8 Apr 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: then Trench Lock Pool

6.0°C > 8.5°C: Low overcast started to break c.08:30 leaving scattered below medium/high overcast. Mainly calm. Moderate visibility to start and very dull: good later.

Sunrise: 06:28 BST

Priorslee Lake: 05:30 – 06:50 // 08:00 – 09:30

(42nd visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- all 4 cygnets went for a fly at 08:35 and for the first time I can recall disappeared from view before returning some 10 minutes later
- the pair of Tufted Duck was only seen early+
- all 4 Great Crested Grebes seen today
- at least 80 of the Wood Pigeons were seen in flight together to far N: put up by scarers?
- there seems to be two Great Spotted Woodpecker territories this year with more or less simultaneous drumming heard from the N and W parts of the area
- people use the phrase “up with the lark” which I have assumed implied that larks were early risers. This seems not to be true: the birds in the fields to the E of Castle Farm Way are not singing when I make my first lap of the lake at c.06:45 whereas almost all other species are singing – indeed Song Thrushes and Blackbirds have more or less stopped by then. The Sky Larks are singing by 08:00
- 2 Sand Martins and 3 Swallows flew W at 08:05: thereafter small numbers of Sand Martins, often over the dam area where I can attest to there being plenty of midges to eat
- a late Redwing fly-over
- a Mistle Thrush seen on the football field. Later distant song heard – seems to be somewhere near the Co-operative store in Priorslee Avenue
- a female Pied Wagtail on the football field: then 3 seen chasing around the SW grass: finally a male with an injured leg / foot on the dam
and, all on various lamps
- two White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- an Early Thorn moth
- two Shoulder Stripe moth
with
- lots of live and dead midges at least some apparently Chironomus plumosus
- a bumble bee sp. seen in flight, likely Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 5 Canada Geese
- 2 Buzzards
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- >130 Wood Pigeons
- 156 Jackdaws (14 groups)
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Greenfinch
- 1 Goldfinch

Hirundines seen today
- >11 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted: figure in brackets are singing birds (not necessarily all the males seen were noted singing)
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 9 (7) Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + 4 Mute Swans
- 5 Canada Geese
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhens
- 34 Coots
- 1 Kingfisher

‘Our’ three cygnets lead the long-term visiting cygnet in a fly-about.

Heading away.

And around: they disappeared from view and were gone almost 10 minutes today – their longest flight I have noted.

I sometimes wonder how observant I am. This Great Crested Grebe in the NW corner of the lake shows remarkably few head-plumes and almost looks bald. Why have I not noticed it before?

Perhaps the bird is just wet?

This male Pied Wagtail was hopping about holding its right leg against its body, as here. Seemed to be managing quite well.

A few splendid moths this morning: this is a Shoulder Stripe. It was a new species for me at the lake last year.

... and now two come along. A variable species as we see by comparing these two specimens.

This is an Early Thorn moth. All thorn moths rest with their wings held vertically – unusual in moths. This specimen was on a lamp post and at a slight angle making it almost impossible to get the whole insect in focus. Also the only way to avoid a confusing background was to take it against the bright sky. This is a new species for me here.

At an unhelpful angle this seems to be one of the plumed midges but not sure which species.

Plumed midges eh? On the stand atop the dam the spiders have been catching midges in their webs. I think they are Chironomus plumosus.

The larder of another spider.

Much better than any of my previous efforts: here is a White-legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:00 – 07:50

(28th visit of the year)

Notes from today
- after the ‘broken wing’ episode with the Mute Swan yesterday not at all clear what happened – but there is at least one new bird here today wearing a green Darvic ring. I phoned the Cuan Rescue Centre and, at their request, the RSPCA who said they would take a look but if the birds were nesting they might leave well alone. One of the fishermen told me he was present all yesterday and saw no boat on the water
- 2 different pairs of Mallard were ‘roof sitting’ today
- significant decrease in Tufted Duck numbers. A few of these were perhaps prospecting the island as a nest site – they have bred here occasionally in the past
- large Willow Warbler count. This is not at all unusual on this date as birds pass through. They seem to prefer the lower vegetation around here to the lake where trees are much taller
- at the N end in one willow tree I noted one Chiffchaff, two Willow Warblers and two Blackcaps (one a male) all fly-catching. They were all so busy that none of them was even calling, let alone singing

Birds noted flying over
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons

Warblers noted: figures in brackets are singing birds (not necessarily all the males seen were noted singing)
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (6) Willow Warblers
- 5 (3) Blackcaps

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 26 Canada Geese
- 16 (14♂) Mallard again
- 33 (18♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 17 Coots

Here is the ‘new’ Mute Swan with a green ring. Looks something like CFS5 to me – taking advice.

Not easy against the light: one of the Chiffchaffs here.

Noted between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen seen on the lower pool
- 2 Starlings over: probably bird that have returned to breed in the estate
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs between the two pool
- 2 (1) Blackcaps between the two pool
- a late Siskin flew over

Actually between the lake and The Flash here we see another Chiffchaff at the lower pool. Another of the rather brown-crowned birds. Note the very indistinct and short supercilium and dark legs.

(Ed Wilson)

NOTE

Thank you to Martin Grant reference the above Mute Swan ringed as CF59, this is the same one that was at the Lake for at least two weeks end of January-beginning February.

Green CF59
09-07-02       R:      RIVER DEE CHESTER GBCH SJ408660                              D Cookson

                   Age/ Sex  5F.

15-09-02       S:       SEFTON PARK LIVERPOOL GBLA [21kms]                       D Cookson

09-09-03       S:       RHYL MARINE LAKE GBCW [43kms]                               D Cookson

08-08-05       S:       DODDINGTON MERE NANTWICH GBCH SJ7146 [36kms]D Cookson   

28-12-16       S:       WHITMORE NEWCASTLE GBST SJ8041[47kms]                 D Cookson

24-01-18       S:       PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209 [64kms]            M G Grant

                   In flock of 11 inc resident pair Blue 7FAD/7IVT, cygnets Blue 7IVS, 7IVU, 7IVV

                   + 2 adults with Orange rings, 1 with BTO ring & 2 un-ringed.

                   Also on 25-01-17, 07-02-18. 09-02-18 in flock of 15 inc Orange 21U.

08-04-18       S:       PRIORSLEE FLASH TELFORD GBSA SJ7110                       E J Wilson
                        Paired with un-ringed male.

(Martin Grant)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:40 – 10:15

(13th visit of the year)

Willow Warbler and Blackcap were new this year for me here: my 49th and 50th species here in 2018

Notes from here
- an unringed adult Mute Swan was standing on the usual nest site and the other birds chasing around the lake. Later all three were on the water and I could not work out which might be the cob from last year
- one of last year’s six cygnets in a bad way and with blood on its feathers. One of the fishermen told me the RSPCA were due to attend at 12:00. It had fishing line around its bill with a hook on the end
- before I left one of the drake Tufted Ducks seem to have become attached to some line
- two 1st summer Black-headed Gulls arrived and after hawking insects for a while settled on the water
- Jackdaws seen collecting nesting material
- at least 12 Starlings wheeling over the estate to the NE
- Goldfinch seen carrying nest material

Birds noted flying over here [apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
None

Hirundines here
None

Warblers noted: figure in brackets is singing birds
- 3 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 1 (1) Blackcap

The counts from the water
- 6 + 6 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard as usual
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 4 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 2 Black-headed Gulls

One unhappy cygnet. The RSPCA was due to collect it and deal with the fishing line wrapped around its beak and neck at 12:00 today. I assume the blood is from a fishhook somewhere.

And this drake Tufted Duck seems to have fallen foul of the anglers’ kit as well.

Rather a naff shot: I doubt the Coot is advancing to help – likely looking to steal food. Good luck to it.

During my visit to Upton Warren earlier this week I photographed numerous adult summer-plumaged Black-headed Gulls (view them Here). Here is an opportunity to see the plumage of first-summer birds.

And the underwing.

And upper and underwings. Note the way the tail is held in a shallow V – not noticed this before.

When the Canal and River Trust chopped all the trees on the dam here they used a chipper. The debris had the advantage of making the path less muddy. I don’t think it was to provide Jackdaws with nesting material!

Here is its mate also with a beakful.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese
11 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
284 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
30 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
Buzzard
Stock Dove
Willow Warbler
Siskin
Redpoll
Common Redstart
Pied Flycatcher
Crossbill
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Little Grebes 
5 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Heron 
7 Tufted Ducks 
1 Great Black-backed Gull 
28 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Canada x ? hybrid goose 
1 Pochard 
59 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
6 Great Crested Grebes 
14 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
Oystercatcher
2 Great Crested Grebe 
2 Cormorant 
7 Tufted Ducks 
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Nedge Hill
7 Lapwings
2 Skylarks
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Blackcap
1 Willow Warbler
1 Wheatear
2 Jays
(Martin and Ian Grant)

2011
Nedge Hill
5 Wheatear
4 Common Redstart
Ring Ouzel
(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin
2 Tree Pipits
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
Little Owl
(Pete Nickless)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pintail x Mallard
4 Tufted Duck
2 Meadow Pipit
5 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaff
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
Ring Ouzel
8 Fieldfare
(Martin Grant)

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks 
5 Stock Doves
105 Wood Pigeons
4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
9 Sand Martin.
14 Swallow
4 Meadow Pipits
20 Wrens
21 Robins
23 Blackbirds
1 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
16 Magpies
1 Jay
15 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)