2 May 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.5°C > 11.0°C: Broken clouds and passing showers after earlier rain. Moderate / fresh WNW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: not relevant

Priorslee Lake: 13:45 – 14:15

(55th visit of the year)

Viewed only from the lay-by at the E end and the dam-top, all between passing showers. The model boat club were at the W end of the water. This did not seem to be affecting the birds on the water

Notes from today:

- the only significant record was of Sand Martins both low over the water and high in the sky – though rarely both locations at the same time. At least 30 birds were involved, possibly many more if any of these were moving through

Partial counts from the lake area

- 6 Mute Swans

- 1 Canada Goose

- 4 (3♂) Mallard

- 2 Great Crested Grebes again

- 1 Moorhen

- [Coots not counted]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 14:20 – 15:00

(41st visit of the year)

A full walk around here. The later timing would have had a significant effect on the number of singing warblers

Two new species for my 2018 site list

- there were two Common Sandpipers on the island (perhaps birds moved off the lake by the model boat club?). This species is seen on Spring passage most years

- amongst the large number of Sand Martins over and around the water I located at least 2 House Martins

The site list moves to 59

Notes from today

- now just 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks located: the second of these pairs was unseen until noticed leaving the island – perhaps more hauled out unseen?

- 2 juvenile Coots seen with a pair of adults

- precise number of Sand Martins hard to gauge as numbers varied and birds alternated between low over the water and high overhead. I judge at least 50 birds. Eventually I managed to hear and then find both Barn Swallows and House Martins with them

- the Garden Warbler was back singing along the W side. It appeared to be moving fast through and seemed to be pursued by a (non-singing) male Blackcap

Birds noted flying over

- 1 Buzzard

Hirundines seen today

- >50 Sands Martins

- 2+ Barn Swallows

- 2+ House Martins

Warblers noted: figures in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)

NB: different timing will have affected numbers

- 1 (1) Chiffchaff

- 2 (2) Willow Warblers

- 3 (2) Blackcap

- 1 (1) Garden Warbler again

The counts from the water

- 2 resident Mute Swans

- 2 Greylag Geese again

- 24 Canada Geese

- 17 (16♂) Mallard

- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks

- no Great Crested Grebes

- 2 Moorhens yet again

- 15 + 2 (1 brood) Coots

Rather distant but here we see two Common Sandpipers on the island. These were being noisy and chasing around at times, but peace broke out later.

A male Blackcap fresh from having chased off the Garden Warbler that I did not manage to photograph.

(Ed Wilson)

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Mute Swan Ring update

Priorslee Lake

The ring number of one of the new in Mute Swans Orange 74N.

Orange 74N

09-05-15       R:      RIVER SEVERN WORCESTER GBHF SO8454                     D Atkinson

                   Age/ Sex  5. Present for 2 weeks.

April/May17 S:     UPPER BITTELL BROMSGROVE GBHF SP0174                  D Atkinson

June 17       S:       RIVER SEVERN BEWDLEY GBHF SO7875                          D Atkinson

                   Also seen until end of Sept 17.

12-12-17       S:       PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209                         E J Wilson

                   In flock of 5, resident pair + 3 cygnets also present.

01-05-18       S:       PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209                         M G Grant

                   Paired with un-ringed mate, also 2 nesting pairs + 1 other.



Priorslee Flash

I also checked male Green CF59, female on nest so have to wait for cygnets to hatch. Yellow 52F appears to have been driven off.


Green CF59

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

                   Age/ Sex  5F.

24-01-18       S:       PRIORSLEE LAKE TELFORD GBSA SJ7209 [37kms]            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.

13-04-18         S:       PRIORSLEE FLASH TELFORD GBSA SJ7110                       M G Grant                 

                       With Yellow 52F + female on nest.

                      Also on 01-05-18 female on nest [Yellow 52F gone].

             
(Martin Grant)

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

2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Wrekin
6 Tree Pipits 
1 Wheatear 
5 Pied Flycatchers 
2 Common Redstarts 
3 Wood Warblers 
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
Grasshopper
5 Common Sandpiper
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Wrekin
1 Wood Warbler
1 Common Redstart
3 Tree Pipit
2 Pied Flycatcher
(J Reeves)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpipers 
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)