Priorslee Lake: 05:25 – 08:20
The Flash: 08:25 – 09:20
1.0°C > 4.0°C: Frosted: scattered cloud, mostly at high level. Chilly moderate ESE wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:06 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 05:25 – 08:20
(56th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A Pheasant heard calling from across Castle Farm Way was my first of the year in the area. In recent years one or more birds has attempted to breed in the Ricoh copse and often emerged on to the SW grass pre-dawn. Not this year so far.
- A Cormorant arrived; caught and ate a moderate-sized fish (Perch?) and left almost immediately.
- The additional pair of Great Crested Grebe seen recently seem to have moved on.
- Two Song Thrushes calling from trees along the N side flew off E together. Migrants? There was a bird ‘on territory’ singing loudly only a few feet away.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair outbound)
- 1 Canada Goose (single outbound)
- 1 Common Buzzard once more
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: both adults
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
- 2 Stock Doves
- 47 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks again
- 3 Fieldfares again (one group)
- 3 Redwings (one group)
Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
None
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 13 (8) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks still
- 1 Cormorant briefly
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 40 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull: first year, briefly
- 1 Kingfisher once more
Also noted:
- Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) seen in bud only – likely because they were still in the shade at the time I saw them. This species has been in flower in my lawn(!) for at least 10 days.
Additional bird species for my 2020 bird list at this site:
#70 Pheasant
While the street lamps were still alight a very red sunrise.
The sunrise silhouetting some of last year’s dead willow herb (and one Great Reedmace) heads
The colour starting to fade as it spreads across the sky.
Here looking almost due north.
The cob Mute Swan on the warpath after a Canada Goose.
You can see the effort it is putting in to chase the goose.
Carefully manoeuvred to go down head first and avoid those spines.
This shot is even less sharp but see how wide the Cormorant can open its mouth.
It soon decided to leave. Note the big feet hanging down as it takes off.
The other Grey Heron present today – a much duller bill.
... unlike this bird. Sexes cannot be separated on plumage.
From the shape of this male Bullfinch he has been eating too many buds.
At least he can still fly a short distance.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:25 – 09:20
(55th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Only one Great Crested Grebe located today. Looked in all the likely hiding places to no avail.
- I have not recorded Kingfisher here for a week now. I assume they have moved off somewhere to breed. They have been around the main lake the last three days. Two years ago they seemed to breed on the Wesley Brook towards Shifnal and were flying in and out of the lake most of the summer.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Jackdaws
- 7 Redwings
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 16 Canada Geese
- 24 (16♂) Mallard
- 58 (36♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 5 Moorhen
- 16 Coots
Take that!
Seems to be coming back for more?
Chasing as well as fighting ...
Chasing creates a lot of splashing.
Looks to be slyly looking at me out of the corner of its eye.
Just to prove it can work the right way up.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
24 Tufted Duck
9 Meadow Pipits
4 Redwings
4 Chiffchaffs singing
2 Brimstone butterflies
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)
The Flash
43 Tufted Ducks
1 Sky Lark
2 Chiffchaffs singing
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
8 Lapwings
3 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)
Trench
2 Little Grebes
30 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
23 Tufted Duck
4 Sand Martins
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs singing
8 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Sky Lark
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
43 Tufted Duck
2 Sparrowhawks
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorant
33 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kittiwake
31 Wren
24 Robin
23 Blackbird
1 Redwing
4 Chiffchaff singing
34 Magpie
176 Jackdaw
7 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
10 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Willow Tit
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
49 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
2 Lapwings
c.950 Black-headed Gulls
509 Wood Pigeon
6 Stock Doves
613 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Pied Wagtails
24 Wrens
19 Robins
22 Blackbirds
5 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tits
17 Magpies
17 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)