Priorslee Lake: 04:35 – 06:15 // 07:00 – 09:15
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:00
5.0°C > 11.0°C: Almost cloudless. Light variable / NW breeze. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 05:18 BST
Rather distracted by the sight of 15 hot-air balloons rising from Telford Town Park after 07:00
Priorslee Lake: 04:35 – 06:15 // 07:00 – 09:15
(125th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today
- two Little Grebes seen in NE area. One was calling in NW area earlier – one of these?
- a fifth adult Great Crested Grebe today. The pair along the N side have at least two juveniles. The pair in the NW do NOT seem to have juveniles
- the previously noted two broods of juvenile Coots were out in the open today so better count – six and four juveniles respectively
- with better visibility the departing Jackdaws were easier to see and therefore a larger number recorded
- the only Sedge Warbler noted was singing behind the sailing club shelter pre-dawn only
- still unable to decide how many Common Whitethroats are present. It seems likely there is now just one mobile bird still establishing a territory
- all the hirundines etc. more or less passed straight through
- a Linnet apparently leaving the hedge between the ‘football’ field and the Holy Trinity Academy was unexpected
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (inbound)
- 3 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 121 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted
- 4 Swifts
- 4 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 9 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 25 (21) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers again
- 1 (1) (Common) Whitethroat again
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers still
The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 Grey Heron
- 2+ Little Grebes
- 5 + ? (1) brood Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 19 + 10 (2 broods) Coots
Nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn
Later
- 1 Orange-tip butterfly
- 1 Peacock butterfly (my first of the year here)
- >10 Syrphus hoverflies
- 2 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)
- 1 Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)
- many looper caterpillars descending from trees: cannot recall seeing so many in previous years”
This rather splendid bumble bee is a Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum).
This is a Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:20 – 07:00
(118th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- two broods of Mallard ducklings located: one with three well-grown ducklings; and another with eight ducklings of assorted sizes
- just a single juvenile Coot noted: the other may have been lurking
- no idea why so many Wood Pigeons flew over – they did so almost all at the same time
- a / the Sedge Warbler singing along the W side again
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 18 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove (different from local birds)
- 1 Rook
Hirundines noted
None
Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 19 Canada Geese
- 22 (16♂) + 11 (2 broods) Mallard
- 11 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Moorhens
- 22 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 1 Moorhen
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
and
- first House Martins heard over the estate, though not seen
- 1 probable Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) on a lamp pole.
(Ed Wilson)
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