11 Apr 16

Telford
Location

A male Iberian Chiffchaff is still present in scrub on south side of Granville Road 100m west of kissing gate north of pond for 6th day. Via BirdGuides Here

Video of Iberian Chiffchaff (Tom Lowe)


Sound track of this Iberian Chiffchaff at Donnington courtesy of Xeno-canto

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Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:25

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

7°C > 9°C Low cloud and occasional light rain. Cloud lifted somewhat after 09:00 but stayed overcast. Moderate ENE wind, rather less than forecast. Moderate visibility

It was the sort of weather and time of year when almost anything might turn up: but as is so often the case nothing did!

Another day with many Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers around – I had expected that many of the Willow Warblers at least might have moved on in the clear weather yesterday

(59th visit of the year)

Other notes
- the two Canada Geese on the lake were eventually chased off by the cob Swan, but he did not seem very anxious to do so
- another big count of Tufted Duck for the date. Many birds again in small flying groups, but none actually arrived or departed
- a Kingfisher flew in from the E and across the dam and away over the lake. This is my first sighting this month: I had assumed the bird(s) had left to more suitable habitat for breeding – they need a muddy bank to make their nest hole
- the first Swallows arrived at 08:30 and were joined by House Martins about five minutes later. Numbers of both species gradually increased
- the roadworks at Limekiln Bank O-bout has seriously reduced the traffic and hence the noise along Castle Farm Way. Today, in the quieter moments, two Skylarks and a Yellowhammer could be clearly heard from the dam, all singing away from the Woodhouse Lane area

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 8 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 5 Canada Geese (3 groups)
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Greenfinch
- 2 Goldfinches

Hirundine totals
- c.30 Sand Martins
- c.10 Barn Swallows

Singing warblers around the lake (see proviso on introduction)
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler again
- 7 Chiffchaffs again
- 7 Willow Warblers
- 2 Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese
- 3 (3♂) Mallard again
- 45 (30♂) Tufted Ducks
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- 11 Moorhens
- 43 Coots

Wishful thinking: this Pied Wagtail seemed a bit pale I was trying to turn it in to a White Wagtail. Does the rump look grey? Nope. So just a Pied Wagtail after all.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:00
Location

(38th visit of the year)

Notes
- the Sand Martins were new for my year list at this site
- the over flying Stock Dove was also new for my site’s year list: and amazingly
- the Pied Wagtail was also new for me here this year

Birds noted flying over
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Stock Dove
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Hirundine totals
- 4 Sand Martins

Singing warblers around the water (see proviso on introduction)
- 5 Chiffchaffs
- 6 Willow Warblers
- 2 Blackcaps

The counts from the water

- 1+ Mute Swan
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 25 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 20 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 1 Moorhen
- 17 Coots again

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in .....................
2015
Local Area
Today's news Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
1 Common Sandpiper
>6 Sand Martins
1 Grasshopper Warbler
7 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Greylag Goose
1 Cackling-type Goose
24 Tufted Ducks
3 Sand Martins
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Greylag Geese
22 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
12 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Duck
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Swallow, House Martin & Sand Martin.
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
(Arthur Harper, Ian Grant and John Isherwood)

The Flash
Cackling Canada Goose
4 Sand Martins
2 Shoveler
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Trench Middle Pool
House Martin
4 Sand Martin
2 Chiffchaffs
(Martin Grant)

Trench Lock Pool
12 Sand Martins
(Martin Grant)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
80+ Hirundines
1 House Martin
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
3 Linnet
2 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
(Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Mallard
1 Buzzard
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
90 Wood Pigeons
2 Kestrels
1 Sky Lark
1 Meadow Pipit
4 Grey Wagtails
6 Pied Wagtails
2 House Martin
24 Wrens
15 Robins
24 Blackbirds
1 Wheatear
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
13 Greenfinches
3 Siskins
2 Linnets
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)