2.0°C > 8:0°C: Initially clear calm and frosty. Some low cloud from a bank of cloud to the E and S for a while. Then clear with light SE breeze before puffy clouds ahead of high cloud arriving from the N. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:51 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:45 - 06:25 // 07:35 - 10:00
(75th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A pair of Mallard with four ducklings. Perhaps the same, now reduced brood, though where was the drake when he was needed to five added protection?
- Coots numbers back to the current low normal as some birds are hidden on nests inside the reeds.
- Unusually two Little Grebes put in an appearance in the NW area; nothing seen or heard from the NE bird.
- A first year Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived at 05:05 and flew around before leaving to the W at 05:20. Then at 05:30 ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew low E with one first year, presumed the same, peeling off and circling the lake until 05:40 when it left to the S.
- A Sedge Warbler, perhaps the same (bit who can say) was singing from the N side today just a few feet away from a Reed Warbler. Only the Reed Warbler was glimpsed.
- Only five singing Reed Warblers noted: none found away from the reeds today.
- The Garden Warbler was very mobile around the W end. Possibly two singing birds involved.
- Only one Common Whitethroat noted. It was singing prior to 06:00 but not seen or heard when I revisited the area c.09:30.
- At least 20 Starlings are visiting the football and academy playing fields, taking food away presumably to nests in the main estate.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 6 Canada Geese: three pairs outbound again
- 6 Greylag Geese: two pairs outbound and one pair inbound
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: together
- 44 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
- c.15 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows again
- 2 House Martins
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- no Willow Warblers
- 17 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers again
- 16 (12) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler; perhaps a second
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
Counts from the water:
- 2 Canada Goose: one 'resident' often with presumed partner not on eggs.
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest throughout.
- 4 (3♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- *2 Little Grebes: seen together
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year
- 1 Grey Heron
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
- *4 spiders of at least three species. Hopefully to be determined.
Noted later:
- *1 presumed Grey Patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)
- 1 Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- 1 Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- 1 Syrphus sp. hoverfly
- 2 Alder Flies (Sialis lutaria)
- 1 Grey Squirrel
The sunrise, such as it was. The bank of cloud to the E encroached for a while but soon broke up and dispersed.
Mrs. Mallard with four ducklings.
Spider #1. I will be sending these to the Shropshire spider recorder to see whether any can be specifically identified. As with many insects often more detail than can be obtained on a photo are needed to separate closely-related species (spiders are not insects of course, but arachnids).
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodhouse Lane: 08:10 - 08:35
(17th visit of the year)
A very abbreviated walk to the top of the hill and back.
Notes:
- A pair of Mallard in the Wesley Brook just downstream from the sluice.
- One Common Whitethroat in dancing display flight from a hedge I have not seen used by this species for some years. Probably to some extent their nesting is crop-dependent.
- Just two Yellowhammers: one singing.
Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 2 (2) Sky Larks
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
- 2 (1) Yellowhammers
Nothing else of note.
A very abbreviated walk to the top of the hill and back.
Notes:
- A pair of Mallard in the Wesley Brook just downstream from the sluice.
- One Common Whitethroat in dancing display flight from a hedge I have not seen used by this species for some years. Probably to some extent their nesting is crop-dependent.
- Just two Yellowhammers: one singing.
Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 2 (2) Sky Larks
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
- 2 (1) Yellowhammers
Nothing else of note.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the lake and The Flash
- 2 (1♂) Mallard on the path between the upper pool and the Priorslee Academy
- Moorhen(s) heard at the upper pool
- *1 (1) Chiffchaff at the upper pool.
- 1 (1) Blackcap between the upper pool and the Priorslee Academy
That's a better pose. Well now: looking at the photo the legs are rather pale, the supercilium rather well-defined and the white around the eye rather ill-defines. All these point to it being a Willow Warbler. But is was calling like a Chiffchaff and pumping its tail like a Chiffchaff. When it flew off a Chiffchaff started singing from where it appeared to land, though I cannot be absolutely certain it was the same bird. Chiffchaff in my book.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:30 - 07:30
(63rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A report that one nest of Coots has at least three juveniles. At the time I am here at the moment any juveniles would still be being brooded by the parents on the nest.
- Same two Herring Gulls still present
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted.
- 1 Barn Swallow flew through again
Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still on the island
- 5 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (6) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese again
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 26 (19♂) Mallard
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 21 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- *2 Herring Gulls: adult and second year
Nothing else of note.
Still here: the two Herring Gulls. Not sure what the second year (on the left) has been bathing in. Needs a wash. A Herring Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over but nobody showed any interest in getting together.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Area
Thank you to Phil Nock who was out and about with his camera in the local Area
A great flying shot of a Grey Heron
Another great flying shot: a Jay
"The Lark Ascending". Not the Ralph Vaughan Williams music - the real thing (without sound).
A Song Thrush collecting food for its partner / hatchlings.
The brown eye and grey and brown head plumage of a Dunnock
A male Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Cranes
(Observer Unknown)
The Wrekin
3 Wood Warbler
(Damon H, Jim A, Yvonne C)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
1 Dunlin
1 Common Sandpipers
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Wheatear
3 Reed Warblers
12 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
3 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
2 Swallows
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
28 Greylag Geese
1 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Duck
2 Swifts
c.5 Sand Martins
c.30 Swallows
c.40 House Martins
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
Sparrowhawk
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
19 Wheatear
Swallows
(Richard Camp)
Long Lane, Wellington
c10 Ringed Plover
c10 Dunlin
Spotted Redshank
(JV Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Swift
12 House Martin
7 Swallow
(Martin Grant)
2011
The Wrekin
3 Pied Flycatcher
1 Common Redstart
2 Marsh Tit
1 Wood Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Swift
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Reed Warblers
9 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
East of Priorslee Lake
6 Whitethroats
2 Sky Larks
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
7 Greylag Geese
1 Tufted Duck
3 Swallows
3 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaff
2 Jays
28 Magpies
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
(Peter Nickless)
Priorslee Flash
1 Cormorant
Swallows
34 Blackbirds
6 Willow Warbler
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Lanes to the east of Priorslee Flash
5 Mallard
1 Buzzard
1 Heron
Skylarks
Blackcaps
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
7 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
6 Stock Doves
1 Swift
2 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Wagtails
26 Wrens
26 Blackbirds
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Reed Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
7 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
17 Magpies
1 Raven
7 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson)
3 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)