21 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 4:59am – 6:45am // 7:45am – 8:15am // 9:05am – 9:52am
Map
6.5°C > 12.5°C mainly with another remnant light shower, but clearer to S & E; light SW wind; good visibility.
Best this morning was the two groups of Ravens totalling 17 birds that flew S over the lake.
(91st visit of the year)
Other notes
My confusion over whether there are 2 + 3 or 3 + 2 Great Crested Grebes ended: there are 3 + 3!
All outbound geese were later than usual this morning and many groups well to the N and hard to see between the trees: nevertheless a large count. Inbound there were multiple concurrent groups at tree-top height and numbers ‘best effort’.
20 Mallard when I arrived: 13 left but 3 returned.
1 drake Tufted Duck early on but seemed to have gone later.
Water Rail heard briefly: normally I would have dismissed this as ‘too early’ but as this species successfully bred at Belvide this year their presence here would not be so improbable.
Few Black-headed Gulls again: vehicles were active in the Ricoh factory by 5:00am and had probably moved them on earlier.
Smaller passage of large gulls heading mainly N again, but flying further to the E this morning with only c.150 of the c.250 birds paused to wash in the lake. Much later two small parties totalling c.110 birds flew over and another c.15 visited: again almost all were immatures and most juvenile / 1st winter birds. No Herring Gulls were noted again.
The same family party of 5 Swallows.
The Green Woodpecker yet again.
1 Song Thrush only in song again this morning.
Just 2 Reed Warblers this morning and had to work hard to find these: likely they have mostly left.
2 Common Whitethroats at the W end: both seemed to be adults today.
Still dire corvid passage: just 3 Rooks.
1 Linnet fly-over: unusual here apart from on Autumn passage and in Winter.
and
4 Agriphila tristella grass moths noted.
Counts
3 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
60 Greylag Geese (33 out: 27 in)
>280 Canada Geese (179 out: >100 in)
20 (?) Mallard
1 (1) Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail heard
2 + 6 (3 broods) Moorhen
56 Coots
57 Black-headed Gulls
c.375 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them
5 Barn Swallows
2 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
2 (0) Reed Warblers
2 (0) Common Whitethroats
2 (0) Blackcaps
11 (2) Chiffchaff
Corvid roost dispersal: just 3 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(78th visit of the year)
Notes
Where have all the Mallard gone since yesterday: 17 today and 41 yesterday!
2 of the 5 Black-headed Gulls looked like very recently fledged birds and seemed reluctant to fly.
A single Swallow the only noteworthy bird. In many years this species has seemed to nest in an out-building of the small-holding the other side of whatever the old A5 Watling Street is called these days. Then the adults and, later, their juveniles hunt regularly over the water, but this year Swallows have been largely absent after Spring passage and this is only my 3rd sighting since early May.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
6 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
17 (10) Mallard
1 all-white feral Mallard
13 (6) Tufted Ducks
2 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhen
19 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over
and
House Martin(s) heard only
1 Swallow
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Map
6.5°C > 12.5°C mainly with another remnant light shower, but clearer to S & E; light SW wind; good visibility.
Best this morning was the two groups of Ravens totalling 17 birds that flew S over the lake.
(91st visit of the year)
Other notes
My confusion over whether there are 2 + 3 or 3 + 2 Great Crested Grebes ended: there are 3 + 3!
All outbound geese were later than usual this morning and many groups well to the N and hard to see between the trees: nevertheless a large count. Inbound there were multiple concurrent groups at tree-top height and numbers ‘best effort’.
20 Mallard when I arrived: 13 left but 3 returned.
1 drake Tufted Duck early on but seemed to have gone later.
Water Rail heard briefly: normally I would have dismissed this as ‘too early’ but as this species successfully bred at Belvide this year their presence here would not be so improbable.
Few Black-headed Gulls again: vehicles were active in the Ricoh factory by 5:00am and had probably moved them on earlier.
Smaller passage of large gulls heading mainly N again, but flying further to the E this morning with only c.150 of the c.250 birds paused to wash in the lake. Much later two small parties totalling c.110 birds flew over and another c.15 visited: again almost all were immatures and most juvenile / 1st winter birds. No Herring Gulls were noted again.
The same family party of 5 Swallows.
The Green Woodpecker yet again.
1 Song Thrush only in song again this morning.
Just 2 Reed Warblers this morning and had to work hard to find these: likely they have mostly left.
2 Common Whitethroats at the W end: both seemed to be adults today.
Still dire corvid passage: just 3 Rooks.
1 Linnet fly-over: unusual here apart from on Autumn passage and in Winter.
and
4 Agriphila tristella grass moths noted.
Counts
3 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
60 Greylag Geese (33 out: 27 in)
>280 Canada Geese (179 out: >100 in)
20 (?) Mallard
1 (1) Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail heard
2 + 6 (3 broods) Moorhen
56 Coots
57 Black-headed Gulls
c.375 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them
5 Barn Swallows
2 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
2 (0) Reed Warblers
2 (0) Common Whitethroats
2 (0) Blackcaps
11 (2) Chiffchaff
Corvid roost dispersal: just 3 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(78th visit of the year)
Notes
Where have all the Mallard gone since yesterday: 17 today and 41 yesterday!
2 of the 5 Black-headed Gulls looked like very recently fledged birds and seemed reluctant to fly.
A single Swallow the only noteworthy bird. In many years this species has seemed to nest in an out-building of the small-holding the other side of whatever the old A5 Watling Street is called these days. Then the adults and, later, their juveniles hunt regularly over the water, but this year Swallows have been largely absent after Spring passage and this is only my 3rd sighting since early May.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
6 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
17 (10) Mallard
1 all-white feral Mallard
13 (6) Tufted Ducks
2 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhen
19 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over
and
House Martin(s) heard only
1 Swallow
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodhouse Lane: 8:15am – 9:05am
(8th visit of year)
Have not been very diligent about visits here this year and was not sure what I should be looking for.
Notes
Mainly very quiet with no Pheasants, Sky Larks or Linnets noted.
Single Common Whitethroat scolding the only warbler along the lane itself.
No Yellowhammer song – this species is one of the last to stop singing with song sometimes lasting in to the first few days of September, though this must depend upon breeding success and the number of broods being attempted.
Counts
1 (0) Common Whitethroat
2 (0) Chiffchaffs
5 (0) Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)
20 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 5:03am – 6:45am // 7:45am – 9:20am
Map
9.0°C > 12.5°C broken cloud with remnant light showers, clearing; light W wind; good visibility
Best this morning was another one of those frustrating one’s that got away: a small dove shot out of the Ricoh copse and jinked and tilted from side to side as it sped away N. It looked rather sandy-coloured for a Collared Dove. All these features point to Turtle Dove but this is, thanks to the shooters in the Pyrenees, an increasingly rare bird anywhere in the UK and especially in these parts where it was never common. Without seeing anything positive then it cannot be inked-in to my log, but ...?
(90th visit of the year)
Other notes
2 of the immature Great Crested Grebes seen displaying.
The Cackling Goose seen among >200 outbound geese.
Mallard numbers hard to judge. 13 present when I arrived: 8 of these left to the E: 7 arrived from the W: and a party of 10 circled over for a while.
2 drake Tufted Ducks arrived.
Big passage of large gulls heading mainly N: the majority of the 600-odd birds logged paused to wash in the lake: almost all (c.90%) of these were immatures and a clear majority of those seemed to be juvenile / 1st winter birds. No Herring Gulls were noted amongst them.
The family party of 5 Swallows again.
The Green Woodpecker again alarm-calling from the N side and this morning briefly seen in flight – where is this bird feeding? it needs open ground.
Just 1 Song Thrush in song this morning.
6 Reed Warblers at least.
Juvenile Common Whitethroat at the W end again.
A Nuthatch alongside Teece Drive was a juvenile.
Dire corvid passage comprised a single Rook!
and
Just a single Agriphila tristella grass moth noted.
1 Speckled Wood butterfly.
A hoverfly with startling red eyes – but a common an oft-recorded species Episyrphus balteatus.
also
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel a chrysalis was noted on the wall: I have no idea how to ID this!
Panic set in at amongst the ducks, gulls and pigeons when a Virgin Balloon Flights hot air balloon drifted low across the old Celestica site and was put down in one of the fields alongside Woodhouse Lane: nothing unusual was seen.
Counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
88 Greylag Geese (54 out: 34 in)
1 Cackling Goose (out)
184 Canada Geese (158 out: 26 in)
c.25 (?) Mallard
2 (2) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhen
61 Coots
35 Black-headed Gulls
c.600 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them
5 Barn Swallows
2 House Martins
3 (1) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
1 (0) Common Whitethroat
3 (0) Blackcaps
13 (2) Chiffchaff
Corvid roost dispersal: just 1 Rook!
A chrysalis on the wall of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel: I have no idea how to ID this!
This hot-air balloon drifted low past the lake causing some panic amongst ducks, gulls and pigeons.
These two immature Great Crested Grebes were doing some (practice?) displaying shortly before this shot.
From this angle the red eyes of the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus are quite arresting.
A harvestman at rest on the wooden parapet of the Wesley Brook bridge: likely Leiobunum rotundum.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(77th visit of the year)
Notes
2 Sparrowhawks overhead: unusual to see two birds together except when they are pairing up and displaying over their territory in the Spring: I suspect this was an adult with one of their offspring but the sighting too brief to get plumage details.
A Kingfisher.
and
>50 spikes with clusters of the poisonous bright red berries of the Arum Lily (Arum maculatum, with whole heap of vernacular names) in squirrel alley.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
18 Greylag Geese
9 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
41 (27) Mallard
16 (9) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhen
18 Coots
2 Black-headed Gulls
and
6 House Martins
4 (0) Chiffchaffs
Some of the >50 spikes with clusters of the poisonous bright red berries of the Arum Lily (Arum maculatum).
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 9:30am – 9:58am
Map
(34th visit of the year)
Notes
Very few Mallard today.
No hirundines.
Goldcrest in with mixed tit party.
and
A Grey Squirrel near the Blue Pig was my first here this year.
The counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Swans
20 Canada Geese
4 (2) Mallard
1 feral Mallard
2 + 7 (3 broods) Moorhens
94 Coots
2 Black-headed Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the distance
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
Not sure whether feet with long toes makes it harder or easier to walk across the metal grating. A juvenile Moorhen practices its technique.
This scruffy individual is another juvenile Moorhen but from a later brood from the same parents: all six juveniles from both broods were happily pottering about together.
(Ed Wilson)
Map
9.0°C > 12.5°C broken cloud with remnant light showers, clearing; light W wind; good visibility
Best this morning was another one of those frustrating one’s that got away: a small dove shot out of the Ricoh copse and jinked and tilted from side to side as it sped away N. It looked rather sandy-coloured for a Collared Dove. All these features point to Turtle Dove but this is, thanks to the shooters in the Pyrenees, an increasingly rare bird anywhere in the UK and especially in these parts where it was never common. Without seeing anything positive then it cannot be inked-in to my log, but ...?
(90th visit of the year)
Other notes
2 of the immature Great Crested Grebes seen displaying.
The Cackling Goose seen among >200 outbound geese.
Mallard numbers hard to judge. 13 present when I arrived: 8 of these left to the E: 7 arrived from the W: and a party of 10 circled over for a while.
2 drake Tufted Ducks arrived.
Big passage of large gulls heading mainly N: the majority of the 600-odd birds logged paused to wash in the lake: almost all (c.90%) of these were immatures and a clear majority of those seemed to be juvenile / 1st winter birds. No Herring Gulls were noted amongst them.
The family party of 5 Swallows again.
The Green Woodpecker again alarm-calling from the N side and this morning briefly seen in flight – where is this bird feeding? it needs open ground.
Just 1 Song Thrush in song this morning.
6 Reed Warblers at least.
Juvenile Common Whitethroat at the W end again.
A Nuthatch alongside Teece Drive was a juvenile.
Dire corvid passage comprised a single Rook!
and
Just a single Agriphila tristella grass moth noted.
1 Speckled Wood butterfly.
A hoverfly with startling red eyes – but a common an oft-recorded species Episyrphus balteatus.
also
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel a chrysalis was noted on the wall: I have no idea how to ID this!
Panic set in at amongst the ducks, gulls and pigeons when a Virgin Balloon Flights hot air balloon drifted low across the old Celestica site and was put down in one of the fields alongside Woodhouse Lane: nothing unusual was seen.
Counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
88 Greylag Geese (54 out: 34 in)
1 Cackling Goose (out)
184 Canada Geese (158 out: 26 in)
c.25 (?) Mallard
2 (2) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhen
61 Coots
35 Black-headed Gulls
c.600 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them
5 Barn Swallows
2 House Martins
3 (1) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
1 (0) Common Whitethroat
3 (0) Blackcaps
13 (2) Chiffchaff
Corvid roost dispersal: just 1 Rook!
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(77th visit of the year)
Notes
2 Sparrowhawks overhead: unusual to see two birds together except when they are pairing up and displaying over their territory in the Spring: I suspect this was an adult with one of their offspring but the sighting too brief to get plumage details.
A Kingfisher.
and
>50 spikes with clusters of the poisonous bright red berries of the Arum Lily (Arum maculatum, with whole heap of vernacular names) in squirrel alley.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
18 Greylag Geese
9 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
41 (27) Mallard
16 (9) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhen
18 Coots
2 Black-headed Gulls
and
6 House Martins
4 (0) Chiffchaffs
3 on close-up.
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 9:30am – 9:58am
Map
(34th visit of the year)
Notes
Very few Mallard today.
No hirundines.
Goldcrest in with mixed tit party.
and
A Grey Squirrel near the Blue Pig was my first here this year.
The counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Swans
20 Canada Geese
4 (2) Mallard
1 feral Mallard
2 + 7 (3 broods) Moorhens
94 Coots
2 Black-headed Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the distance
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
The wind blowing from behind the bird gives it a rather strange profile.
(Ed Wilson)
18 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake:
Map
Looked quite promising but in fact it is pouring with rain and continued to do so for over an hour.
This first sighting: an immature Common Tern: my first terns sp. in Shropshire this year.
This is a different Common Tern – less mature with more white on the forehead but the dark carpal bar still obvious.
Until chased off by Black-headed Gulls the Common Terns perched on the buoys: note the short-legged appearance (Arctic Terns have even shorter legs and would appear almost legless).
The more mature bird at extreme magnification: note less white on the forehead but the dark along the folded wing edge. The orange in the bill suggests this is perhaps a 1st summer bird.
And only when they left did I realise that 3 birds were involved (though looking at the photos I now know there were three individuals even though I never noted three together prior to their departure).
(Ed Wilson)
Map
Not easy to photograph when raining this hard!
Another view.
And here are two birds with extensive white foreheads.
One put to flight by the arrival of a Black-headed Gull.
Another one seen off by an immature Black-headed Gull.
(Ed Wilson)
17 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 5:04am – 7:00am // 8:00am – 9:42am
Map
13.0°C > 15.0°C Fine start but clouded with short spell of rain 06:40 – 06:50; then cleared: moderate / fresh W wind; good visibility.
(88th visit of the year)
Highlight this morning was the Green Woodpecker alarm-calling along the N shore again: I heard it later from the Ricoh copse near the Priorslee Avenue.
Other notes
1 Cormorant flew in and circled down but there were too many people about and it left without landing.
Plenty of geese outbound: none seen inbound.
Today’s passage of large gulls totalled no more than c.120 with just 20 of these stopping off at the lake.
The same 5 Swallows seen after a lone bird as early as 5:55am.
1 Song Thrush only in song this morning
A very small corvid passage and most of these were Rooks today.
Largest corvid group was, unusually, 8 Carrion Crows together.
and
2 pipistrelle-type bats today.
5 Speckled Woods and 1 Green-veined White butterflies
An Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth here this morning.
Also a complete but recently dead Brimstone Moth
Single Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter and my first Southern Hawker dragonfly in Shropshire this year.
A specimen of the hoverfly Myathropa florea
also
The same Red Underwing moth yet again in the Priorslee tunnel.
Counts
3 + 2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
91 Greylag Geese (all out)
100, exactly, Canada Geese (all out)
10 (8) Mallard
3 + 3 Moorhens
51 Coots
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them.
5 Swallows
1 (1) Song Thrush
5 (0) Reed Warblers
4 (0) Blackcaps
7 (1) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: just 2 Jackdaws and 19 Rooks.
A scruffy and moulting adult Black-headed Gull. Only the outer two primaries are retained with P3 and P4, at least, missing. The other primaries are new feathers not fully grown with the black tips only just showing. There is a huge ‘gap’ in the trailing edge where many of the secondaries are still regrowing.
Emerging from a wash this immature Black-headed Gull shows all the distinctive plumage features: even at this age the white outer forewing ‘blaze’ in evident, if less prominent than it will be both in first winter plumage and then after another twelve months as an adult.
This hoverfly looks like a wasp at first glance. It can be separated by the lack of the very narrow ‘wasp waist’; and the large size of the eyes. It goes by the name Myathropa florea which I also logged on 18 July when it was new for me. Resemblance to insects that sting and / or taste nasty is often called ‘mimicry’ but to my mind that is an incorrect use of a word that implies choice or action: the individual insects have no control over the way they look and belong to a species which has evolved with those characteristics through preferential evolution.
This is a fine mature male Southern Hawker. The green and chocolate markings on the thorax preclude any other species and the pattern of the last 3 segments of the tail are also diagnostic.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 7:10am – 7:50am
Map
(76th visit of the year)
Notes
More ‘non-drake’ Mallard today: many of these seem to be fully-fledged juveniles that have yet to acquire any definitive adult features to the bill.
and
A second-brood Swallow Prominent moth on the same street light that I find this species every year.
The Red Underwing moth still on the same street-light.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
13 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
39 (27) Mallard
17 (6) Tufted Ducks
1 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
19 Coots
and
3 House Martins
1 (0) Blackcap
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
A Swallow Prominent moth on the same street-lamp that I have recorded this species for the last five years at least. I photographed a first-brood specimen here on 06 July: this is a 2nd-brood specimen.
(Ed Wilson)
Map
13.0°C > 15.0°C Fine start but clouded with short spell of rain 06:40 – 06:50; then cleared: moderate / fresh W wind; good visibility.
(88th visit of the year)
Highlight this morning was the Green Woodpecker alarm-calling along the N shore again: I heard it later from the Ricoh copse near the Priorslee Avenue.
Other notes
1 Cormorant flew in and circled down but there were too many people about and it left without landing.
Plenty of geese outbound: none seen inbound.
Today’s passage of large gulls totalled no more than c.120 with just 20 of these stopping off at the lake.
The same 5 Swallows seen after a lone bird as early as 5:55am.
1 Song Thrush only in song this morning
A very small corvid passage and most of these were Rooks today.
Largest corvid group was, unusually, 8 Carrion Crows together.
and
2 pipistrelle-type bats today.
5 Speckled Woods and 1 Green-veined White butterflies
An Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth here this morning.
Also a complete but recently dead Brimstone Moth
Single Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter and my first Southern Hawker dragonfly in Shropshire this year.
A specimen of the hoverfly Myathropa florea
also
The same Red Underwing moth yet again in the Priorslee tunnel.
Counts
3 + 2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
91 Greylag Geese (all out)
100, exactly, Canada Geese (all out)
10 (8) Mallard
3 + 3 Moorhens
51 Coots
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 large gulls: no Herring Gulls identified among them.
5 Swallows
1 (1) Song Thrush
5 (0) Reed Warblers
4 (0) Blackcaps
7 (1) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: just 2 Jackdaws and 19 Rooks.
How do they do that: makes my neck ache just looking.
Here is a close-up of the working part of the same dragonfly.
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 7:10am – 7:50am
Map
(76th visit of the year)
Notes
More ‘non-drake’ Mallard today: many of these seem to be fully-fledged juveniles that have yet to acquire any definitive adult features to the bill.
and
A second-brood Swallow Prominent moth on the same street light that I find this species every year.
The Red Underwing moth still on the same street-light.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
13 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
39 (27) Mallard
17 (6) Tufted Ducks
1 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
19 Coots
and
3 House Martins
1 (0) Blackcap
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
16 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 4:58am – 6:45am // 7:45am – 8:59am
Map
11.5°C > 17.5°C broken cloud melted away for a while but clouded again after 8:45am; light, increasing moderate, NW wind; good visibility.
From today I will not longer separate juvenile Coots in the counts: it is increasingly hard to judge those with smaller white shields.
(87th visit of the year)
Highlights this morning were
A Green Woodpecker alarm-calling along the N shore: my 2nd record at the lake this year.
A juvenile Whitethroat at the W end: likely a migrant as the breeding birds all seemed to have left some weeks ago.
Other notes
2 + 2 Great Crested Grebes together in NW area: later 1 + 1 seen in NE area may have been different birds.
Plenty of geese outbound and later inbound.
4 Tufted Ducks throughout today: all ducks.
At least 250 Black-headed Gulls arrived from Ricoh rather later than usual – less activity on site at the weekend I guess.
Today’s passage of c.300 large gulls was rather confused in that many went direct to the Ricoh fields and then commuted between there and the lake before moving on making accurate numbers impossible.
5 Swallows seemed to be a family party, using the wires around the yacht compound to rest between feeding forays. In-flight food passes, presumably to the juveniles, seen.
Several parties of racing pigeons this morning – presumably racing today: 53 birds logged.
3 Song Thrushes in song this morning.
The better weather prompted 3 of the many Chiffchaffs to sing from time to time: some birds remained silent.
A determined search this morning found a small corvid passage.
3 Ravens over again.
Party of 11 Goldfinches included many juveniles.
and
No bats seen today.
A Speckled Wood was the only butterfly seen.
An Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer) moth on a street-light this morning.
Also a Red Underwing at rest on a street-light (even though this and the adjacent street-lights are inoperative): and in full sunlight.
also
The same Red Underwing moth still in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
Counts
3? + 3? Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
79 Greylag Geese (19 out: 60 in))
189 Canada Geese (155 out: 34 in)
12 (?) Mallard
4 (0) Tufted Ducks
5 + 1 Moorhens
60 Coots
>250 Black-headed Gulls
c.300 large gulls including at least 2 Herring Gulls
5 Swallows
2 House Martins
3 (3) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
2 (0) Blackcaps
12 (3) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: 84 Jackdaw and 11 Rooks
And this Red Underwing was at rest on a street-light at the lake (even though this and the adjacent street-lights are inoperative): and in full sunlight!
The Swallows were resting on the wires around the boat compound but in tricky ‘against the light’ conditions. Despite the pale throat on this bird it is an adult – the tail streamers are clearly visible.
Post-breeding it may have lost some intensity in its plumage but this male Greenfinch still makes a fine study in the early light.
A juvenile Goldfinch: it always surprises me how long it takes for juveniles to acquire a red face – it is often well in to October.
Map
11.5°C > 17.5°C broken cloud melted away for a while but clouded again after 8:45am; light, increasing moderate, NW wind; good visibility.
From today I will not longer separate juvenile Coots in the counts: it is increasingly hard to judge those with smaller white shields.
(87th visit of the year)
Highlights this morning were
A Green Woodpecker alarm-calling along the N shore: my 2nd record at the lake this year.
A juvenile Whitethroat at the W end: likely a migrant as the breeding birds all seemed to have left some weeks ago.
Other notes
2 + 2 Great Crested Grebes together in NW area: later 1 + 1 seen in NE area may have been different birds.
Plenty of geese outbound and later inbound.
4 Tufted Ducks throughout today: all ducks.
At least 250 Black-headed Gulls arrived from Ricoh rather later than usual – less activity on site at the weekend I guess.
Today’s passage of c.300 large gulls was rather confused in that many went direct to the Ricoh fields and then commuted between there and the lake before moving on making accurate numbers impossible.
5 Swallows seemed to be a family party, using the wires around the yacht compound to rest between feeding forays. In-flight food passes, presumably to the juveniles, seen.
Several parties of racing pigeons this morning – presumably racing today: 53 birds logged.
3 Song Thrushes in song this morning.
The better weather prompted 3 of the many Chiffchaffs to sing from time to time: some birds remained silent.
A determined search this morning found a small corvid passage.
3 Ravens over again.
Party of 11 Goldfinches included many juveniles.
and
No bats seen today.
A Speckled Wood was the only butterfly seen.
An Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer) moth on a street-light this morning.
Also a Red Underwing at rest on a street-light (even though this and the adjacent street-lights are inoperative): and in full sunlight.
also
The same Red Underwing moth still in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
Counts
3? + 3? Great Crested Grebes
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
79 Greylag Geese (19 out: 60 in))
189 Canada Geese (155 out: 34 in)
12 (?) Mallard
4 (0) Tufted Ducks
5 + 1 Moorhens
60 Coots
>250 Black-headed Gulls
c.300 large gulls including at least 2 Herring Gulls
5 Swallows
2 House Martins
3 (3) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
2 (0) Blackcaps
12 (3) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: 84 Jackdaw and 11 Rooks
Not an auspicious start pre-sunrise, but ...
... with more promise later.
Whereas this bird, with an obvious pale gape, is clearly a juvenile.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(75th visit of the year)
Notes
12 House Martins over the estate this morning: the Swifts seem long-gone.
and
An apparently different specimen of Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth on the same street-light.
A Red Underwing moth here as well.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
9 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
37 (32) Mallard
14 (6) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhens
16 Coots
and
12 House Martins
2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Although on the same street-light as yesterday’s Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) this seems to be a different individual.
This Red Underwing was at rest on a street-light at The Flash and in good light producing a better image.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 9:36am – 10:05am // 10:40am – 10:48am
Map
(33rd visit of the year)
Notes
Only 1 Swan noted but that was almost hidden in the vegetation much of the time and its mate may well have been present.
No juvenile Canada Geese remain.
Kingfisher seen: my first of the year at this location.
Both Goldcrest and Treecreeper heard by the Blue Pig were also new for me here this year.
and
A Terrapin sp. again.
The counts
3 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Swan
18 Canada Geese
13 (4) Mallard
3 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
85 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 4 of these overhead
and
1 Swallow
5 House Martins
2 (1) Chiffchaffs
Well it will not win any prizes but it is surprisingly hard to get close-enough to a Kingfisher to get a decent image: normally they see you first and fly off calling. Many people are surprised that in contrast to the electric blue back the breast is brick-red and can be difficult to see when the bird is perched facing you.
And in flight they show rather unexpected white wing patches. As the feet are set so far back landing on water is effectively a controlled belly-flop. The webbing on the toes shows well here – rather reminiscent of Coot and serving a similar function to power them through the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 10:10am – 10:35am
Map
(17th visit of the year)
Notes
The Great Crested Grebes with a new brood: no sign of any of the earlier brood.
Possibly more Canada Geese hidden away on the island.
16 of the 31 Mallard were drakes but some of the others were immatures and could moult to become this usual preponderance of drakes.
3 Swans yet again and still no rings read.
The counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Swans
2 + 3 (2? broods) Greylag Geese
11 + 10 (3? broods) Canada Geese
31 (16) Mallard
3 feral Mallard-type ducks
9 (6) Tufted Duck
3 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhen
13 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:55am – 7:35am
Map
(75th visit of the year)
Notes
12 House Martins over the estate this morning: the Swifts seem long-gone.
and
An apparently different specimen of Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth on the same street-light.
A Red Underwing moth here as well.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
9 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
37 (32) Mallard
14 (6) Tufted Ducks
0 + 1 Moorhens
16 Coots
and
12 House Martins
2 (0) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 9:36am – 10:05am // 10:40am – 10:48am
Map
(33rd visit of the year)
Notes
Only 1 Swan noted but that was almost hidden in the vegetation much of the time and its mate may well have been present.
No juvenile Canada Geese remain.
Kingfisher seen: my first of the year at this location.
Both Goldcrest and Treecreeper heard by the Blue Pig were also new for me here this year.
and
A Terrapin sp. again.
The counts
3 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
1 Swan
18 Canada Geese
13 (4) Mallard
3 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
85 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 4 of these overhead
and
1 Swallow
5 House Martins
2 (1) Chiffchaffs
Great Crested Grebes are not commonly seen in flight: here a juvenile.
I said it was a controlled belly-flop.
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Middle Pool: 10:10am – 10:35am
Map
(17th visit of the year)
Notes
The Great Crested Grebes with a new brood: no sign of any of the earlier brood.
Possibly more Canada Geese hidden away on the island.
16 of the 31 Mallard were drakes but some of the others were immatures and could moult to become this usual preponderance of drakes.
3 Swans yet again and still no rings read.
The counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Swans
2 + 3 (2? broods) Greylag Geese
11 + 10 (3? broods) Canada Geese
31 (16) Mallard
3 feral Mallard-type ducks
9 (6) Tufted Duck
3 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhen
13 Coots
5 Black-headed Gulls
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
15 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 5:03am – 6:40am // 7:35am – 8:29am
Map
11.0°C.> 12.5°C cloudy and often very dull until after 8:00am: some light drizzle: light / moderate W wind: moderate visibility.
(86th visit of the year)
Highlight was what seemed to be a juvenile / 1st winter Mediterranean Gull amongst the large number of gulls at the lake this morning – gull numbers always seem to be highest on Fridays. The very dull conditions prevented me getting a photo of sufficient quality to provide 100% identification, but the omens look good.
Generally numbers of many species were low this morning: I logged no Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits or Greenfinches. The corvids were again largely absent with a single late Jackdaw and no Rooks. I only logged a single Magpie and Crows (3) were outnumbered by Jays (4). Many birds are quiet at the moment as they moult but numbers logged around The Flash seemed more normal.
Other notes
Just 1 Tufted Duck appeared as I was about to leave.
At least 300 Black-headed Gulls were over the Ricoh fields with parties coming and going between here and the lake.
Today’s northward passage of >330 large gulls included at least 4 Herring Gulls. Over 150 of these birds paused to wash and bathe in the lake for a while.
3 Swallows and then 2 House Martins arrived later to hunt in the lee of the trees.
The same Song Thrush in song.
At least 6 Reed Warblers this morning.
and
Today’s bat was a pipistrelle-type hunting in the lee of the trees – too dark to see whether the large bat(s) were flying.
Several Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer) moths were on the lamps this morning.
also
Just the same Red Underwing moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
Being a complete anorak one of the most interesting sightings was a truck parked in the Castle Farm Way lay-by with a number plate bearing the country code ‘BIH’ – as far as I recall my first sighting of a plate from Bosnia and Herzegovina (though I drove through there plenty of times when it was part of Yugoslavia).
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
31 Greylag Geese (all outbound)
61 Canada Geese (all outbound)
21 (18) Mallard
1 (1) Tufted Duck
5 Moorhens
40 + 11 (? broods) Coots
1 juvenile / 1st winter Mediterranean Gull
>300 Black-headed Gulls
>330 large gulls including at least 4 Herring Gulls
3 Swallows
2 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
3 (0) Blackcaps
10 (0) Chiffchaffs
Dire corvid roost dispersal: just 1 Jackdaw noted
This seems to be a juvenile Mediterranean Gull moulting in to 1st winter plumage. It was rather dark first thing this morning and this is the best image I could get – all the flying shots are hopelessly blurred and fail to show the diagnostic wing pattern that would make the ID 100%.
At the moment many gulls are looking very scruffy and patchy with a mix of worn old feathers, gaps where they are moulting and fresh new plumage: here is an example of a late brood juvenile Black-headed Gull with an admixture of pale grey 1st winter feathers.
The most common grass moth at the moment – Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer), readily identified by the pale stripe (other species with this feature also have a patterned wing-tip).
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:50am – 7:25am
Map
(74th visit of the year)
Notes
No House Martins in poor conditions
and
1 probable Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth on the lamps: genitalia examination (of the moth!) would have been required to confirm.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
18 + 1 Canada Geese
1 Cackling Goose
The all-white feral goose
34 (27) Mallard
15 (7) Tufted Ducks
1 + 1 Moorhens
15 + 3 Coots
and
1 (0) Song Thrush
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
This small moth is probably Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button): separation from Acleris cominaria (Strawberry Tortrix) is only reliable done by examination of the genitalia but the date and the location makes laterana very likely. New for me at The Flash.
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site:
Map
Possible Baltic Gull present this afternoon. Photo Here.
(Tom Lowe)
Map
11.0°C.> 12.5°C cloudy and often very dull until after 8:00am: some light drizzle: light / moderate W wind: moderate visibility.
(86th visit of the year)
Highlight was what seemed to be a juvenile / 1st winter Mediterranean Gull amongst the large number of gulls at the lake this morning – gull numbers always seem to be highest on Fridays. The very dull conditions prevented me getting a photo of sufficient quality to provide 100% identification, but the omens look good.
Generally numbers of many species were low this morning: I logged no Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits or Greenfinches. The corvids were again largely absent with a single late Jackdaw and no Rooks. I only logged a single Magpie and Crows (3) were outnumbered by Jays (4). Many birds are quiet at the moment as they moult but numbers logged around The Flash seemed more normal.
Other notes
Just 1 Tufted Duck appeared as I was about to leave.
At least 300 Black-headed Gulls were over the Ricoh fields with parties coming and going between here and the lake.
Today’s northward passage of >330 large gulls included at least 4 Herring Gulls. Over 150 of these birds paused to wash and bathe in the lake for a while.
3 Swallows and then 2 House Martins arrived later to hunt in the lee of the trees.
The same Song Thrush in song.
At least 6 Reed Warblers this morning.
and
Today’s bat was a pipistrelle-type hunting in the lee of the trees – too dark to see whether the large bat(s) were flying.
Several Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer) moths were on the lamps this morning.
also
Just the same Red Underwing moth in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
Being a complete anorak one of the most interesting sightings was a truck parked in the Castle Farm Way lay-by with a number plate bearing the country code ‘BIH’ – as far as I recall my first sighting of a plate from Bosnia and Herzegovina (though I drove through there plenty of times when it was part of Yugoslavia).
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
31 Greylag Geese (all outbound)
61 Canada Geese (all outbound)
21 (18) Mallard
1 (1) Tufted Duck
5 Moorhens
40 + 11 (? broods) Coots
1 juvenile / 1st winter Mediterranean Gull
>300 Black-headed Gulls
>330 large gulls including at least 4 Herring Gulls
3 Swallows
2 House Martins
1 (1) Song Thrush
6 (0) Reed Warblers
3 (0) Blackcaps
10 (0) Chiffchaffs
Dire corvid roost dispersal: just 1 Jackdaw noted
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:50am – 7:25am
Map
(74th visit of the year)
Notes
No House Martins in poor conditions
and
1 probable Acleris laterana (Dark-triangle Button) moth on the lamps: genitalia examination (of the moth!) would have been required to confirm.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
18 + 1 Canada Geese
1 Cackling Goose
The all-white feral goose
34 (27) Mallard
15 (7) Tufted Ducks
1 + 1 Moorhens
15 + 3 Coots
and
1 (0) Song Thrush
3 (0) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site:
Map
Possible Baltic Gull present this afternoon. Photo Here.
(Tom Lowe)
14 Aug 14
Priorslee Lake: 4:58am – 6:40am // 7:35am – 8:43am
Map
12.0°C.> 15.0°C broken cloud with light passing showers. very light W wind. Good visibility except in showers.
(85th visit of the year)
Other notes
Good number of geese overhead again: some other Canada Geese parties heard but flying below eye-shot. The Cackling Goose seemed to be in one of the groups. A lone Greylag Goose was on the lake when I arrived and despite calling frequently was ignored by the Swans. Some of the Greylags were mixed in with Canada Geese this morning, with the main group of 58 birds passing much later.
2 Tufted Duck seen in flight: not sure whether they were coming or going or, indeed, just flying through.
Rather few Black-headed Gulls again: a good proportion of these were juveniles – 12 out of 23 on one count.
A steady northward passage of >120 large gulls started well before dawn: some 15 stopped off briefly and all these were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Later 2 large gulls on the lake seemed to be juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls.
Again 1 Song Thrush in song with another heard scolding.
2, perhaps 3, Reed Warblers this morning.
Very poor number of corvids on passage this morning and no other birds heard.
Also only 1 Crow seen – normally I log 7 – 10 birds.
Against this trend 3 Ravens flew N.
and
1 large bat again.
The only insect on the lamps this morning was a wasp sp. (and another was on a lamp at The Flash).
also
3 species of moths in the tunnel: two new species for the year – Silver Y and Red Underwing; and one new for me in Shropshire, though a very widespread and common species – Tawny Speckled Pug.
Counts
2 + 2 (2? broods) Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
82 Greylag Geese (1 on lake: 81 outbound)
1 Cackling Goose outbound
>80 Canada Geese (all outbound)
14 (?) Mallard
2 (?) Tufted Ducks in flight
3 + 1 Moorhens
46 + 9 (? broods) Coots
80 Black-headed Gulls
c.150 large gulls including 2 probable Yellow-legged Gulls
2 (1) Song Thrush
2 (0) Reed Warblers
4 (0) Blackcaps
8 (1) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: only 8 Jackdaws and 7 Rooks
Jammed against a light in the roof of the Priorslee tunnel makes it hard to see all the marks on this moth, but the silvery ‘Y’ mark is a good clue: it is indeed a Silver Y moth, a very common migrant often to be seen hovering at nectar during the day.
Another moth on the roof of the tunnel: here a Red Underwing. I record this species annually here. Occasionally it rests with wings partially open allowing the red underwing to be seen: not today.
The last of the trio of moths in the tunnel this morning: one of the easier pug moths to identify – at least it is in this form with the orangey colour in the wing. Not all specimens of Tawny Speckled Pugs show this feature.
The first of several photos showing how the light can affect the appearance of, in this case, immature gulls. In real life this bird seemed to be a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull showing typically rather dark and even-toned upper wings. I was moved to take the photos as from underneath the wings looked strikingly pale and I wanted to look in more detail. Here the photo from above shows somewhat paler inner primaries which is normally a feature of immature Herring Gull.
Different lighting conditions accentuate the pale areas and the pattern now resembles a 2nd winter Great Black-backed Gull, though the small bill on this bird rules that out.
And this is what caught my attention – with the light shining through the wings the pale areas are glaringly obvious. Note the strong marks on the underwing coverts and especially at the ‘bend’ of the wing, features I would not expect in a juvenile Herring Gull.
And another view. Conclusion: most likely a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, but am prepared to be persuaded otherwise as the head looks rather darker than I would expect. I have very little experience of juveniles of this species.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:45am – 7:20am
Map
(73rd visit of the year)
Notes
Mallard duckling not noted.
13 House Martins: 4 seemed to be around the breeding area with the others in two small parties moving S.
Chiffchaffs the only warblers again here.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
1 Greylag Goose
18 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
23 (19) Mallard
12 (7) Tufted Ducks
1 Moorhens
17 + 2 Coots
and
13 House Martins
4 (1) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill: 12:30pm
Map
1 Hobby chasing House Martins over west side of hill, but unsuccessful.
(John Isherwood)
Map
12.0°C.> 15.0°C broken cloud with light passing showers. very light W wind. Good visibility except in showers.
(85th visit of the year)
Other notes
Good number of geese overhead again: some other Canada Geese parties heard but flying below eye-shot. The Cackling Goose seemed to be in one of the groups. A lone Greylag Goose was on the lake when I arrived and despite calling frequently was ignored by the Swans. Some of the Greylags were mixed in with Canada Geese this morning, with the main group of 58 birds passing much later.
2 Tufted Duck seen in flight: not sure whether they were coming or going or, indeed, just flying through.
Rather few Black-headed Gulls again: a good proportion of these were juveniles – 12 out of 23 on one count.
A steady northward passage of >120 large gulls started well before dawn: some 15 stopped off briefly and all these were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Later 2 large gulls on the lake seemed to be juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls.
Again 1 Song Thrush in song with another heard scolding.
2, perhaps 3, Reed Warblers this morning.
Very poor number of corvids on passage this morning and no other birds heard.
Also only 1 Crow seen – normally I log 7 – 10 birds.
Against this trend 3 Ravens flew N.
and
1 large bat again.
The only insect on the lamps this morning was a wasp sp. (and another was on a lamp at The Flash).
also
3 species of moths in the tunnel: two new species for the year – Silver Y and Red Underwing; and one new for me in Shropshire, though a very widespread and common species – Tawny Speckled Pug.
Counts
2 + 2 (2? broods) Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
82 Greylag Geese (1 on lake: 81 outbound)
1 Cackling Goose outbound
>80 Canada Geese (all outbound)
14 (?) Mallard
2 (?) Tufted Ducks in flight
3 + 1 Moorhens
46 + 9 (? broods) Coots
80 Black-headed Gulls
c.150 large gulls including 2 probable Yellow-legged Gulls
2 (1) Song Thrush
2 (0) Reed Warblers
4 (0) Blackcaps
8 (1) Chiffchaffs
Corvid roost dispersal: only 8 Jackdaws and 7 Rooks
The red sunrise giving a hint that showers were to follow.
Indeed the showers were close behind!
The day looked rather more benign the other way.
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:45am – 7:20am
Map
(73rd visit of the year)
Notes
Mallard duckling not noted.
13 House Martins: 4 seemed to be around the breeding area with the others in two small parties moving S.
Chiffchaffs the only warblers again here.
Counts
2 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
1 Greylag Goose
18 + 1 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
23 (19) Mallard
12 (7) Tufted Ducks
1 Moorhens
17 + 2 Coots
and
13 House Martins
4 (1) Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nedge Hill: 12:30pm
Map
1 Hobby chasing House Martins over west side of hill, but unsuccessful.
(John Isherwood)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)