kestrel
Willow Tit
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Pochard
58 Tufted Duck
1 Brambling
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
Trench Lock Pool
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
2 Greylag Geese
4 Shoveler
19 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
50 Meadow Pipit
100 Redwing
Green Woodpecker
3 Red legged Partridge
Fieldfare
7 Lapwing
Linnet
(John Isherwood)
2012
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2011
Nedge Hill
2 Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Flash
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
20 Tufted Duck
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Skylark
36 Meadow Pipit
9 Chiffchaff
1 Redpoll
8 Bullfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
6 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
7 Stock Doves
235 Wood Pigeons
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
7 Meadow Pipits
20 Wrens
21 Blackbirds
2 Fieldfares again
2 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
15 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
