Archived Bird News from Local Area 2006

Local Area Archived Bird News - 2006

31st December, Sunday (09:47 - 10:34) Priorslee Flash - Now usual winter walk along the W side to check the roosting ducks etc. Also tried again to get closer to the Goosander to get some shots, but they shy. moving quietly away on my approach with the telescope

Now more sun and clouds clearing away - being blown away by the rapidly strengthening wind

Today 7 Goosander with 3 splendid drakes. Unspectacular number of Pochard and Tufted Duck. Some winter thrushes over

So the notes:
- no Heron yet again
- seemed to be 2 adult Great Crested Grebes with just their 2 immatures, now wandering off to the other end of the water
- the 2 adult Swans with the cygnet from the lake (ring read)
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose there were 2 parties of, respectively, 9 and 11 birds flying in
- higher numbers of Canada Geese than recently as well
- some of the Pochard were in the lee of the island today - as well as the usual birds tucked in the NW area
- the 7 Goosanders with the 3 drakes and 4 brownheads all off the island
- the Black-headed Gulls had tempted 2 Lesser Black-backed and 1 immature Herring Gull to join them

Also
- 15 Fieldfare flew over in 2 parties
- 11 Redwing flew off from trees at S end

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 2 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 21 Greylag Geese; 61 Canada Geese; 67 Mallard (43 drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 33 Pochard (19 drakes); 20 Tufted Ducks (10 drakes); 7 Goosanders (3 adult drakes; 4 brownheads); 7 Moorhens; 23 Coots; 161 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); 1 immature Herring Gull; no Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

30th December, Saturday (09:53 - 10:24) Priorslee Flash - Now usual winter walk along the W side to check the roosting ducks etc. Fine but clouding up at medium / high level: lighter winds

First visit for over 2 weeks: still Goosander around. Unspectacular number of Pochard and Tufted Duck

So the notes:
- no Heron
- 2 adults with just 3 immature Great Crested Grebes, though the 2 immatures that came from one of the resident pairs are now starting to acquire some signs of the head-plumes
- the 2 adult Swans with the cygnet from the lake (ring read)
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose there was a party of 6 birds
- just 2 Goosanders noted, both brownheads
- over 200 Black-headed Gulls had tempted nothing more than 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls to join them

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 3 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Heron; 2 adult Swans and 1 cygnet; 7 Greylag Geese; 13 Canada Geese; 69 Mallard (45
drakes); no Mallard x Pintail drake; 26 Pochard (15 drakes); 36 Tufted Ducks (21 drakes); 2 Goosanders (0 adult drakes; 2 brownheads); 8 Moorhens; 21 Coots; 220 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls ( 1 immature); no Herring Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

24th December, Tuesday (12:30) Priorslee Village - A male Blackcap in the backgarden. The first for this winter. (Martin Adlam)

14th December Thursday (13:45 - 14:25) (note unusual time) Priorslee Flash - A later than usual visit on my way back from Telford to check on both the Goosanders and to see whether there were any pre-roost gulls of interest. Rewarded with another record count of Goosanders and several unusual (for here) gulls

So the notes:
- no Heron
- 2 adults and again apparently 5 immature Great Crested Grebes, though several asleep and hard to age
- the 2 adult Swans back again - one of them was one of the 'regular' pair; though I could not see the Darvic ring on the other bird, the metal ring was on the 'right' (and right) leg for the other regular. No cygnet though
- in addition to the omnipresent 'lone' Greylag Goose there was a party of 9 birds
- the drake Mallard x Pintail not located today
- slightly higher count of Pochard and rather more Tufted Duck, though hardly record numbers!
- at least 20 Goosanders, still with 3 full adult drakes
- the gulls, including at least 5 different immature Herring Gulls of various ages; an adult Yellow-legged-type gull with a very 'clean' head (if you ignored the apparently blood-spattered bill base area) and dark mantle; and a 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull. One of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls also had apparently fresh blood on its breast and neck feathers

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 5 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Heron; 2 adult Swans; 10 Greylag Geese; 9 Canada Geese; 77 Mallard (42 drakes); no
Mallard x Pintail drake; 19 Pochard (10 drakes); 26 Tufted Ducks (13 drakes); 20 Goosanders (3 adult drakes; 17 brownheads); 9 Moorhens; 19 Coots; 126 Black-headed Gulls; 44 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls; 1 Yellow-legged Gull; 1 Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

13th December, Wednesday (09:51 - 10:22) Priorslee Flash - A short visit to check on the Goosanders: one fewer today but a high count anyway

So the notes:
- 1 Cormorant seen flying around overhead looking as if it wanted to land(?) but didn't
- no Heron
- 2 adults and apparently now 5 immature Great Crested Grebes, though they do move around a lot and are sometimes 'hiding' amongst the Goosanders
- no sign of any Swans again
- the drake Mallard x Pintail seen this morning for at least the 4th season: has been absent for many weeks now, more or less since the moult
- lower count of Pochard and Tufted Duck yet again
- at least 14 Goosanders with 3 adult drakes and at least 2 immature drakes amongst the 11 brownheads [correcting yesterday's confusing narrative, there were 15 or 16 birds, 4 of which were (near) adult drakes and 11 or 12 brownheads: apologies!]
- no Moorhens seen for some reason
- more gulls, including a Herring Gull

also
- 2 Redwings flew off from the NW area
- one of the locals reports 'several' Siskins in with the Goldfinches on the alders along the W side, though not seen any myself

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 5? immature Great Crested Grebes; 1 Cormorant over; no Heron; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 13 Canada Geese; 60 Mallard (38 drakes); 1
Mallard x Pintail drake; 18 Pochard (11 drakes); 16 Tufted Ducks (9 drakes); 14 Goosanders (3 adult drakes; 11 brownheads); no Moorhens; 15 Coots; 372 Black-headed Gulls; 48 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (at least 2 immatures); 1 adult Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

12th December, Tuesday (10:08 - 10:38) Priorslee Flash - A short visit to check on the water-birds - and rewarded with a record number of Goosanders

So the notes:
- no Cormorant today
- 1 Heron again
- 2 adults back to just 4 immature Great Crested Grebes
- no sign of any Swans: the locals say they all flew off '2 days ago'
- lower count of Pochard
- lower count of Tufted Duck as well
- at least 15 Goosanders now - 4 drakes and at least 15 brownheads, though with all the birds continually diving it was hard to be certain. I did once count 16, but never managed to repeat the count!
- rather few gulls
also
- nothing else of interest

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; 1 Heron; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 17 Canada Geese; 64 Mallard (41 drakes); 19 Pochard (11 drakes); 25 Tufted Ducks (11 drakes); 15 or 16 Goosanders (4 drakes - see above); 8 Moorhens; 23 Coots; 47 Black-headed Gulls; no Lesser Black-headed Gulls (no immatures); no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

10th December, Sunday (09:20 - 10:00) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way - Main purpose was to see whether I could get a better view of the finch-flocks that I had seen from the other end of the main lake. That was inconclusive: there were more than the usual number of Chaffinches and Goldfinches in the trees, but nowhere near the numbers I had seen earlier

The highlights:
- 6 Pheasants 'exploded' at my feet - all females
- lots of Redwings, but assumed to be most of those seen from the lake earlier

But no Sky Larks, Meadow Pipits, Linnets or Yellowhammers

My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the area:
[overflying birds are in the main log]
no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 5 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 6
Robins; 8 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; no Jays; 4 Magpies; 18 Chaffinches; 1 Greenfinch; 12 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

Saturday, 9th December (09:43 - 10:13) Priorslee Flash - A quick visit between the lake and meeting for the walk among the Shropshire hills

9 of the 10 Goosander in the NW area with the Pochard, while a lone independent brownhead patrolled the waters around the island

Good numbers of Tufted Duck and Pochard but I suspect that many were refugees of the model-boating on the main lake

So the notes:
- 2 adults but apparently back to 4 immature Great Crested Grebes
- no Cormorant today
- 1 Heron present and correct
- the usual 2 adult Swans; and the ex-Lake cygnet
- good count of Pochard, with more on any recent visit
- high count of Tufted Duck
- 10 Goosanders (4 adult drakes)
- good number of Black-headed Gulls, but Lesser Black-backed Gulls relatively scarce
- no Herring Gull

also
- Kingfisher heard in flight

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans, and 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 15 Canada Geese; 59 Mallard (38 drakes); 45 Pochard (25 drakes); 79 Tufted Ducks (40 drakes); 10 Goosanders (4 adult drakes); 7 Moorhens; 22 Coots; 439 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (no immatures); no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

7th December, Thursday (14:34 - 14:58) Priorslee Flash - An afternoon visit today to see what was roosting in the lee of the very strong winds in the sheltered NW area - would I be able to get closer to the Goosander? Nope - they were not here! And the Pochard and Tufted Duck were not in any special numbers

Afternoon is sometimes better for Snipe on the island - seems that they get hungry and I have seen them out in the open feeding. Not today

So the notes:
- no Cormorant today
- no Heron either
- 2 adults now with 6 confirmed immature Great Crested Grebes
- the now 'regular' 2 Swans separate from the ex-Lake cygnet
- amazingly I counted one fewer Mallard than last time, with exactly the same number of drakes - must be about right!
- good count of Pochard, but fewer than the last visit
- count of Tufted Duck much the same as yesterday as well
- no Goosanders!
- a few gulls gathering, but perhaps a bit early
- no Herring Gull
also
- nothing else of interest

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 6 immature Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Herons; 2 adult Swans, and 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 21 Canada Geese; 80 Mallard (51 drakes); 36 Pochard (20 drakes); 31 Tufted Ducks (17 drakes); no Goosanders (see above); 5 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 126 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (no immatures); no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

6th December, Wednesday (09:35 - 10:03) Priorslee Flash - A quicker visit to The Flash on a rather cheerless day

Notes:
- no Cormorant today
- no Heron either
- 2 adults now with 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes - so where have these come from?
- the now 'regular' 2 Swans on their own today, the cygnet having gone
- another good count of Pochard
- a low count of Tufted Ducks much the same as yesterday
- now 9 Goosanders, though not easy to find as in 2 different groups today. Still having trouble sexing some of the brownheads, but I think there are 2 adult drakes; 2 near-adult drakes; 2 'brownhead' drakes; 1 adult duck; and 2 'brownhead' ducks. But am willing to be proved wrong!
- similar number of gulls - indeed exactly the same number of Black-headed Gulls!
- no Herring Gull

also
- nothing else of interest

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Herons; 2 adult Swans but no cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 2 Canada Geese; 81 Mallard (51
drakes); 39 Pochard (21 drakes); 33 Tufted Ducks (21 drakes); 9 Goosanders (see above); 5 Moorhens; 15 Coots; 205 Black-headed Gulls; 5 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); 1 Herring Gull

(Ed Wilson)

5th December, Tuesday (10:02 - 10:44) Priorslee Flash - A longer visit to The Flash today with 3 main aims:
- to get closer to the Goosanders with the camera; to try and read the ring on the cygnet; and to take the scope all the way around to give the island a good 'grilling' for Snipe. I suppose number two and three were accomplished
- the cygnet is Blue '7EDV' (and thus confirmed as the bird from the lake). And while I walked all the way round today I need not have as the cygnet came to visit me today!
- there were certainly no Snipe on the island
The first was rather frustrating
- the birds 'kept their distance' and wherever I was they were somewhere else! Odd because when they first arrived they spent a long while fishing in the NW area and allowed close approach, though as they were diving they were hard to photo. Now they spend more time loafing they seem to be camera (or more likely telescope) shy!

Notes:
- no Cormorant today
- no Heron either
- 2 adults and 4 juveniles Great Crested Grebes again
- the now 'regular' 2 Swans seem to have accepted the cygnet and allow it to trail them around from hand-out to hand-out. Rings confirmed as Blue '7AUP'; Yellow '4GK' and Blue '7EDV'
- a few more Pochard but low count of Tufted Ducks today
- the same(?) 6 Goosanders
- good number of gulls included a Herring Gull and a 2nd-winter bird at that - most of those I log are either 1st winters or (near) adults

also
- nothing else of interest despite the walk all the way around

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Herons; 2 adult Swans with 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 16 Canada Geese; 71 Mallard (42 drakes); 45 Pochard (24 drakes); 31 Tufted Ducks (18 drakes); 6 Goosanders (2 drakes); 8 Moorhens; 25 Coots; 205 Black-headed Gulls; 17 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (4 immatures); 1 Herring Gull

(Ed Wilson)

4th December, Monday (10:00 - 10:33) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to see how the Goosanders were doing and yet another change with 6 birds today with 2 adult drakes and (the same?) 4 ducks

Notes:
- a Cormorant fishing in the water was my first of the winter here
- Heron flew in: first time I have seen it for 10 days or so
- the 2 adults and 4 juveniles Great Crested Grebes again
- the now 'regular' 2 Swans still chasing the cygnet in rather half-hearted fashion: the cygnet goes under the footbridges to feed in the pools behind, safe from the adult cob as its threat-pose will not fit under the bridges! The locals already use this fact to feed the cygnet
- reasonable numbers of Pochard and Tufted Ducks again today with many of the Tufted Ducks having flown in while I was at the 'other end'
- 6 Goosanders
- higher numbers of gulls but no Herring Gulls again

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Cormorant; 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans with 1 cygnet; no Greylag Goose; 17 Canada Geese (2 flew off); 69
Mallard again (43 drakes); 37 Pochard (21 drakes); 77 Tufted Ducks (36 drakes); 6 Goosanders (2 drakes); 8 Moorhens; 22 Coots; 397 Black-headed
Gulls; 9 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (1 immature); no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

3rd December, Sunday (09:58 - 10:38) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to see how the Goosanders were doing and another change to report. Just 5 birds today with 1 adult drake and 4 ducks

Notes:
- 2 adults and 4 juveniles Great Crested Grebes again
- the now 'regular' 2 Swans were chasing a cygnet in rather half-hearted fashion: perhaps the cygnet from the main lake [the locals tell me it was here yesterday as well, so that fits]
- I expected high numbers of Pochard and Tufted Ducks today after seeing so many fly off from the lake
- 5 Goosanders
- low numbers of gulls with no Herring Gulls and the only Lesser Black-backs were fly-overs
also
- a Buzzard flew W overhead
- a Grey Wagtail on the island trying to convince me it was a lurking Snipe!

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 adult Swans with 1 cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose; 11 Canada Geese; 73 Mallard again (46 drakes
today though); 44 Pochard (25 drakes); 81 Tufted Ducks (44 drakes); 7 Moorhens; 13 Coots; 72 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-headed Gulls flew over; no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

2nd December, Saturday (10:12 - 10:44) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to see how the Goosanders were doing.

Well: another change! 9 birds again today but with 5 drakes (2 at least adults); and 4 ducks. The 'duck', more properly a 'brownhead', from Thursday that seemed to have some paler silver feathers in the mantle was not seen. How odd that this species, not noted here in earlier years, should be able to find others and swap and swap about.

Notes:
- 2 adults and 4 juveniles Great Crested Grebes again
- just the by now 'regular' 2 Swans today
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present again
- 11 Canada Geese again: these seem to be rooted here and this has been
the total for some days, irrespective of how many there are at the lake
- fewer Pochard but more Tufted Ducks today
- 9 Goosanders
- lower numbers of gulls with no Herring Gulls
also
- a singing Mistle Thrush

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Herons 2 adult Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 11 Canada Geese; 73 Mallard (49 drakes); 15 Pochard (6 drakes); 52 Tufted Ducks (35 drakes); 3 Moorhens; 18 Coots; 184 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

30th November, Thursday (09:56 - 10:24) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to see how the Goosanders were doing - it was too dull to contemplate any photography.

Well: another change and another puzzle: there were 9 birds today and ostensibly there were 3 drakes (1 adult); and 6 ducks. But one of the 'ducks', more properly a 'brownhead', seemed to have some paler silver feathers in the mantle and I strongly suspect that it is a late-moulting drake. That raises the question as to whether I overlooked this before; whether it has only just started its moult; or whether it is new in

Notes:
- my Great Crested Grebes were, at last, the same as yesterday as 2 adults and 4 juveniles. But I sense some of my confusion may have been caused by a 'near adult' that can look like either an adult or a juvenile, depending on the angle of the light!
- just the now 'regular' 2 Swans today: my 'informants', all instructed to check at least the colour of the rings, tell me that the 'blue and yellow pair' are the birds they see all the time now - Blue 7AUP and Yellow 4GK
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present and correct today: and the only Greylag present again
- for the umpteenth day the number of Canada Geese has struggled to double figures: none is seen flying in (and no flocks are seen in flight over the lake). So the birds seem to have gone elsewhere: while there has been a programme to restrict / eliminate breeding at The Flash by pricking the eggs, there were well over 150 adults moulting here and they cannot nearly all perished in the meantime can they? Previous winters have seen plenty here
- more Pochard and the same number of Tufted Ducks (though different numbers of the sexes) today
- 9 Goosanders
- high numbers of gulls resting in the lee of the island in the strong wind: included 2 Herring Gulls

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 adult Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 11 Canada Geese; 79 Mallard (45 drakes); 19 Pochard (13 drakes); 15 Tufted Ducks (7 drakes); 3 Moorhens; 17 Coots; c.580 Black-headed Gulls; 58 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls (1 adult and 1 immature (1st winter?))

(Ed Wilson)

29th November, Wednesday (10:28 - 10:58) Priorslee Flash -

Popped in on the way to the Trench Pools to see whether the Goosanders were still about. They were - and there are now 11, with one of yesterday's drakes not noted (when one of the immatures was on its own for most of the time); but 3 'new' ducks!

Notes:
- my Great Crested Grebes confusion continued today, with 2 adults and 4 juveniles. The long-staying 2 juveniles in 'the middle' were seen displaying to each other today, shortly after there was a little 'spat' with the 2 adults and heads laying on the water and various call-notes heard!
- 4 Swans today: all adults, with a rather dispirited attempt by the 'residents' to chase off the others, though as I could not get close-enough to see, let alone read, the rings I am not sure of identity of any of these. And whether either pair was that chased off from the lake is speculation
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present and correct today: and the only Greylag present again
- lower counts of both Pochard and Tufted Ducks today
- 11 Goosanders: wow-ee

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 4 adult Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 11 Canada Geese; 72 Mallard (45 drakes); 7 Pochard (5 drakes); 15 Tufted Ducks (9 drakes); 11 Goosander (5 drakes); 4 Moorhens; 14 Coots again; 92 Black-headed Gulls; 18 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gulls

Newport -

In my Newport garden 2 male Blackcaps feeding on berries when allowed to by the Blackbirds that have suddenly reappeared en masse having decided that, despite lack of frost, the sorbus fruit is now ripe-enough to eat. Still almost no finches and apart from the occasional tit, usually a Coal Tit, the feeders are untouched.

2 Silver Y moths were a surprise Monday night.

(Ed Wilson)

28th November, Tuesday (09:50 - 10:47 ) Priorslee Flash - Managed to stagger along the footpath at the W end of the lake and ended up spending a lot longer than I intended with all the passing locals interested in the now obvious strange visitors - 9 Goosanders, of which 6 were drakes, with the 4 full adults especially striking as they were fishing close to the path in the NW area

Other notes:
- Great Crested Grebes seemed to be 2 adults and 4 juveniles
- the 2 Swans back again - the blue / yellow ringed birds
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present and correct today: and the only Greylag present
- a good number of Pochard again and some of these were actively feeding close to the path with the Goosander (taking advantage of the fish disturbed by them? though Pochard are mainly vegetable-matter eaters)
- reasonable count of Tufted Ducks as well
- rather few gulls
- Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard calling in both the SE and NE areas - might have been the same bird moved?
- Blue Tit now joined in the singing that was started several days ago by the Great Tit

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 9 Canada Geese; 69 Mallard (44 drakes); 14 Pochard (7 drakes); 44 Tufted Ducks (27 drakes); 9 Goosanders (6 drakes); 4 Moorhens; 20 Coots; only 34 Black-headed Gulls; just 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

26th November, Sunday (10:18 - 11:03) Priorslee Flash - Popped in to see whether the Goosanders were still about: as I got out of the car there were 5 apparently flying off and they all looked like ducks / immatures. I suspect they did a circuit and were part of the group of now 8 birds feeding in the NW area - 2 adult drakes; 2 immature drakes; 1 adult duck; 3 immature ducks seemed to be the answer. At least 1 of the immature drakes looks to be different from any of those that I recorded last week - or it has moulted quickly! And the 3 immature ducks were identified solely on the basis of the rather paler brown coloration - the extent of the brown seemed identical to the presumed adult.

While I was trying to keep track of these birds - confusingly 3 immature Great Crested Grebes found it necessary to feed in the same area! And the gulls were flying in as well, though there did not seem to be anything unusual in the flock

Notes:
- I thought the Great Crested Grebes were 'sorted': but today I made it 2 [3] adults and 6 [5] juveniles
- Swans missing
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present and correct today: and the only Greylag present
- a few Pochard and some more flew in while I was Goosander-ing
- high count of Tufted Ducks, presumably boosted by refugees from the yachts on the main lake
- the 8 Goosanders

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 13 Canada Geese; 59 Mallard (not sexed); 14 Pochard (7 drakes); 83
Tufted Ducks (at least 47 drakes); 6 Moorhens; 14 Coots; at least 126 Black-headed Gulls; at least 9 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

24th November, Friday (04:45) Priorslee Village - Tawny Owl calling from behind the house in Abelia Way.

21st November, Tuesday (10:27 - 11:08) Priorslee Flash -

With lots of large gulls at the lake I thought I would have a quick look here: as I arrived I could see hundreds of gulls, but as I got out of the car they all went up and I was depressed. But they seemed to have just moved to settle at the top end of the water where there were my highest count of the winter (though another of the locals told me that last afternoon there were at least twice as many - "all the water was white".
Examination of the 1350 or so gulls present found just 1 bird that wasn't a Black-headed or Lesser Black-backed Gull! It was of the Herring Gull complex but more than that I refuse to be drawn until I have looked at the pix I took and tried to (sub) specifically identify this bird with a well-marked bill; very few and indistinct dark-streaks on its neck; a head that stood-out as being bright white, and with a mantle that was clearly darker than the Black-headed Gulls.

And the splendid party of Goosander was still present and 6-strong today (in fact I suspect it was yesterday and hence my confusion as to whether there was an immature duck or not)

Notes:
- think the Great Crested Grebes are 'sorted': there were 3 adults and 5 juveniles for sure today
- Swans gone again!
- the small specimen Greylag Goose was present and correct today: and the only Greylag present
- a lone Pochard tucked in the NW area today
- 17 was a slightly better but still poor number of Tufted Duck
- now 6 Goosander: 2 truly beautiful adult drakes; an adult duck; and 3 immatures, two drakes at different stages of moult to mature plumage; and an immature duck
- the Herring Gull-type in amongst at least 550 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - almost all adults
- Kingfisher heard

I took the scope today - pix. of the Herring, whatever, gull

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 30 Canada Geese; 79 Mallard (not sexed); 1 Pochard (1 drakes); 17
Tufted Ducks (at least 9 drakes); 7 Moorhens; 18 Coots; at least 810 Black-headed Gulls; at least 550 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull-type

(Ed Wilson)

20th November, Monday (09:58 - 10:33) - Priorslee Flash

A splendid party of 5 Goosander today, though most of the Aythya ducks had gone

Notes:
- still confused about how many Great Crested Grebes there are: wish they would not move around so much! I think there were 3 adults and 5 juveniles today, but whenever I tried to find them all at the same time I never could!
- Swans back again: the adult pair that includes Yellow '4GK': did not read the other
- neither of the 2 Greylag Geese was the small specimen: wonder where that was lurking?
- just 3 Pochard tucked in the NW area today
- 12 was a poor number of Tufted Duck
- the 5 Goosander: 2 truly beautiful adult drakes; an adult duck; and 2 immatures, one for sure a drake, the other less clear but seemed to have some green gloss on the otherwise brown head as if it too will become a drake
- very few gulls again

I took the scope today - Goosanders are always worth a picture!

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3? adult and 5? juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Swans; 2 Greylag Geese; 47 Canada Geese; 66 Mallard (not sexed); 3 Pochard (2 drakes); 12 Tufted Ducks (at least 7 drakes); 5 Goosander; 10 Moorhens; only 13 Coots; 102 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

19th November, Sunday (12:00 - 13:00) Priorslee Village Back garden - A bright sunny lunchtime brought out two Peacock Butterflies. Also around the Budlehia a large Bumble Bee and a Blue Bottle. On the wall of the house (south facing) there were 6 Lacewings though one did succumb to a spider. Birds in the area were a Buzzard being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow, a Song Thrush perched on the Willow and a Blackbird eating the berries from the Pyrocantha. Visitors to the Black Sun Flower feeder were Coal, Blue and Great Tit. In the lane behind the house a family of Long-tailed Tits passed through accompanied by a Goldcrest. (Martin Adlam)

(10:36 - 11:07) Priorslee Flash -

I decided on a visit to The Flash to try and photo any large gulls on the lake, but there were none! Almost no gulls at all. But rewarded with plenty of Tufted Ducks and Pochard (perhaps refugees from the lake as the yachts had been out a while by the time I left the lake and may have flushed them off - I was engrossed with the foliage pictures at the W end for the last 30 / 40 minutes of my stay at the lake and would not have seen them leave). Smashing light for photography of the Heron on the island; and the roosting Pochard, though the low winter sun and the strong contrast between the pale mantle and dark chest of drake Pochard makes correct exposure rather hard (oh alright: I got it wrong!)

Notes:
- there were more juvenile Great Crested Grebes today: I logged 5 birds. There seemed to be 2 sets of 2 juveniles around the middle of the pool; and just 1 with the adults near the island
- the Swans not around today: one of my regular informants tells me that there is no 'stable' composition at the moment, with up to 4 adults and also an adult and a cygnet present from time to time
- 76 Mallard another high count, after a high count earlier at the lake
- Pochard in 3 groups today: a few with the main Tufted Ducks near the island; a group asleep in the middle of the lake; and a few tucked in the NW area. 33 a good count this winter
- 58 was a much better number of Tufted Duck
- no sign of the drake Goosander seen on Thursday
- very few gulls

Unusually I took the scope today - for the gull photos: was able to confirm that still no Snipe on the island

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swans; 8 Greylag Geese (none of these flew in); 41 Canada Geese (none of these flew in); 76 Mallard (not sexed); 33 Pochard (at least 19 drakes); 58 Tufted Ducks (at least 34 drakes); 9 Moorhens; 19 Coots; 27 Black-headed Gulls (most left); no Lesser Black-headed Gulls; no adult Herring Gulls (Ed Wilson)

(07:00 - 08:25) Priorslee Lake environs: track E / SE of Castle Farm Way

Main purpose was to get better / closer views of the fly-overs that are part of the main report. But being here somewhat unusually during the first activity of the day allowed me to make some logs from here as well

The highlights:
- a Pheasant heard - after several blank trips
- a Meadow Pipit flew over - nothing to do with the lake
- a Linnet was seen and heard as it flew S, somewhat unusually a lone bird. But still no Yellowhammers

My complete log of the non-fly-over birds at and around the top of the lane was:
no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 8 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; no Jays; 5 Magpies; 9 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Siskins; 1 Linnet; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

17th November, Friday (08:50 - 09:45) Priorslee Lake environs: bushes / copse to E / SE of Castle Farm Way - Walked around during a clearance in the weather: remarkably quiet and apart from fly-overs that I have inserted in the main narrative there were only a few 'local' birds in the trees.

I came across no Pheasants, Meadow Pipits, Linnets or Yellowhammers and it was so quiet that, very uncharacteristically, I did not take a separate log of the passerines here.

(Ed Wilson)

16th November, Thursday (10:29 - 10:57) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to The Flash rewarded by a fine drake Goosander

Notes:
- all the juvenile Great Crested Grebes seem to be independent now: the 2 from the brood here are now not often with the adults and neither are they together; and the 2 immatures that have been present for some weeks are no longer closely associating with each other
- the (same) Swans back yet again: I wonder if they were the two that flew by the lake?
- 81 Mallard was an exceptional count today: apart from those optimistic souls that greeted my arrival they were sedentary this morning and I am more confident of the count than some other days!
- more Pochard, but the drake gone
- 14 was a still-disappointing number of Tufted Duck. Of these 6 were clearly drakes; I could persuade myself that another 3 were moulting out of immature plumage and would soon have gleaming white sides as well
- despite is coloration and size the drake Goosander could be surprisingly difficult to find as it spent most of the time under water and could surface a long way from where it dove
- some of the Black-headed Gulls seemed to have started 'gleaning' flights along and hovering at the tops of the poplars on the island - I assume they are finding insects to eat (midges rising above the foliage): I note this behaviour every year (they seem not to have not started at the lake as yet)
- good number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls again - 174 [256]
- the adult Herring Gull in the flock was the most exciting gull
- Grey Wagtail here again

Still no sign of any Snipe on the island

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Swans; 2 Greylag Geese (1 of these flew in); 10 Canada Geese (8 of these flew in); 81 Mallard (not sexed); 3 Pochard (no adult drakes); 14 Tufted Ducks (at least 6 adult drakes); 1 drake Goosander; 7 Moorhens; 15 Coots; 620 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 174 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 1 adult Herring Gull (on the lake)

(Ed Wilson)

15th November, Wednesday (10:21 - 10:47) Priorslee Flash - Another quick visit to The Flash to see if there was anything about, but apart from plenty of gulls there was almost nothing and when drizzle set in I abandoned the walk

Notes:
- the Swans gone again: I wonder if they were the 2 that were chased off the lake
- only 2 Pochard
- 13 was another disappointing number of Tufted Duck and it seems the 16 seen leaving The Flash did not (all) come here
- one of the multitude of Black-headed Gulls still had a 'black' 'head' - it is never black; and it is only a hood and not a head. This one seemed to be a faded 'last summer' rather than an early moult for 2007 breeding
- high number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 256
- the adult Herring Gull in the flock was the most exciting gull
- Grey Wagtail here again
- with the continuing mild weather both Blue & Great Tits in full song this morning!

Still no sign of any Snipe on the island

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swans; 6 Greylag Geese; 56 Canada Geese (none of these flew in); 51 Mallard (not sexed); 2
Pochard (1 adult drake); 15 Tufted Ducks (at least 8 adult drakes); 5 Moorhens; 16 Coots; 772 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 256 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 1 adult Herring Gull (on the lake)

(Ed Wilson)

13th November, Monday

(10:43 - 11:08) Priorslee Flash -

Essentially a quick visit to see whether any numbers of Pochard and / or Tufted Duck were sheltering from the wind here - they weren't! So the now usual water-birds only count today, with a few other interesting records

While there was not many Aythya ducks there were plenty of gulls, the adult Herring Gull being about the most exciting

Notes:
- all the juvenile Great Crested Grebes noted today - the 2 with the adults to the S of the island; and the 2 that have been together in the middle of the lake for 10 days or so
- the 2 adult Swans again: I photographed the Swan as it was exposing the leg with the worn blue Darvic ring to see if that would aid positive identification: another amazing revelation via a digital camera - clearly blue '7AUP' and not what I thought using the binoculars!
- 7 Greylag Geese in the Canada flocks today; it did include the small specimen
- 14 was a disappointing number of Tufted Duck considering the lower number in the lake this morning
- the adult Herring Gull in the flock was the most exciting gull
- Grey Wagtail heard here
- with the continuing mild weather both Blue & Great Tits in full song this morning!

Still no sign of any Snipe on the island

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans; 7 Greylag Geese (all with the main Canada Geese flock); 64 Canada Geese (none of these flew in); 65 Mallard (not sexed); 7 Pochard (6 adult drakes); 14 Tufted Ducks (at least 7 adult drakes); 11 Moorhens; 19 Coots; 595 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 96 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 1 adult Herring Gull (on the lake)

(09:00 - 09:20) Priorslee Lake environs: bushes / copse to E / SE of Castle Farm Way -

A brief visit here today to try and locate the parties of finches seen here while at the other end of the lake. A failure with just 4 Goldfinches noted!

Walked to check the wooded area to the E / SE of Castle Farm Way because
- party of c.45 finches seen over the trees at 08:01
- another, smaller party of c.25 finches further NE at 08:03 I failed to locate anything relevant when I checked the area some 50 minutes later
- 4 Goldfinches was all I could muster. I suspect the smaller flock was indeed Goldfinches as the flight was very 'bouncy' and the flock very 'open'. The other flock was flying more direct and much tighter, though not as tight as, say Siskin, so was probably my first Linnets here for many a week. But ?

No complete log of the birds here was taken this morning

(Ed Wilson)

12th November, Sunday (09:00 - 10:00) Priorslee Lake environs: area of lanes / fields to E / SE -

Walked the lanes and fields to the E / SE alongside the Wesley Brook. Apart from thrushes in the hawthorns just the other side of Castle Farm Way it was very quiet with
- a female Pheasant breaking cover from 15' up an oak tree was more of surprise to me that I was to the bird!
- other than the fly-over Wood Pigeons (included in the lake counts) there were just 8 birds logged while I was in the lanes and fields to the E / SE: the wooded area may have been full of thrushes, but there were no pigeons!
- a single Meadow Pipit was disappointing
- a calling Willow Tit was some recompense
- a party of 20 Chaffinches: while Chaffinches seem more plentiful here than around the lake, 'flocks' of Chaffinches are unusual even when there are Linnets and Greenfinches in stubbles in early autumn
- no Linnets recorded but I did see a distant party of 16 small finches: but I would judge these as most probably Goldfinches
- just 1 Yellowhammer heard

The interesting records have been noted above and this is the repository for the species counts from the non-overflying birds - essentially the passerines

My complete log of the birds here:
no Sparrowhawks; 1 Buzzard; no Kestrel; 1 female Pheasant; no Feral Pigeon; no Stock Doves; 7 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 12 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 5 Song Thrushes; 8 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 2 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 26 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; 1 Yellowhammer; party of 16 unidentified finches

Also recorded
Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

(Ed Wilson)

11th November, Saturday (09:57 - 10:23) Priorslee Flash - The now usual water-birds only count today: would have logged any other interesting records had there been any!

Mainly a morning for gulls: one of the locals seemed quite worried by the sheer number this early in the year and was of the opinion that the aggressive Black-headed Gulls were attacking the Mallard and had forced them to retreat to the areas behind the footbridges, and there did some justification for her claim today. Makes them easier to count

Notes:
- the 2 adult Swans are back again - after correspondence with Martin Grant over the bird wearing the very worn blue Darvic ring I tried hard to read it again this morning. Short of capturing the bird and confirming the identity with the serial on the metal ring I am not sure that we will be able to be 100% sure. But it still looks like '7AUF' to me
- 6 Greylag Geese in the Canada flock seemed not to include either of the 'specials' - the bird paired with a Canada Goose; or the small specimen: these were not seen elsewhere
- the Canada Geese were all on the N-side grass and threatening the dogs for a change!
- 21 was a disappointing number of Tufted Duck considering the lower number in the lake this morning
- the gulls were all somewhat further to the S end of the water, but this may have been more to do with the strength and direction of the wind than anything else
- just 1 1st winter Herring Gull found in the flock

Still no sign of any Snipe on the island

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 adult Swans; 6 Greylag Geese (all with the main Canada Geese flock); 93 Canada Geese (none of these flew in); 72 Mallard (not sexed); 8 Pochard (4 adult drakes); 21 Tufted Ducks (at least 12 adult drakes); 5 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 549 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 59 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 1 (1st winter [adult]) Herring Gull (on the lake)

(Ed Wilson)

9th November, Thursday (6:00pm) Town Centre - Just as I was coming into the pick-up area behind BHS, there was a huge Firework Display coming from the Library end of the shopping centre. At first I thought it was confetti coming down around me, and then I realised that what I was looking at, was hundreds of Pied Wagtails flying in all directions. Unfortunately at this time of year it's only the bird watchers among us, that appreciate that many town centres provide a safe haven for roosting birds, in particular Pied Wagtails, Finches and Starlings. The sight of watching them fluttering down from the roof tops, completely disorientated and onto the main road, was very sad to see. (Martin Adlam)

9th November, Thursday (10:09 - 10:43) Priorslee Flash - The now usual water-birds only count again today: but any interesting records logged as well

Much as yesterday, though with more Pochard and Tufted Ducks - not surprising as birds seen flying off from the lake. There was a Herring Gull here today

Spent a while contemplating 2 of the Greylag Geese: one, apparently paired with a Canada Goose, is a large bird that sits tilted-up at the rear in the water and reminds me of a farmyard goose; the small bird that perhaps cannot fly is so small that it can be overlooked amongst groups of Mallard. Today these 2 birds were next to each other: despite the size and behaviour difference I failed to find any plumage difference that would suggest one (or both) had mixed parentage

No non water-bird records of note

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swans; 6 Greylag Geese (4 flew in with the Canada Geese); 77 Canada Geese (68 of these flew in); 64 Mallard (not sexed); 11 Pochard (2 adult drakes); 64 Tufted Ducks (not sexed; 3 flew high over and then circled and landed); 8 Moorhens again; 18 Coots again; 413 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 135 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 1 (adult) Herring Gull (on the lake)

(Ed Wilson)

8th November, Wednesday (09:50 - 10:20) Priorslee Flash - The now usual water-birds only count again today: but again interesting records added

Visited to see whether the large number of Tufted Ducks at the lake was mirrored here (it wasn't); and whether the large number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the lake was mirrored here (it was). But no Herring Gulls here either, though there was a rather pale immature gull that puzzled me for a while, but I think just a very faded Lesser Black-backed Gull

Other highlights for today's short visit to a foggy Flash were
- 2 immature Great Crested Grebes here again, but some of the others - notably the adult and the juvenile from the NW area - seemed to be missing
- 2 adult Swans again today: yesterday's birds - very worn and faded blue '7AUF'; with yellow '4GK'
- a pair of Pochard back
- very much-reduced Tufted Duck numbers

Meanwhile, non water-bird records of note
- a Sparrowhawk flew high S pursued by a Magpie without eliciting any response from other birds
- a Grey Wagtail was seen flying over again
- 2 Pied Wagtails at the N end
- a group of 8 Jackdaws flew noisily over and for some reason incurred the displeasure of some of the Black-headed Gulls which set off in hot pursuit, pressing home their attacks on the surprised Jackdaws!
- party of 16 Goldfinches over

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
only 2 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Swans (2 adults); 2 Greylag Geese (1 flew off); 76 Canada Geese; 55 Mallard; 2 Pochard ( 1 drake); 9 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 8 Moorhens; 18 Coots; c.330 Black-headed Gulls (all but 10 on lake); 234 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (all but 2 on lake)

(Ed Wilson)

7th November, Tuesday (09:37 - 09:58) Priorslee Flash - The now usual water-birds only count again today: but any other interesting records added

Other highlights for today's short visit to a foggy Flash were
- 2 immature Great Crested Grebes still here
- 2 different adult Swans today, both ringed: one with very worn and faded blue '7AUF'; the other yellow '4GK'
- very few geese - all out lost in the fog!
- Pochard gone and much-reduced Tufted Duck numbers

Meanwhile, non water-bird records of note
- a Grey Wagtail was heard flying over again
- party of 16 Goldfinches over

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans (2 adults); no Greylag Geese; 5 Canada Geese; 74 Mallard; no Pochard; 35 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 5 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 119 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 4 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (4 on lake, but flew off)

(Ed Wilson)

6th November, Monday (09:36 - 10:02) Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted again today other than the odd interesting record

Main purpose of today's visit was to find whether the Tufted Ducks seen over and leaving the lake were here: well some of them probably were as I counted 95 birds, but that is fewer than the number logged earlier and makes no allowance for birds that may have been here all the time

Other highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- 2 immature Great Crested Grebes still in the middle of the water but were more active today, even looking as if they might go to bread!
- the adult and cygnet Swans that had been chased off the lake on the last 3 days were here for a while anyway, though they seemed to fly off again
- a few more Pochard 9
- as well as the increase in Tufted Duck numbers

Meanwhile, non water-bird records of note
- a Sky Lark was heard in the distance
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the E side
- a Grey Wagtail was heard flying over
- a Coal Tit was calling incessantly - I am tempted to say 'singing' (and indeed a Great Tit was most certainly singing in my Newport garden this afternoon

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans (1 adult); 2 Greylag Geese; 26 Canada Geese; 71 Mallard; 9 Pochard (5 drakes); 95 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); only 3 Moorhens; 18 Coots; 92 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 8 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (4 on lake; 4 flew W)

(Ed Wilson)

5th November, Sunday (09:34 - 10:02 ) Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted again today other than the odd interesting record

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few:
- 2 immature Great Crested Grebes were asleep in the middle of the water, and seemed to be unconnected with the previously logged 3 adults and 3 juveniles (though I do not always seem to find them all!)
- the adult and cygnet Swans that had been chased off the lake for 2 days were here (adult = Blue '7DSB'; cygnet = Yellow 'UO8')
- fewer Pochard and Tufted Ducks this morning. But the number of Tufted Duck kept changing! I counted just 26 when I arrived. After walking the N shore and back I rechecked and there were 44! And then while talking to one of the locals another 15 arrived. These seemed to come from the direction of the lake (perhaps the boaters were starting up?): but they arrived at the same time and from the same direction as 34 Canada Geese and there were not that many geese at the lake
- warmer weather equals lower number of gulls, though many Lesser Black-backed Gulls were flying over
- a Sparrowhawk spent some while circling over without eliciting any response from the gulls (or ducks)

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans (1 adult); 1 Greylag Goose; 99 Canada Geese (34 flew in); 55 Mallard (not sexed); 2 Pochard (1 drake); eventually 59 Tufted Ducks (32 drakes); just 4 Moorhens; only 14 Coots; 89 Black-headed Gulls (all on lake); 24 Lesser Black-headed Gulls (3 on lake; 21 flew N / W)

(Ed Wilson)

4th November, Saturday (08:45 and 09:20) - Walked around the bushes to the E and up the lane to the E

Highlights here were
- I flushed lots of thrushes - Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings - from the hawthorns alongside the fields here
- 1 Siskin atop the conifers here

But otherwise it was astonishingly quiet, especially in the fields where I failed to find a single lark, pipit or finch

The fly-overs (which were few anyway) are included in the main lake totals above

Other species were in such unremarkable numbers that they are not logged here

Ed Wilson

3rd November, Friday (10:25 - 10:50) Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted today other than the odd interesting record

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- the only Swans were 2 adults and 2 cygnets that flew over towards the lake
- more Pochard: perhaps some of those seen in flight at the lake did come here, though there were more at the lake anyway
- excellent count of Tufted Ducks, though some of them may have been birds that were confirmed as leaving the lake
- high number of gulls, though only 2 species

Other notes of interest from the Flash
- apparently 3 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe (yesterday I thought there were 2 adults and 3 juveniles!)
- 1 Jay flew over

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 4 Swan (2 adults) flew over; 2 Greylag Goose; 73 Canada Geese; 46 Mallard (not sexed); 11 Pochard (6 drakes); 92 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 10 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 631 Black-headed Gulls; 56 Lesser Black-headed Gulls

Ed Wilson

2nd November, Thursday (10:17 - 10:43) Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted today other than the odd interesting record

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- no Swans
- Pochard back and with some of the Tufted Ducks at N end 'roost'
- good number of gulls

Other notes of interest from the Flash
- just 2 adults with 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Pochard (2 drakes)
- 44 Tufted Ducks

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
2 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swan; 1 Greylag Goose; 74 Canada Geese (59 of these flew in); 66 Mallard (not sexed); 3 Pochard (2 drakes); 44 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 11 Moorhens; 15 Coots; 239 Black-headed Gulls; 11 Lesser Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

29th October, Sunday (14:00 - 15:00) Priorslee Village - Not birds I know, though I did have a male Blackbird in subsong, singing away so softly, from 6 feet away from me in my backgarden. No this is more to do with the warm temperatures we had this afternoon (18 degrees centigrade), that brought out the insects.

On the Buddleia I had 5 Red Admirals, 1 very pale looking Painted Lady, a Bee Fly, several Hover Flies and a Lacewing of all things. In between drinking the nectar, the Red Admirals would take off and land on the window ledges on the house to gain some warmth, then back they would go to the Buddleia flowers. (Martin Adlam)

28th October, Saturday (09:40) -

Priorslee Flash
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Mute Swans
- 41 Tufted Duck

Priorslee Village
- 5 Siskin

(Martin Adlam)

18th October, Wednesday (10:02 - 10:20), Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted today other than the odd interesting record

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- only 1 Swan [7DEB]
- Tufted Duck numbers decreased again

Other notes of interest from the Flash
- 4 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- only 9 Tufted Ducks
- a Kingfisher heard in flight and then seen successfully fishing in the NW corner of the lake
- a Jay along the E side of the lake

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 1 Swan; no Greylag Goose; no Canada Geese; 83 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 9 Tufted Ducks
(not sexed); 7 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 19 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

16th October, Monday (09:55 - 10:24)), Priorslee Flash, along W side only - Only water-birds counted again today other than interesting over-flights

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- Heron, Geese and Swans all back
- of the geese 3 Greylag and 27 Canada Geese flew in while I was present
- Tufted Duck numbers higher today

Notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- logged just 3 adults with the 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- pair of interloping Swans here were chased on to and off of the island and then they settled on the E side grass with the residents staring at them. From my position I was able to see that one of the interlopers had a yellow Darvic ring (too far away to read); the other had neither Darvic nor metal ring
- 26 Tufted Ducks with many mixing with the Mallard at the bread hand-outs!

Over-flights etc. included
- 1 Mistle Thrush seen flying S to the E
- 7 Sly Larks, at least: 2 (or more) birds heard; and the third calling bird turned out to be a party of 5 birds heading S

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 4 adult Swans; 4 Greylag Geese; 64 Canada Geese; 63 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 26 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 9 Moorhens; 18 Coots; 40 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

15th October, Sunday - Priorslee village - This afternoon a pair of Redwing flew east and this evening (10:15pm) I could hear them overhead when I was out in the back garden. Also around the village a large flock of Starlings C.70 and a pair of Buzzards came in low over the Flash at 1:30pm. The last of the House Martins left the village mid-week and there are now quite a few roving Tit parties, accompanied by Long-tailed's and Goldcrests. (Martin Adlam)

15th October, Sunday (09:28 - 09:47), Priorslee Flash, along W side only - Only water-birds counted today other than interesting over-flights

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- Heron and Geese still AWOL, but Swans back
- Tufted Duck numbers decreased again

Notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- back to 5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- only 10 Tufted Ducks

Over-flights etc. included
- 1 Sparrowhawk crashed through the trees on the island scattering Starlings
- 1 Kingfisher heard
- 18 Starlings put up by the Sparrowhawk
- party of 17 Goldfinches flew SE

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; no Canada Geese; 67 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 10 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 10 Moorhens; 8 Coots; 15 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

14th October, Saturday (09:47 - 10:13) Priorslee Flash, along W side only - Only water-birds counted today other than interesting over-flights

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few:
- Heron, Swans and Geese all AWOL
- Tufted Duck numbers decreased

Other notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- 4 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- only 17 Tufted Ducks

As noted above the over-flights included
- 2 Sky Larks heard but not seen
- 1 Redpoll flew N

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; no Canada Geese; 74 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 17 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 7 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 19 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

12th October, Thursday (09:55 - 10:15) - Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted today other than interesting over-flights

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- Swans AWOL
- Tufted Duck numbers increased

Other notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- 5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Heron lurking in the trees on the island, apparently lying flat along the branch!
- 59 Tufted Ducks

As noted above the over-flights included
- 3 Sky Larks flew S
- 3 Redwings flew N

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 54 Canada Geese; 66 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 59 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 6 Moorhens; 17 Coots; 9 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

11th October, Wednesday (09:18 - 09:20) - Priorslee Flash - Only water-birds counted today

Highlights for today's short visit to The Flash were few
- only 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes yet again
- the weak-looking (perhaps 'small' would be a better word) was present today - but the only goose
- Tufted Duck numbers reduced to 25, so perhaps some moved to the lake

Notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes apparently with only 3 juveniles
- 1 Heron heard and seen in flight, but disappeared in to the depths of the island
- 2 Swans again
- 87 Mallard logged for the second day running
- no Pochard logged
- just 25 Tufted Ducks
- 9 Moorhens, not aged: and as I did not walk around probably missed some
- 20 Coots
- only 2 Black-headed Gulls logged, both of which were on the water
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
nothing else of note

The complete water-bird Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; no Canada Geese; 87 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 25 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 9 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 2 Black-headed Gulls; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

10th October, Tuesday
08:00 - 08:15: walking to The Flash from Prioslee Lake
09:05 - 09:30: walking from The Flash & alongside the Wesley Brook back to Priorslee Lake

Specific notes from the walk
- Moorhens on both pools again with one of the juveniles at least 12 feet up in a sallow overhanging the upper pool
- 37 Wood Pigeons was a big count for the day, but 25 of these flushed out of the trees alongside Teece Drive with at least 12 birds ending up sitting on one of the house-roofs in the main estate!
- Green Woodpecker heard - probably the same as heard at the lake later
- both Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtails overhead here (as well as at the lake and The Flash)
- 1 Chiffchaff heard and then seen with big mixed party of tits and Goldcrests
- 4 Goldcrests, at least, heard with 2 seen. One pair of these was calling very stridently and noisily and I spent some while searching for a Tree Creeper before I realised that it was a Goldcrest making all the noise

Complete log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 4 adult Moorhens and 3 juveniles; 2 Black-headed Gulls over; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Herring Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 37 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 1 Green Woodpecker; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 1 Meadow Pipit; no Grey Wagtails; 3 Pied Wagtails; 3 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 12 Robins; 17 Blackbird; 2 Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Chiffchaff; 4 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 5 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; no Rooks; 2 Crows; no Starlings; 2 Chaffinches; 3 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Insects:
1 species of moth
- 1 probable November Moth (Eppirata dilutata) [1795] - another specimen that at least I could photograph (1/8th of a second through the telescope!), but still not able to specifically identify

Priorslee Flash (08:15 - 09:05) -
Highlights for today's visit to The Flash were again few in the weather
- once again there seemed to be only 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- the rings of both Swans read - one blue '7DEB' (not '7DFR', sorry Martin); and the other a rather battered ring that seemed to be '7CSE'
- no geese!
- 4 Teal present when I arrived but seemed to have gone later: looked like a drake coming out of eclipse with 3 ducks / juveniles, but I wanted to get closer ?!
- 2 Meadow Pipit overhead

Notes of interest from the Flash [figures in square brackets from the previous visit]
- 4 adult Great Crested Grebes apparently with only 3 juveniles
- no Heron
- 2 Swans again
- no geese - not even the rather weak-looking Greylag
- 87 Mallard logged, but they may have moved around in the mist while I was not looking
- no Pochard logged
- 35 Tufted Ducks, I think! Again hard to see be certain
- 11 Moorhens, of which 4 were identifiable immatures of the year
- 19 Coots
- 13 Black-headed Gulls logged, 12 of which were on the water
- no Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead
- no Feral Pigeons - their favourite lamps to the N were invisible today
- 2 Meadow Pipits seen over despite the mist
- 5 Pied Wagtails overhead, mainly heard
- no Chiffchaffs heard
- 3 more Goldcrests heard here
- 2 parties of Log-tailed Tits
- 2 separate Jays heard calling
- no Starlings
- finches still rather scarce [figures from last visit (in the wet on Friday)]
- - 6 [4] Chaffinches
- - 2 [3] Greenfinches
- - 1 [0] Goldfinch over
- - no [0] Bullfinches
nothing else of note

The complete Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Swans; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; 87 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 35 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 11 Moorhens (4 juveniles); 19 Coots; 13 Black-headed Gulls (1 of these overhead); no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 7 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no hirundines; 2 Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 5 Pied Wagtails; 8 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 10 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 3 Goldcrests; 2 Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 13 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 6 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

8th October, Sunday -
08:30 - 08:50: walking to The Flash from Priorslee Lake alongside the Wesley Brook
09:40 - 09:55: walking from The Flash to Priorslee Lake

Specific notes from the walk
- Moorhens on both pools today
- the over-flying Lesser Black-backed Gull seemed to be the same / similar pot-bellied individual noted on Friday 06th
- 1 Chiffchaff calling briefly
- 1 Goldcrest heard
- 1 Bullfinch heard
- 2 Siskins flying S

Complete log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 3 juveniles; 12 Black-headed Gulls over; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Herring Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 18 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; no Green Woodpeckers; 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; no House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 12 Robins; 14 Blackbird; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 9 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 7 Crows; 21 Starlings; 6 Chaffinches; 18 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- no new mole hills
- 2 Grey Squirrels

Priorslee Flash (08:50 - 09:40) -

Highlights for today's visit to The Flash were few in the weather
- today there seemed to be only 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes! With so few birds and such large birds it ought to easy to keep track of these, but ?
- the Heron back
- Swans back - one was blue '7DFR' - Martin?
- Meadow Pipit overhead
- 2 Grey Wagtails unusual

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes apparently with just 3 juveniles
- 1 Heron again
- 2 Swans either
- goose numbers were (numbers in round brackets is the number of these birds that flew in while I was around The Flash)
- - 1 (0) Greylag Goose
- - 33 (21) Canada Geese
- 61 Mallard: not so many
- no Pochard logged
- with low number of Tufted Duck on the lake there seemed to be no increase here - 43 about average
- 12 Moorhens, of which 5 were identifiable immatures of the year, 2 quite recent and probably not yet fledged
- 18 Coots
- 24 Black-headed Gulls logged, 23 of which were on the water
- no Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead
- 10 Feral Pigeons on the lamps to the N today
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight far to the N
- no hirundines
- 2 Grey Wagtails
- 3 Pied Wagtails overhead
- 21 Blackbirds the best count for weeks
- no Chiffchaffs heard
- no Goldcrests either
- Jay seen flying over N end of The Flash
- 15 Magpies logged with 9 jumping about the trees near The Priorslee, though I doubt they had been raiding the scraps off the tables from last-night's revellers now the nights have drawn in
- 13 Starlings around the houses to the N
- finches still rather scarce [figures from last visit (in the wet on Friday)]
- - 4 [1] Chaffinches
- - 3 [6] Greenfinches
- - no [1] Goldfinch over
- - no [0] Bullfinches
nothing else of note

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 3 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 33 Canada Geese; 61 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 43 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 12 Moorhens (5 juveniles); 18 Coots; 24 Black-headed Gulls (1 of these overhead); no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 12 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; no Kingfishers; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no hirundines; 2 Grey Wagtails; 3 Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 23 Robins; 21 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 15 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; 1 Rook; 4 Crows; 13 Starlings; 4 Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- 3 Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

(Ed Wilson)

7th October, Saturday (08:30 - 09:35) - The lanes / streamside to E / SE of Priorslee Lake

- no Pheasants seen or heard: just how such large birds can 'vanish' outside the breeding season remains a mystery! But then another day I could see double-figures for no obvious reason
- just 15 Wood Pigeons from the fields shows how few there are around at present
- dearth of migrants with just 4 Meadow Pipits logged. The small number of Sky Larks (2), Linnets (2) and Yellowhammers (1) could have been local breeding birds
- 7 more(?) Pied Wagtails (feeding with Starlings in the newly-ploughed field, but not using the wires when disturbed and hence not visible from the lake)
- a party of 10 Chaffinches also feeding in the ploughed field
- 1 of the Goldfinches was a juvenile yet to acquire the red face - every year I am surprised at how long it takes juveniles to moult the face

Additional passerines logged from the lanes / fields / streamside to the E / SE (fly-overs included in the main total)

2 Buzzards; 2 Stock Doves; 15 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; 2 Sky Larks; 4 Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 7
Pied Wagtails; 3 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 8 Robins; 5 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 9 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; 6 Crows; no more Starlings; 12 Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinch; 2 Bullfinches; 2 Linnets; no Reed Buntings; 1 Yellowhammer

Insects:
- 6 Red Admirals, at least

no species of moth

no species of dragonfly

1 species of hoverfly
- 1 Helophilus pendulus

Fungi:
- 1 shaggy ink-cap here as well

(Ed Wilson)

6th October, Friday - [08:10 - 08:25// 09:10 - 09:25] - Walk to and from the Flash alongside the Wesley Brook

Specific notes from the walk
- Moorhens only on lower pool today
- 2 sightings of probably different Great Spotted Woodpeckers
- 1 Grey Wagtail probably commuting between The Flash and the lake
- the possible Greenfinch roost dispersal from between the car park and the Teece Drive houses

Complete log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 1 juvenile; 4 Black-headed Gulls over; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Herring Gulls over; 1 Feral Pigeon; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons again; no Collared Doves; no Green Woodpeckers; 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; no House Martins; 1 Grey Wagtail; 3 Pied Wagtails; 5 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; only 1 Blackbird; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Goldcrests; no parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 14 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; 2 Crows; 8 Starlings; 6 Chaffinches; 18 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- no new mole hills
- 1 Grey Squirrel alongside the school

Insects:
- no species of moth
- no species of butterfly

Priorslee Flash (08:25 - 09:10)- Highlights for today's visit to The Flash were few in the weather
- [and I did not mean Great Crested Woodpecker on Wednesday - I blame the jet-lag!]
- there seemed to be 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes today, with 2 accompanying the adults to the SW of the island
- no Heron
- no Swans either

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes apparently with 5 juveniles
- no Heron today
- no Swans either
- goose numbers were (numbers in round brackets are the numbers than flew in)
- - 2 (1) Greylag Goose
- - 47 (45) Canada Geese
- 78 Mallard: a great count and they were largely all sheltering from the
rain
- no Pochard logged
- 34 Tufted Ducks logged
- 9 Moorhens, of which 5 were identifiable immatures of the year
- 21 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls logged, all flew off
- no Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead
- 9 Feral Pigeons on the lamps to the N were the first here for some weeks
- 17 Wood Pigeons a reasonable count, but 13 were together on the grass alongside Derwent Drive
- 1 Collared Doves in flight
- no hirundines
- no Grey Wagtails
- no Pied Wagtails
- after a paucity of Blackbirds on the walk from the lake (just 1), 16 birds around The Flash in the wet a respectable count
- no Chiffchaffs heard
- 1 Goldcrest at least heard
- 7 Magpies logged
- 6 Starlings logged, best count for some time - birds returning?
- finches very scarce here today
- - 1 [8] Chaffinches
- - 6 [8] Greenfinches
- - 1 [1] Goldfinch over
- - no [0] Bullfinches
nothing else of note

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 5 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; no Swans; 2 Greylag Goose; 47 Canada Geese; 78 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 34 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 9 Moorhens (5 juveniles); 21 Coots; 9 Black-headed Gulls (none of these overhead); no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 9 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; no Kingfishers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no hirundines; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 5 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 19 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 8 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; no Rooks; 5 Crows; 6 Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

Insects:
no species of butterfly
no species of moth
no species of dragonfly

(Ed Wilson)

4th October, Wednesday - (08:10 - 08:26 & 09:10 - 09:21)- Walk to & from The Flash alongside the Wesley Brook

Specific notes from the walk
- Moorhens on both pools again - adults and juveniles
- Green Woodpecker heard was my first here
- 1 of the Dunnocks was in song
- the Long-tailed Tit party was seen crossing Priorslee Avenue

Complete log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 4 juveniles from 3 broods; no Black-headed Gull over; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Herring Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; 1 Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; no House Martins; 1 Pied Wagtail; 3 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 13 Robins;4 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 15 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 9 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; no Starlings; 3 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
no species of mammal
- no new mole hills

Insects:
- no species of moth
- no species of butterfly

Priorslee Flash - Highlights for today's visit to The Flash (08:26 - 09:10)
- 1 Sparrowhawk over again
- 1 Great Crested Woodpecker seen in flight over the N end of the lake

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes now with 4 juveniles from 3 broods
- 1 Heron on the island again
- 2 Swans with one ring read - '7DEB' which, if my memory is correct, was a bird I helped ring as a cygnet on the lake in 2005
- goose numbers were
- - 1 Greylag Goose
- - 51 Canada Geese with 48 of these flying in as I was about to leave
- 61 Mallard I think - they were very mobile today and hard to keep track of!
- no Pochard logged
- 40 Tufted Ducks logged
- 8 Moorhens, of which 3 were identifiable immatures of the year, one of which was still in 'fluffy' juvenile plumage
- 18 Coots
- 20 Black-headed Gulls logged, 15 of which were on the lake, thought all but 1 flew off
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull overhead
- 22 Wood Pigeons a better count
- 2 Collared Doves in flight
- 1 Sky Lark flying high W was my first of the autumn here
- no hirundines
- no Grey Wagtails
- 3 Pied Wagtails flew over
- no Chiffchaffs heard today
- 1 Goldcrest at least heard
- 1 Jay heard at S end
- of the 14 Magpies logged 6 were, unusually, seen flying high E together
- only 1 Starling logged
- finches here
- - 8 Chaffinches, with 6 together near the school
- - 8 Greenfinches, with 5 of these in an overflying party
- - 1 Goldfinch flew over
- - no Bullfinches though
nothing else of note

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; 51 Canada Geese; 61 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 40 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 1 Sparrowhawk; no other raptors; 8 Moorhens (3 juveniles); 18 Coots; 20 Black-headed Gulls (5 of these overhead); 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over; 4 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 22 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; no Kingfishers;1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no hirundines; no Grey Wagtails; 3 Pied Wagtails; 3 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 6 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 14 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; 5 Rooks; 5 Crows; 1 Starling; 8 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- no new mole hills

Insects:
- no species of moth
- no species of butterfly
- no species of dragonfly

( Ed Wilson)

2nd October, Monday - (08:55 - 09:10 // 10:00 - 10:10) - Walk to & from The Flash alongside the Wesley Brook

Notable sightings
- Moorhens on the lower pool
- Pied Wagtails passing over

Also
- 1 Red Admiral butterfly

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 2 juveniles; 1 Black-headed Gull over; no Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Herring Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; no House Martins; 6 Pied Wagtail; 2 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 7 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 9 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 3 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; 5 Crows; 1 Starling; no Chaffinches; 3 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
1 species of mammal
- mole hills alongside Teece Drive and the Upper Pool

Insects:
-no species of moth

- 1 species of butterfly
- 1 Red Admiral

Priorslee Flash - (09:10 - 10:00) - Highlights for today's visit to The Flash
- 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes from 3 broods all growing well
- 2 Swans now
- 50 Tufted Ducks
- 1 Sparrowhawk over

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes now with just 4 juveniles from 3 broods
- 1 Heron on the island again
- now 2 adult Swans but unable to read any of the rings to check whether both new - one of the locals thought the previous cob had been joined by a new pen, but time will tell
- goose numbers again 'provisional' as some hiding on the island: none seen returning from the morning feed
- - 6 Greylag Geese
- - 62 Canada Geese
- 56 Mallard just 1 fewer than before my holiday
- no Pochard logged
- 50 Tufted Ducks logged though some of these seemed to have arrived while I was walking around - from the lake?
- 9 Moorhens, of which 4 were identifiable juveniles
- 17 Coots
- 20 Black-headed Gulls logged, 10 on the lake, with the others unusually flying N
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- just 9 Wood Pigeons continued the low numbers noted at the lake
- no hirundines
- 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail on the island
- no Chiffchaffs heard today
- 1 Goldcrest at least heard
- only 1 Starling logged, and that only heard alarm-calling as the Sparrowhawk flew over
- very few finches here - 3 Chaffinches; and 8 Greenfinches (with 6 of these in overflying party); no Goldfinches or Bullfinches nothing else of note

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Swans; 6 Greylag Geese; 62 Canada Geese; 56 Mallard (not sexed); no Pochard; 50 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 1 Sparrowhawk; no other raptors; 9 Moorhens (4 juveniles); 17 Coots; 20 Black-headed Gulls (10 of these overhead); no Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 9 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no hirundines; 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; 10 Jackdaws; 3 Rooks; 10 Crows; 1 Starling; 3 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

Insects:
no species of butterfly

no species of moth

no species of dragonfly

(Ed Wilson)

7th September, Thursday (07:30 - 07:45 // 08:40 - 09:00) - Walk to & from The Flash alongside the Wesley Brook

Notable sightings
- parties of Moorhens in both pools again
- a sudden flurry of Blackbird activity: having recorded just 1 on the way N and only 2 around The Flash there were suddenly 7 together near one of the Wesley Brook Pools

Also
- 1 Common Wainscot moth roosting in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhen and 4 juveniles from 2 broods; no Black-headed Gulls over; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 1 Herring Gull over; 2 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 5 House Martins; no Pied Wagtail; 4 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 17 Robins; 10 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 9 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; no Crows; no Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
no species of mammal

Insects:
1 species of moth
- 1 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) [2199]

no species of butterfly

Priorslee Flash - (07:45 - 08:45) - Highlights for today's visit to The Flash, on a bright and rather breezy morning
- the con Swan back again
- 1 drake Pochard again
- 60 Tufted Ducks! may presage another bumper autumn - there were >250 here 2 years ago in October
- Willow Tit here again

The council were mowing the grass and while this may have pushed the Mallard etc. out of cover it made hearing the passerines somewhat difficult!

Notes of interest from the Flash
- only 3 adult Great Crested Grebes logged but all 6 juveniles
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the cob Swan on the island today
- goose numbers again 'provisional' as many were hiding on the island and they were also flying in and out
- - 7 Greylag Geese
- - 156 Canada Geese
- 57 Mallard a better count
- 1 drake Pochard eventually by the island again, though it was with one of the Tufted Duck parties
- 60 Tufted Ducks a very high count
- 5 Moorhens, of which 3 were well-grown juveniles
- only 12 Coots
- 43 Black-headed Gulls logged, all at the lake
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 2 flying over and 1 at the lake
- 30 Wood Pigeons a better count
- 3 Swallows noted high overhead presumed migrants
- just 7 House Martins but birds were still 'on territory' in the SW area at least
- 2 Chiffchaff heard calling today
- no Goldcrests heard
- 1 Jay heard in the SW area
- almost no finches - 2 Greenfinches and a calling Bullfinch

also
- the blackberries were delicious

The complete Flash log for the day:
3 adult and 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 Swan; 7 Greylag Geese; 156 Canada Geese; 57 Mallard (not sexed); 1 Pochard (drake); 60 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 5 Moorhens (3 juveniles); 12 Coots; 43 Black-headed Gulls (none overhead); 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 overhead); 2 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 30 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Kingfishers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 3 Swallows; 7 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 6 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 25 Robins; just 2 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaff heard; no Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 12 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 10 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; 6 Rooks; 4 Crows; no Starlings; no Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

Insects:
no species of butterfly
no species of moth
no species of dragonfly

Plants:
excellent blackberries

(Ed Wilson)

6th September, Wednesday (08:05 - 08:55) - Walk around lanes and streamside fields to E / SE of Castle Farm Way

Note that all birds that were clearly overflying (e.g. Canada Geese) were added to the main Priorslee log as were the birds that were using the wires to the N / NE of the lake - clearly visible from the dam, but not always identifiable at range

Avian notes
- no Sly Larks seem to be present even though they (attempted to?) breed here
- 2 more Chiffchaffs
- Tree Creeper heard calling in with the tit parties
- Jay heard calling from Wards Rough far to the E
- just 1 Yellowhammer

Also
- several species of butterfly about

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk around the fields was:
no Pheasants; 6 Feral Pigeons feeding in the fields; 22 Wood Pigeons flushed from the fields; no Sky Larks; 1 Grey Wagtail; 10 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; no Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 8 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 3 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 3 Chaffinch; 4 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings; 1 Yellowhammer

Mammals:
no species of mammal

Insects:
no species of moth

2 species of butterfly
- 3 Small White [1550]
- 1 Green-veined White [1551]

(Ed Wilson)

5th September, Tuesday (09:20 - 09:32 // 10:23 - 10:38) - Walk to & from The Flash alongside the Wesley Brook

Notable sightings
- parties of Moorhens in both pools again
- big group of House Martins overhead - at least 48, probably local birds

Also
- 1 Red Underwing moth roosting in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- several species of butterfly about

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 4 juveniles from 2 broods; no Black-headed Gulls over; 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; only 5 Wood Pigeons; 4 Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; 3 Swallows; at least 48 House Martins; 1 Pied Wagtail; 4 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 3 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 4 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; no Crows; no Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
no species of mammal

Insects:
1 species of moth
- 1 Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) [2452]

4 species of butterfly
- 1 Small White [1550]
- 2 Green-veined White [1551]
- 1 Red Admiral [1590]
- 1 Speckled Wood [1614]

Priorslee Flash, 09:30 - 10:25 - Highlights for today's visit to The Flash, rather later than recently
- 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes from 2 late broods again
- 1 drake Pochard again
- 17 Tufted Ducks again
- Sparrowhawk over
- Hobby high over with good party of 12 Swallows - high count for here the later time saw the insects awake
- 2 species of butterfly
- 2 species of dragonfly

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 4 adult Great Crested Grebes with 6 juveniles
- 1 Heron on the island again
- no Swan today: one of the locals reported that he saw it chasing an interloper yesterday morning but that it was missing later
- goose numbers again 'provisional' as many were hiding on the island
- - 4 Greylag Geese
- - 66 Canada Geese
- only 32 Mallard recorded
- 1 drake Pochard by the island
- 17 Tufted Ducks a high count - did not try and sex these today
- a Hobby high to the N with calling party of Swallows at 09:45
- a Sparrowhawk also high to the N, also with attendant Swallows (but only 4) at 09:55
- 3 Moorhens only, of which 2 were well-grown juveniles
- 19 Coots
- 39 Black-headed Gulls logged, 15 of which flew over
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over
- 17 Wood Pigeons another low count
- 16 Swallows noted overhead: 12 when the Hobby was about; 4 more (?) with the Sparrowhawk
- 22 House Martins was a reflection of the good numbers of local birds, though almost all were to the S of the area
- the only warbler recorded was 1 Chiffchaff heard calling at the S end
- 1 Goldcrest here again
- almost no finches - a lone Chaffinch was my only log!

also
- 1 large hawker-like dragonfly sp. around the NW poplars
- 1 small dragonfly, probably a darter sp. high around the NE poplars
- 6 Small White butterflies
- 2 Green-veined White butterflies

The complete Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Swan; 4 Greylag Geese; 66 Canada Geese; 32 Mallard (not sexed); 1 Pochard (drake); 17 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); 1 Hobby; 1 Sparrowhawk; 3 Moorhens (2 juveniles); 19 Coots; 39 Black-headed Gulls (15 overhead); 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all overhead); 24 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Kingfishers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 16 Swallows; 22 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail; 5 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 24 Robins; 5 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff heard; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 10 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 2 Crows; no Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; no Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed
Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

Insects:
- 2 species of butterfly
-- 6 Small White [1550]
-- 2 Green-veined White [1551]

no species of moth

- 2 species of dragonfly
-- 1 hawker sp.
-- 1 probably darter sp.

(Ed Wilson)

3rd September, Sunday (07:15 - 07:35 // 08:30 - 08:40) - Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash alongside the Wesley Brook - Notable sightings
- parties of Moorhens in both pools with each pool containing adults; 1st brood juveniles; and 2nd brood juveniles
- 1 Mistle Thrush over
- 4 different Goldcrests heard (in addition to those around the lake)
- a Willow Tit calling

Also
- new molehills alongside Teece Drive

But
- no moths in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 7 juveniles from 4 broods; 7 Black-headed Gulls over; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 1 Feral Pigeon; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 8 House Martins; no wagtails; 6 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 17 Robins; 3 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; no Willow Warblers; 4 Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 3 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; 4 Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- fresh molehills alongside Teece Drive

Insects:
no species of moth

Priorslee Flash (07:35 - 08:30) - Highlights for today's visit to a rather breezy Flash
- now 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes from 2 late broods
- 1 drake Pochard
- 17 Tufted Ducks a high number for the date
- a Kingfisher speeding across the water
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling
- a Bullfinch calling

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 4 adult Great Crested Grebes with 6 juveniles. Both the juvenile parties seemed to be with lone adults. The other 2 adults were together elsewhere
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan: read the ring - Blue 7CSE
- goose numbers again 'provisional': they were flying in as I arrived and many disappeared on to the island
- - 14 Greylag Geese
- - 89 Canada Geese
- 64 Mallard recorded
- 1 drake Pochard hauled out on the island
- 17 Tufted Ducks a high count - did not try and sex these today
- 4 Moorhens only, of which 2 were well-grown juveniles
- 17 Coots
- 32 Black-headed Gulls logged, 8 of which were flying over
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 of which were flying over; the other was 'seen off' by the Black-heads
- 23 Wood Pigeons a low count
- no Swifts, Sand Martins or Swallows noted
- just 9 House Martins around and over the lake, but perhaps in the strong wind they had gone to a more sheltered location to feed
- 1 Kingfisher sped across the lake; and then was heard calling from the S end
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling at the S end
- the only warbler recorded was 1 Chiffchaff heard calling around the surgery
- 1 Goldcrest here as well as the bumper numbers at the lake and alongside Teece Drive)
- 1 Bullfinch heard calling at S end - and strangely apart from 1 fly-over Chaffinch it was the only finch logged at The Flash today!

also
- 1 small dragonfly sp., probably a darter sp.

The complete Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 6 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan; 14 Greylag Geese; 89 Canada Geese; 64 Mallard (not sexed); 1 Pochard (drake); 17 Tufted Ducks (not sexed); no raptors; 4 Moorhens (2 juveniles); 17 Coots; 32 Black-headed Gulls (8 overhead); 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (4 overhead); 10 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 23 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; no Swifts; 1 Kingfisher; 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; no Swallows; 9 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 6 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 19 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff heard; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 16 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 6 Magpies; 4 Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 7 Crows; 1 Starling; 1 Chaffinch; no Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills

Insects:
no species of butterfly

no species of moth

1 species of dragonfly
- 1 probably darter sp., seen briefly

(Ed Wilson)

1st September, Friday -
Woodhouse Farm area (07:50 and 08:40) - With lots of birds on the wires in the Woodhouse Farm area I walked across Castle Farm Way and went for an investigate. The birds were rather 'jumpy' especially as the lane that passes under the wires was being used by joggers / runners from the estate - no point me trying to creep up! But as far as I could tell the wires contained - 1 Stock Dove (after the 3 seen earlier) - c.25 Wood Pigeons (birds seen flying over earlier) - c.35 Greenfinches - c.100 Linnets I did not do my usual walk around the lanes and streamside but walking there and back I noted a few things - 1 Sky Lark heard briefly - 1 Meadow Pipit heard flying off - 1 Goldcrest here - 2 Willow Tits (as these were with a Goldcrest I did wonder whether these were the birds I had logged in the NW area of the lake that had moved along the N shore corridor and across Castle Farm Way, but the others were still in the Teece Drive gate area when I got back there) - 1 calling Tree Creeper with the Willow Tits (and another Long-tailed Tit party) - 4 more Chiffchaffs calling - 1 Jay calling from the streamside trees - 1 Yellowhammer heard in flight (Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill - With all the finches about and migration clearly started it seemed a good time to see what was happening at Nedge Hill: nothing much! Despite stubble in 2 of the fields there were almost no finches at all Avian 'highlights' (to be treated with caution!) here were - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight - 7 passing(?) Swallows - 9 Pied Wagtails (8 of these juveniles) - 1 calling Blackcap - 1 calling Chiffchaff - party of 32 Starlings in the main horse field - just 2 Linnets - 1 Yellowhammer flying over My complete log of the birds seen and heard at Nedge Hill was no raptors; 3 Black-headed Gulls; no Lesser Black-backed-type Gulls; no Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; 8 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Dove; no Swifts; no Green Woodpecker; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sky Larks; no Sand Martins; 7 Swallows; 1 House Martin; no Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 9 Pied Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; 3 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff (no song); no Willow Warblers; no Long-tailed Tit parties; 1 Coal Tits; 3 Blue Tits; no Great Tits; no Jays; 9 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; no Rooks; 1 Crow; 32 Starlings; no House Sparrows; 2 Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 2 Linnets; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting; and 1 Yellowhammer (Ed Wilson)

22nd August, Tuesday (07:15 - 07:35 // 08:45 - 09:00), Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

Notable sightings
- Sparrowhawk seen chasing Great Tit, but veered off after it saw me: seemed to be a juvenile male
- 1 Swift over (even though none seen from The Flash)
- Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard and also seen in flight
- 6 House Martins included the calls of juveniles
- a Blackcap was calling by the lower pool
- a Chiffchaff was calling alongside Teece Drive
- the passing Sparrowhawk prompted a Willow Tit to call
- 2 Bullfinches

Also
- 1 Red Underwing moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; 1 Sparrowhawk; no other raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 5 juveniles from 4 broods; no Black-headed Gulls over; 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 4 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 1 Swift; 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 6 House Martins; no wagtails; 4 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 6 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 3 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; no Rooks; 3 Crows; 2 Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- Grey Squirrel heard in Teece Drive
- fresh molehills alongside Teece Drive

Insects:
- 1 species of moth
- 1 Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) [2452]

Priorslee Flash (07:35 - 08:45) - Highlights for my first visit for just over 3 weeks were
- the 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes
- the Willow Warbler in songs
- a Willow Tit heard at the N end

Notes of interest from the Flash
- I think 6 adult Great Crested Grebes with 4 new juveniles at the N end. No sign of the earlier juvenile hopefully fully fledged by now. Certainly 5 adults with 1 on the nest at the S end
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan but no cygnet any longer: the talk of the locals, no-one seems to know what happened to it
- goose numbers are rather 'provisional': I heard these arriving back from their early feeding foray as I was walking to the Flash and by the time I got there many were deep on the island for a rest. But I logged
- - 6 Greylag Geese
- - 132 Canada Geese
- 66 Mallard recorded
- 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes)
- 10 Moorhens of which at least 5 were well-grown juveniles
- 18 Coots of which at least 1 was a well-grown juveniles
- 58 Black-headed Gulls logged (13 juveniles)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - a first-winter - arrived
- 59 Wood Pigeons is a good count from here
- no Swifts seen over the lake or the over the traditional nest site to the N
- 4 Swallows over the N end suggested successful local breeding
- at least 50 House Martins around and over the lake with some of the calls suggesting that juveniles were on the wing
- 2 Grey Wagtails along Derwent Drive, with presumably the same birds seen elsewhere around the lake
- 2 Blackcaps heard calling
- 1 Chiffchaff also heard calling
- 2 Willow Warblers noted in the outflow area, with one in rather quiet and hesitant song and another calling quietly. I think I would have expected these to have left by now
- 1 Willow Tit heard calling at the N end: this is my first here for at least 18 months
- 3 Jays noted: 2 seen at S end and a bird heard at the N end
- 29 Rooks overhead was unusual for the date
- 2 Bullfinches at S end

also
- no moths or butterflies

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 (or 6) adult and 4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan but no cygnet; 6 Greylag Geese; 132 Canada Geese; 66 Mallard (not sexed); 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes); no raptors; 10 Moorhens (at least 5 juveniles); 18 Coots (at least 1 juvenile); 58 Black-headed Gulls (13 juveniles); 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 6 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 59 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 4 Swallows; at least 50 House Martins; 2 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 8 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 23 Robins; 4 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush (no song); no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 2 Willow Warblers (1 in song); no Goldcrests; 3 Long-tailed Tit parties; 1 Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 18 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 3 Jays; 7 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; 29 Rooks; 3 Crows; 2 Starlings; 3 Chaffinches; 3 Greenfinches; also 3 Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- no new mole hills

(Ed Wilson)

30th July, Sunday, Notes from the walk to E / SE around the lanes
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling
- no song from Sky Lark (though one was heard calling in flight): that was probably expected: less expected was only brief song from a lone Yellowhammer
- 5 Bullfinches seen, including 3 juveniles together
- no Linnets seen or heard

And
- 2 Large White butterflies
- lots of Blackberries ready to eat (done!)

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk was (note: did not walk the streamside today):
no raptors; no gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 23 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 2 Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Sky Lark; no Swallows; no pipits; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 2 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Lesser Whitethroats; 5 Common Whitethroats (at least 4 juveniles); no Garden Warblers; 2 Blackcaps (1 in song); 1 Chiffchaffs; no Willow Warbler; no Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 2 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 4 Crows; 1 Starling; no House Sparrows; 13 Chaffinches; 7 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Linnets; 5 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; and 4 Yellowhammer

Mammals:
- none

Insects:
Moths
- none

Butterflies
- 2 Large White [1549]

(Ed Wilson)

29th July, Saturday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake
- the Willow Tits were using one of the gardens around the estate: these were in addition to the usual birds at the lake
- in addition there were calls rather reminiscent of Marsh Tit - a species I have only ever logged once around the lake. I was rather puzzled in that the calls appeared to originate from a conifer, so I tracked the source of the calls down and it turned out to be 2 Coal Tits!
- a Tree Creeper was calling on my way up; and from a very different location on my way back: neither seen
- of the 12 Magpies, 9 of them were on the school grass [there were another 15 on the external tables of The Priorslee pub!]
- for some reason - perhaps because they have finished singing - there were very few Greenfinches noted
- 2 Bullfinches calling and a female / juvenile seen in flight

And
- 1 moths in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel: 1 Common Rustic
- also several Tipula sp. Crane flies (Daddy Long-legs)

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 7 juveniles from 2 recent broods; no gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 20 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; no Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Swallow; 4 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 6 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush (no song); no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; 3 Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 2 Tree Creepers; no Jays; 12 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; 5 Starlings; 2 Chaffinches; 3 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrels by the Priorslee Avenue Bridge
- fresh molehills

Insects:
- 1 Common Rustic Moth (Mesapamea secalis) [2343]

Priorslee Flash (06:55 - 07:50) - Possibly my last visit before I am off to Amazon Brazil ?

Highlight were insects again: another Lesser Swallow Prominent on one of the lamps, even though the light has been 'fixed' and now goes off

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 6 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile today: and I think there are 3 active nests. The juvenile was trying its wings today and suddenly looks so grown up now that I wondered whether I was watching a passage bird at first
- 4 Herons seen! 1 on the island throughout: 2 flew in high from the NW and were 'warned off' and flew off E; then 1 (of those?) flew in from the E and it too was warned off and left to the N
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 2 Greylag Geese today
- 70 Canada Geese
- both recent Mallard duckling parties seen today: the S end party was asleep on the island and hard to count, but I think still 7 ducklings; the N end party seemed to be just 3 ducklings. 59 adults / full-grown juveniles again
- 5 Tufted Ducks seemed to 'appear' just as I was about to leave, having walked all the way around without seeing them: I think an eclipse drake and duck; and 3 full-grown fledged juveniles
- 7 adult Moorhens and 7 juveniles noted today
- 12 full-grown adult and 4 obvious juvenile Coots logged
- 21 Black-headed Gulls logged: 4 of these were juveniles
- no party of Swifts to the N & NE: just a lone bird. Have they left already?
- 1 Blackcap called briefly
- 1 Chiffchaff also called briefly
- 3 Willow Warblers calling, with 1 briefly singing.
- a Tree Creeper calling from the poplars around the surgery again - seemed to be in addition to the birds on the walk from the lake
- of the 22 Magpies 15 were on / under the outside dining tables of The Priorslee (in addition to 9 on the school grass). Hard to know where they went when I flushed them
- a Bullfinch heard and then seen in flight - a juvenile / female type also
- Lesser Swallow Prominent moth

The complete Flash log for the day:
6 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 4 Herons; 1 cob Swan and cygnet; 2 Greylag Geese (1 juvenile); 70 Canada Geese; 59 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with at least 10 recent ducklings from 2 broods; 5 Tufted Ducks; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 7 juveniles from 4 broods; 12 full-grown Coots with 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 21 Black-headed Gulls (4 juveniles); no other gulls; 1 Feral Pigeon; no Stock Doves; 36 Wood Pigeons; 4 Collared Doves again; 1 Swift only; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallows; 20 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 8 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff; 3 Willow Warblers (1 in song); no Goldcrests; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; 14 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; no Jays; 22 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 4 Crows; 7 Starlings; 3 Chaffinches; 11 Greenfinches; 1
Goldfinch; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new mole hills along E side

Insects:
no species of butterfly

1 species of moth
- 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) [2006] moth on the pole of
one of the street lights around the lake

no species of Dragonfly

(Ed Wilson)

27th July, Thursday Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight
- Blackbirds were making the very specific call that indicates barely fledged juveniles around
- a 'party' of 3 Song Thrushes included at least 1 juvenile
- 2 Jays
- the Goldfinch was a juvenile
- 2 Bullfinches, one at least a juvenile

Also
- no moths in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel: just several Tipula sp. Crane flies (Daddy Long-legs)

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 5 juveniles from 3 broods; 3 Black-headed Gulls over; 1 Feral Pigeon; no Stock Doves; 23 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Swallow; 6 House Martins; 1 Grey Wagtail; 4 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 8 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes (no song; 1 juvenile); no Mistle Thrushes; 3 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 7 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 2 Crows; 3 Starlings; 6 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches yet again; 1 Goldfinch; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
no Grey Squirrels
fresh molehills

Insects:
no Moths

Priorslee Flash 06:45 - 07:45 - A rather unexciting time of year at The Flash with very little of note

Highlight were insects - a fine Black-tailed Skimmer on a fence during a brief sunny spell; and what I thought was another Swallow Prominent moth on the street lights until I studied the photo I took of it - a Lesser Swallow Prominent! And the calling Tree Creeper deserves mention

Notes of interest from the Flash
- I think 6 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile today, certainly 5: and 2 of these seem to be on nests
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- just 1 Greylag Geese - the juvenile
- 74 Canada Geese was my lowest count for ages: all now re-feathered and flying again
- again only 1 of the 2 recent Mallard duckling parties seen again today, but the S end party now seems to be down to 7 ducklings. 59 adults / full-grown juveniles logged
- just 1 Tufted Duck again on the island, but today it seemed to be a duck
- 3 adult Moorhens and only 1 well-grown juvenile noted today
- 14 full-grown adult and 5 obvious juvenile Coots logged
- 46 Black-headed Gulls logged: 45 were on the water (4 juveniles); 1 more flew over - exactly the same number as 3 days ago
- the party of Swifts to the N & NE was 14 yet again today
- no Blackcaps heard or seen at all
- no Chiffchaffs heard or seen either
- 4 Willow Warblers calling, with 2 briefly singing. The bird calling from the island
- a Tree Creeper calling from the poplars around the surgery
- 1 Jay was on the footpath in the NW area until it saw me coming - and I saw it going!

also
- Black-tailed Skimmer
- Swallow Prominent moth

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 (or 6) adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan and cygnet; 1 Greylag Goose (juvenile); 74 Canada Geese; 59 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with 7 recent ducklings from 1 brood; 1 duck Tufted Duck; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 1 juvenile; 14 full-grown Coots with 5 juveniles from 3 broods; 46 Black-headed Gulls (4 juveniles); no other gulls; 10 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 37 Wood Pigeons; 4 Collared Doves; at least 14 Swifts yet again; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 3 Swallows; 16 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 6 Wrens; 1 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; 11 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush (no song); no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 4 Willow Warblers (2 in song); no Goldcrests; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; 6 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 1 Jay; 15 Magpies; 2 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 5 Crows; no Starlings; 2 Chaffinches; 13 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- new mole hills along E side

Insects:
1 species of butterfly
- 1 Gatekeeper [1625]

at least 1 species of moth
- 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) [2006] moths on the pole of one of the street lights around the lake
- 1 Swallow Prominent-type was on the 'glass' cover of a lamp that was still alight and therefore hard to get a decent view of: probably another Lesser Swallow Prominent, but I have confirmed records of Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) [2007]:from here as well

1 species of Dragonfly
- 1 Black-tailed Skimmer

Ed Wilson

25th July, Tuesday, Priorslee Village (Back garden) -

- Overhead this evening 50+ Swift and 5 Swallows drifting south.
- In the neighbourhood a Sparrowhawk was mobbed by up to 30 House Martins and 2 Swallows.
- Large party of Tits passed down the lane behind the house comprising of 10 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits and a pair of Coal Tits.

Also
Amphibians:
- in the garden pond 10 mature frogs and two thumbnail ones.
- 1 Common Toad

Insects:
Butterflies (All feeding on the Buddleia (Buddleia davidii)- I don't have shares in Dayton Nursery but it does show you how many varieties of Buddlia are on the market - If you guessed around the twenty you weren't far off and I'm sure there are plenty more)
- 7 Peacock (Inachis io)
- 2 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- 2 Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- 1 Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- 1 Small "Cabbage" White (Pieris rapae)
- 1 Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- A Blue sp. (A very small blue butterfly with quite a distinct black patch at top of wing. Can't find anything remotely similar in any of the guide books etc. If you look at this image, this is exactly the same one I had in the garden, but still not identified!)

Moths
- Silver Y (Autographa gamma) - This evening
- Small Magpie - (Eurrhypara hortulata) tonight

- Several different species of Bumble Bee (both red and white-tails sp.) and also Hoverflies feeding on the flowers of the Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

(Martin Adlam)

24th July, Monday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- generally very quiet (it was a Sunday!) and just
- second-brood Moorhen juveniles at both the Wesley Brook pools now, as well as first-brood juveniles still present
- Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight again
- reduction in bird-song here too

Also
- one species of moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel: perhaps the same Single-dotted Wave, though it had moved a few feet
- the remains of desiccated Riband Wave dangling from a spider's web from one of the lights
- a Hawker dragonfly sp. here before 07:00

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 9 juveniles from 4 broods; 1 Black-headed Gull over; 2 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 4 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 1 Dunnock; 8 Robins; 8 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; no Crows; no Starlings; 2 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
1 Grey Squirrel eating crab-apples along Teece Drive

Insects:
2 Moth sp.
- Single-dotted Wave [1708]
- Riband Wave [1713] dead

1 Hawker sp.

Priorslee Flash, 07:07 - 08:10 - Another quiet morning

Highlight was the Buzzard seen

Notes of interest from the Flash
- back to 4 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile today
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 4 Greylag Geese ( 1 juvenile)
- 137 Canada Geese today - 1 fewer than yesterday!
- only 1 of the 2 recent Mallard duckling parties seen again today: the N end party now seems to be down to just 3 ducklings. 53 adults / full-grown juveniles logged
- just 1 drake Tufted Duck again on the island
- a real Buzzard was calling in the NW area and then seen in flight crossing the N-end grass (cf 1 at the lake today)
- 6 adult Moorhens and 4 juveniles noted today
- 16 full-grown adult and 5 obvious juvenile Coots logged
- 46 Black-headed Gulls logged: 45 were on the water (6 juveniles); 1 more flew over
- the party of Swifts to the N & NE was 14 again today
- no Blackcaps heard or seen at all
- no Chiffchaffs heard or seen either
- 4 Willow Warblers calling, with 2 briefly singing, one from the island

also
- nothing else of note today

The complete Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan and cygnet; 4 Greylag Geese (1 juvenile); 137 Canada Geese; 53 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with 3 recent ducklings from 1 brood; 1 drake Tufted Duck; 1 Common Buzzard; no other raptors; 6 adult Moorhens and 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 16 full-grown Coots with 5 juveniles from 2 broods; 46 Black-headed Gulls (6 juveniles); no other gulls; 11 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 30 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove to the NE; at least 14 Swifts again; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; 22 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 2 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes (1 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 4 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 4 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 8 Magpies; 3 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; 3 Starlings; no Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
no Grey Squirrels

Insects:
no butterflies or moth

(Ed Wilson)

23rd July, Sunday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- generally very quiet (it was a Sunday!) and just - Jay heard!

Also
- two species of moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel: a Single-dotted Wave; and a Riband Wave

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 2 juveniles from 2 broods; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 12 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 4 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 5 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 8 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes (1 in sub-song); no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Blackcap; no Chiffchaffs; no Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 7 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 4 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; 2 Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches again; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

1 Grey Squirrel heard scolding

2 Moth sp.
- Single-dotted Wave [1708]
- Riband Wave [1713] of form remutata without the band

Priorslee Flash, 07:08 - 08:00 - A quiet Sunday morning here now dull after a great sunrise

Highlight was the Swallow Prominent moth!

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile today
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 5 Greylag Geese
- only 138 Canada Geese today reflecting their new-found mobility
- only 1 of the 2 recent Mallard duckling parties seen today: the N end party of 4 ducklings. 65 adults / full-grown juveniles logged
- just 1 drake Tufted Duck on the island. As there was a pair here for so long I do wonder whether the duck is brooding away, hidden somewhere on the island
- 3 adult Moorhens and just 1 juvenile noted today
- 13 adult and 2 obvious juvenile Coots logged
- 51 Black-headed Gulls logged: 43 were on the water (2 juveniles); 7 more flew over and 1 was on the lamps to the N
- the party of Swifts to the N & NE was just 14 today
- Great Spotted Woodpecker again heard
- no Blackcaps heard or seen at all
- no Chiffchaffs heard or seen either
- 3 Willow Warblers calling, with one also giving a brief burst of song also
- an early-emergent second-brood Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) [2007] was resting on one of the still-alight street-lights in the NW area
- on the same light where I logged 2 specimens of this poplar-feeding specialist in May

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan and cygnet; 5 Greylag Geese (1 juvenile); 138 Canada Geese; 65 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with 4 recent ducklings from 1 brood; 1 drake Tufted Duck; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 1 juvenile; 13 full-grown Coots with 2 juveniles from 2 broods; 51 Black-headed Gulls (2 juveniles); no other gulls; 17 Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; 45 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove heard; at least 14 Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; 19 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 11 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; 6 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrush (in song); no Mistle Thrushes; no Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 large party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 6 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 4 Crows; 3 Starlings; 2 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

no Grey Squirrels

no butterflies but moths:
1 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) [2007]

Ed Wilson

22nd July, Saturday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake
- 8 Tufted Ducks in flight apparently from the lake towards The Flash, but only 7 had left the lake when I got back; and there were only 5 at The Flash when I arrived
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard and it, or another, seen in flight
- nice party of tits (including 4 Coal Tits) with other species mixed-in giving good views as they staged through one of the dead trees: at least 3 Blackcaps; a juvenile Willow Warbler, and 2 Goldcrests
- Jay heard giving its 'Buzzard-mew' call here as well
- male Bullfinch at the Priorslee Avenue bridge

Also
- no moths in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel again
- a Green-veined White [1551] flushed from the grass

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; 8 Tufted Ducks flew over; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 5 juveniles from 2 broods; no gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 or 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 2 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 3 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrushes (1 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; 5 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Willow Warbler; 2 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 4 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 12 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 5 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; 5 Starlings; 4 Chaffinches; 9 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
1 Grey Squirrel heard scolding

Insects:
no Moth sp.
- Green-veined White [1551]

Priorslee Flash, 07:15 - 08:05 - A quick sprint around The Flash with the storm grumbling away to the SE, so not so thorough coverage as sometimes. That said most of the passerine numbers were higher than yesterday! Fewer joggers at weekends this early?

Highlights were the 2 Tree Creepers in with a big tit party along the Wesley Brook outflow. Also notable were the 14 Magpies on the tables and lawns of The Priorslee finishing last night's meals that the punters had not eaten

Notes of interest from the Flash
- only 4 adult Great Crested Grebe: the juvenile seen OK today
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 6 Greylag Geese: one the juvenile again
- 174 Canada Geese counted. 151 of these were on the N end grass - a sure sign that I was there ahead of the weekend dog-walkers still lying in bed! 21 flew in from the E
- both the recent Mallard duckling parties seen properly today: the N end party was 4 ducklings. All 8 of the party in the S / SE area present and correct. 68 adults / full-grown juveniles logged
- at the start there were 5 Tufted Ducks on the island - 2 drakes and 3 ducks. Later there seemed to be 3 more on the water - a drake; a duck and a juvenile. Not sure I was aware that the drakes took any part in 'fathering' (apart from the necessary!)
- 4 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 4 broods today
- 10 adult and 4 juvenile Coots logged
- 87 Black-headed Gulls logged with at least 2 juveniles, though 12 birds flew off before I could age / sex them
- the large party of Swifts to the N & NE was not large today - 18 in the hazy conditions
- Great Spotted Woodpecker again heard
- 2 Blackcaps heard briefly in song today
- no Chiffchaffs heard or seen
- 2 Willow Warblers calling: one was one of those difficult calls that was hard to select between this species and a hesitant Chiffchaff. Usually if I am not sure it is a Willow Warbler and I had just applied that rule and logged it as such when it briefly sang!
- the Tree Creepers were giving splendid views for a change and calling loudly - I suspect one or more begging juveniles, though I only saw 2 birds and these days while I can still hear the calls the hearing has trouble pinpointing direction of high calls

also
- no Grey Squirrels!

The complete Flash log for the day:
4 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 6 Greylag Geese (1 juvenile); 174 Canada Geese; 68 full-grown
Mallard (not sexed) with 12 recent ducklings from 2 broods; 8 Tufted Ducks; no raptors; 4 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 4 broods; 10 adult Coots with 4 juveniles from 3 broods; 87 Black-headed Gulls (at least 2 juveniles); no other gulls; 10 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 32 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; at least 18 Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sand Martins; 3 Swallows; 8 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail; 12 Wrens; 1 Dunnock; 13 Robins; 11 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; 2 Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 20 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 2 Crows; 1 Starling; 2 Chaffinch; 8 Greenfinches; no
Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
2 Grey Squirrels

Insects:
no butterflies or moths

(Ed Wilson)

21st July, Friday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake
- more Wood Pigeons, reflecting the good counts at the lake and The Flash
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard again
- big party of 25 House Martins over the estate
- 3 Song Thrushes seen with no song heard: one was carrying a full load of insects and the like in its bill
- at least 2 Willow Tits calling from the scrub alongside the footpath in Teece Drive, hanging on from yesterday?
- 2 Goldcrests heard
- Jay heard giving its 'Buzzard-mew' call and then seen for confirmation

Also
- no moths in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel today

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
1 Mallard flew over; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 6 Black-headed Gulls over; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 31 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard; no Swallows; 25 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes (none in song); no Mistle Thrushes; 4 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 6 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 2 Crows; 4 Starlings; 3 Chaffinch; 10 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Priorslee Flash, 06:40 - 07:35 - A quiet morning at The Flash, notable for the numbers of Canada Geese now flying; and the apparent absence of the juvenile Great Crested Grebe. Also, as at the lake, a very recently-fledged and dark, ginger-plumaged juvenile Black-headed Gull, so recently fledged that it was still begging from (and being fed by) its parent

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes again: the juvenile not seen
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 5 Greylag Geese: one of these is a juvenile - where has this come from? seems likely to be unfledged [11 had flown over the lake earlier]
- 203 Canada Geese counted. 8 of these flew off W; and 44 flew in from the E
- both the recent Mallard duckling parties noted: the N end party was of just 3 (of 5 - 4 yesterday) ducklings but the adult was off scrumping bread from the locals and may have had more with her somewhere. 3 of the erstwhile party of 8 at the S / SE area was seen scampering on to the island and there were probably more. 58 adults / full-grown logged
- no Tufted Ducks today
- 4 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 3 broods today
- 12 adult and 5 juvenile Coots logged
- 104 Black-headed Gulls logged, only 1 of which flew over. 7 juveniles, one of which was still begging from its parent
- amazingly no Feral Pigeons: the one I thought I saw in flight turned out to be a Stock Dove
- the large party of Swifts to the N & NE comprised 24 birds at least
- as at the lake rather few Blackbirds today
- only 1 Blackcap heard briefly in song today
- 1 Chiffchaff heard calling
- 1 Willow Warbler briefly in song

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult but no juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 5 Greylag Geese (1 juvenile); 203 Canada Geese; 58 full-grown
Mallard (not sexed) with 6 recent ducklings from 2 broods; no Tufted Ducks; no raptors; 4 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 3 broods; 12 adult Coots with 5 juveniles from 3 broods; 104 Black-headed Gulls (at least 7 juveniles); no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 41 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; at least 24 Swifts; no Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sand Martins; 2 Swallows; 10 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; only 5 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; no Garden Warblers; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Willow Warbler; no Goldcrests; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 7 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 12 Magpies again; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 3 Crows; 1 Starling; 1 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
2 Grey Squirrels

Insects:
no butterflies or moths no Moth sp.

(Ed Wilson)

20th July, Thursday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake
- a group of at least 11 House Martins over the estate houses seemed, on calls, to include my first juveniles of the year
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over
- at least 2 Willow Tits calling from the trees alongside the footpath in Teece Drive - I assume the birds I had heard earlier in the NW area of the lake, though these seemed to be moving with a mixed party and the others were not

Also
- just 1 species of moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel today - a Common Rustic [2343]
- many of the trees, poplars especially, are showing signs of heat and or drought and 'the fall' has started!

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 3 juveniles from 2 broods; 11Black-headed Gulls over; 2 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 11 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; 4 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes (1 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; 4 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 4 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 4 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; 6 Starlings; 6 Chaffinch; 7 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

no Grey Squirrels

1 Moth sp.
- 1 Common Rustic [2343]

Priorslee Flash, 06:45 - 07:45 - Very similar to yesterday in many respects with Tree Creeper(s) and noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker. Mistle Thrush was the first for a while. Another reasonable count of Black-headed Gulls though very few juveniles again

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes again: the juvenile seen and now largely independent
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 17 Greylag Geese
- 172 Canada Geese counted - the same as yesterday. 4 of these flew in
- both the recent Mallard duckling parties noted: the N end party was of just 4 (of 5) ducklings today. The party of 8 at the S / SE area seen all present. 51 adults / full-grown logged
- no Tufted Ducks today
- 4 Moorhen juveniles from 2 broods today
- 13 adults and 3 juvenile Coots logged, though some of the juveniles are hard / impossible to separate now
- 123 Black-headed Gulls logged, 12 of which flew over. Only 3 juveniles but an errant white and black football rolling through the water, blown along by a sudden change of wind put all the gulls to flight before I could check them all and there may have been more
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over were my first of 'the season' [I had my first bird of the season over my Newport house on a roost flight-path last evening]
- the large party of Swifts to the N & NE was hard to count in the haze: 40 at least
- what I suspect was the same noisy woodpecker was heard again from around the Flash: I did see it briefly, but did not help as it was always in flight
- 2 Blackcaps heard very briefly
- no Chiffchaffs logged
- 3 Willow Warblers: the bird singing from the island again even though, as far as I know, they did not breed there. One more briefly in song
- Tree Creepers alongside the Wesley Brook outflow again; and apparently a different bird (with a different tit party) along the E side
- 2 Bullfinches alongside the Wesley Brook outflow

also
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- here too many of the trees, poplars especially, are showing signs of heat and or drought and 'the fall' has started!

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 17 Greylag Geese; 172 Canada Geese; 51 full-grown Mallard
(not sexed) with 12 recent ducklings from 2 broods; no Tufted Ducks; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 13 adult(?) Coots
with 3 juveniles from 2 broods; 123 Black-headed Gulls (at least 3 juveniles); 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 3 Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 42 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; at least 40 Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sand Martins; 2 Swallows; 22 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 9 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush seen; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Reed Warblers; no Garden Warblers; 2 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; 1 or 2 Tree Creepers; no Jays; 12 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 5 Crows; 4 Starlings; 2 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
2 Grey Squirrels

(Ed Wilson)

19th July, Wednesday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from the walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake
- a female Sparrowhawk flew over with no response at all from any of the birds - neither the tits parties; the Blackbirds; or the House Martins overhead. Perhaps she looked well-fed?

Also
- 3 species of moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel today
- a Brimstone Moth [1906]; a Common Rustic [2343]; and a pug sp. flattened against the ceiling too close for me to focus and impossible to see any detail from
any angle
- a hawker sp. around before 07:00

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; 1 female Sparrowhawk; no other raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 2 (or 3?) broods; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 10 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Doves; 1 Swift; no woodpeckers; no Swallows; 8 House Martins; 1 Grey Wagtail; 5 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes (1 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; 4 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 7 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 9 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; 2 Starlings; 3 Chaffinch; 13 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
no Grey Squirrels

Priorslee Flash, (06:45 - 07:45) Highlight was probably Tree Creepers again. Also notable was the juvenile Great Crested Grebe seen OK today; and a reasonable count of Black-headed Gulls though very few juveniles

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes with one on a nest at the S end: the juvenile seen and now largely independent
- 1 Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 16 Greylag Geese
- only 172 Canada Geese counted: with birds over the lake earlier it is clear that moult is finished and birds will be off commuting to favoured feeding areas soon
- just one of the recent Mallard duckling parties of 5 ducklings noted today. I expect the other group was lurking in the SW overhanging bushes. 70 adults / full-grown logged
- 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes) asleep throughout. The birds that left the lake while I was here seemed to have gone elsewhere
- 4 Moorhen juveniles from 3 broods today
- 9 adults and 4 juvenile Coots only logged
- 89 Black-headed Gulls around the island, only 2 of which were juvenile-plumaged birds
- another group of 20 racing pigeons logged
- large party of Swifts to the N & NE again: 42 at least
- what I suspect was the same noisy woodpecker was heard from just about everywhere around the Flash without me seeing it once! It had a good old scold at something along the E side!
- no Blackcaps heard at all!
- 2 Chiffchaffs logged: a yellow-toned juvenile dipping its tail in the NW area; and a bird calling to the S
- 1 Willow Warbler only with a bird singing from the island
- at least 2 Tree Creepers alongside the Wesley Brook outflow
- 1 or more Jays heard in the E / SE area
also
- another dead fish
- just 1 Grey Squirrel
- a Meadow Brown [1626] butterfly - normally I am away before it is warm-enough for butterflies to get on the wing
- the Ragwort here also has Cinnabar Moth [2069] caterpillars

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 16 Greylag Geese; 172 Canada Geese; 70 full-grown Mallard
(not sexed) with 5 recent ducklings from 1 brood; 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes); no raptors; 4 adult Moorhens and 4 juveniles from 3 broods; 9 adult Coots with 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 89 Black-headed Gulls (2 juveniles); no other gulls; 25 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 18 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 43 Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker at least; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; 15 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 14 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush seen; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; no Garden Warblers; no Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaffs; 1 Willow Warbler; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 12 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 2 Tree Creepers; 1 or 2 Jays; 22 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; 1 Rook; 4 Crows; 2
Starlings; 3 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches yet again; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
1 Grey Squirrel

Insects:
1 Meadow Brown [1626]
no moths but Cinnabar Moth [2069] caterpillars on Ragwort

(Ed Wilson)

18th July, Tuesday, The lanes and fields to the E / SEof Priorslee Lake ( 06:30 - 08:15)

Notes from the walk around the lanes and, for the first time for ages back along the stream-side

For my pains I had a 'pleasant' cooling walk through waist-high wet grass and was bitten by horse-flies! The set-aside fields here were a pale shadow of last year's mass of Ragwort, the presence of which I inadvertently let slip to some of the estate workers only to find that 2 days later it had been cut. Perhaps they tried to kill it? Only partly successful as there were at least some plants being stripped by the striped cinnabar caterpillars. But one of the other set-aside fields is
'dock-city' this year [Rumex sp. - probably Broad-leaved Dock]. None of the cultivated fields of oil-seed rape has been cut yet, so why the large number of Wood Pigeons were on the wires yesterday is unclear (fewer today)
- a female Great Spotted Woodpecker seen feeding a juvenile
- 1 Stock Dove amongst the Wood Pigeons
- 2 Tree Creepers heard and then seen
- at least 2 Jays in the streamside bushes
- a male Reed Bunting about 3 fields away from the lake seemed incongruous: one seen in flight a few minutes later I assumed to be the same bird
Of the 'normal' additional species that can be logged here
- the Pheasants were all keeping their heads down and I neither saw or heard any
- at least 5 Sky Larks with nests in the set-aside and 2 in song
- 4 Whitethroats noted - would have expected more
- just 1 Linnet and that was flushed out of the streamside trees rather than in the more open area
- a good count of 8 Yellowhammers, with 3 still singing - though this species sings until mid-August

Also
- large hawker sp., probably Southern Hawker

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk was:
no Mallards; no raptors; no Pheasants; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; 67 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 2 Great Spotted
Woodpeckers; 5 Skylarks; 2 Swallows; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 14 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 4 Robins; 7 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes (none in song);
1 Mistle Thrush; 4 Common Whitethroats; 4 Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaffs (1 in song); no Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tits; 15 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 2 Tree Creeper; 2 Jays; 2 Magpies; 3 Jackdaws; 6 Rooks; 4 Crows; no Starlings; 13 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 1 Linnet; 2 Bullfinches; 1 or 2 Reed Buntings; 8 Yellowhammers

Mammals:
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- no new molehills noted

(Ed Wilson)

17th July, Monday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from another interesting walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- 2 sightings of Great Spotted Woodpecker: could have been the same bird
- another great count of Blackbirds - 27!
- 1 Mistle Thrush in with a party of 11 Blackbirds in a bare tree!
- juvenile Blackcap travelling with a tit party
- a noisy group of 4 Coal Tits
- Tree Creeper heard
- Starling numbers now fluctuated back to a group of 8 on the roof [but still none at The Flash]

Also
- no moths today

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 2 juveniles from 2 broods; 11 Black-headed Gull flew over; no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 12 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 2 Swifts; 1 or 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Swallows; 6 House Martins; no wagtails; 7 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 27 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes (1 in song); 1 Mistle Thrush; no Reed Warblers; 5 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; 4 Coal Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; no Jays; 3 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 8 Crows; 9 Starlings; 1 Chaffinch; 15 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- no new molehills noted

Priorslee Flash, (06:30 - 07:50)
Highlights were the 14 Tufted Ducks flying off; and a juvenile Willow Warbler seen feeding on the ground in Derwent Drive amongst a group of 26 House Sparrows! The proportion of juvenile Black-headed Gulls was much higher today - 15 of 112. No juvenile Great Crested Grebe seen though

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 4 adult Great Crested Grebes only: no juvenile
- 2 Herons today with a juvenile flying it to land on the island trees before being seen off by the local Crows (that seem to ignore the 'resident' bird). That put both the Herons up and with it all the gulls, though I think most of them came back
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet again
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 220 Canada Geese counted
- the same 13 recent Mallard ducklings noted again today. But only 43 adults / full-grown logged
- 14 Tufted Ducks were circling higher and higher as I arrived: they flew off S, but were not at the lake when I got there
- 6 Moorhen juveniles from 3 broods today. The new party of 2 along the E side again
- 13 adult and 6 juvenile Coots logged
- 112 Black-headed Gulls around the island, 15 of which were juvenile-plumaged birds
- parties of 27 and 47 Feral (Racing?) Pigeons helped the day's total!
- even larger party of Swifts to the N & NE again: 75 at least
- 4 Blackcaps heard: 3 in brief song and 1 calling
- no Chiffchaffs
- 4 Willow Warblers: the juvenile on the ground with the House Sparrow in Derwent Drive; another bird calling from the gardens in the same area; and 2 calling near The Priorslee, one of which burst in to song briefly
- 2 Jays heard in NW area flew off to the NE: assumed the birds later heard along the E / SE area
- no Starlings at all again - do not normally record House Sparrows, but a party of 26 on the ground in Derwent Drive is worth noting, especially as there was a juvenile Willow Warbler in with them!
- not only was the Bullfinch heard calling at the S end again, but it was singing away! also
- just 1 Grey Squirrel

The complete Flash log for the day: 4 adult and no juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 14 Greylag Geese; 220 Canada Geese; 43 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with 13 recent ducklings from 2 broods; 14 Tufted Ducks flew off; no raptors; 5 adult Moorhens and 6 juveniles from 3 broods; 13 adult Coots with 6 juveniles from 3 broods; 112 Black-headed Gulls (15 juvenile); no other gulls; 83 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 75 Swifts; no woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; no Swallows; 8 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 10 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; only 13 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; no Garden Warblers; 4 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs;4 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 14 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 18 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 5 Crows; no Starlings, unusually; 1 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches again; 3 Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch heard in song; no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
1 Grey Squirrel

Insects:
no moths

(Ed Wilson)

16th July, Sunday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from another interesting walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- the new juveniles were successfully begging to be fed by the well-grown juvenile Moorhens on the lower pool today - not sure I knew these could be 'helpers'! (and there are 4 new juveniles)
- juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees near the underpass
- a juvenile Dunnock was seen standing on the path looking sleepy / confused / ill: but when I crept for a photograph it flew off strongly
- with the woodpecker there was a great commotion from at least 11 Blackbirds and I rather assumed I would find a roosting owl - but didn't!
- the Chiffchaff was calling from one of the gardens in Priorslee
- Starling numbers now fluctuated to zero [and none at The Flash either]!

Also
- no moths today

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 7 juveniles from 3(?) broods; 1 Black-headed Gull flew over; no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons again; 1 Collared Dove; no Swifts; 1 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 10 House Martins; no wagtails; 5 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes (1 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 11 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; no Starlings; 5 Chaffinch; 17 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- no new molehills noted

Priorslee Flash, (06:37 - 07:50) - Highlight was the 2 Tree Creepers. Also notable was another dead fish. But an interesting sighting was a group of 9 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robins (1 juvenile) and a Chiffchaff (!) feeding in the sand-box of the children's play-area along the E side - on other days of the week joggers and dog-walkers have probably long put these birds to flight before I get there

Notes of interest from the Flash
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile again today
- Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan with his cygnet begging from the fishermen today
- 20 Greylag Geese
- 226 Canada Geese counted
- 13 recent Mallard ducklings noted again today. Unable to separate the older ducklings and 71 adults / full-grown logged
- no Tufted Ducks at all
- 2 Moorhen juveniles only seen today. The new party of along the E side not seen
- 9 adult and 6 juvenile Coots logged. The well-grown juvenile at the S end was sitting on the nest today; and the well-grown juvenile at the N end was bringing material to its nest and learning to build!
- 92 Black-headed Gulls around the island, just 1 of which was a juvenile-plumaged bird
- large party of Swifts to the N & NE again: 36 was fewer than yesterday, perhaps due to the rather worse visibility
- 4 Blackcaps heard in brief song today
- 2 Chiffchaffs: in addition to the bird on the ground in the E-side play area there was one calling from the island
- 2 Willow Warblers heard calling only
- 2 Tree Creepers: 1 heard again along the E side; but another in the trees by the doctor's surgery at the S end
- 2 Jays heard in E / SE area
- most unusually there were no Starlings at all
- Bullfinch heard again

Also
- even more Grey Squirrels

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 20 Greylag Geese; 226 Canada Geese; 71 full-grown Mallard (not sexed) with 13 recent ducklings from 2 broods; no Tufted Ducks; no raptors; 3 adult Moorhens and 2 juveniles; 9 adult Coots with 6 juveniles from 3 broods; 92 Black-headed Gulls (1 juvenile); no other gulls; 11 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 29 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 36 Swifts; no woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; 10 House Martins yet again; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 11 Robins again; 24 Blackbirds (9 together); 3 Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; no Garden Warblers; 4 Blackcaps; 3 Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits again; 2 Tree Creepers; 2 Jays; 13 Magpies; 3 Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; 6 Crows; no Starlings, unusually; 5 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch heard; and no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
5 Grey Squirrels

Insects:
no moths

(Ed Wilson)

15th July, Saturday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from another interesting walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- well-grown juvenile Moorhens seen on both pools today. 2 new juveniles on lower pool
- another high count of Blackbirds: 29 today - there were more around The Flash today
- a Tree Creeper in with a tit party near the underpass
- no Reed Warbler heard today [but fewer singing at the lake today]
- odd how Starling numbers fluctuate: 2 days ago just 1; yesterday over 20 on one of the roofs in Priorslee; today just 2 with none on the roofs
- 2 Bullfinches moving ahead of me - a female with a juvenile

Also

- just 1 moth resting in the tunnel under Priorslee Avenue
- - 1 Riband Wave [1713], of normal form with the band - but another species disturbed from around one of the pools
- - 1 Common Carpet [1738] of the less-numerous second brood

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 4 juveniles from 3(?) broods; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 5 House Martins; no wagtails; 2 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; 29 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes (in song); no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 14 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 2 Jays; 8 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; no Crows; 2 Starlings; 5 Chaffinch; 13 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new molehills noted

Priorslee Flash - Notes of interest from the Flash
Highlight was the 2 Garden Warblers - where did these come from? Also a new party of juvenile Moorhens

- 6 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile again today
- Heron on the island again
- the lone cob Swan paying better attention to his cygnet today
- 11 Greylag Geese
- 234 Canada Geese counted: no longer any obvious goslings
- 29 Mallard ducklings noted again today, but slightly different disposition: there were parties of 5 and 8 (with the 5 where there were 4 yesterday); and two parties of 8 ducklings from earlier broods. High number of adults - 64!
- fewer but still high numbers of Tufted Duck. At least 4 drakes hauled out on the island and hard to see amongst all the geese and gulls, and 12 others (10 drakes).So today some definite ducks
- 5 Moorhen juveniles seen today with a new party of 2 along the E side - a 2nd brood for the birds here [cf. new brood at the Wesley Brook lower pool]
- only 7 adult and 4 juvenile Coots logged for some reason. Adult in NE area, with juvenile in hot pursuit was yet again actively gathering and installing more nest material
- on a nest on which 8 full-grown Mallard ducklings had been standing a few minutes earlier
- now at least 122 Black-headed Gulls around the island, only 3 of which were juvenile-plumaged birds
- big party of Swifts to the N & NE - at least 54 birds here. Juveniles now joined the flock of c.20 I have often noted in the area
- no Reed Warbler singing [but few at the lake now]
- amazingly there was a large warbler sluggishly moving around the trees with a large tit party that contained at least 24 Long-tailed Tits and after struggling to get to grips with its non-features and turn its indistinct short supercilium in to a moulting Chiffchaff I realised it was too big and thus clearly a Garden Warbler: and there was another close-by
- 3 Blackcaps heard today - one calling and 2 in very brief song, all in different locations
- no Chiffchaff
- 2 Willow Warblers: one gave a single burst of song; another was persistently calling from deep in a bush on top of which a Coal Tit was calling loudly
- 1 Tree Creeper heard along the E side [after 1 on the walk from Priorslee Lake]
- 1 Jay heard in SE area
- first in this area for a while
- 23 Magpies noted today - they were everywhere!

Also
- too many squirrels

The complete Flash log for the day:
6 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 11 Greylag Geese; 234 Canada Geese; 64 adult Mallard (not sexed) with 29 ducklings from at least 4 broods; 16 Tufted Ducks (14 drakes); no raptors; 4 adult Moorhens and 5 juveniles; just 7 adult Coots with just 4 juveniles; 122 Black-headed Gulls (3 juveniles); no other gulls; 14 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 28 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 56 Swifts; no woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; no Swallows; 10 House Martins again; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail heard; 11 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; 2 Garden Warblers; 3 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of at least 24 Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 9 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 1 Jay; 23 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; only 1 Starling; 4 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch heard; and no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- 3 Grey Squirrels

Insects:
- no moths

(Ed Wilson)

14th July, Friday Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from another interesting walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- well-grown juvenile Moorhens seen on both pools today. But adult with 3 new juveniles on lower pool [I thought there were 2, but I've just looked at a photo I took and there are 3!]
- high count of 26 Blackbirds - but then there were very few around The Flash for some reason
- 1 Reed Warblers in song alongside the upper pool today [again not heard at The Flash]

Also
- three moths resting in the tunnel under Priorslee Avenue
- - 1 Single-dotted Wave [1708]
- - 2 Riband Wave [1713], both of form ab. remutata without the band
- [yesterday's sighting confirmed as Double-striped Pug [1862]

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was:
no Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 5 juveniles from 3(?) broods; 2 Black-headed Gull flew over; no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no woodpeckers; no Swallows; 3 House Martins; no wagtails; 4 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 26 Blackbirds; 5 Song Thrushes (4 in song); no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Reed Warbler; 5 Blackcaps, 1 a juvenile; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Jay; 5 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; no Crows; 16 Starlings; 3 Chaffinch; 7 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- no new molehills noted

Priorslee Flash - Notes of interest from the Flash

Highlight was the Common Tern

- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile again today
- Heron back on the island
- the lone cob Swan and cygnet, still not together
- 8 Greylag Geese at least, though again they were mainly on the island where they can remain hidden
- 216 Canada Geese counted: none were obvious as goslings any more
- 29 Mallard ducklings noted today: after yesterday's new party of 7 small ducklings there were parties of 4 and 8 (with the 4 where the 7 were yesterday); and parties of 8 and 9 ducklings from earlier broods
- fewer but still high numbers of Tufted Duck. The drake hauled out on the island, and 20 others (all drakes) in the water
- 3 Moorhen juveniles seen today
- no juvenile Coots from brood #1 in the SE area today; only 3 of the 4 juveniles from brood #2 around the island; no juvenile from brood #3 seen in the SW area: 1 juvenile from the 4th brood in the NE area again
- now 89 Black-headed Gulls around the island, but still only 2 of which were juvenile-plumaged birds. A poor breeding ratio with almost all the other 87 apparently adults (rather than 1st summer)
- BIRD OF THE DAY: 1 Common Tern fishing in The Flash at 08:00
- 1 Grey Wagtail heard in flight
- dire numbers of most passerines - I know I was an hour later than usual. Just 4 Blackbirds! But better numbers of tits
- no Reed Warbler singing [but one at the lower pool between here and the lake]
- no Blackcaps heard
- 1 Chiffchaff sang briefly in the distance
- no Willow Warblers seen or heard
- very few tits seen / heard today

Also
- 1 Rabbit seen, unusually, around the doctor' surgery

The complete Flash log for the day:
5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 8 Greylag Geese; 216 Canada Geese; 60 adult Mallard (not sexed) with 29 ducklings from at least 4 broods; 21 Tufted Ducks (all drakes); no raptors; 2 adult Moorhens and 3 juveniles; 11 adult Coots with just 4 juveniles from 2 broods; 89 Black-headed Gulls (2 juveniles); no other gulls; 1 Common Tern; 5 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 26 Wood Pigeons; 1 Collared Dove; 20 Swifts; no woodpeckers; no Sand Martins; no Swallows; 10 House Martins; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 4 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; no Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; no Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 11 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; no Jays; 7 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 7 Rooks; 6 Crows; only 2 Starlings; no Chaffinches; 7 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; and no Reed Bunting

Mammals:
- no Grey Squirrels
- 1 Rabbit at The Surgery

Insects:
no moths

(Ed Wilson)

13th July, Thursday, Teece Drive & Priorslee Flash - Notes from a most interesting walk to The Flash and back to Priorslee Lake

- 1 Heron; 4 Mallards and 1 Black-headed Gulls all seen flying up the line of the Wesley Brook and presumably moving between the lake and The Flash
- juvenile Moorhen seen on the lower pool today, adult on the upper pool
- juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in the dead trees around the lower pool
- 2 different Reed Warblers in song: one alongside Teece Drive; and the other around the lower pool (where one sang in May for a few days). Interestingly both of these sang in response to bursts of song from Blackcaps and on both occasions I wondered whether it could be a Blackcap mimicking a Reed Warbler, but the latter at least was clearly a different bird from the Blackcap [there was no Reed Warbler at The Flash today]
- a fine pair of Bullfinches

Also

- a moth resting in the tunnel under Priorslee Avenue needs to be confirmed but was probably a Double-striped Pug [1862]

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk from The Flash was: 1 Heron; 4 Mallards; no raptors; 1 adult Moorhen and 1 juvenile; 1 Black-headed Gull flew over; no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 15 Wood Pigeons again; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; 1 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Swallows; 4 House Martins; no wagtails; 5 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Reed Warblers; 6 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 1 Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 11 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; 1 Jay; 11 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; no Crows; 1 Starling; 2 Chaffinch; 13 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings 1 Grey Squirrel heard in Teece Drive no new molehills noted

Priorslee Flash - Notes of interest from the Flash:
- 5 adult Great Crested Grebes and the juvenile today with a pair at a nest site
- as far as I recall the nest site used by the pair attending the now well-grown juvenile
- no Heron
- the lone cob Swan 'with' the cygnet, though it hardly looks after it and only the efforts of the bird-feeders to decoy-distract the geese and ducks allows this to be fed!
- 12 Greylag Geese at least, though they were mainly on the island where they can remain hidden
- 235 Canada Geese counted: none were obvious as goslings any more. Some at least of the adults are capable of flying: indeed 3 birds flew in, around and out - 23 Mallard ducklings noted today: a very new party of 7 small ducklings; and 2 parties of 8 ducklings from earlier broods
- amazing number of Tufted Duck. Initially there (seemed to be) just a drake hauled out on the island, but then I noted a party of 14 on the water: the next time I looked there were 23; and then later 31 - all but 1 of these birds were drakes
- 1 Buzzard flew low out of the trees in the NW area - my first here for many weeks, perhaps wandering now breeding finished
- 1 independent Moorhen juvenile seen along the N side, probably wandering from the island. No other juveniles noted
- 2 juvenile Coots from brood #1 in the SE area noted today, though with almost complete white-shields they are hard to see; all 4 of the 4 juveniles from brood #2, 2 of which were eating a dead fish (here as well as at the lake); 1 juvenile from brood #3 seen again in the SW area: 1 juvenile from the 4th brood in the NE area again
- 32 Black-headed Gulls around the island, 2 of which were fine juvenile-plumaged birds. Also 1 flew over
- 16 Feral Pigeons on the N end grass was a high count
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard at the S end again
- the only Song Thrush today was seen collecting food
- no Reed Warbler singing [but one at the lower pool between here and the lake]
- 2 Blackcaps logged: both gave single, brief songs
- no Chiffchaff recorded today
- no Willow Warblers in song, but 2 heard calling
- very few tits seen / heard today
- 1 Jay heard along the E side

Also
- dead fish being eaten by Moorhens

The complete Flash log for the day: 5 adult and 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; 1 cob Swan with the lone cygnet; 12 Greylag Geese; 235 Canada Geese; 52 adult Mallard (not sexed) with 23 ducklings from at least 3 broods; 32 Tufted Ducks (31 drakes); 1 Buzzard; no other raptors; 6 adult Moorhens and 1 juvenile; 9 adult Coots with 8 juveniles from 4 broods; 33 Black-headed Gulls (2 juveniles); no other gulls; no terns; 18 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 29 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; only 2 Swifts; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; 6 House Martins; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 15 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 8 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Reed Warblers; 2 Blackcaps; no Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tits; 4 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 1 Jay; 12 Magpies; 4 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 6 Crows; only 1 Starling; 1 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Bullfinches; and no Reed Bunting 3 Grey Squirrels

Insects:
no moths

(Ed Wilson)

10 June, Saturday Priorslee Village - A female Siskin got trapped in the pond netting in my garden this morning at 8:00am and then in the afternoon it was seen again at 4:30pm, with its mate feeding on the peanuts in the feeder. Is it possible that they are rearing young somewhere in Priorslee village? (Martin Adlam)

24th May, Wednesday - The 4 remaining chicks left the nest box this morning, 21 days after hatching. (Martin Adlam)

17th May, Wednesday - Now ony 4 chicks left in the nest box. (Martin Adlam)

13th May, Saturday - Two Blue Tit chicks have died in the nest box leaving 7 out of the 9 that hatched on the 3 May. (Martin Adlam)

6th May, Saturday – Saw my first pair of Swifts this morning overhead in the village, though I know there have been plenty of sightings elsewhere. (Martin Adlam)

5th May, Friday – A Reed Warbler visited the garden very briefly at 1:30pm. It flew down from the Willow Tree at the back of the garden, onto the rocks alongside the waterfall where it fed on small insects along the waters edge. After feeding for a short period, it flew back up to the Willow and then headed west, presumably towards the Flash.

Overhead there was a Sparrowhawk soaring at around a 1000ft, that is, until it folded its wings and made an impressive swoop towards the fields to the northeast of Priorslee Lake.

Just below the Sparrowhawk a Kestrel was hovering. The height was about 500ft, which just shows how amazing their sight must be.

Closer to home a Holly Blue (I presume) was seen flying along the hedgerow. (Martin Adlam)

3rd May, Wednesday – All 9 Blue Tit chicks hatched out in the garden nest box. I also found a Newt in my Pond. (Martin Adlam)

29th April, Saturday - Priorslee Back garden This morning I had a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a pair of Blackcaps, feeding in the Willow Tree at the back of the garden.

Which means that the Yellowhammer I heard at Priorslee Lake yesterday was actually a Lesser Whitethroat. I never realised how similar sounding the two are. I think what confused me was that it sounded like a cross between a Chaffinch and Yellowhammer, and because of the distance I was away from it, it just sounded more like the Yellowhammer. Well it had me foxed, that is, until one visited the garden this morning. It remained in the lane behind the house ffrom 9:00am til' 11:30am and then it moved further up towards the Flash. (Martin Adlam)

28th April, Friday, Priorslee village (5:10 - 5:15) - Very cloudy though it did brighten up just as I got home at 7:50. Plenty of birds en route to the Flash with: 1 Magpie; 1 Woodpigeon; 13 Blackbirds singing off nearly house along the lane; 7 Wren; 4 Robin; 1 Dunnock; 3 Blue Tit; 1 Great Tit; 2 Coal Tit; 3 Goldcrest and 3 Blackcap.

At the Flash (5:15 - 6:00) I logged:
8 Great Crested Grebe (With 2 sitting on nests. The one by the overflow got off and revealed a single egg); 1 Grey Heron; 5 Moorhen; 6 Coot; 1 Mute Swan; c.87 Canada Geese (plus 8 or more eggs on the island); 3 Greylag Geese; 28 Mallard; 6 Tufted Duck (4 drakes); 10 Woodpigeon; 2 Carrion Crow; 8 Magpie; 12 Wren; 6 Dunnock; 3 Blackcap; 7 Willow Warbler; 1 Chiffchaff; 8
Robin; 13 Blackbird; 1 Song Thrush; 12 Blue Tit; 1 Coal Tit; 4 Great Tit; 3 Long-tailed Tit; c.20 House Sparrow (All roosting at two locations at either end of the Flash); 6 Chaffinch; No Bullfinch; 4 Goldfinch; 2 Greenfinch; 1 Reed Bunting ( Male in the reedbeds next to Derwent Drive)

Mammals: 1 Grey Squirrel
Amphibians: 1 Frog

From the Flash, behind Priorslee Infants School and down Teece Drive to Priorslee Lake (6:00 - 6:10), Birds logged: 5 Woodpigeon; 3 Jay (together behind Celestica Day Care); 5 Wren; 1 Dunnock; 3 Robin; 7 Blackbird; 1 Song Thrush; 2 Mistle Thrush; 1 Swallow; 7 Blue Tit; 10 Great Tit; 3 Long-tailed Tit; 1 Chiffchaff; 2 Goldcrest; 2 Goldfinch; 6 Greenfinch; 1 Reed Bunting ( Male in the reedbeds next to Derwent Drive)

Priorslee Lake (6:10 - 7:30) Click here for report.................

From Lake to Abelia Way via Kew Gardens (7:30 - 7:50), Birds logged: 4 Blackbird; 1 Song Thrush; 2 Mistle Thrush; 2 Wren; 1 Robin; 2 Starling; 1 Blackcap; 1 Willow Warbler; 2 Great Tit; 1 Blue Tit; 8 Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinch. (Martin Adlam)

26th April, Wednesday, The Wrekin (9:45am – 12:35pm) - A cloudy start and then sun came out, 16C. From main car park alongside reservoir I carried on up the main track and where the track bears right up to the house, I took the path to the left, which takes you to the southern tip of the Wrekin.
At the next fork (sign posted permissive footpath), I went right and at the back of the Wrekin I went up the hill to the summit. From the summit it was straight down the main track again.

The same walk last year was on 3 May [last years figures in brackets, where appropriate]

Highlight was the Wood Warbler (SJ 635 086) – From the Car Park at the base, walk up the hill and take a left where the path splits just below the house. About another 100yds there is a stream, which flows over the footpath. If you are at the right spot you will notice that there are two tree stumps in the middle of the path/stream. The Wood Warbler was on the right. Other highlights were Cuckoo calling from just south of the Wrekin, 3 Tree Pipits and 5 Common Redstart, one of which was in the same location as the Wood Warbler.

En route

Buzzards – 3 [4]; Sparrowhawk – 0 [1]; Kestrel – 1 male [1pair]; Pheasant – 6 (including 3 dark green variants) [2]; Red-legged Partridge 2 [0]; Stock Dove – 0 [2]; Woodpigeon – numerous; Cuckoo – 1 [1]; Swift – 0 [10]; Green Woodpecker – 1 [2]; Swallow – 1 [8]; Sand Martin – 2 [0]; House Martin – 0 [60]; Tree Pipit – 3 [3]; Meadow Pipit – 1 [6]; Skylark - 1 [0]; Jackdaw – 2 [several]
Carrion Crow – 2 [2]; Raven – 2 [2]; Magpie - 1 [0]; Wren – numerous; Dunnock – 2 [4]; Garden Warbler – 4 [6]; Blackcap – 16 [12]; Whitethroat – 0 [1]; Willow Warbler – 20 [24]; Chiffchaff – 4 [12]; Wood Warbler – 1 [1]; Goldcrest – 6 [numerous]; Spotted Flycatcher – 0 [1]; Common Redstart – 5 (mostly around the lower levels) [3]; Robin – numerous; Blackbird – several; Song Thrush – 2 [3]; Mistle Thrush – 1 [1]; Blue Tit – numerous; Coal Tit – several; Great Tit – several; Long-tailed Tit – several; Nuthatch – 3 [2]; Treecreeper – 1 [2]; Chaffinch – Very numerous; Bullfinch – 0 [1 pair]; Goldfinch – 2 [2]; Siskin – 2 [0];

(Martin Adlam)