3.0°C > 7.0°C: Low cloud descended in to mist at Priorslee. Trench underneath the cloud, which began to lift somewhat. Light NNW breeze. Poor visibility at Priorslee. Good at Trench.
Sunrise: 06:18 GMT
* = a photo today
Some highlights today
- What was likely my first (Eurasian) Wigeon record from Trench Middle Pool.
- A first year drake Common Scoter circled over Priorslee Lake. My first Spring Shropshire record of this species.
- Sand Martins seen at Trench Middle Pool and heard at Trench Lock.
Priorslee Lake: 05:25 - 09:05
(37th visit of the year)
One I may not get past the Shropshire rarities committee but I am certain I had a first-year Common Scoter fly through in the mist at 07:15. A distinctly tubby-looking Tufted Duck-sized bird that circled twice and then flew on W. It appeared all dark apart from a paler belly. There were no markings on the upper wing. The only alternative would seem to be a duck Wigeon but the bird I saw was bulkier and longer in the neck and lacked the pointed-wing look of Wigeon. Also the pale on the belly was less contrasting and restricted to the centre. This species is essentially a sea-duck but is not uncommon on inland lakes on passage. Many years ago when I spent weekends in South Devon I often saw dozens of this species flying along the coast and it immediately recalled the species. It is my first Spring record in Shropshire. My previous sighting here have been on 31 July 1991(!) and 20 July 2014.
Other birds notes:
- Two pairs and a single Canada Goose flew in. The cob Mute Swan gave chase but the Canada Geese were more interested in chasing each other. Eventually one pair left. Some 10 minutes later perhaps the same pair returned.
- The cob Mute Swan had more success persuading the trio of Greylag Geese to leave.
- Two Redwings seen at the W end, one of these in more or less full song. Then as I was leaving I counted 54 Redwings flying between trees alongside Teece Drive with what sounded like more birds calling.
- A tight group of perhaps 100 Jackdaws departing their roost was at the extreme edge of visibility before the mist really descended. Only four seen thereafter.
- A Mistle Thrush was giving its 'rattling' call on the other (north) side of the football field (rather than from their more usual location in the Ricoh copse).
- Four Chiffchaffs noted. Only two singing.
- *The Grey Wagtail ringed at Heysham and recorded previously at The Flash was in the Wesley Brook at the sluices by the Teece Drive gate.
- A group of at least 20 Lesser Redpolls and Siskins were heard calling from Alders near the Teece Drive gate. In the poor light it was not possible to say definitively how many of each species was present.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 1 (1♂) Common Scoter (see highlight)
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- c.100 Jackdaws
- 7 Meadow Pipits
- 3 Pied Wagtails
- 6 Siskins
Counts from the water:
- 5 (perhaps 7) Canada Geese: all arrived; some departed ...
- 3 Greylag Geese: arrived and departed
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 2 Little Grebe heard only
- 5 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 9 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, very briefly
- 1 Grey Herons
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on with the addition of:
- Common Scoter
Nothing else noted
A record shot at best. The ringed Grey Wagtail by the sluices near the Teece Drive gate.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:10 - 10:00
(25th visit of the year)
A request: in line with the notices around the lake please do NOT feed bread to the sitting bird. An excess of bread leads to the condition of Angel wing in offspring of geese, swans and ducks. You have probably noticed the Canada Goose hatched last year that is so affected and therefore unable to fly. PLEASE don't
All counts from the water 'best effort' in poor visibility
Bird notes:
- Just possibly an additional pair of Great Crested Grebes lurking under one of the trees fallen off the island - where they nested last year. Visibility too poor to confirm.
- One adult Mute Swan sitting on the nest
- The Mute Swan apparently standing guard beside the nest was Green CF59 and was therefore the pen. It was the cob sitting on the nest. Martin Grant tells me that the cob will keep the eggs warm until the pen has laid the full clutch. She will take over and brood them continually until all the fertile eggs hatch at the same time.
- As I arrived in Derwent Drive a Meadow Pipit flew over. Later when I was at the top end perhaps the same bird seemed to flush off one of the trees. Strange, though I have noted this species occasionally perches in trees. I have only ever seen this during Spring passage.
- A singing Chiffchaff between squirrel alley and the medical centre today.
- At least one Redpoll heard being flushed off the Alders.
- A female Reed Bunting was along the E side. A pair was noted in the same area last year. Not certain whether they bred successfully. I have not heard or seen a male this year so a female was unexpected.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw again
- 1 Meadow Pipit (see notes)
Counts from the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 27 (16♂) Mallard
- *74 (43♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe (see notes)
- 1 Black-headed Gull only
- 1 Herring Gull: the usual second year, flew off
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 54 with the following additions:
- Meadow Pipit
- Reed Bunting
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(25th visit of the year)
A request: in line with the notices around the lake please do NOT feed bread to the sitting bird. An excess of bread leads to the condition of Angel wing in offspring of geese, swans and ducks. You have probably noticed the Canada Goose hatched last year that is so affected and therefore unable to fly. PLEASE don't
All counts from the water 'best effort' in poor visibility
Bird notes:
- Just possibly an additional pair of Great Crested Grebes lurking under one of the trees fallen off the island - where they nested last year. Visibility too poor to confirm.
- One adult Mute Swan sitting on the nest
- The Mute Swan apparently standing guard beside the nest was Green CF59 and was therefore the pen. It was the cob sitting on the nest. Martin Grant tells me that the cob will keep the eggs warm until the pen has laid the full clutch. She will take over and brood them continually until all the fertile eggs hatch at the same time.
- As I arrived in Derwent Drive a Meadow Pipit flew over. Later when I was at the top end perhaps the same bird seemed to flush off one of the trees. Strange, though I have noted this species occasionally perches in trees. I have only ever seen this during Spring passage.
- A singing Chiffchaff between squirrel alley and the medical centre today.
- At least one Redpoll heard being flushed off the Alders.
- A female Reed Bunting was along the E side. A pair was noted in the same area last year. Not certain whether they bred successfully. I have not heard or seen a male this year so a female was unexpected.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Jackdaw again
- 1 Meadow Pipit (see notes)
Counts from the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 27 (16♂) Mallard
- *74 (43♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe (see notes)
- 1 Black-headed Gull only
- 1 Herring Gull: the usual second year, flew off
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 54 with the following additions:
- Meadow Pipit
- Reed Bunting
A short clip of an excited gathering of mainly drake Tufted Duck. Getting ready to migrate?
(Ed Wilson)
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(4th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Sand Martin(s) were heard while I was walking through the wood at the S end. By the time I emerged they seemed to have moved on.
- A Chiffchaff was new for the year here, singing from the S end wood.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Greylag Geese (departing Middle Pool)
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 2 Starlings
Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swan: the usual pair
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens
- 10 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 34 with new today:
- Feral Pigeon
- Cormorant
- Sand Martin
- Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
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Trench Middle Pool: 10:30 – 11:05
(4th visit of the year)
Two highlights here
- Two Sand Martins flying around as I arrived. Now and again they would apparently disappear for a few minutes before I assume the same two returned. Not a species I see here very often - only on Spring passage and then they tend to prefer the larger, more open Trench Lock.
- A duck (Eurasian) Wigeon sitting quietly on the water. It is quite probably my first-ever at this location - certainly my first since 2013 [noted as (Eurasian) Wigeon to distinguish it from the similar New World species of American Wigeon].
Bird notes:
- The departing adult Cormorant was likely the bird seen at Trench Lock when I returned there.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Sand Martins
Counts from the water:
- 34 Canada Geese
- 18 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 (0♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon
- 16 (12♂) Mallard
- 12 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 19 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: departed
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 35 with new today:
- (Eurasian) Wigeon
- Grey Heron
- Sand Martin
A duck (Eurasian) Wigeon. It is very difficult to separate ducks of this species from the rare (in the UK) American Wigeon. The most reliable feature are the axillaries ('arm-pits') in flight. Most duck American Wigeon have a grey head and neck with little or no rufous tone.
(4th visit of the year)
Two highlights here
- Two Sand Martins flying around as I arrived. Now and again they would apparently disappear for a few minutes before I assume the same two returned. Not a species I see here very often - only on Spring passage and then they tend to prefer the larger, more open Trench Lock.
- A duck (Eurasian) Wigeon sitting quietly on the water. It is quite probably my first-ever at this location - certainly my first since 2013 [noted as (Eurasian) Wigeon to distinguish it from the similar New World species of American Wigeon].
Bird notes:
- The departing adult Cormorant was likely the bird seen at Trench Lock when I returned there.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Sand Martins
Counts from the water:
- 34 Canada Geese
- 18 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 (0♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon
- 16 (12♂) Mallard
- 12 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 19 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 1 Cormorant: departed
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 35 with new today:
- (Eurasian) Wigeon
- Grey Heron
- Sand Martin
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Teal
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Lapwing
Green Woodpecker
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Red-legged Partridge
Stock Dove
(John Isherwood)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Iceland Gull
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
21 Tufted Ducks
Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
The Flash
2 Pochard
1 Greater Scaup
69 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
20 Linnets
Meadow Pipit
Fieldfare
Redwing
Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Gadwall
22 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
4 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
9 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
4 Buzzard
24 Wren
24 Robin
21 Blackbird
33 Redwing
39 Magpie
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
605 Lesser-black backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
3rd Winter Lesser-black backed Gull Larus fuscus race: heuglini (Siberian Gull)
7 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
7 Siskins
(Martin R Adlam)