30 Apr 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 4.0°C: Mainly high overcast with some low cloud at times; clear to far W. Very fresh N wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 05:40 BST

In the very chilly conditions it was a rather shorter visit than usual

Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 06:15 // 07:05 – 08:25

(53rd visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- quite where the extra adult Mute Swans came from is a mystery. The two nesting pairs still present. The other 5 were in a group along the S side. Whether the two recently seen on the dam were amongst these is hard to say as contractors were mowing the grass on the dam and the birds would have moved anyway
- pair of Tufted Ducks until they flew of W at 07:20
- just 1 Great Crested Grebe braving the chilly, breezy conditions
- Coots not counted – too windy and chill on the dam. However a single juvenile seen with adults in the NW corner
- 9 Sand Martins flew W at 06:05: a few more later
- by 07:25 at least 6 Barn Swallows were sheltering from the wind between forays on the reeds in the NW corner
- no idea why two Willow Warblers have (re?)appeared. Neither were where I have heard song in recent weeks
- just 1 Reed Warbler heard: many reeds were flattened by the heavy snow and have not recovered. We may not get as many breeding birds as usual
- Tree Creepers heard calling near the Teece Drive gate and also in the NE corner
and
- the cluster of unidentified fungus somewhat increased to c.20 fruits

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 6 Canada Geese (3 separate pairs)
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Wood Pigeons

Hirundines seen today (minimum numbers)
- 13 Sand Martins
- 8 Barn Swallows
- 4 House Martins

Warblers noted: figure in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)
- 10 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 9 (5) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler again
- 3 (3) (Common) Whitethroats still
- 1 (1) Reed Warblers

The counts from the lake area
- 9 Mute Swans
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (1) Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 4 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted, but see notes]
- 1 Common Sandpiper

The 5 ‘spare’ Mute Swans seemed to be getting together OK – perhaps to avoid too much attention from the aggressive resident cobs.

Distant shot of my first juvenile Coot of the year. Just one ugly-looking red-headed juvenile seen in this brood, though possibly more sheltering in the reeds.

Here we see 6 Barn Swallows resting on sheltered reeds between forays for insects.

A flower of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum): there have been flowers around for a few days but this was the first time I had easy access for a photo.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 06:55

(39th visit of the year)

Notes from today
- 2 Sand Martins over at 06:35; 1 flew through at 06:50
- 1 Pied Wagtail in the roadway of Derwent Drive. My first in the area for several weeks
and
- the same Streamer moth remains in exactly the same place on the lamp in squirrel alley after 6 days

Birds noted flying over
None

Hirundines seen today
- 3 Sand Martins

Warblers noted: figures in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Willow Warblers
- 7 (5) Blackcaps

The counts from the water
- 2 resident Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 18 Canada Geese
- 16 (14♂) Mallard again
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Moorhens
- 14 Coots

A different angle on a duck Mallard. We see the whit-bordered blue speculum and also the edging on the feathers and especially the tail feathers.

Noted between the lake and The Flash
- Moorhen calling from upper pool
- 1 Blackcap singing by the lower pool
- another Blackcap singing from gardens opposite primary school field

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Raven
2 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 White Wagtail
2 Common Redstart
40 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
3 Whimbrel
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Common Redstart
15 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin
2 Pied Flycatchers
Common Redstart
(Observer Unknown)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
2 Red-legged Partridge
Lesser Whitethroat
Cormorant
5 Lapwings
6 Reed Warblers
3 Whitethroats
8 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
4 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
17 Mute Swans
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Swift
c.20 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
6 House Sparrows
2 Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
2 Stock Dove
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Sedge Warbler
4 Reed Warblers
Chiffchaff
126 Jackdaw
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Buzzards
Swallow
Ring Ouzel
2 Common Whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Greylag Geese
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo
1 Sky Lark
c.10 Sand Martins
c.8 Swallows
c.20 House Martins
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtails
32 Wren
26 Blackbirds
2 Sedge Warblers
3 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Garden Warbler
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
11 Chaffinches
8 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)