2 Apr 17

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.5°C > 9.0°C: Broken cloud clearing to scattered cloud and then sunny spells. Brisk NW wind making it chilly at first. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:42 BST

Priorslee Lake: 05:52 – 08:05 // 09:00 – 09:30

(46th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- most unusual sighting was the c.12 Goosander that flew E c.07:30. My view was largely obscured by trees to see exactly how many birds there were, but I could see several well-enough to confirm their ID. A very late date to see them here in any number (though they breed within 10 miles or so on the River Severn)
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew very high E, I assume from the Ricoh copse somewhere. Later what was possibly a 3rd heard in this copse
- the Sand Martins turned up more or less spot-on 09:15 but stayed less than 5 minutes
- almost no Magpies using the roost area now – I only logged 13 birds all morning
- a couple of Pied Wagtails over: as they don’t seem to be using the roof of the Holy Trinity Academy any more I have restored them to the overflights count
- small passage of Meadow Pipits this morning – 11 birds, mostly singles
- also apparent passage of Goldfinches with 5 high-flying groups seen
- the 3 Lesser Redpolls were together: unusual – mostly singles when seen / heard over
and
- single March Tubic (Diurnea fagella) and Shoulder-stripe moths on the lamps this morning. Both of these moths seem to be new for me at this site and the Shoulder-stripe appears to be new for my Shropshire list

Birds noted flying over the lake
- 4 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 10 Canada Geese (5 groups)
- c.12 Goosanders (see notes)
- 4 Feral Pigeon
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 382 Jackdaws (number of groups not recorded)
- 2 Rooks (singles)
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 11 Meadow Pipit
- 2 Greenfinches
- 21 Goldfinches (5 groups)
- 3 Lesser Redpolls

Hirundine counts
- 6 Sand Martins

Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 12 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese briefly
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 15 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
- 6 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 5 Moorhens
- 23 Coots

Not an inspiring start to the day, but got better.

Another none-too-helpful Chiffchaff that kept hiding. But we can see the weak supercilium, pale lower mandible and dark legs well-enough.

Either ‘chiffing’ or ‘chaffing’. You can almost see what it ate for breakfast.

This March Tubic (Diurnea fagella) moth is on one of the lamps. This is a new species for me at the lake.

This Shoulder-stripe moth is on another of the lamps. Well-named it almost has a 3D appearance from this angle. New for me in Shropshire but a common-enough moth.
(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:15 – 08:55

(35th visit of the year)

Notes
- the Greylag x Canada Goose has turned up again
- the Black-headed Gull tucked well up against the island and did not look too well
not much else to note

Birds noted flying over today
None

Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 1 (1) Blackcap

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 28 Canada Geese
- 1 all white feral goose
- 13 (12♂) Mallard
- 29 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 17 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull

Between the lake and The Flash alongside the path
- single Moorhen on the lower pool and two on the upper pool
- singing Chiffchaff around the lower pool

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in ...........

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
7 Greylag Geese
14 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
229 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
6 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling Goose
52 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
12 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Gull
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
33 Greylag Geese
10 Tufted Duck
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
2 Little Grebe
Chiffchaff
Reed Bunting.
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Brambling
1 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
>100 Fieldfare
> 50 Redwing
6 Lapwing
Meadow Pipit
Yellowhammer
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes 
9 Greylag Geese
2 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
1 Peregrine
4 Blackcaps
13 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes 
48 Tufted Duck 
2 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Curlew
5 Sky Larks
1 Blackcap 
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Curlew
Wheatear
> 50 Sand Martin
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 male Common Redstart
21 Wheatear
(John Isherwood, Ian Grant)

2010
Priorslee Lake
White Wagtail
Wheatear
3 Sand Martin
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
Common Redstart
6 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
17 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 
25 Tufted Duck
2 Shoveler
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill 
2 Lapwing 
2 Curlew
1 Blackcap
1 Sparrowhawk 
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Skylarks
4 Chiffchaffs 
8 Goldfinches
5 Yellowhammers 
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
146 Jackdaws
1 Stock Dove
192 Wood Pigeons
2 Sky Larks
1 Meadow Pipit
27 Blackbirds
31 Fieldfares
3 Swallow
53 Sand Martins
4 Swallow
3 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
22 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)