Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 06:40 // 07:35 – 09:10
The Flash: 06:45 – 07:35
15°C > 21°C: Patches of mainly thin high cloud, dispersing somewhat. Light W wind. Very good visibility but rather hazy
Sunrise: 05:37 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 06:40 // 07:35 – 09:10
(89th visit of the year)
I was told today that building work for 500 houses on the long-dormant Celestica site to the N of the lake will be starting ‘next month’
As a postscript to the Mute Swan saga I have additional information courtesy of Martin Grant who keeps track of all the ringed swans in our area. The long-term residents with their 4 surviving cygnets were forced off the water by the new (and now current) occupants when the cob was injured, presumably in a battle. He was taken in to care but has since died of natural causes – he was born on the lake 18 years ago. The pen and the cygnets were later seen walking along Teece Drive but attempts to corral them near the Co-op in Priorslee Avenue failed. The pen only was found on the M54 some days later and taken in to care. She has now recovered and has been placed on Chasewater with other swans without territories and well away from the lake. She too was born on the lake, some 10 years ago. They had been the pair on the lake since 2011. The cygnets must be presumed to have perished.
On to bird notes from today:
- Buzzards heard calling from the Ricoh copse – sounded like begging juveniles. One of the residents said they thought there were three juveniles around. They also reported seeing one attack a Wood Pigeon and certainly there were pigeon feathers scattered about. Buzzards are not usually quick-enough to catch birds, even fat pigeons on the ground
- now many juveniles are well-grown the Moorhens are visible again in family parties all around the lake
- some very new (and very late) broods of Coots. They seem to have had a good breeding season
- an additional Black-headed Gull was noted dead and floating in the lake
- no Swifts: likely the fine weather has allowed successful breeding and all have been able to leave on time: some years there are a few late / replacement broods which keep a few birds sometimes in to September
- several of the Reed Warblers were heard well away from reeds – exploring ahead of their departure?
- Bullfinch juveniles seen in flight – successful breeding here again
Today’s bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 30 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. seen today
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 10 House Martins
Warblers noted: song now over
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 6 Blackcaps
- 3 Reed Warblers
The counts from the lake area
The warm weather has caused so much weed to appear on the surface that it is difficult to make accurate counts
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 18 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 Grey Heron
- 5 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 10 + 9 (5 broods) Moorhens
- 77 (near) adults + 8 from 4 new-ish broods Coots
- 24 Black-headed Gulls
And other notes
- rather few interesting insects – plenty of Muscid flies and a few mainly unidentified bees. Not too many flowers remain with most plants looking rather stressed
Insects, at least partly identified
- butterflies seen
- 1 Small White
- no moths here
- damselflies / dragonflies
- 2 Common Blue Damselflies
- 3 hawker sp. dragonflies not identified
- hoverflies
- several Melanostoma scalare (or Chequered Hoverflies)
- a single Myathropa florea
- at least one Eristalis pertinax (Tapered Drone-fly)
- no flies etc. identified
- beetles and bugs
- 1 Green Shield Bug on the lamps
- one apparent minute aphid sp.
- no spiders noted
Flowering plant notes
- abundant Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) the only umbellifer now in any number
This is ‘just’ a Common Blue Damselfly: the flight season for all ‘blue’ damselflies is about ended.
Here is the other Common Blue Damselfly I found today.
When I saw this on a leaf I had no idea what it was. I was rather surprised when it moved off.
Nothing unusual: just a humble bumble bee sp.
And another, this one with some willowherb ‘fluff’ in tow. Did not seen to affect its flying ability.
(Ed Wilson)
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(72nd visit of the year)
Notes from today
- the cob Swan seems to have gone AWOL. The pen (with the green Darvic ring) was on the island with a group of three sleeping cygnets
- post their moult most of the geese seem to have left
- two groups of Mallard ducklings: 8 well-grown birds together; and another group of 8 very small ducklings
- the previous Tufted Duck ducklings seemed to be full-size now and could only be separated by rather fuzzy plumage. Sexing of adults too time-consuming to attempt. One adult seen, most unusually, dabbling with Mallard
Birds noted flying over or flying near The Flash
- 2 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc. seen today
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted: no song
- 2 Chiffchaffs
The counts from the water
- 1 + 3? Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 10 Canada Geese
- 15 (9♂) + 16 (2 broods) Mallard
- 19 (?♂) + 9 (1? brood) Tufted Ducks (see notes)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 14 + 6 (2 new broods) Coots
- 41 (2 juveniles) Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
And here she is again with two duck (or immature) Mallards.
Of interest between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Chiffchaff in sub song
- 1 male Orange Swift moth on a lamp
- 1 Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes) on another lamp
A male Orange Swift moth. This is my first of this species in Shropshire.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2015Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings here
2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpipers
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
(Martin Adlam)