3 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

4.0°C > 6.0°C: Mainly cloudy and dull after a few early breaks disappeared. Light N wind veering moderate NE again. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:40 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:45 - 09:15

(53rd visit of the year)

Best today was a *Shelduck. Initially seen circling high over 07:50 and apparently heading off W. Five minutes later there was what I assume the same bird sitting on the water. My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 84. (I omitted to specifically note Peregrine as #82 and Willow Warbler as #83 yesterday)

Other bird notes:
- At least two Pheasants heard calling. One of the fishermen reported he had seen at least four different birds.
- Four Mallard were seen very far to the S and seemed to descend somewhere in Stafford Park. Sexes not determined.
- After my first Peregrine of the year yesterday another flew S at 06:50. Again only seen briefly: I suspect it was a female - it looked very chunky.
- Five pairs of Great Crested Grebes now. Created some 'tension' between them.
- The four Sand Martins and two Barn Swallows did not arrive until 08:45 and seemed to have gone by 09:00.
- The number of Chiffchaffs continues to exceed all my previous Spring numbers: 17 singing and at least four non-singing birds.
- During the past few days I have heard singing Goldcrests at six apparently different locations around the lake, though I have never heard more than four birds on any one day.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 13 Canada Goose: three pairs and a quartet outbound; single and pair inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 4 (?♂) Mallard: very distant
- 34 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine again
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull: four adults; one first year
- 32 Jackdaws
- 4 Starlings

Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (3) Willow Warbler
- 21 (17) Chiffchaffs
- *6 (6) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans: pen sitting throughout
- *1 Shelduck: for a while
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- no Grey Heron

On the lamp-poles pre-dawn again.
Nothing

Otherwise noted:
- 1 unidentified mammal! I first saw this swimming right against the bank and working through the fringing reeds. When it saw me it dived and a few seconds later briefly stuck its head out to look at me again before diving, never to be seen again. About all I can say is that the head was much too small for an Otter. Discussing this sighting with the fishermen failed to come up with any theory. I know there are large rats in the area but it seems unlikely this species would have been in the water through choice.
- *1 mosquito sp.

First seen flying around high above the lake was this Shelduck.

Later presumably the same bird was 'at the other end' of the water so another 'record shot'. There appears to be no swelling at the base of the bill so this is either a female or a first year. If the latter then likely a non-breeding bird.

Oops! That's rather close!

Wind the zoom back a bit for a side view of Mr. Blackcap.

He even decided to sing for me.

Singing both ways. I would have liked to have repositioned to get the bright background out of the way but I knew that if I moved I would spook the bird.

One more. This is the same bird I have photographed the previous two days. None of the other birds are showing this openly.

Not too sure what to make of this insect. I was unable to get a plan view to assist. I associate this resting position with mosquitoes. With plumed antennae this is a male of whatever it is and will be feeding on nectar. It has no proboscis to feed on blood. Mosquitoes in the UK do not carry the viruses seen in the tropics. I have no idea whether they could spread Covid if they had bitten someone who had Covid.

This is what we apparently have to live with in Telford these days. I went to the point on the N side to try and get closer to the Shelduck though in fact it had gone. What I found were cans, bottles (many of them smashed), empty fag packets together with several items of clothing and plastic bags. I tidied it up as best I could: a lot of small bits of broken glass remain. Mindless idiots.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane: 08:15 - 08:40

(7th visit of the year)

Another quick charge up and down the hill failed to find anything much.

A few things to note:
- Two Skylarks in song. Also two non-singing birds.
- One singing Chiffchaff only.
- One Meadow Pipit seen in flight.
- Three Yellowhammers. All males, none singing.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 - 10:15

(41st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Another reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- At least one Great Crested Grebe back again!
- Good number of warblers singing all around the water. Many will probably move on.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 2 Jackdaws

Count of hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins, briefly

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- *4 (4) Willow Warblers
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 30 Canada Geese again
- 3 Greylag Geese arrived
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 31 (22♂) Mallard again
- 30 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Also noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel


I am still struggling with a clear view of any of the Willow Warblers. Did I mention branches ....? You can at least see the pink legs and lack of pale on the lower mandible.

He then went and had a preen mostly obscured by leaves and branches. I managed to persuade the camera to just about focus on the bird. Note the longer supercilium and less pronounced white around the eye when compared with Chiffchaff. Males that are singing do not need to be examined so critically.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Greylag Geese
9 Tufted Duck
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Swallow
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Greylag Geese
2 Common Teal
53 Tufted Ducks
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Ducks
c.25 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebe 
2 Gadwall 
32 Tufted Ducks 
75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls on the water.
(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
Hybrid Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Martin Ryder)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
2 Tufted Duck: both drakes this morning 
7 Blackcaps
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes 
40 Tufted Duck 
7 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Pool
5 Tufted Duck 
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
3 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Redhill
6 Tree Sparrow
(John Isherwood)

2011
Nedge Hill
Male Common Redstart
4 Wheatear
(Martin and Ian Grant)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
12 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
2 Stock Doves
178 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Sky Larks
3 Meadow Pipits
168 Sand Martins
1 House Martin
28 Wrens
29 Blackbirds
3 Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)