29 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 6:00am
Location
Nothing of note
(John Isherwood)
Devil's Dingle: 7:00am
Location
1 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Redstart
2 Little Ringed Plover
(John Isherwood)
River Severn, Buildwas: 8:00am
Location
2 Redstart
5 Little Ringed Plover
4 Oystercatcher
(John Isherwood)
Location
Nothing of note
(John Isherwood)
Devil's Dingle: 7:00am
Location
1 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Redstart
2 Little Ringed Plover
(John Isherwood)
River Severn, Buildwas: 8:00am
Location
2 Redstart
5 Little Ringed Plover
4 Oystercatcher
(John Isherwood)
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On this day in 2006
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Tern
1 Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
28 Jul 15
No Sightings in today
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On this day in 2006 and 2012
25 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
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On this day in 2006, 2007 and 2013
23 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
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On this day in 2006, 2012 and 2014
22 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
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On this day in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014
21 Jul 15
Devil's Dingle: 6:45am
Location
1 Redstart
Female Tufted Duck with 4 ducklings.
(John Isherwood)
River Severn, Buildwas: 7:45am
Location
4 Redstart
6 Little Ringed Plovers - including 4 juveniles
1 Oystercatcher
(John Isherwood)
Location
1 Redstart
Female Tufted Duck with 4 ducklings.
(John Isherwood)
River Severn, Buildwas: 7:45am
Location
4 Redstart
6 Little Ringed Plovers - including 4 juveniles
1 Oystercatcher
(John Isherwood)
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On this day in 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2014
2014
(Ed Wilson)
2010
2010
Priorslee Lake - Location
Best was at least 14 Common Sandpipers, perhaps a few more tucked up hidden by all the vegetation on the dam. This number is unprecedented on return passage and has been rarely exceeded on Spring passage. No doubt due to the thundery weather.
Best was at least 14 Common Sandpipers, perhaps a few more tucked up hidden by all the vegetation on the dam. This number is unprecedented on return passage and has been rarely exceeded on Spring passage. No doubt due to the thundery weather.
(Ed Wilson)
20 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
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On this day in 2007, 2009 and 2014
18 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 4:26am - 6:00am // 7:00am - 8:17am
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:07am
10.5°C > 14.5°C. Clear but rather hazy start; some low cloud from W encroached at times. Moderate NW wind feeling fresh again. Good visibility.
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:07am
10.5°C > 14.5°C. Clear but rather hazy start; some low cloud from W encroached at times. Moderate NW wind feeling fresh again. Good visibility.
(93rd visit of the year)
Notes
- 30 Mallard this morning: must be close to my highest-ever count (though I don’t have a ‘maximum’ log): late summer is always when the highest totals are recorded here
- only 8 adult Great Crested Grebes seen but others could have been lurking on the reeds
- Kestrel flew in, unusually, from the W: not been so common in the last few weeks as it was in spring
- one new brood of Coots; some of the older juveniles are wandering widely and hard to ascribe to ‘home’ brood
- first Swift at 4:40am with 15 by 5:10am, mostly to the E in the lee of trees / bushes alongside Castle Farm Way. Gone by 5:45am. Then >25 in same general area by 8:00am.
- almost all the Jackdaws and Rooks went out in one sprawling group at 5:02am
- all the Reed Warblers heard singing were in the NW reed bed: most of this year more have been singing from the N side reeds which were strangely quiet this morning.
And
- a Comma butterfly seen on brambles. Generally it was rather too windy and cool for many insects
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 195 Jackdaws
- 113 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
Count of hirundines etc
- c.40 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 6 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 7 Chiffchaffs
- 10 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat still
- 3 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 30 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 7 + 4 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 58 + 17 (10 broods) Coots
- 45 Black-headed Gulls
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:10am - 6:50am
Location
(68th visit of the year)
Notes
- 4 Mallard ducklings seen this morning from 3 broods
- Tufted Ducks hard to count as many hauled out on island and some way ‘inland’: possibly more?
- the juvenile Great Crested Grebe was venturing out on its own for the first time this morning – indeed it has hardly left the side of the nest previously. Its mother – I assume – is still sitting on the refurbished nest
- not sure why there were so few Coot this morning
- a Comma butterfly seen on brambles. Generally it was rather too windy and cool for many insects
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 195 Jackdaws
- 113 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
Count of hirundines etc
- c.40 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 6 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 7 Chiffchaffs
- 10 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat still
- 3 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 30 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 7 + 4 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 58 + 17 (10 broods) Coots
- 45 Black-headed Gulls
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
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Priorslee Flash: 6:10am - 6:50am
Location
(68th visit of the year)
Notes
- 4 Mallard ducklings seen this morning from 3 broods
- Tufted Ducks hard to count as many hauled out on island and some way ‘inland’: possibly more?
- the juvenile Great Crested Grebe was venturing out on its own for the first time this morning – indeed it has hardly left the side of the nest previously. Its mother – I assume – is still sitting on the refurbished nest
- not sure why there were so few Coot this morning
Also
- Comma butterfly on buddleia in one of the gardens: my first here this year
Birds noted flying over
- Comma butterfly on buddleia in one of the gardens: my first here this year
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
- 6 Swifts
- 8 House Martins
Singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff again
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 61 Greylag Geese
- 151 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 28 (?♂) + 4 (3 broods) Mallard
- 13 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- [the all-white feral duck not seen]
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 14 + 5 (4 broods) Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Hirundines etc
- 6 Swifts
- 8 House Martins
Singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff again
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 61 Greylag Geese
- 151 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 28 (?♂) + 4 (3 broods) Mallard
- 13 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- [the all-white feral duck not seen]
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 14 + 5 (4 broods) Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
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16 Jul 15
No sightings in today.
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15 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 4:22am -6:10am // 7:10am - 9:18am
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:03am
11.5°C > 15.0°C. Medium overcast after recent rain; some drizzle for a while and then clearing after 9:00am. Moderate NNW wind and feeling fresher. Good visibility becoming very good.
Could have stayed in bed: the largest group of a very thin corvid passage was at 8:55am and most of the gulls were after 9:00am!
(92nd visit of the year)
Notes
- 4 Tufted Duck seen early but gone later
- the 4 Cormorants, all immatures, circled overhead for a long while ‘casing the joint’ and then seemed to decide to land and were seen descending to low level (I could not see the water from where I was at the time). About 10 minutes later one bird seen lifting off and it joined the three others low over – but not 100% sure they all landed
- 1 adult Grey Heron flushed pre-dawn: a juvenile seen later
- all the large gulls examined seemed to be Lesser Black-backs apart from just 2 Herring Gulls on the lake: however a few were so scruffy that it was hard to be sure
- first Swifts at 4:58am with 15 by 5:05am: none of the parties / singles seemed to stay long as all were of differing numbers I have treated them all as different birds
And
- a Pipistrelle bat pre-dawn: this is my first at the lake this year no doubt partly because the footpath closure forced me to start at ‘the other end’ and it was too late by the time I arrived in this area. That said I have recorded them around the trees at the S end of the dam previously
- another new species of beetle found - apparently Lagria hirta
Also
- a Single-dotted Wave moth found in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel
And in similar pose a 1st summer Lesser Black-backed Gull moulting in to 2nd winter plumage. It is a wonder it can fly! There is just an indication that it may be moulting its tail – the central tail-feathers look to be missing.
And here is a mass of Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages and degrees of moult taking off. Of the flying birds the 3rd from the right seems to be another Herring Gull.
A few insects about this morning. This seems to be the beetle Lagria hirta though some references on the web suggest it inhabits sandy areas. ‘Hirta’ comes from the Latin ‘hirtus’ meaning rough (of hair, wool etc.) and it is indeed conspicuously bristly.
Another specimen – they were suddenly abundant this morning. From this angle you have to look harder to see the hairs.
This is a Single-dotted Wave moth resting on the side of the tunnel. A common moth but with few of the street-lights operational during the building and road works any moth is welcome this year.
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:03am
11.5°C > 15.0°C. Medium overcast after recent rain; some drizzle for a while and then clearing after 9:00am. Moderate NNW wind and feeling fresher. Good visibility becoming very good.
Could have stayed in bed: the largest group of a very thin corvid passage was at 8:55am and most of the gulls were after 9:00am!
(92nd visit of the year)
Notes
- 4 Tufted Duck seen early but gone later
- the 4 Cormorants, all immatures, circled overhead for a long while ‘casing the joint’ and then seemed to decide to land and were seen descending to low level (I could not see the water from where I was at the time). About 10 minutes later one bird seen lifting off and it joined the three others low over – but not 100% sure they all landed
- 1 adult Grey Heron flushed pre-dawn: a juvenile seen later
- all the large gulls examined seemed to be Lesser Black-backs apart from just 2 Herring Gulls on the lake: however a few were so scruffy that it was hard to be sure
- first Swifts at 4:58am with 15 by 5:05am: none of the parties / singles seemed to stay long as all were of differing numbers I have treated them all as different birds
And
- a Pipistrelle bat pre-dawn: this is my first at the lake this year no doubt partly because the footpath closure forced me to start at ‘the other end’ and it was too late by the time I arrived in this area. That said I have recorded them around the trees at the S end of the dam previously
- another new species of beetle found - apparently Lagria hirta
Also
- a Single-dotted Wave moth found in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves
- 12 Feral Pigeons (3 groups)
- 62 Jackdaws
- 51 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 36 Swifts
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 5 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 9 Chiffchaffs
- 9 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat again
- 4 Reed Warblers again
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Cormorants (see notes)
- 2 Grey Herons
- 10 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 + 4 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 67 + 15 (7 broods) Coots
- 55 Black-headed Gulls again
- 105 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
Here is another recently-fledged Black-headed Gull – this is about the maximum extent of the ginger-brown marks you can see away from the breeding grounds. This was taken at 6:00am on a very dull morning and the camera does not capture the real ginger-brown colouration properly.
Switching from Auto to Program on the camera produced a very different colour-balance even less realistic. They have still to design the perfect camera!
Talk about scruffy! This Herring Gull in moult displays new pearl-grey inner primaries then a gap of re-growing feathers before the old dark outer primaries. The mantle is mainly new feathers. There is almost a white carpal-bar across the leading part of the wing where the base of some of the coverts is exposed by the re-growth of other feathers. The tail is as yet to start to be moulted. It seems to be a 2nd summer bird moulting in to 3rd winter plumage.
And, for comparison, this looks like a 2nd summer Lesser Black-backed Gull moulting in to 3rd winter plumage. Superficially the wings look all dark suggesting it is older but the amount of black in the tail suggests otherwise.
- 90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves
- 12 Feral Pigeons (3 groups)
- 62 Jackdaws
- 51 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 36 Swifts
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 5 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 9 Chiffchaffs
- 9 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat again
- 4 Reed Warblers again
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Cormorants (see notes)
- 2 Grey Herons
- 10 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 + 4 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 67 + 15 (7 broods) Coots
- 55 Black-headed Gulls again
- 105 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
Location
In the tunnel a Single-dotted Wave moth.
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Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
Location
In the tunnel a Single-dotted Wave moth.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane: 7:45am - 8:25am
Location
(11th recent visit)
Notes
Shorter than usual visit as quiet and little to see / hear
- Reed Bunting yet again singing from oilseed rape field
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Woodhouse Lane: 7:45am - 8:25am
Location
(11th recent visit)
Notes
Shorter than usual visit as quiet and little to see / hear
- Reed Bunting yet again singing from oilseed rape field
Other selected counts
- 1 Sky Larks in song
- 2 Chiffchaff in song and 1 calling
- no Blackcaps
- 3 Common Whitethroats in song and 1 calling
- 2 male Bullfinches
- 6 Linnets over
- 2 Yellowhammer in song and 2 calling
And
- no insects of note seen
(Ed Wilson)
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Priorslee Flash: 6:20am - 7:00am
Location
(67th visit of the year)
Notes
- no Mallard ducklings seen this morning
- big increase in number of Tufted Ducks
- the Grey Heron was flushed out of one of the gardens in the Derwent Drive area (eating the fish from the pond?) before flying in to the trees on the island
Also
- although still impossible to see in to the overgrown pond between the lake and The Flash an adult and juvenile Moorhen were on the grass alongside the upper pool
And
- a Yellow-tail moth on one of the lamps
Birds noted flying over.
None
Hirundines etc
- 2 Swifts
- 1 House Martin
Singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 75 Greylag Geese
- 176 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 Canada x Barnacle Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 37 (28♂) Mallard
- 22 (21♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 24 + 10 (5 broods) Coots
This is a Yellow-tail moth. Here we cannot see the yellow tail which the male often sticks up between the closed wings but there are no real confusion species, the White Ermine having a neat row of black dots along the wing.
- 1 Sky Larks in song
- 2 Chiffchaff in song and 1 calling
- no Blackcaps
- 3 Common Whitethroats in song and 1 calling
- 2 male Bullfinches
- 6 Linnets over
- 2 Yellowhammer in song and 2 calling
And
- no insects of note seen
(Ed Wilson)
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Priorslee Flash: 6:20am - 7:00am
Location
(67th visit of the year)
Notes
- no Mallard ducklings seen this morning
- big increase in number of Tufted Ducks
- the Grey Heron was flushed out of one of the gardens in the Derwent Drive area (eating the fish from the pond?) before flying in to the trees on the island
Also
- although still impossible to see in to the overgrown pond between the lake and The Flash an adult and juvenile Moorhen were on the grass alongside the upper pool
And
- a Yellow-tail moth on one of the lamps
Birds noted flying over.
None
Hirundines etc
- 2 Swifts
- 1 House Martin
Singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 75 Greylag Geese
- 176 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 Canada x Barnacle Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 37 (28♂) Mallard
- 22 (21♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 24 + 10 (5 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
14 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 4:24am - 6:15am // 7:20am - 8:58am
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:02am
14.0°C > 16.0°C. Cloudy at low-level with drizzle and rain, somewhat clearer for a while after 05:45. Light N wind. Poor visibility in drizzle but better in drier spells.
Back to my traditional start point in Teece Drive now the road-works finished
(91st visit of the year)
Notes
- 2 Tufted Duck seen in flight apparently repositioning on the lake but not re-found
- 10 adult Great Crested Grebes now: no real sign of any new nests with the two juveniles now independent and looking about to fledge
- 2 Common Sandpipers seen at both ends of the water but probably the same two. A lone bird later was also probably one of these
- 286 large gulls seen over just before sunrise with 109 of these dropping in for a wash and bathe before carrying on. As far as I could see all the birds that landed were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Just 7 more large gulls over later
- one of the Stock Doves flushed from near the putative nest site went and sat on the roof of one of the houses in the estate. This species is normally shyer than Wood Pigeons and I would not expect to see birds around the estate
- many more Wood Pigeons than recently. Included a loose group of 34 birds that had clearly been flushed from somewhere – but this number is more than my recent day-totals
- large screaming party of Swifts over at 4:50am with just 8 located flying around the bottom of the cloud – sounded like many more. Much later 12 birds over the dam but these did not stop
- very poor visibility at the time the corvids should have been passing: that said none was heard at this time either
Location
Telford sunrise: 5:02am
14.0°C > 16.0°C. Cloudy at low-level with drizzle and rain, somewhat clearer for a while after 05:45. Light N wind. Poor visibility in drizzle but better in drier spells.
Back to my traditional start point in Teece Drive now the road-works finished
(91st visit of the year)
Notes
- 2 Tufted Duck seen in flight apparently repositioning on the lake but not re-found
- 10 adult Great Crested Grebes now: no real sign of any new nests with the two juveniles now independent and looking about to fledge
- 2 Common Sandpipers seen at both ends of the water but probably the same two. A lone bird later was also probably one of these
- 286 large gulls seen over just before sunrise with 109 of these dropping in for a wash and bathe before carrying on. As far as I could see all the birds that landed were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Just 7 more large gulls over later
- one of the Stock Doves flushed from near the putative nest site went and sat on the roof of one of the houses in the estate. This species is normally shyer than Wood Pigeons and I would not expect to see birds around the estate
- many more Wood Pigeons than recently. Included a loose group of 34 birds that had clearly been flushed from somewhere – but this number is more than my recent day-totals
- large screaming party of Swifts over at 4:50am with just 8 located flying around the bottom of the cloud – sounded like many more. Much later 12 birds over the dam but these did not stop
- very poor visibility at the time the corvids should have been passing: that said none was heard at this time either
And
- again just 1 Barred Marble moth was about the only insect in the conditions with another Barred Marble found lurking in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 184 large gulls
- 46 Jackdaws only
- 5 Rooks only
Count of hirundines etc
- >20 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs again
- 13 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat
- 4 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 10 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 55 + 14 (7 broods) Coots
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 14 Black-headed Gulls again
- 109 Lesser Black-backed Gull
This rather miserable-looking Lesser Black-backed Gull did not seem to well. It spent much of its time crouched on its haunches and stayed long after all the other gulls had flown off. It did eventually fly off and then looked OK, It was a rather small and attenuated-looking bird. Also only really evident in the photos are the retained immature brown feathers in the wing. There is also a dark smudge on the bill. Otherwise the all-white head would suggest an adult bird but it must in fact be a 2nd summer bird (born 2013).
It is not only insects that like the nectar of umbellifers – Hogweed here. I think it is a Dusky Slug (Arion subfuscus)
‘Only’ and adult Black-headed Gull but worth recording as birds with complete black-hoods are present for only a short while here. As soon as they acquire it in Spring they are off to breeding sites. And as soon as they return, about now, they soon lose it – indeed pale is already showing at the base of the bill. We also see that the wing-moult is already in progress with only 5 primaries visible on the right wing.
- again just 1 Barred Marble moth was about the only insect in the conditions with another Barred Marble found lurking in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 184 large gulls
- 46 Jackdaws only
- 5 Rooks only
Count of hirundines etc
- >20 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs again
- 13 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat
- 4 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 10 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 55 + 14 (7 broods) Coots
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 14 Black-headed Gulls again
- 109 Lesser Black-backed Gull
A Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) is caught in the flash pre-dawn.
The now-independent juvenile Great Crested Grebes.
Horrible light but here is a male Blackcap in full song out in the open.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
Location
This is ‘just’ a Celypha striana (Common Marble) moth but here looks much browner than usual – perhaps just the effect of the strip-lights?
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Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
Location
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:25am - 7:10am
Location
(66th visit of the year)
Notes
- another brood of 5 small Mallard ducklings. One of the earlier broods not located today
- another new brood of Coot: one adult still sitting and another refurbishing its nest
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Priorslee Flash: 6:25am - 7:10am
Location
(66th visit of the year)
Notes
- another brood of 5 small Mallard ducklings. One of the earlier broods not located today
- another new brood of Coot: one adult still sitting and another refurbishing its nest
And
- a Poplar Grey moth on one of the lamps: this is a common and widespread species but new for me in Shropshire
Birds noted flying over
- a Poplar Grey moth on one of the lamps: this is a common and widespread species but new for me in Shropshire
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
Hirundines etc
None
Singing warblers
Singing warblers
None
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 76 Greylag Geese
- 171 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 Canada x Barnacle Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 38 (?♂) + 7 (2 broods) Mallard
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 22 + 9 (4 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 76 Greylag Geese
- 171 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 Canada x Barnacle Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 38 (?♂) + 7 (2 broods) Mallard
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 22 + 9 (4 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 9:08am - 9:45am // 10:25am - 10:34am
Location
(34th visit of the year)
Notes
- the second pair of Great Crested Grebes seen building a new nest in a different place. Also seen in display with the male presenting weed – might this indicate that one or both is / are new birds?
- some of the oldest juvenile Coots are likely recorded as adults – hard to separate
- Common Sandpiper heard in flight but not located [it was 16 July last year when I had a group of 11 birds here]
A convolvulus (bindweed) flower but who made those patterns? It is easy to see that the flower was chewed while it was still a bud and that is what caused the pattern as the petals unfurled. Not sure about the inhabitant – did not notice it at the time otherwise I would have taken a closer look. Perhaps a Mirid bug, though it appears to have a long proboscis that rather rules that out.
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Trench Lock Pool: 9:08am - 9:45am // 10:25am - 10:34am
Location
(34th visit of the year)
Notes
- the second pair of Great Crested Grebes seen building a new nest in a different place. Also seen in display with the male presenting weed – might this indicate that one or both is / are new birds?
- some of the oldest juvenile Coots are likely recorded as adults – hard to separate
- Common Sandpiper heard in flight but not located [it was 16 July last year when I had a group of 11 birds here]
Birds noted flying over
None
Count of hirundines etc
- 1 Swift
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- no Chiffchaffs again
- 1 Blackcap again
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 23 Canada Geese
- 21 (19♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 48 + 18 (? broods) Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
A juvenile Moorhen ‘up a tree’. It is not often realised this species can climb bushes and shrubs with ease and will often climb as high as 10 feet. (it will also walk quite long distances to find new waters to inhabit).
Count of hirundines etc
- 1 Swift
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- no Chiffchaffs again
- 1 Blackcap again
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 23 Canada Geese
- 21 (19♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 48 + 18 (? broods) Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
A Great Crested Grebe building a (replacement) nest.
More weed needed!
Now does that feel right?
The pair inspect their work.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 9:50am - 10:20am
Location
(12th visit of the year)
Notes
- goslings and juvenile Coots becoming hard to separate from the adults. All 4 Canada Geese goslings were of rather different sizes – I think though from 3 broods
- the Great Crested Grebes have hatched at least 3 juveniles from their second brood
- adult male Grey Wagtail seen carrying food; also a fledged juvenile also likely from a second brood
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Middle Pool: 9:50am - 10:20am
Location
(12th visit of the year)
Notes
- goslings and juvenile Coots becoming hard to separate from the adults. All 4 Canada Geese goslings were of rather different sizes – I think though from 3 broods
- the Great Crested Grebes have hatched at least 3 juveniles from their second brood
- adult male Grey Wagtail seen carrying food; also a fledged juvenile also likely from a second brood
And
- my first Grey Squirrel here this year
Birds noted flying over
- my first Grey Squirrel here this year
Birds noted flying over
None
Count of hirundines etc
Count of hirundines etc
None
Singing warblers
Singing warblers
None
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 35 + 10 (3 broods) Greylag Geese
- 66 + 4 (3? broods) Canada Geese
- 18 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 + 3 (1 new brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 + 5 (3 broods) Coots
The extent of the yellow on the chest suggests this a male Grey Wagtail that is carrying food. The black bib is mostly faded away as is the white eye-stripe – worn out at the end of a hectic breeding season!
Long distance and max. zoom: we can just make out three beaks on the adult Great Crested Grebe’s back. Their previous brood seems to have fledged and left.
In the front here we see four almost-grown goslings and an adult Greylag Goose. 3 of the goslings are sitting and one standing. Note how they lack the neck marking shown by the standing adult. Note too the legs and bills are a more pinky-orange.
(Ed Wilson)
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 35 + 10 (3 broods) Greylag Geese
- 66 + 4 (3? broods) Canada Geese
- 18 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 + 3 (1 new brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 + 5 (3 broods) Coots
And an adult with a single gosling in the front.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
Possible Otter
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Common Tern
Possible Otter
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
A female Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2006
A female Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2005
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Common/Arctic Tern
(Martin Adlam)
Common/Arctic Tern
(Martin Adlam)
13 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 4:26am - 5:50am // 6:50am - 7:46am
Location
Telford sunrise: 4:59am
14.0°C > 15.0°C. Promising start with breaks to the N & E but soon overall cloudy at low-level with drizzle and rain after 06:30. Light WSW wind. Good visibility but poor in drizzle later.
Location
Telford sunrise: 4:59am
14.0°C > 15.0°C. Promising start with breaks to the N & E but soon overall cloudy at low-level with drizzle and rain after 06:30. Light WSW wind. Good visibility but poor in drizzle later.
(90th visit of the year)
An early finish after the rain set in and reduced visibility greatly.
Best today was the party of 12 Ravens that flew SE overhead at 5:10am.
Notes
- 3 Tufted Duck seen heading in but never located on the water so may have flown on
- 5 of the 8 adult Great Crested Grebes were having a real tussle several times, two with bills locked and much splashing
- probably rather more Jackdaws than I logged as birds were again hedge-hopping at and possibly below my sight-line. In general the corvids seem to have a week-end lie-in and were rather later than usual.
And
- just 1 Barred Marble moth was about the only insect in the conditions.
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 3 Cormorants
- 62 large gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 326 Jackdaws
- 211 Rooks
- 12 Ravens
Count of hirundines etc
- 9 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 11 Blackcaps
- 2 Common Whitethroats again
- 3 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 18 (16♂) Mallard
- 3 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 + 1 (1 brood)Moorhens
- 48 + 13 (8) Coots
- 67 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash: 6:00am - 6:40am
Location
(65th visit of the year)
Notes
- another increase in Tufted Duck numbers (though by the time I left I could only see 11)
- the juvenile Great Crested Grebe re-found this morning: now behaving very independently even though it seems rather too small to fend for itself
- the Black-headed Gull was a very recently fledged juvenile but seemed to know exactly where it should be on the edge of the island
Birds noted flying over
- just 1 Barred Marble moth was about the only insect in the conditions.
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 3 Cormorants
- 62 large gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 326 Jackdaws
- 211 Rooks
- 12 Ravens
Count of hirundines etc
- 9 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 11 Blackcaps
- 2 Common Whitethroats again
- 3 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 18 (16♂) Mallard
- 3 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 + 1 (1 brood)Moorhens
- 48 + 13 (8) Coots
- 67 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:00am - 6:40am
Location
(65th visit of the year)
Notes
- another increase in Tufted Duck numbers (though by the time I left I could only see 11)
- the juvenile Great Crested Grebe re-found this morning: now behaving very independently even though it seems rather too small to fend for itself
- the Black-headed Gull was a very recently fledged juvenile but seemed to know exactly where it should be on the edge of the island
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
- 1 House Martin only
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcaps
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 66 Greylag Geese
- 143 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 all-white feral goose seen
- 32 (25♂) + 3 (2 broods) Mallard
- 16 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 19 + 4 (3 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
On one of the lamps there was this forest of legs of many harvestmen – probably Leiobunum rotundum. But why so many?
At extreme range in poor light but this shows the plumage of a recently-fledged Black-headed Gull. The brown hind-neck is soon lost, followed by the brown on the back to acquire 1st winter plumage, retaining the brown in the wings, albeit gradually fading.
Hirundines etc
- 1 House Martin only
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcaps
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 66 Greylag Geese
- 143 Canada Geese
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose ssp.
- 1 all-white feral goose seen
- 32 (25♂) + 3 (2 broods) Mallard
- 16 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 19 + 4 (3 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2011
11 Jul 15
No Sightings in today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2007, 2008 and 2013
10 Jul 15
Location
Telford sunrise: 4:57am
10.5°C > 16.5°C. Fine and clear start with patchy cloud, increasing. Calm start with light S wind later. Very good visibility
(89th visit of the year)
Notes
- just 1 drake Tufted Duck this morning
- as I was about to leave I heard and then glimpsed a Common Sandpiper landing on the very overgrown dam-face. Could not get a view of it from anywhere once it had landed
- 1 Common Tern dropped in briefly with the large arrival of gulls and settled on a buoy but I could not find it later
- >30 large gulls on the water when I arrived had already starting to leave. Then c.550 more large gulls appeared from the Ricoh area about 100 of which briefly stopped off at the lake before they all left to the N before 4:45am. Just a few seen over later
- however unlikely it seems the counts of Jackdaws for the last 3 visits have been 492, 192 and today 292!
- 1 Barn Swallow again passed through at the very early time of 5:00am: 2 more singles passed through later
- only 1 Reed Warbler heard singing but at least 8 birds heard calling or seen
And
- in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel I located a Light Arches moth – my first in Shropshire
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- >450 large gulls
- 12 Feral Pigeon (3 groups)
- 292 Jackdaws
- 68 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 13 Swifts
- 3 Barn Swallows
Count of singing warblers
- 10 Chiffchaffs
- 13 Blackcaps
- 2 Common Whitethroats
- 1 Reed Warbler
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 52 + 18 (8) Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Common Tern
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- >130 large gulls
- >1 Herring Gull
The early sunrise.
With a bit more colour later.
And then a great cloudscape: a touch of mist too.
“why did the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) cross the yellow line?”
These are NOT an allied species “Ragwort Bonking-beetles”!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
Location
This a Light Arches moth: a new species for my Shropshire list
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodhouse Lane: 7:50am - 8:50am
Map
(10th recent visit)
Notes
- Reed Bunting still singing from oilseed rape field
Other selected counts
- 1 Sky Larks in song
- 2 Chiffchaff in song and 2 calling
- 2 Blackcaps in song and 1 calling
- 2 Common Whitethroats in song and another seen
- 2 Bullfinches
- 1 Linnet over
- 2 Yellowhammer in song.
- Reed Bunting still singing from oilseed rape field
Other selected counts
- 1 Sky Larks in song
- 2 Chiffchaff in song and 2 calling
- 2 Blackcaps in song and 1 calling
- 2 Common Whitethroats in song and another seen
- 2 Bullfinches
- 1 Linnet over
- 2 Yellowhammer in song.
And
- Common Blue Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly
- Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet butterflies
- a frustrating unidentified moth: looked like a ‘loose-winged’ Orange-tip butterfly but that species is no longer flying this year. The moth – I am sure it was a moth – did not settle and I cannot think of any species which fits what I thought I saw
And this is the flower of a different plant close-by. I can find no reference to any species with paler outer petals and both seem to be Perennial or Field Sow-Thistle (Sonchas arvensis).
- Common Blue Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly
- Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet butterflies
- a frustrating unidentified moth: looked like a ‘loose-winged’ Orange-tip butterfly but that species is no longer flying this year. The moth – I am sure it was a moth – did not settle and I cannot think of any species which fits what I thought I saw
This is the flower of a Sow-Thistle sp. Note the paler outer petals ....
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 6:00am - 6:50am
Location
(64th visit of the year)
Notes
- the Canada Goose with some Barnacle Goose genes was present again
- could not see the juvenile Great Crested Grebe this morning: the female(?) was still sitting on the nest; recently the other adult has also been around the nest with the juvenile but this morning it was away at the S end of the lake fishing on its own
- most of the adult Coots have now joined up in a single loafing group unless they are still looking after juveniles
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
- 5 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 2 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap again
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 59 Greylag Geese
- 169 Canada Geese
- 1 Canada x Barnacle(?) Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose seen
- 35 (23♂) + 3 (2 broods) Mallard
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 25 + 7 (4 broods) Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
Here we see a juvenile Black-headed Gull. When they first fledge they are even more gingery than seen here: this bird has perhaps been fledged more than 2 weeks.
This is a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) larvae. The Harlequin is an invasive species that out-competes our native ladybirds. It arrived in the UK in 2004 and is now common: I see it every year around the lake whereas ‘our’ ladybirds are relatively uncommon.
Hirundines etc
- 5 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 2 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap again
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 59 Greylag Geese
- 169 Canada Geese
- 1 Canada x Barnacle(?) Goose
- 1 all-white feral goose seen
- 35 (23♂) + 3 (2 broods) Mallard
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 25 + 7 (4 broods) Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
9 Jul 15
Priorslee Lake: 4:19am - 5:45am // 6:50am - 9:14am
Location
Telford sunrise: 4:56am
9.5°C > 16.0°C. Fine and clear start with just puffy cloud later. Moderate and rather chilly W wind, falling away later. Good visibility.
(88th visit of the year)
Notes
- 3 Tufted Duck were new in
- 10 of the Black-headed Gulls were present when I arrived: c.15 more flew in
- >150 large gulls on the water when I arrived had all left to the N / NE by 04:30. As far as I could tell all but 2 were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. At least 230 more left the Ricoh area before 05:00, also heading N. A few heading W overhead much later
- first Swift early as usual – 04:35: but only 5 today. Later a single flew through
- not sure why there were so few corvids: the sky was clear and visibility good – they just did not seem to come this way today
- 1 Barn Swallow at the very early time of 05:00, just perhaps leaving a roost here.
Location
Telford sunrise: 4:56am
9.5°C > 16.0°C. Fine and clear start with just puffy cloud later. Moderate and rather chilly W wind, falling away later. Good visibility.
(88th visit of the year)
Notes
- 3 Tufted Duck were new in
- 10 of the Black-headed Gulls were present when I arrived: c.15 more flew in
- >150 large gulls on the water when I arrived had all left to the N / NE by 04:30. As far as I could tell all but 2 were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. At least 230 more left the Ricoh area before 05:00, also heading N. A few heading W overhead much later
- first Swift early as usual – 04:35: but only 5 today. Later a single flew through
- not sure why there were so few corvids: the sky was clear and visibility good – they just did not seem to come this way today
- 1 Barn Swallow at the very early time of 05:00, just perhaps leaving a roost here.
And
- at least 2 large bats, probably Noctules, flying around when I arrived
- Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies as usual
- Large Skipper, Comma, Speckled Wood and Ringlet butterflies: the Comma was new for me here this year
- in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel I located both Dark Arches and Snout moths at rest: both new for me this year
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 3 Cormorants
- 235 large gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Collared Dove
- 192 Jackdaws
- 25 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 6 Swifts
- 4 Barn Swallows
- 6 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 8 Chiffchaffs
- 11 Blackcaps yet again
- 4 Common Whitethroats yet again
- 3 Reed Warblers again
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 54 + 13 (6) Coots
- c.25 Black-headed Gulls
- >150 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- >2 Herring Gulls
Not a great picture because it was still rather dark. This Song Thrush is attacking a slug with gusto. We can see it is a juvenile from the yellow at the gape and the row of dots on the tips of the greater coverts.
A Black-headed Gull of course. At first glance the black-head (hood actually) suggests an adult but the brown in the wing tells us it is a 1st summer bird and the overall scruffiness tells us it is moulting in to 2nd winter plumage. It will at that stage likely be inseparable from an adult winter bird.
This is rather strange: the lack of antenna and the overall shape suggests a leaf-hopper but the separation between the thorax and abdomen means it must be a beetle of some sort.
How cute: this is a Reed Warbler. At the time I got the impression it was a juvenile but there is no hint of yellow on the gape so it seems unlikely.
Female damselflies can be hard: this is, I think based on the marking on segment 8, a Blue-tailed Damselfly. The flanks of the thorax are usually blue but, as we see here, may also be rose pink (or violet or green).
This is a teneral Blue-tailed Damselfly – has not yet acquired its proper colour. You can get a good idea of size against my (rather grubby) fingers.
The hoverfly Volucella pellucens feeding on bramble. This species, sometimes called a drone fly, is the hoverfly that regularly hovers over paths at just above head height.
Rather a ragged specimen of Comma butterfly – the raggedness accentuates the irregular wings shape of this species.
The very common hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus feeding on Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).
In the Priorslee tunnel (between the Lake and The Flash)
- at least 2 large bats, probably Noctules, flying around when I arrived
- Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies as usual
- Large Skipper, Comma, Speckled Wood and Ringlet butterflies: the Comma was new for me here this year
- in the Priorslee Avenue foot-tunnel I located both Dark Arches and Snout moths at rest: both new for me this year
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 3 Cormorants
- 235 large gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Collared Dove
- 192 Jackdaws
- 25 Rooks
Count of hirundines etc
- 6 Swifts
- 4 Barn Swallows
- 6 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- 8 Chiffchaffs
- 11 Blackcaps yet again
- 4 Common Whitethroats yet again
- 3 Reed Warblers again
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 54 + 13 (6) Coots
- c.25 Black-headed Gulls
- >150 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- >2 Herring Gulls
However it does show rather ‘loose’ and ‘fluffy’ plumage.
Here is a close-up of the same female Blue-tailed Damselfly.
The business end of the same species of hoverfly.
This is the hoverfly Helophilus pendulus.
(Ed Wilson)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Flash: 5:55am - 6:40am
Location
(63rd visit of the year)
Notes
- it is confirmed that only 3 cygnets remain
- the erstwhile party of 8 Mallard ducklings is now fully integrated with other adult Mallard – though there were more of these in any case today
- small arrival of Tufted Ducks here also: 8 drakes together; also a pair off the island
- 2 juvenile Grey Herons – one at each end of the water
- Coot juveniles perhaps gone back in to hiding this morning? One adult still sitting on a nest
- 1 Black-headed Gull again
- another Siskin over (I was pleased to read on the Belvide blog that single Siskins had been recorded there on several recent days and that they too regarded this as unusual).
And
- two dead Field Voles (Microtus agrestis) – also known as Short-tailed Vole – found within a few yards of each other
- almost dead Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) less than 100 yards away – why?!
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
- 2 House Martins only
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 57 Greylag Geese
- 146 Canada Geese
- [no all-white feral goose seen]
- 47 (32♂) + 2 (2 broods) Mallard
- 10 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- [no all-white feral duck seen]
- 2 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen again
- 20 + 3 (2 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
I think this another dead Field Vole (Microtus agrestis). The ears are rather prominent which might suggest Bank Vole (Clethriomys glareolus) but I think that species would look more rufous and I think it is just the way the fur has been parted – by what? – that gives the large-eared effect. The other side was a complete mess and had been partially eaten but whether that was before or after death is not obvious. Amazingly this was less that 10’ from the other vole.
Warning: don’t try and drive along ‘Squirrel Alley’ at The Flash: this was the second felled lamp-post.
This is I think a Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus). It was still alive just – I could hear it struggling for breath and it was occasionally kicking its legs. It seemed to be uninjured and I have no idea what might have been wrong.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 9:24am - 9:30am // 10:10am - 10:50am
Location
(33rd visit of the year)
Notes
- back to 2 Mute Swans: these seemed rather uninterested in the nest site; because the birds are not ringed impossible to say whether these are the residents or whether they have been usurped
- could not reliably sex the Mallard on the views obtained, now that most males are in eclipse plumage
- the 3 Shoveler were a surprise: I would not expect to see any returning dabbling ducks before August
- one of the second pair of Great Crested Grebes was sitting on the nest: its mate could not be located – given up?
- some of the oldest juvenile Coots are likely recorded as adults – hard to separate
Also
- what seemed to be small ‘black-and-white’ parakeet sp. was glimpsed as it departed with a party of Wood Pigeons I flushed from one of the garden abutting the water. It disappeared in to a large leylandii bush and was not seen again. Obviously an escape but it would have been nice to be able to identify the species. Looked too large for a budgerigar but it was a fleeting view
And
- Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly
- Large White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies: Gatekeeper was my first in Shropshire this year; the Large White was a new species at this site for me this year
- continuing today’s mammal theme I logged my first Grey Squirrel and Brown Rat of the year for the site
- a new hoverfly for me – Epistrophe grossulariae
Birds noted flying over
None
Count of hirundines etc
- 2 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- no Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 Canada Geese
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 3 (1♂) Shoveler
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 54 + 15 (9 broods) Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
An unexpected find – no mistaking the bill of a Shoveler (with Mallard). Note also the long white-edged feathers on the back that identifies this as an eclipse adult male.
My first Gatekeeper in Shropshire this year: not a great view but the double white spot in the black forewing mark is diagnostic.
I think this is Wood Forget-me-not (Myostis sylvatica): whatever it is an attractive clump! (note the green bug sp. disappearing from view).
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 9:35am - 10:05am
Location
(11th visit of the year)
Notes
- with my last visit being on 5th June I was not really able to tie up the broods of goslings on this visit with those I recorded on my last visit
- the two adult Great Crested Grebes present with one bird sitting again. No sign of any of the juveniles but they may well have successfully fledged and left by now
- another increase in Coot numbers: many of the oldest juveniles not reliably separable from adults and this may account for some of the increase
- a Sparrowhawk over was my first this year here
And
- just 1 terrapin sp. sunning itself
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
None
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 35 + 11 (4 broods) Greylag Geese
- 114 + 2 (2 broods) Canada Geese
- 20 (?♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks remain
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 15 + 6 (4 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
- two dead Field Voles (Microtus agrestis) – also known as Short-tailed Vole – found within a few yards of each other
- almost dead Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) less than 100 yards away – why?!
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
- 2 House Martins only
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 57 Greylag Geese
- 146 Canada Geese
- [no all-white feral goose seen]
- 47 (32♂) + 2 (2 broods) Mallard
- 10 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- [no all-white feral duck seen]
- 2 Grey Heron
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen again
- 20 + 3 (2 broods) Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull
When looked at closely Collared Dove is quite attractive.
Did I say close-up?
I think this a dead Field Vole (Microtus agrestis).
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Lock Pool: 9:24am - 9:30am // 10:10am - 10:50am
Location
(33rd visit of the year)
Notes
- back to 2 Mute Swans: these seemed rather uninterested in the nest site; because the birds are not ringed impossible to say whether these are the residents or whether they have been usurped
- could not reliably sex the Mallard on the views obtained, now that most males are in eclipse plumage
- the 3 Shoveler were a surprise: I would not expect to see any returning dabbling ducks before August
- one of the second pair of Great Crested Grebes was sitting on the nest: its mate could not be located – given up?
- some of the oldest juvenile Coots are likely recorded as adults – hard to separate
Also
- what seemed to be small ‘black-and-white’ parakeet sp. was glimpsed as it departed with a party of Wood Pigeons I flushed from one of the garden abutting the water. It disappeared in to a large leylandii bush and was not seen again. Obviously an escape but it would have been nice to be able to identify the species. Looked too large for a budgerigar but it was a fleeting view
And
- Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly
- Large White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies: Gatekeeper was my first in Shropshire this year; the Large White was a new species at this site for me this year
- continuing today’s mammal theme I logged my first Grey Squirrel and Brown Rat of the year for the site
- a new hoverfly for me – Epistrophe grossulariae
Birds noted flying over
None
Count of hirundines etc
- 2 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Count of singing warblers
- no Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 22 Canada Geese
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 3 (1♂) Shoveler
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 54 + 15 (9 broods) Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
This is the hoverfly Epistrophe grossulariae which is a new species for me.
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Middle Pool: 9:35am - 10:05am
Location
(11th visit of the year)
Notes
- with my last visit being on 5th June I was not really able to tie up the broods of goslings on this visit with those I recorded on my last visit
- the two adult Great Crested Grebes present with one bird sitting again. No sign of any of the juveniles but they may well have successfully fledged and left by now
- another increase in Coot numbers: many of the oldest juveniles not reliably separable from adults and this may account for some of the increase
- a Sparrowhawk over was my first this year here
And
- just 1 terrapin sp. sunning itself
Birds noted flying over
None
Hirundines etc
None
Count of singing warblers
- 1 Chiffchaff
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 35 + 11 (4 broods) Greylag Geese
- 114 + 2 (2 broods) Canada Geese
- 20 (?♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks remain
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 15 + 6 (4 broods) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in 2012 and 2014
2014Priorslee Lake
Highlights Here
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
(Ed Wilson)
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