3 May 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

-----------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:05 – 06:05 // 07:10 – 09:25
The Flash: 06:10 – 07:05

7.0°C > 13.0°C: Clear skies initially with patchy low-medium cloud after 06:30. Moderate / fresh northerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:34 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(111th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with just four goslings.
- what again seemed to be the same visiting pair of Mute Swans made two attempts to stay but were not allowed to.
- the pair of Gadwall were on the south-west grass by 05:40
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a pair of Tufted Duck was present briefly.
- four adult and two immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls were having their usual dispute on the football field at 06:00. Three adult visited the lake later.
- a Common Kestrel was noted hovering over the field to the East of Castle Farm Way at 05:40.
- significant changes with the warblers today were:
no Sedge Warbler heard
no Lesser Whitethroat seen
- for some reason the local Starlings are not feeding on the football field at the moment and are overflying from the estate toward the East.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair outbound again
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair inbound
- 1 Wood Pigeon only
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 70 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 2 Starlings

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese still
- *2 + 4 (1 brood) Greylag Geese again
- *4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 + 10 (2 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes still
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: six on the football field; three on the lake
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 martins flew through 05:40: species?
- 6 Barn Swallows

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 18 (14) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 18 (17) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warbler still
- no Lesser Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat still

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
*$1 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Flies:
several different species of midge.

Noted later:
Butterflies:
*$ Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Moths:
none
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Andrena sp. either Tawny Mining Bee A. fulva or Grey-patched Mining Bee A. nitida
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Hoverflies:
Cheilosia albitarsus agg. either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
*$ Dimorphic Bearfly Criorhina berberina [Dimorphic Bumblefly]
*$ Broad-barred Fleckwing Dasysyrphus venustus
Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
*$ Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Alder Fly:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
*$ daggerfly Empis concolor
*cranefly Tipula varipennis
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none
Bugs:
*$ Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*$ possible flower beetle Dasytes aeratus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*money spider Neriene peltata
*Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus
*$ harvestman Opilio parietinus

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
4 midges of at least two species
Arthropods:
White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(108th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Canada Goose numbers returned to a more normal value though nine of them flew off.
- the pair of Greylag Geese had but a single gosling and they were being relentlessly pursued by the cob Mute Swan.
- yesterday's Gadwall no seen.
- no Mallard with ducklings seen.
- can the number of Tufted Duck get any lower?
- two Great Crested Grebes for two days!

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again
- 1 Jackdaw again

Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese only
- 4+ 1 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- no Gadwall
- 20 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:
On street lamp poles:
Flies:
*small midge sp.
Alder Fly:
*1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Bug:
*$ plant bug: a male Harpocera thoracica (no vernacular name)

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing of real interest between the Balancing Lake and The Flash

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
2 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)

Wrekin
2 Wood Warbler
2 Tree Pipit
Pied Flycatchers
Common Redstarts
(Jim Almond)

2012
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
Hobby
(Martin Grant / Arthur Harper)

2010
Nedge Hill
20 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpipers
2 Ruddy Ducks

2 May 25

23 Apr - 7 May

Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

-------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:10 // 07:15 – 09:55
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:10

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Clear skies to the East gradually replaced the medium-level cloud overhead and to the West. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:36 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(110th visit of the year)

An addition to my 2025 bird list here was made when a pair of Shelduck arrived from the West at 05:40, made a low 180 over the water and departed to the West. Bird species #94 for me here this year.

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese now with just four goslings.
- what seemed to be the same visiting pair of Mute Swans were present for about 10 minutes – certainly one was wearing an unread blue Darvic ring. The resident cob did not seem that interested in chasing them and they departed anyway.
- the pair of Gadwall did their 'appearing' trick again. On the south-west grass c.09:00
- the duck Pochard still present.
- *a pair of Oystercatchers were on the south-west grass by 05:55 and stayed until they noisily departed at 07:40.
- no fewer than five adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were having a dispute on the football field at 06:00.
- what sounded like a begging juvenile Buzzard was calling from the Ricoh copse.
- *a female Peregrine was noted over at 08:30.
- one significant change with the warblers:
just one Sedge Warbler singing, this in yet another new location.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair outbound
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Peregrine
- 18 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese again
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Shelduck, very briefly
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 4 Moorhens only again
- 25 + 12 (4 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- *2 Oystercatchers: departed
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: on football field
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Sand Martin
- 6 Barn Swallows

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 18 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers again
- 16 (14) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warbler again
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat again
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat again

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
none
Flies:
several different species of midge.
Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:
Butterflies:
none
Moths:
none
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
*Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Nomad Bee species
*Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
*possible Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis
*Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Spotted Meliscaeva Meliscaeva auricollis [Spotted Thintail]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*$ Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly]
Alder Flies:
none
Other flies
*$ Green Parasite Fly Gymnocheta viridis
*$ Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
New flowers for the year:
*Wood Avens Geum urbanum [seen at The Flash earlier]
*Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
*Red Clover Trifolium pratense

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
4 craneflies of at least two species (including *Nephrotoma quadrifaria and *Tipula lateralis)
6 midges of at least three species
Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(107th visit of the year)

A bird new species for my year list here was added when *c.6 Swifts were seen among a group of about 15 hirundines etc. over the bottom end trees at c.07:00. Birds species #68 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
-* a surprise today was a pair of Greylag Geese with two goslings.
- *a drake Gadwall was a new arrival.
- the duck Mallard with ducklings was again keeping close to the island and hiding between tree-roots. Perhaps four ducklings?
- the number of Tufted Duck now very low.
- two Great Crested Grebes were together by the island when I arrived and moved to the top end. I could only see one on the water later. Perhaps the other was hiding underneath the overhanging trees?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese only
- *7 + 2 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- *1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 20 (18♂) + 4? (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- *c.6 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- c.6 House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (4) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:
On street lamp poles:
Flies:
St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
*unknown flies

Nothing of real interest between the Balancing Lake and The Flash

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

1 May 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

----------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:05 // 07:15 – 09:45
The Flash: 06:10 – 07:10

10.0°C > 19.0°C: Fine with almost no high cloud. Very light, mainly southerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:38 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(109th visit of the year)
Not strictly a 'real' addition to the bird log but a Peacock (also known as Common Peafowl) was calling loudly in the distance at 05:10, probably from the Telford Campus area where it has been resident for several years. I am sure I was told it had "disappeared" some while ago. If so it's back!

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with five goslings.
- the now resident pen Mute Swan hardly spent any time at the nest site.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a trio of Common Sandpipers.
- another change with the warblers:
two Sedge Warblers singing, one where I noted one two day ago; the other at a new location.
I thought I could hear the Lesser Whitethroat singing very quietly and I stood around long-enough for it to burst in to one full song.
two singing Garden Warblers now.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- *7 (3♂?) Tufted Duck
- 20 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 30 Jackdaws
- 11 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 4 Moorhens only
- 33 + 19 (6 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes only
- *3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and later departed

No hirundines etc. noted:

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 20 (18) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers
- 19 (17) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
none
Flies:
several different species of midge.

Noted later:
Butterflies:
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: males only
*$ Large White Pieris brassicae
*Small White Pieris rapae
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Moths:
*Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Megachile sp.
*Nomad Bee, almost certainly Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava
sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariae
Hoverflies:
*Cheilosia albitarsus agg. either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
*Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana
*Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
*$ Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
*Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
*$ Dagger Fly Empis livida
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none.
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*$ Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Spiders:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
1 St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
*2 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
1 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
9 midges of at least three species

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(106th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a duck Mallard with at least six ducklings keeping close to the island and hiding between tree-roots
- no Great Crested Grebes found today!

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 21 (17♂) + 6? (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult very briefly

No hirundines etc. noted:

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 8 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps


Noted around the area:
On various street lamp poles:
Moths:
*1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata : moth species #5 at The Flash for me this year.
Hoverflies:
1 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Other flies:
*6 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Alder Flies:
*1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Beetles:
2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
Bug:
*1 nymph of a Striped Oak Bug Rhabdomiris striatellus
Spiders:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Nothing of real interest between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
yesterday's Reed Warbler not heard.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
3 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
8 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Greylag Geese
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
17 Tufted Duck
2 Song Thrushes
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
16 Wheatears
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Common Whitethroats
1 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
3 Fieldfare
5 Linnets
4 Yellowhammers
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
2 Whimbrel
(JW Reeves)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
4 Wheatear
2 Garden Warbler
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
22 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
7 Swans
3 Common Sandpipers
Sedge Warbler
Garden Warbler
9 Reed Warblers
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

Lanes to the E / SE of the lake
2 Lesser Whitethroats
3 Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
8 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcaps
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
2 Linnets
2 Yellowhammers
5 Wheatears
4 Skylarks
2 Jays
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
5+ Tree Pipit
3 Redstart
Wood Warbler
Garden Warbler
Wheatear
7 Meadow Pipits
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
13 Mute Swans
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Stock Doves
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Sedge Warblers
4 Reed Warblers
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Jay
119 Jackdaw
3 House Sparrows
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Dunlin
1 Whimbrel
5 Common Sandpipers
8 Swifts
1 Skylark
97 Sand Martins
31 Swallows
3 House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
6 Greenfinches
1 Linnet
4 Reed Bunting

Lanes to the east of the Lake
3 Mallards
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Whitethroats
3 Jay
3 Skylarks
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
4 Greenfinches
3 Linnets
4 Bullfinches
8 Yellowhammers.
(Ed Wilson)

30 Apr 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

----------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:10 // 07:15 – 09:40
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:10

9.0°C > 17.0°C: Fine, again with some high cloud. Less hazy. Very light, mainly easterly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:40 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(108th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with five goslings.
- a visiting pair of Mute Swans included the erstwhile resident pen with blue Darvic ring 7JSS. Today she was with another (near?) adult: her previous visits have been with a first year bird. The now resident pen spent almost all the time at the nest site.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a change with the warblers. The Willow Warbler gone; all Sedge Warblers moved on; the Lesser Whitethroat not heard and may either have gone or now be paired and busy with nesting duties.
- just on singing Common Whitethroat noted.
- the clearer visibility enabled many more Jackdaws to be logged on their roost dispersal to the East.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Goose: two pairs outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 distant unidentified large gulls together
- 109 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese
- *2 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: a pair(?) visited and were chased away
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 6 Moorhens again
- 35 + 9 (3 broods) Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, adult on football field again until c.06:10
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

No hirundines etc. noted:

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warblers
- 20 (17) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 11 (10) Reed Warblers
- 23 (18) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- no Lesser Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
*1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
Flies:
*$ 1 male St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
1 "chimney sweep" midge
Plant Bug:
*$ 1 male Harpocera thoracica
Spiders:
*$ 1 House Spider Eratigena duellica

Noted later:
NB: I concentrated on trying to find Ramson Hoverfly Portevinia maculata that associates with Ramsons (wild Garlic). I didn't! What I did note below was mainly "in passing".
Butterflies:
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: males only
$ Small White Pieris rapae
*Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Moths:
*$ Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
*$ Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
for some reason the vegetation that had been alive with Nomad Bees yesterday was devoid of them today
Hoverflies:
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Common Pipiza Pipiza noctiluca [Common Pithead]
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
*Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
unidentified "blue". My earliest record of any of this group sadly got away.
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata
Flies
2 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
11 midges of at least three species

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(105th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- this sets a precedent: it is an even-numbered date there were an even number of Great Crested Grebes. That has not happened for a while.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 14 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 19 (16♂) Mallard
- 11 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Moorhens only: all busy at nest sites?
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

No hirundines etc. noted:

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:
On a street lamp pole:
Moths:
*1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
Elsewhere
New flower for the year
*Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of interest between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
*the Moorhens on the lower pool have young
a Reed Warbler was singing quietly alongside the lower pool. My first here (I have noted Sedge Warblers in transit occasionally in the past).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Raven
2 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 White Wagtail
2 Common Redstart
40 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
3 Whimbrel
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
15 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin
2 Pied Flycatchers
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
2 Red-legged Partridge
Lesser Whitethroat
Cormorant
5 Lapwings
6 Reed Warblers
3 Whitethroats
8 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
4 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
17 Mute Swans
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Swift
c.20 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
6 House Sparrows
2 Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
2 Stock Dove
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Sedge Warbler
4 Reed Warblers
Chiffchaff
126 Jackdaw
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Buzzards
Swallow
Ring Ouzel
2 Common Whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Greylag Geese
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo
1 Skylark
c.10 Sand Martins
c.8 Swallows
c.20 House Martins
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtails
32 Wren
26 Blackbirds
2 Sedge Warblers
3 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Garden Warbler
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
11 Chaffinches
8 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

29 Apr 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

- - - - - - - - - 

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:15 // 07:20 – 09:45
The Flash: 06:20 – 07: 15

9.0°C > 18.0°C: Fine with some high cloud. Hazy again. Very light mainly easterly breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:42 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(107th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *the pair of Greylag Geese still with five goslings.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a Common Sandpiper was seen on the dam-face at 08:30 but not previously.
- *the singing Willow Warbler still present.
- just one singing Sedge Warbler now.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was not heard until c.09:30.
- two singing Common Whitethroats noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Goose: single flew South; single did not know where it was going; a pair and a quartet inbound.
- 1 Stock Dove
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 11 Jackdaws
- 16 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese
- *3 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: of these a single arrived
- 2 Mute Swans: no visit to the nest site noted.
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 6 Moorhens
- 32 + 13 (4 broods) Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Common Sandpiper: as noted
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, adult on football field c.06:10

No hirundines etc. noted:

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- *1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers
- 17 (16) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
none
Bees, wasps, etc.:
*3 ichneumon sp. perhaps Ophion obscuratus
Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders Tetragnatha sp.

Also noted later:
Butterflies:
*Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: males and female
*$ Green-veined White Pieris napi
*Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
unidentified Nomad Bee sp.
*$ sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariae
*ichneumon, perhaps from the genus Lissonata.
Hoverflies:
*$ possible Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*$ Short Melanostoma Melanostoma mellinum [Variable Duskyface]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Common Pipiza Pipiza noctiluca [Common Pithead]
Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none
Bugs:
*$ Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders:
*$ Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus
unidentified money spider

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
2 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
3 midges of at least three species
Spiders:
*1 money spider sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(104th visit of the year)

Highlight today was a party of about six House Martins that appeared overhead, circled the estate area to the East and departed. Resident birds appeared over Newport yesterday afternoon so the main arrival seems to be taking place. Bird species #67 for me here in 2025 - as it was in both 2023 and 2024 though on both those occasions it was in to May before I recorded any.

Other bird notes:
- despite often behaving as mostly paired the Tufted Duck seem to change number and composition every day.
- as it is an odd-numbered date there were an even number of Great Crested Grebes: two!
- my fourth Sedge Warbler of the year here was noted singing intermittently from somewhere at the bottom end – I never established exactly where.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws: singles again

Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 16 (14♂) Mallard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 23 + ? (1 brood) Coots: juveniles still being brooded and not visible
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull: moulting immature briefly
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, departed.

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6? House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 7 (5) Blackcaps

Noted elsewhere:
On various street lamp poles:
Moths:
none
Springtail:
*1 Tomocerus vulgaris

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Nedge Hill
2 Lesser Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Common Sandpiper
4 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
18 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
1 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridges
Swallows
7 Wheatear
2 Common Whitethroats
3 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaffs
4 Bullfinches
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpipers
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
The Wrekin
1 Wood Warbler
4 Common Redstart
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Paul Rutter)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
1 Sand Martin
2 Swallows
6 Reed Warblers
Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
3 Reed Buntings
3 Linnets
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Duck
3 Swifts
2 Sand Martins
4 Swallows
4 Cormorants
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Common Sandpipers
2 Grey Wagtail
6 Blackcap
1 Garden Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
5 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
Common Whitethroat
2 Swallows
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Flash
2 Greylag Geese
1 Grey Wagtail here
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Swallows
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
4 Blackcaps
2 Garden Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroat
4 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

28 Apr 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

----------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(106th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with five goslings.
- the pair of Gadwall gone again {I have been told they have been seen using the storm pools across Castle Farm Way].
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a Common Sandpiper was again on the south-west grass at 05:30 but not seen subsequently.
- a singing Willow Warbler was a surprise. I assumed they had all passed through by now.
- still two singing Sedge Warblers.
- the Lesser Whitethroat still mostly heard singing from the dense Hawthorns alongside the West end path. It is unusual for this species to be heard singing like this. Normally almost as soon as they arrive they pair up and stay silent (and hidden) only announcing their presence when the male sings again, briefly, between broods.
- only the male Common Whitethroat singing from the south-west scrub noted.


Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Goose: pair outbound
- 16 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 9 Canada Geese: the highest count though again possibly more individuals as birds flew in and out
- 4 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: a visiting pair was chased off by both the residents at 07:40. Otherwise the pen was mostly at the nest site
- no Gadwall
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 9 Moorhens
- 26 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes only
- 1 Common Sandpiper: departed
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, adults briefly

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 17 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 11 (11) Reed Warblers
- 19 (18) Blackcaps
- *1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
*1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula : moth species #8 here this year and my fourth record here (last 2021)
Spiders:
*1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.

Also noted later:
Butterflies:
*Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: one male
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*$ Peacock Aglais io
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*unidentified Nomad Bee sp.
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
*$ Cheilosia albitarsus agg. either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater] *Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*$ possible Parasyrphus sp. (also known as forest syrphs)
*$ Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
many unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders:
*unidentified money spider
*other unidentified spider

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
3 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
4 midges of at least three species
Arthropods:
1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(103rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- of course there were three Great Crested Grebes today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws: singles

Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese again
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 12 (10♂) Mallard again
- 14 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens only
- 25 + ? (1 brood) Coots: juveniles still being brooded and not visible
- 3 Great Crested Grebes

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (5) Blackcaps

Noted elsewhere:
On various street lamp poles:
Moths:
1 Streamer Anticlea derivata: same place as yesterday
Flies:
*cranefly Tipula confusa
New flowers for the year:
*$ Red Campion Silene dioica or Melandrium rubrum [also at the lake and in Woodhouse Lane]

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woodhouse Lane
(4th visit of the year)
It seems others have better luck here than I did this morning. A birder recently moved in to one of the houses on the new estates walked the lane yesterday with the definite highlight
- a White Stork heading South. Even worse he managed to take a photo of it!
Otherwise he noted:
- a pair of Gadwall on one of the storm pools
- a Common Sandpiper around one of these pools
- a Kestrel hovering over
- 3 Common Whitethroats
- 5 Yellowhammers with two singing
Thanks to Blake for emailing me this info.

My attempt this morning produced:
- no Pheasants seen or heard
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 (2) Sky Larks: both distant
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (3) Common Whitethroats
- no Song Thrushes
- 5 (4) Chaffinches
- 1 or 2 Linnets heard in flight
- 2 (1) Yellowhammer
Butterflies:
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Flies:
*$ Fannia lustrator
*$ Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens
*$ possible Tachinid fly Siphona geniculata
*$ cranefly Tipula varipennis

Flowers
*$ Smooth Sow-thistle or Milk Thistle Sonchus oleraceus

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Nedge Hill
2 Lesser Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Cormorants
2 Swans
5 Greylag Geese
1 Common Sandpiper
8 Swallows
1 Swift
2 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
17 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
1 Common Redstart
1 Nuthatch
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
1 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Goosanders
6 Greylag Geese
2 Tufted Duck
6 Goosander
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
18 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Wheatear
1 Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Sand Martin
1 Skylark
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson, Phil Walters)

Priorslee Flash
4 Greylag Geese
27 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
10 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warbler
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
2 Lesser Whitethroat
18+ Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
Ruddy Duck
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warblers
2 House Sparrows
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
2 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cormorant
1 Stock Dove
3 Sand Martins
10 Swallows
1 Grey Wagtails
5 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
7 Blackcaps
1 Garden Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

27 Apr 25

23 Apr - 7 May
Between the above dates there will only be unedited text for Ed's sightings.

Photos etc. will be added from 8 May onwards.

--------------------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:15 // 07:20 – 09:30
The Flash: 06:20 – 07: 15

6.0°C > 12.0°C: A few wisps of high cloud otherwise clear apart from a few lingering local mist patches. Very light winds. Good visibility with some haze again.
Sunrise: 05:46 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later – out of time.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(105th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a pair of Greylag Geese with five goslings was a surprise. Where was their nest?
- the pair of Gadwall was back on the south-west grass.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- an Oystercatcher flew in from the East at 08:00 for the south-west grass. It departed East at 08:50.
- a Common Sandpiper was on the south-west grass at 05:30 but not seen subsequently.
- the Cetti's Warbler favoured the West end most of the time and was somewhat less vocal.
- just two singing Sedge Warblers remain.
- two Garden Warblers: only one singing.
- the Lesser Whitethroat still mostly heard singing from the dense Hawthorns alongside the West end path without company today.
- a the male Common Whitethroat singing from the south-west scrub. An unsexed bird was seen along the South side.
- no Starlings seen on the football field: the only one noted here today flew over there heading East.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: a single outbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: a single outbound
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Starling
- 34 Jackdaws
- 2 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Geese: the highest count though possibly more individuals as birds flew in and out
- *2 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: neither resident visited the nest site
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 6 Moorhens
- 28 + 4 (1 brood) Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Oystercatcher: arrived and departed
- 1 Common Sandpiper: departed
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 22 (18) Chiffchaffs
- *2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 17 (16) Blackcaps
- *2 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 (1) Common Whitethroats

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Bees, wasps etc.:
*1 ichneumon-type
Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Also noted later:
Butterflies:
*$ Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines : at least five males
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
$ unidentified "white"
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*unidentified Nomad Bee sp.
*$ Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
*$ probable Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana
*$ Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*$ Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
several unidentified flies
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
*$ Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies
9 midges of at least three species

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(102nd visit of the year)

A somewhat unexpected addition to my 2025 bird list for here at this date was Starling. Tow birds presumably nesting in the estate flew over on a feeding foray. Species #66.

Bird notes:
- the Tufted Ducks were arranged as six pair and a lone drake.
- back to just two Great Crested Grebes.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws: together

Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 12 (10♂) Mallard
- 13 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 25 + ? (1 brood) Coots: juveniles still being brooded and not visible
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs again
- 4 (4) Blackcaps again

Noted elsewhere:
On various street lamp poles:
Moths:
*1 $ Streamer Anticlea derivata: my first here since 2018
*1 $ Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
Moth species #4 and #5 here this year
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
New flowers for the year:
*$ Wood Avens Geum urbanum


(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Greylag Geese
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Reed Warblers
1 Common Whitethroat
11 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
Wood Warbler
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
16 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
Wood Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
3 Wood Warblers
1 Redstart
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Tree Pipits
2 Redpolls
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson, JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Tufted Duck
6 Swift
50 Swallow
25 House Martin
2 Sand Martin
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Wheatear
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
26 Wheatear
1 Greenland Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Swift
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
3 Sedge Warblers
6 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
9 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Little Grebe
2 Common Sandpipers
c.10 Sand Martins
c.45 Swallows
1 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Sand Martins
12 Swallows
2 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The lane to the E of Priorslee
6 Whitethroats
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
2 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
9 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Doves
2 Swallows
House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Swallows
House Martin
Ring Ouzel
Fieldfare
Common Whitethroat
Blackcaps
Chiffchaff
Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
1 Swallow
6 Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Greylag Geese
2 Ruddy Ducks
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Stock Dove
7 Swallows
3 Grey Wagtails
26 Wrens
17 Robins
30 Blackbirds
9 Song Thrushes
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
5 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)