Priorslee Lake and The Flash
9.5°C > 11.0°C: Broken clouds and passing showers after earlier rain. Moderate / fresh WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: not relevant
Priorslee Lake: 13:45 – 14:15
(55th visit of the year)
Viewed only from the lay-by at the E end and the dam-top, all between passing showers. The model boat club were at the W end of the water. This did not seem to be affecting the birds on the water
Notes from today:
- the only significant record was of Sand Martins both low over the water and high in the sky – though rarely both locations at the same time. At least 30 birds were involved, possibly many more if any of these were moving through
Partial counts from the lake area
- 6 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Moorhen
- [Coots not counted]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 14:20 – 15:00
(41st visit of the year)
A full walk around here. The later timing would have had a significant effect on the number of singing warblers
Two new species for my 2018 site list
- there were two Common Sandpipers on the island (perhaps birds moved off the lake by the model boat club?). This species is seen on Spring passage most years
- amongst the large number of Sand Martins over and around the water I located at least 2 House Martins
The site list moves to 59
Notes from today
- now just 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks located: the second of these pairs was unseen until noticed leaving the island – perhaps more hauled out unseen?
- 2 juvenile Coots seen with a pair of adults
- precise number of Sand Martins hard to gauge as numbers varied and birds alternated between low over the water and high overhead. I judge at least 50 birds. Eventually I managed to hear and then find both Barn Swallows and House Martins with them
- the Garden Warbler was back singing along the W side. It appeared to be moving fast through and seemed to be pursued by a (non-singing) male Blackcap
Birds noted flying over
- 1 Buzzard
Hirundines seen today
- >50 Sands Martins
- 2+ Barn Swallows
- 2+ House Martins
Warblers noted: figures in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)
NB: different timing will have affected numbers
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 3 (2) Blackcap
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler again
The counts from the water
- 2 resident Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese again
- 24 Canada Geese
- 17 (16♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens yet again
- 15 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mute Swan Ring update
Priorslee Lake
The ring number of one of the new in Mute Swans Orange 74N.
Orange 74N
09-05-15 R: RIVER SEVERN WORCESTER GBHF SO8454 D Atkinson
Age/ Sex 5. Present for 2 weeks.
April/May17 S: UPPER BITTELL BROMSGROVE GBHF SP0174 D Atkinson
June 17 S: RIVER SEVERN BEWDLEY GBHF SO7875 D Atkinson
Also seen until end of Sept 17.
12-12-17 S: PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209 E J Wilson
In flock of 5, resident pair + 3 cygnets also present.
01-05-18 S: PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209 M G Grant
Paired with un-ringed mate, also 2 nesting pairs + 1 other.
Priorslee Flash
I also checked male Green CF59, female on nest so have to wait for cygnets to hatch. Yellow 52F appears to have been driven off.
Green CF59
09-07-02 R: RIVER DEE CHESTER GBCH SJ408660 D Cookson
Age/ Sex 5F.
24-01-18 S: PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209 [37kms] M G Grant
In flock of 11 inc resident pair Blue 7FAD/7IVT, cygnets Blue 7IVS, 7IVU, 7IVV
+ 2 adults with Orange rings, 1 with BTO ring & 2 un-ringed.
Also on 25-01-17, 07-02-18. 09-02-18 in flock of 15 inc Orange 21U.
13-04-18 S: PRIORSLEE FLASH TELFORD GBSA SJ7110 M G Grant
With Yellow 52F + female on nest.
Also on 01-05-18 female on nest [Yellow 52F gone].
(Martin Grant)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2016Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Wrekin
6 Tree Pipits
1 Wheatear
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
3 Wood Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
Grasshopper
5 Common Sandpiper
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
Wrekin
1 Wood Warbler
1 Common Redstart
3 Tree Pipit
2 Pied Flycatcher
(J Reeves)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpipers
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)