17 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Another mostly overcast start with very light drizzle. Cleared to scattered cloud below a high overcast giving some watery sunshine. Moderate southerly wind, increasing fresh at times. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:08 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Many, but not all, Willow Warblers seem to have passed through.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:35 – 06:35 // 07:25 – 09:55

(92nd visit of the year)

New bird species:
Another addition to my 2026 bird list for here: a Common Whitethroat was singing from the Ricoh hedge c.09:30. Species #78 this year for me.

Other bird notes:
- four Common Sandpipers were seen standing on the boating platform in the south-west area at 05:45. I heard calls as I walked across the dam at c.06:00 but saw nothing. A single bird was seen flying along the dam-face c.08:10. So at least four...
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the south-west grass by 05:45: are these the same two each morning? Later three very smart-looking adults dropped in c.07:45.
- a Grey Heron seen flying West as I was walking back up Teece Drive is presumed to be the bird from the lake departing.
- * noted my first spotty juvenile Robin of the year.
- unexpected was at least two Lesser Redpoll both calling and singing from tree tops near the Teece Drive gate.
- a noisy group of c.20 Goldfinches were flying around trees in Teece Drive (a few pairs were also seen elsewhere). I do not expect to see flocks of this species at this date.
- a late record of a Siskin: a single bird was seen, also in tree tops around the Teece Drive gate (my last record here was on 16 March).
- a Reed Bunting was heard calling and giving intermittent song along the South side c.05:50. One was heard along the North side c.07:50 before flying off high South over the lake to...? A female was seen along the North side c.09:15. How many birds involved?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: flew North and presumably the same flew East a few minutes later
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair arrived and much later departed
- 6 Greylag Geese: arrived together but in two groups of three; departed later
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest most of the time
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 21 Coots yet again
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- *5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: immature, arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
birds seemed to be passing through so it is likely more individuals were involved

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- *1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 13 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warblers again
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers
- 15 (14) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 ichneumon Ophion obscuratus

Beetles:
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]

Butterflies:
- *1 Peacock Aglais io

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Other flies:
- *Bluebottle Calliphora vomitoria
- *Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata
- *Tachinid fly Phasia hemiptera
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- also a number of both *interesting and uninteresting unidentified flies of at least five species.

Bugs:
- *Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull takes a drink and as it does so it presents the left wing to highlight some ID features: a broad white terminal area to the secondaries; a white "mirror" on the outer primary only; and a contrast between the dark grey of the inner wing and the even darker primary feathers.

There is often a twig in the way! The black and blue chequered pattern on the wing feathers shows well though.

Here in flight we see the very characteristic rounded wings and also note how the white on the rump wraps around to the under-tail.

Looking eager to get somewhere.

A typical flying silhouette.

Not so much a twig in the way: more like half a tree. I knew the Cetti's Warbler was headed this way to perch in one of its favourite trees but could not predict precisely where.

A spotty juvenile Robin looks at me – perhaps I am the first human it has seen. Then again...

The juveniles cannot have a red breast as that is the feature that causes territorial aggression by the adults (I never understand how this species declares temporary "peace" to pair-up for the breeding season)

"I am the king of the castle". Actually "queen" as this is a female Pied Wagtail.

A splendid, fresh-looking, Peacock butterfly Aglais io. The "eyes" are thought to deter/confuse/startle potential predators.

Looking at the wings on this large (queen?) Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris you have to agree with the scientists who concluded that bumblebees cannot possibly fly!

The only two insects on all the street lamp poles pre-dawn were this ichneumon wasp and Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni.

A close-up of the ichneumon. The pale stripes on the thorax are sufficient to identify it as Ophion obscuratus: none of the several other Ophion species has these stripes.

A side-elevation view shows how narrow the "wasp waist" is and makes you wonder how it controls its abdomen.

It is always the way. A Syrphus hoverfly exposing the entire hind leg which would enable separation between S. ribesii and S. vitripennis had it been a female. But it is a male.

A root-maggot fly, probably an Anthomyia species.

Another root-maggot fly, this one with yellow halteres.

This fly is the Bluebottle Calliphora vomitoria . What an attractive scientific name! Now altogether - "ying tong, ying tong..." (ask your (grand?) parents).

With wings closed preventing the abdomen pattern being visible I cannot be 100% sure of the identity of this as a Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata. Craneflies are usually thought of as autumnal-flying insects and certainly so far as sheer numbers are concerned that is true. There are many species that are active during Spring and Summer.

This Muscid fly is probably a Phaonia rufiventris though the angle prevents positive identification.

The fly "find of the day" though it is not an uncommon species. It is a female Tachinid fly Phasia hemiptera. The males look significantly different with curved wings with dark markings. Both sexes can show variable amounts of orange on the abdomen.

A Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria.

This is a Dock Bug Coreus marginatus. One of the easiest bugs to identify with a unique shape.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 4 midges
- *1 cranefly Tipula vittata

The cranefly Tipula vittata. The distinctive wing pattern of this species shows well on the right wing.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:20

(89th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a few Tufted Duck back.
- a Great Crested Grebe was again seen only on the nesting platform.
- no Sedge Warbler heard.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 12 Canada Geese: none seen flying in or out
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 15 (13♂) Mallard only
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

Noted around the area later:

Lacewings and allies:
- *1 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea

Flies:
- 1 male small plumed midge

Beetles:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

Probably the same Song Thrush I photographed with a worm on Wednesday here still looking for breakfast.

A rather scruffy-looking Wren (I know: glass-houses and stones). A wing feather askew and a ragged-looking tail.

The tail looks better here: the wing-feather is still askew.

A Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea in full Summer "green" colour.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
8 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
1 Sand Martin
4 Swallows.
1 Sedge Warbler
10 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
191 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane
2 Red-legged Partridges
1 Whitethroat
4 Skylarks
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Swallow
2 Blackcap
6 Skylark
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Martin Grant)

2013
Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
5 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
2 Swallows
Chiffchaff
2 Yellowhammer
6+ Skylarks
3 Linnet
(Ian Grant, Martin Grant)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
1 Siskin
Common Whitethroat
(John Isherwood/Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
12 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John. Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Reed Warblers
1 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
6 Swallows
2 Reed Warblers
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Gadwall
7 Tufted Ducks
1 Common Sandpiper
111 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
4 Swallows
1 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
11 Chiffchaffs
1 Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
3 Ruddy Duck
9 Common Sandpiper
11 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcaps
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Swallow
1 Willow Tit
5 Greenfinch
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

16 Apr 26

No sightings in today.

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Grey Herons
10 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
6 Sand Martin
2 Swallow
11 Song Thrushes
11 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
112 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
4 Greylag Geese
25 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
Curlew
6 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
5 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Linnets
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

East Priorslee
5 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtails
Common Whitethroat
62 Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
3 Common Redstart
Willow Warbler
2 Swallows
Linnet
Skylark
Chiffchaff
(Martin Grant, Ian Grant, John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
12 Lapwing
2 Stock Dove
4+ Skylark
5 Teal
(Martin Grant)

2012
Nedge Hill
1 White Wagtail
1 Redstart
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow Wagtail
(John Isherwood/ Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
2 Linnets
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard
25 Sand Martins
6 Swallows
3 Skylarks
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
2 Jays
4 Linnets
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
Common Sandpiper
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcap
1 Willow Warbler
1 Reed Bunting
8 Tufted Duck
(Martin Grant)

2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Little Grebe
2 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
7 Common Sandpiper
4 Swallow
3 Sand Martin
1 Kestrel
1 Raven
2 Skylark
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Wheatear
9 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcaps
1 Sedge Warbler.
5 Greenfinch
2 Siskin
1 Linnet
5 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam, John Isherwood)

15 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 13.0°C: An overcast start with light drizzle. Cloud lifted slightly with only a very few breaks developing. Another day with the early light south-easterly wind, increasing moderate. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:12 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 09:20

(91st visit of the year)

New bird species:
*A very welcome addition to my 2026 bird list for here with a female Wheatear seen on the dam c.08:45. A typical date and location though the species is far less regular than it once was. Species #77 this year for me.

Other bird notes:
- there did not seem to be any Canada Geese present at dawn. Later there were two pairs. These could well have been birds that I noted leaving The Flash though it is possible that pairs attempting to breed are mostly hiding away from the cob Mute Swan.
- both here and at The Flash the pen Mute Swan was off the nest some of the time. She will only sit full time once the clutch of eggs is complete so as to ensure all the eggs hatch at the same time. Until then she has to visit to make sure the eggs are not chilled.
- the recent decline in Coot numbers is probably because some birds are sitting on nests tucked away in the reeds.
- as usual the Great Crested Grebes were playing submarines and also hiding in the reeds. There were certainly nine present and I strongly suspect 11.
- on my early walk around Blackcaps seemed to be singing everywhere. Today's count of 20 singing individuals is my highest number here. I am sure they cannot all find a breeding territory and some will move on.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West again
- 3 Greylag Goose: a trio flew West
- 1 Stock Dove
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
- 19 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest sometime
- 9 (7♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 21 Coots again
- 9 (11?) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults at 06:20: presumed these two on the football field 06:25
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Sand Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 7 (7) Willow Warblers again
- 17 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warblers
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 22 (20)!! Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Very little in drizzle with wet poles.

Noted around the area later:
Too overcast for much

Flies:
- a number of uninteresting and unidentified flies of at least three species.

Sitting a street lamp pole in Teece Drive at c.06:25 one of the local Common Buzzards was looking the other way. I knew that as I walked past it would fly so I coughed and....

...it gave me a stare before flying away.

I was very pleased to find this female Wheatear on the dam.

A male Wheatears would show a black mask and black wings so no confusion here.

Here she is again. Do not look for a wheat pattern around the ear. The popular name is a polite form of the country name "white arse". Both sexes have a bright white rump clearly visible as they fly ahead of you. As she was likely a tired new arrival from sub-Saharan Africa I let her be rather than try for a closer photo.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Arthropod:
- *1 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

Slugs, snails etc.:
- *1 Cepaea species of snail, either White-lipped Snail C. hortensis or Brown-lipped Snail C. nemoralis

This is a Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus with jauntily angled antennae (only one pair, the other pair is a shadow from the camera flash).

This is one of the Cepaea species of snail. My photo does not show the critical rim at the shell's opening so I cannot tell whether it is a White-lipped Snail C. hortensis or a Brown-lipped Snail C. nemoralis. Both species have very variable, usually colourful and bold, patterning.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20

(88th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Tufted Duck seen. Most unusual, both because a few non-breeding birds can usually be found throughout the year and because there were still some on the Balancing Lake where birds do not tend to stay.
- a Great Crested Grebe was only seen on the nesting platform.?
- *a Cormorant was present when I arrived: it soon departed
- a Stock Dove was calling at the top end and then seen in display flight.
- even more Willow Warblers. At the top of what I call squirrel alley I could hear five birds singing and I could see at least two other non-singing birds in the tree-tops.
- a Sedge Warbler was heard in a very similar place to the bird I heard on Monday.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, together

Noted on / around the water:
- 33 Canada Geese: of these 20 departed as 8 pairs and a quartet, separately
- 6 Greylag Geese: of these a trio and a single departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 14 (12♂) Mallard only
- no Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- *1 Cormorant: departed

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 14 (12) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (6) Blackcaps

Noted around the area later:

Caterpillar:
- *1 er?

Flies:
- *2 owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]

In the poor light I was never going to get more than a record shot of this morning's Cormorant.

A Song Thrush jumped down in front of me...

...and had seen breakfast. Anyone for spaghetti?

One of two owl midge Psychodidae sp. on the same sign giving details of the penalty for dog-fouling.

Not sure about this. At the time I thought a caterpillar on the street lamp pole. But after I had edited the photo I had my doubts. Obsidentify thought (4%!) it was a willow - and it may be correct. A single willow leaf caught in a web? See the thread running away towards 11 o'clock. Oops!

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese over
9 Tufted Duck
1 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpipers
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warbler
117 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling-type Goose
29 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
7 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
8 Greylag Geese
13 Tufted Duck
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
(Ian Grant)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Buzzard
3 Chiffchaff
(Tony Beckett)

Long Lane, Wellington
10 Ringed Plover
5 Dunlin
(J W Reeves)

2012
Nedge Hill
2 Redstart
1 Wheatear
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Grey Wagtail
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Tufted Duck
1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
Common Redstart
11 Wheatear
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

Telford Railway Station
11 Waxwings
(Colin Wright)

2007
Nedge Hill
1 Buzzard
4 Skylark
1 Fieldfare
3 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
Black-tailed Godwit
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Greylag Geese
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
12 Chiffchaff
7 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcaps
1 Sky Lark
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Willow Tit
4 Greenfinch
3 Linnet
5 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam, John Isherwood)

14 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

3.0°C > 9.0°C: A mostly clear start with cloud quickly spreading from the West. Light south-easterly wind, increasing moderate. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:14 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Still a good number of Willow Warblers passing.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:30 – 06:30 // 07:40 – 09:10

(90th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- unusually there were more Blackbirds (nine) than Song Thrushes (seven) noted singing. Many more Blackbirds seen only, though no non-singing thrushes seen.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew East
- 1 Mute Swan: flew South 06:30
- 4 Herring Gulls: flew West together, two at least immatures
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Great (White) Egret: flew East well to the South at 08:05
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 68 Jackdaws: no large groups
- 9 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- *4 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived and a pair departed
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest throughout
- *8 (6♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- *21 Coots: only – why?
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly c.05:50
- 1 Grey Heron again
- no Great (White) Egret at the lake

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.10 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 7 (7) Willow Warblers
- 20 (18) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warbler
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers again
- 15 (13) Blackcaps

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Nothing on the heavily dew-covered poles on a chilly morning. Not helped by one of the lights having failed – typically the one that is well surrounded by vegetation and which produces the greatest number of moths.

Around the area later:

Nothing noted. Too chilly, windy and overcast

The early dawn with almost all the cloud behind me to the West.

Coloured up for a while.

This is one of a pair of Canada Geese that seem to have unwisely chosen a nest site a few feet from where the pen Mute Swan has her nest. The cob Mute Swan usually tries to prevent the geese accessing the water. This morning he managed to chase this one away for a while.

Neither of the Mallard parents seem at all interested in what their three ducklings are doing.

Here are the ducklings. I think this is a different brood to the group of five I photographed last Friday.

A Coot in full cry.

And here doing its impression of the Jesus Christ Lizard of Central and South America (properly known as the Common Basilisk which scampers so quickly across flowing water that to the human eye it does appear to run on top of the water)

Very distant. The only Great (White) Egret I noted this morning.

There has been a group of three Pied Wagtail chasing around on the dam-face for many days now. I assumed a ménage à trois but... this is one – a female.

#2 also a female.

#3 another female. So?

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane: 06:30 – 07:40

(5th full visit of the year)

Bird notes:
Highlight here was one, and perhaps two, Common Whitethroat heard in song and then briefly seen as they flitted out of sight. My first for the year but outside my Priorslee Lake recording area. Perhaps tomorrow....

Other bird notes:
- a Coot was being very aggressive toward a Moorhen at the lower pool. Perhaps it also chased the Moorhen that ended up as a road casualty in Castle Farm Way yesterday.
- *one male Blackcap sat on the hedge right next to me and we looked at each other for a while!
- just one Sky Lark heard and then seen.
- *a few Linnets were being typically flighty and mainly in tree tops.
- *three Yellowhammers seen chasing. I later heard a male calling. The only Yellowhammer I got a good look at was a female.

Counts of significant species (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 Pheasants: male seen and another heard calling
- 2 Canada Geese on the lower pool
- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the upper pool
- 1 Moorhen on the lower pool, being pursued by...
- 1 Coot on the lower pool
- 1 (1) Skylark: only
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- *3 (2) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroats: possibly a second
- 1 (1) Goldcrest
- *3 (2) Song Thrushes
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- *6 (3) Chaffinches
- *3 Linnets: at least
- 2 Goldfinches
- *3 Yellowhammers: no song

The sunrise from the concrete road leading to Woodhouse Lane.

The same group of trees looking the other way, sunlit against the incoming cloud.

Looking down Woodhouse Lane it is difficult to believe the new estate is less than half-a-mile away.

The male Blackcap that popped up on the cut, nay massacred, hedge alongside Woodhouse Lane.

We just looked at each other. After a minute or so the Blackcap flew off in no particular hurry.

An aggressive Robin coming in for the kill?

Not really. It was just leaving its perch because it thought I was too close.

A Song Thrush bouncing around in the dew-laden grass. It looks to be carrying something in its bill but...

...nothing visible seconds later.

 A female Chaffinch devouring breakfast.

The best I could manage with the always distant Linnets. The grey head and red on the breast – which cane be very bright on breeding males – are diagnostic.

No better was this distant female Yellowhammer.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

A later visit: nothing found

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:15

(87th visit of the year)

New bird species:
Yet another addition to my 2026 bird list for this site. A Sand Martin flew away over my head as I was arriving. Later at least three were seen over the water. Bird species #63 for me here. I do not see this species very often. I have only ever seen it here on Spring passage when the weather has not been sunny. My previous sighting was on 19 March 2023.

Bird notes:
- a Mute Swan flew South overhead without ever looking as if it had any intention of visiting.
- a Common Sandpiper was heard in flight but not seen.
- a Great Crested Grebe was seen on the open water. Later one was on the nesting platform – same?
- a Stock Dove was calling at the top end.
- no Sedge Warbler heard today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Mute Swan: see notes
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, together
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese: only. More inside the island?
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 2 Mute Swans
- 25 (20♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 1 Common Sandpiper: heard only
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, together briefly

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (7) Willow Warblers
- *8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (8) Blackcaps

Around the area later:

Nothing noted. Too chilly, windy and overcast

Another failure: I thought at long last a Willow Warbler photo. Not so. The black legs and weak supercilium mean it is "only" a Chiffchaff.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
12 Cormorants over
3 Grey Herons
2 Tufted Duck
4 Common Sandpipers
c.6 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
Green Woodpecker
9 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warbler
193 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
Tree Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
Willow Warblers
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Ringed Plover
6 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaff
1 House Martin
4 Sand Martin
(Martin Grant)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Willow Tits
2 Jays
(Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill
4 Common Redstart
31 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin
5 Pied Flycatcher
1 Common Redstart
2 Tree Pipit
6 Willow Warbler
Marsh Tit
Goldcrest
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Crossbill
(Glenn Bishton)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
1 Reed Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Osprey
4 Gadwall
12 Sand Martin
2 Swallows
6 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Blackcap
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
6 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock
5 Sand Martin
Swallows
4 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Swallows
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pintail x Mallard
17 Tufted Duck
1 Grey Heron
2 Willow Warblers
8 Chiffchaffs
5 Blackcaps
20 Wrens
2 Linnet
6 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
2 Willow Warblers
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
1 Fieldfare
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Swallow
1 Buzzard
4 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
4 Yellowhammer
3 Greenfinch 3
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
3 Common Sandpiper
8 Chiffchaff
5 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcaps
1 Garden Warbler
3 Swallows
1 Kestrel
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Skylark
1 Willow Tit
2 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)