30 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

5.0°C > 7:0°C: Persistent cloud overhead and to the S & W giving light rain; clearer to E. A clearance from the N making very slow progress with some sun after 09:00. Very light W wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:41 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 - 06:15 // 07:10 - 10:10

(79th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Unusual sight of >50 hirundines (Barn Swallows and House Martins) perching on top of a still-bare tree at the W end and making feeding forays. All departed when some of the Sailing Club people arrived. My first double-figure count of House Martins this year.
- Reed Warblers singing from nine different locations though I am not 100% sure they were all different birds - two were in locations I would regard as unsuitable as nest sites and may have been birds 'exploring' and / or 'just passing'.
- A female House Sparrow seen in the SW area - all my previous birds away from the estate have been males.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 5 Canada Geese: single and two pairs outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 11 Racing Pigeons
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- no gulls
- 19 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >8 Sand Martins
- *>40 Barn Swallows
- *>10 House Martins

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 17 (10) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- *4 (2) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the water:
- 2 Canada Geese: both the presumed 'residents' were visible for at least part of the time.
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen sitting on the nest throughout.
- 7 (5♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Grey Heron yet again

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
- *1 as yet unidentified ichneumon wasp

Nothing of note later. Still seems too cold for insects. Just a few unidentified bumblebee fly-bys

The sky was clear to the N and E and here the sunrise is shining through the light rain shower that persisted over the lake.

Just part of a tree full of hirundines. Mostly Barn Swallows. Middle left and middle far right, at least, are House Martins. Of course they were right against the light.

I shuffled around a bit to get a better angle - to get the best angle I was sure they would all leave, which is exactly what happened when one of the Sailing Club folk arrived. Here are two Barn Swallows. The red on the face and throat is just about visible on the left-hand bird.

And here is a House Martin. With its wing raised the white rump is clearly seen.

Did I ever mentioned how annoying branches get in the way? A male Common Whitethroat.

Slightly better.

Better still.

A male Pied Wagtail from an unusually low view-point. And no: I did not lie down on the grass. The bird was on the football field and I was creeping up the bank.

I was trying to see whether the Sedge Warbler would come in to view when this female Reed Bunting popped up and posed.

The only insect on the lamp poles this morning was another ichneumon. It looks to be the same species as photographed on 20 April which I tentatively identified as Netelia virgatus. I now think not. This clearer photo shows the legs to be the wrong colour and to have 'feet' rather than spurs. What a strange way it is holding its body.

This side-elevation helps little. There are in fact short spurs on just the hind-legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane: 07:55 - 08:45

(18th visit of the year)

A full walk up and down the lane.

Notes:
- Common Whitethroats in good number. None of them was where I saw one on my last visit.
- A female Linnet seen collecting nesting material.
- Eight Yellowhammers a good count: only one singing.

Some numbers (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 3 (3) Skylarks
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Blackcap
- *6 (3) Common Whitethroat
- 3 Linnets
- *8 (1) Yellowhammers

Also noted:
- *several Lords and Ladies (or Cuckoo Pint) (Arum maculatum) spikes, still sheathed.
- *my first Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) flowers of the year.

A well-behaved male Common Whitethroat.

One of the eight Yellowhammers. This male seemed to have something wrong with its right eye. Some, though not all, of the photos show it mostly closed. Perhaps it was winking at me?

Much less colourful is this female Yellowhammer.

Here the feathering on the back is well displayed. A different male.

And here this third male shows "what I had for breakfast"! The only singing bird I noted.

These are the big leaves and spikes of Lords and Ladies (or Cuckoo Pint) (Arum maculatum). The spikes are still sheathed

This I think is Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca). There are several similar species, some grown for animal feed and liable to escape from fields.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

Highlight here was a Reed Warbler singing by the lower pool - my first at either pool (I have noted Sedge Warblers passing through previously). Only heard on my walk to The Flash and nothing seen or heard on my return.

Other things:
- 3 (3♂) Mallard flying over the lower pool today.
- Once more single Moorhen seen at each pool again.
- no Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff or Blackcap seen or heard, unusually.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:20 - 07:05 // 10:15 - 10:50

(66th visit of the year)

Two surprises today:
- A Sedge Warbler was singing at the top end again more or less where it was singing on Tuesday (27th). I did not hear it on Wednesday (28th) and assumed it had gone. I did not visit yesterday (Thursday 29th).
- A Reed Warbler was singing alongside Derwent Drive where one sang for several weeks last year (though breeding was not confirmed). This is species #67 for me here this year.

It had been rather cloudy and dull on my first visit so after finishing at the lake I returned in the hope of photographing one or both of these birds. I was thwarted:
- A fisherman had set up on the fishing peg close to the reeds. The Reed Warbler had either moved on or shut up.
- The Sedge Warbler was still intermittently singing but had moved more towards the NW part of the water, closer to where the first bird was seen on 23rd. So have there been one (23rd), two (23rd and 27th) or three birds (23rd, 27th and 30th)?

The log below is from my first visit only though the second visit allowed me to see:
- The Mute Swans have eight eggs - both adults were briefly off the nest on a change-over.
- One pair of was Coots seen to have three juveniles (I was told there had been four at this site earlier in the week).

Other bird notes:
- Just three Mallard ducklings seen - same brood as the 11 on Wednesday? Duck Mallard have reappeared in some number - failed breeding?
- A Stock Dove flew in to trees on the island.
- Herring Gull(s) not seen.
- The passing group of 21 Barn Swallows is unusual for Spring. I often see aggregations passing in Autumn; in Spring it is usually small groups unless bad weather forces them to feed low over the water.
- A Willow Warbler singing from yet another location.
- I did not see the Long-tailed Tits near their apparent nest site where I have seen them almost daily for several weeks. A party found some distance away seemed not to contain any juveniles.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws again

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 21 Barn Swallows: flew N in single group at 06:50

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (5) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler

Counts from the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- 8 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 8 eggs Mute Swans
- 28 (17♂) + 3 only (1 brood) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 20 Coots again (3 juveniles later)
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again

Nothing else of note

Change-over time at the Mute Swan nest. This confirms the clutch was completed at eight eggs. Is that a mark on one of them? Or is it cracking? They should be hatching soon.

Just three Mallard ducklings here. But are these the same brood as the group of 11 seen yesterday? Some duck Mallards are quite good at hiding their small ducklings away.

I am almost glad there is a branch in the way. To my eyes juvenile Coots just hatched are the ugliest things I see around the lakes. Still the parents seem to love them so I suppose it takes all sorts.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2018

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

2013

Priorslee Lake

1 Common Sandpiper

2 Raven

2 Reed Warbler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Whinchat

1 Yellow Wagtail

1 White Wagtail

2 Common Redstart

40 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington

3 Whimbrel

(JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

1 Lesser Whitethroat

1 Reed Warbler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Common Redstart

15 Wheatear

1 Lesser Whitethroat

2 Raven

(John Isherwood)

The Wrekin

2 Pied Flycatchers

Common Redstart

(Observer Unknown)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Hobby

2 Red-legged Partridge

Lesser Whitethroat

Cormorant

5 Lapwings

6 Reed Warblers

3 Whitethroats

8 Blackcaps

5 Chiffchaffs

4 Linnet

(Ed Wilson)

2008

Priorslee Lake

17 Mute Swans

(Martin Adlam)

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Swift

c.20 Sand Martins

1 Swallow

6 House Sparrows

2 Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Kestrel

2 Stock Dove

2 Grey Wagtails

1 Sedge Warbler

4 Reed Warblers

Chiffchaff

126 Jackdaw

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Buzzards

Swallow

Ring Ouzel

2 Common Whitethroat

1 Chiffchaff

2 Linnets

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

3 Great Crested Grebes

Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

2 Greylag Geese

6 Tufted Ducks

2 Common Sandpiper

1 Cuckoo

1 Sky Lark

c.10 Sand Martins

c.8 Swallows

c.20 House Martins

1 Meadow Pipit

2 Grey Wagtails

32 Wren

26 Blackbirds

2 Sedge Warblers

3 Reed Warblers

2 Lesser Whitethroats

2 Garden Warbler

10 Blackcaps

6 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

1 Jay

11 Chaffinches

8 Greenfinches

3 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

29 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake

No report today, but here are a few images.

Not an inspiring sunrise.

The moon only emerged from the clouds after sun-up, so the contrast on the craters is not so distinct. This photo was taken almost exactly two days after the April full moon - the Pink Moon, so named after the Wild Phlox (or Wild Sweet William) flowers, the first native flowers to bloom in Spring in Eastern North America. It is also a Supermoon - defined as when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Planet Earth.

This spider may be small-enough to be a money-spider, in the scientific group Linyphiidae. If so there 

are 280 species to choose from ....

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2014

Nedge Hill

2 Lesser Whitethroat

10 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Great Crested Grebes 

1 Common Sandpiper 

4 Reed Warblers 

2 Common Whitethroat 

18 Blackcaps 

7 Chiffchaffs 

5 Willow Warblers 

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

3 Greylag Goose 

1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose 

1 Pochard 

11 Tufted Duck 

4 Blackcaps 

3 Chiffchaffs 

5 Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Red-legged Partridges 

Swallows

7 Wheatear

2 Common Whitethroats 

3 Blackcaps 

1 Chiffchaffs 

4 Bullfinches 

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Priorslee Lake 

3 Common Sandpipers

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood) 

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2010

The Wrekin

1 Wood Warbler

4 Common Redstart

1 Pied Flycatcher

(Paul Rutter)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Common Sandpiper

1 Sand Martin

2 Swallows

6 Reed Warblers

Common Whitethroat

3 Blackcap

4 Chiffchaff

3 Reed Buntings

3 Linnets

1 Yellowhammer

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebe

6 Tufted Duck

2 Ruddy Duck

3 Swifts

2 Sand Martins

4 Swallows

4 Cormorants

1 Kestrel

1 Sparrowhawk

3 Common Sandpipers

2 Grey Wagtail

6 Blackcap

1 Garden Warbler

2 Sedge Warbler

2 Reed Warblers

5 Chiffchaff

3 Greenfinch

2 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill

1 Ring Ouzel

Common Whitethroat

2 Swallows

(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Flash

2 Greylag Geese

1 Grey Wagtail here

2 Chiffchaffs

1 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes

2 Ruddy Ducks

1 Common Buzzard

1 Kestrel

1 Swallows

1 Grey Wagtail

4 Sedge Warbler

2 Reed Warblers

4 Blackcaps

2 Garden Warbler

5 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warblers

2 Lesser Whitethroat

4 Greenfinches

2 Reed Buntings

(Martin Adlam)

28 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 6:0°C: Overcast after overnight rain. Seemed clearer to NE, though the cloud descended and occasional light rain after 08:30. Light N/NE wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:45 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 - 06:35 // 07:30 - 09:30

(77th visit of the year)

Another addition to my year list here. I was sneaking along the dam-top to try for a photo of one of the four Common Sandpipers when an unseen Common Snipe shot off the dam and. typically. twisted and turned as it towered high and disappeared. Bird species #97. I see this species most years, more usually in the Autumn. Usually only one record per year.

Bird notes:
- *The pair of Mallard have but one duckling. This seemed still very small and I wonder whether it is from a different brood.
- Three Barn Swallows flew N at 06:15. After 07:30 numbers of hirundines increased with perhaps as many 100 present, mainly Barn Swallow, fewer Sand Martins and just two obvious House Martins. No Swifts seen.
- The Sedge Warbler still singing from the N side but only intermittently (though most things were in the chilly conditions).

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 6 Canada Geese: three pairs outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard yet again
- 2 Herring Gulls; one first year; one un-aged immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 3 Jackdaws only
- 2 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >20 Sand Martins
- *>50 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 15 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 18 (14) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler again
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose: one 'resident'; partner perhaps on eggs not seen.
- 2 Greylag Geese: chased away
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen was seen standing up and peering at the nest for while.
- *7 (6♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only (the 'other one')
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- 1 Common Snipe
- *4 Common Sandpipers
- *1 Black-headed Gull: first year briefly
- 1 Grey Heron again

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
- 2 plumed midges of very different sizes

Noted later in the cloudy conditions:
- 1 Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria)
- *Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) flowers
- *Red Campion (Silene dioica) flowers

On what the fishermen have dubbed 'the boxing ring' on top of the dam I found what seemed to be a pellet, probably from a Common Buzzard.

One of the fishermen told me that at 02:30 when he was attending his rods there were very many small bats over the water. He also noted that last week there were 'larger bats' over the water in the night. Daubenton's Bats are known to specialise in hawking over water. These are small to medium sized (wingspan 24 - 27cm) and would be hard to separate from the Common Pipistrelle (wingspan 20 - 23cm).

Perhaps an unfortunate angle. This female Mallard with her sole surviving duckling looks pregnant as she flaps her wings to recover her composure after being chased away by a pair of nesting Coots.

The brown in the wing identify this as a first year Black-headed Gull. Some birds - as here - acquire the full dark hood of adults.

While I was photographing Barn Swallows this Common Sandpiper flew by. A chance to see the pattern on the underside of the wing. the rump looks as if it might be all-white here - an illusion as it only the sides that are white.

I spent a long while trying to photo the Barn Swallows. It is a bit of a Catch 22 situation. The hirundines only hawk low over the water when the weather is bad and then there is little light for photography. About as good as it got.

Slightly better.

Looking slightly 'sad' in the cool, rainy weather are these just-opened flowers of Red Campion (Silene dioica (was Melandrium rubrum)). Apparently male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The calyx of male flower has 10 veins, female has 20 veins. I cannot see any veins in this photo!

Here I held them so that I could show the inside of the flowers.

I found this flower on the bank of the football field, no doubt soon to be mown down by council contractors. With the five blue petals looks like a speedwell but the petals are rather too separated and the blue too intense. It is Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens). I am not quite sure why the hairy leaves have red/brown-edges. This is a full month earlier than my 'first date' in 2020.

The pellet I found on the rail of the boxing ring on the dam. Looking at the illustrations in my "Tracks & Signs" book this most closely matches that from a Common Buzzard.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 3 (3♂) Mallard flying over the upper pool.
- Single Moorhen seen at each pool again.
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler just above the upper pool: a new location this year.
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff calling at the upper pool again.
- 3 (2) Blackcap: one singing alongside the lower pool; one singing and one calling between the upper pool and the academy

On my was back to the lake I came across this Wood Pigeon with a fatal wound to the back of its neck and its head hanging limply. Otherwise it looked intact. So what and why? One of the dog walkers said that as he approached a Carrion Crow was holding down the still struggling pigeon. It is unusual for Carrion Crows to kill live things, especially ones as big as a Wood Pigeon. I have seen them sidle up until they are alongside another bird and then lunge to kill or maim them. Perhaps that is what happened here.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 - 07:25

(65th visit of the year)

As expected no sight or sound of yesterday's Sedge Warbler.

Other bird notes:
- First Mallard ducklings here - a bobbing, scurrying brood of 11.
- I thought the adult Herring Gull was flying off but it only went a short distance to drop in to one of the gardens at the end of Westcroft Walk. Rather an unusual 'garden bird'.
- Great Crested Grebes doing their reappearance trick
- The Willow Warbler sang twice only (while I was in earshot) in the NW area. Not on the island where one has been heard for over 10 days (though not yesterday). A new bird? If so rather late.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants (together)
- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. noted.

None

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (5) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese: two of these departed (could they have been the birds that flew over some 15 minutes later?)
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- *27 (19♂) + 11 (1 brood) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens again
- 20 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Herring Gulls: adult and second year remain

Nothing else of note

Mrs. Mallard with her brood. Not easy to count when they are all stationary in the photo. 11 it seems. Mr. Tufted Duck is nothing to do with this Mallard - a female Tufted Duck was just out of the photo and he was with her.

Oops: chopped the tip of her bill off! Somewhat easier to see there are 11 ducklings.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2014

Nedge Hill

2 Lesser Whitethroat

10 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Cormorants

2 Swans 

5 Greylag Geese

1 Common Sandpiper 

8 Swallows

1 Swift

2 Reed Warblers 

2 Common Whitethroat 

17 Blackcaps 

8 Chiffchaffs 

4 Willow Warblers 

1 Common Redstart

1 Nuthatch

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

3 Greylag Goose 

1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose 

1 Pochard 

11 Tufted Duck 

4 Blackcaps 

3 Chiffchaffs 

5 Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

2012

Priorslee Lake

6 Goosanders

6 Greylag Geese

2 Tufted Duck 

6 Goosander 

1 Grasshopper Warbler

2 Sedge Warbler

18 Blackcaps

4 Willow Warblers

14 Chiffchaffs

1 Wheatear

1 Swift

Swallow

House Martin

Sand Martin

1 Sky Lark

1 Yellowhammer

(Ed Wilson, Phil Walters)

Priorslee Flash

4 Greylag Geese

27 Tufted Duck 

5 Blackcaps

4 Willow Warblers

3 Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Priorslee Lake

5 Reed Warblers 

2 Common Whitethroat 

10 Blackcaps 

10 Chiffchaffs 

1 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash

3 Blackcaps 

4 Chiffchaffs 

1 Willow Warbler

1 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Sedge Warbler

2 Reed Warbler

2 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Whinchat

2 Lesser Whitethroat

18+ Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2007

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

6 Tufted Ducks

Ruddy Duck

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

1 Grey Wagtail

1 Lesser Whitethroat

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warblers

2 House Sparrows

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

2 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Duck

1 Kestrel

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Cormorant

1 Stock Dove

3 Sand Martins

10 Swallows

1 Grey Wagtails

5 Sedge Warbler

2 Reed Warblers

7 Blackcaps

1 Garden Warbler

4 Chiffchaffs

4 Willow Warblers

1 Lesser Whitethroat

3 Reed Buntings

(Martin Adlam)

27 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

7.0°C > 10:0°C: Broken medium-level cloud, tended to fill-in. Light sprinkles of rain c.10:00. Light NW wind after calm start . Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:47 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 - 06:40 // 07:40 - 09:25

(76th visit of the year)

Two new birds for my 2021 lake list:
- A Hobby flew fast W at 08:00. My earliest record here - it was May 20th in 2016 (matched by a report from a fisherman last year)
- A Yellow Wagtail flew W at 08:30
These records take my year total here to 96. Otherwise there were rather few birds flying over.

Bird notes:
- A pair of Mallard were chased on to the dam-face by two drakes. I could not see any ducklings.
- The Sedge Warbler was singing from the N side again still just a few feet away from a Reed Warbler.
- Now seven singing Reed Warblers, one of these from the scrubby area behind the reeds at the W end. Also one non-signing bird.
- The Garden Warbler still very mobile.
- Three Common Whitethroats seen singing. At 05:15 one bird heard giving a rather unusual song with snatches of Lesser Whitethroat song. Nothing seen at that time. Later at the same location a Common Whitethroat was seen singing a normal song.
- Now at least 30 Starlings visiting the football and academy playing fields. This is more than I have noted for several years for this declining species. Not sure the residents will be happy to have them nesting in their roofs.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Cormorants: separately
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Jackdaws only
- 1 Yellow Wagtail

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 17 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler still
- 8 (7) Reed Warblers
- 23 (15) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 3 (3) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the water:
- 1 Canada Goose: one 'resident'; partner perhaps on eggs not seen.
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen on the nest throughout.
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: second year briefly
- 1 Grey Heron again

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn - rather disappointing in the milder and cloudy conditions:
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

Nothing noted later in the cloudy conditions:

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 1 (1♂) Mallard on the lower pool; 2 (2♂) on the upper pool.
- Single Moorhen seen on each pool
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff calling at the upper pool.
- 2 (2) Blackcap: singing alongside both pools

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:45 - 07:35

(64th visit of the year)

*Best bird was what has to be a different Sedge Warbler, this at the very top-end in the waterside vegetation. The first year I have multiple records from here.

Other bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan seemed very attentive around his mate and the nest. Is something about to happen?
- More duck Mallard today. But many fewer drakes. One pair of these Mallard was on the path in squirrel alley.
- Very low number of Tufted Ducks found.
- 1 Common Sandpiper lurking on the island.
- The two Herring Gulls still here.
- No sound of the Willow Warbler from the island.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 Wood Pigeons

Hirundines etc. noted.

None

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)

- no Willow Warbler
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- *1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 6 (4) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 27 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese: single and pair of these departed; pair of these arrived
- 3 + ? eggs Mute Swans
- 21 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Herring Gulls: adult and second year still here

Also noted:
- *What seems to be a species of wood gnat on one of the lamp poles.

Today's Sedge Warbler was slightly better behaved than the last one, but still gave fleeting views while singing all the while. The prominent creamy eye-brow (supercilium) and streaked black head are evident here.

Another glimpse between the twigs.

This shows the crown stripes. Note also the length of the middle toe which helps it clambering about vegetation.

I found this on one of the lamp poles and at the time suspected it was a crane-fly. Enlarging the photos shows this not to be the case - crane-flies all have the head well separated from the thorax by a very thin neck. I think this has to be a species of wood gnat but which I have no idea.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:35 - 09:40 // 10:25 - 10:50

(10th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Most of the time there were just two Sand Martins over the water. Then as I was about to leave a mixed group including two Swift, a Barn Swallow and two House Martins arrived.
- Last week's Reed Bunting not re-found.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: one of the local Carrion Crows ensured to wasn't going to land.

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4 Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 2 (1) Chiffchaff again
- 2 (2) Blackcaps still

Counts from the water:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs
- 2 Mute Swan: pen sitting on the nest throughout; cob chasing the geese.
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 7 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

My 2021 bird species list for moves on to 46 with the additions today being Swift, Barn Swallow and House Martin:

Also noted:
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) coming in to flower
- An unidentified yellow-flowering shrub. A garden escape?

My first flowers of Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) this year - Trench has a slightly warmer micro-climate than Priorslee. One alternative name for this shrub is May from its flowering date. I recall that on Dartmoor in the 1980s it was often not flowering until well in to June. This was attributed the change in the calendar from the Julian to the Gregorian system which 'lost' 11 days meaning 1 June would have been mid-May in the era when this plant acquired its popular name. Today would have been 16 April on the Julian calendar so its early flowering is likely to be an effect of global warming, this year's cold Spring notwithstanding.

Identification of this attractive flowering shrub has eluded me. I found it more or less opposite the Blue Pig pub. It is probably not a UK wild flower but a garden escape.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 09:45 – 10:20

(10th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Rather unusual here was the same Stock Dove noted on both banks and on the island.
- Low counts of geese (and Coots). Many no doubt on hidden nests.
- A Jay flew across between trees: my first here this year.
- A Carrion Crow noted feeding on a dead carp sp.
- All the Willow Warblers and some of the Blackcaps seemed to have moved on.
- Best bird of the day here was a singing Mistle Thrush also seen in flight. My computerised records only go back to 2014 here. With that proviso this is my first record here.
- Also worth noting is that I have multiple records of Dunnock on each of my last three visits. In previous years records have been 'hit and miss''.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

None

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Count of warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds)
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs again
- 2 (1) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:
- 24 Canada Geese again
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: the usual
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 8 Coots only
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, briefly

My 2021 bird species list advance to 43 with the addition of Stock Dove, Jay and Mistle Thrush:

Not for the queasy. A Carrion Crow feasts on a dead carp sp. (I suspect Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)). Exactly how the fish got where I saw in some distance from the water is unclear - too big for the crow to drag.

A sunny isolated clump of Cowslips (Primula veris). Also in view are several closed flowers of Daisy (Bellis perennis) and the head of a Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). I'll pass on the identification of the grasses.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2017

Local area

Today's Sightings Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2013

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes 

2 Greylag Geese

3 Common Sandpipers 

1 Reed Warblers 

1 Common Whitethroat 

11 Blackcaps 

10 Chiffchaffs 

2 Willow Warblers 

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

Wood Warbler

2 Great Crested Grebe 

1 Greylag Goose 

1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose 

16 Tufted Duck 

5 Blackcaps 

Wood Warbler

1 Chiffchaff

6 Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin

3 Wood Warblers

1 Redstart

5 Pied Flycatchers

2 Tree Pipits

2 Redpolls

1 Siskin

(Ed Wilson, JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

6 Tufted Duck

6 Swift

50 Swallow

25 House Martin

2 Sand Martin

1 Grasshopper Warbler

1 Wheatear

1 Sedge Warbler

6 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill

1 Lesser Whitethroat

26 Wheatear

1 Greenland Wheatear

1 Fieldfare

1 Raven

(John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 Wood Sandpiper

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Sedge Warbler

1 Lesser Whitethroat

1 Swift

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

1 Lesser Whitethroat

(John Isherwood)

2008

Priorslee Lake

3 Sedge Warblers

6 Reed Warblers

2 Lesser Whitethroats

2 Whitethroats

1 Garden Warbler

9 Blackcaps

9 Chiffchaffs

1 Willow Warbler

1 Little Grebe

2 Common Sandpipers 

c.10 Sand Martins

c.45 Swallows

1 House Martin

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 

4 Sand Martins

12 Swallows 

2 Blackcaps

4 Chiffchaffs

4 Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

The lane to the E of Priorslee

6 Whitethroats

1 Blackcap

3 Chiffchaffs 

1 Willow Warbler 

2 Linnets 

3 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

9 Great Crested Grebes

5 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

1 Kestrel

2 Stock Doves

2 Swallows

House Martins

2 Grey Wagtails

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

1 Jay

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Swallows

House Martin

Ring Ouzel

Fieldfare

Common Whitethroat

Blackcaps

Chiffchaff

Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

1 Swallow

6 Willow Warbler

Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

3 Greylag Geese

2 Ruddy Ducks

3 Common Sandpipers

1 Stock Dove

7 Swallows

3 Grey Wagtails

26 Wrens

17 Robins

30 Blackbirds

9 Song Thrushes

1 Sedge Warbler

3 Reed Warblers

8 Blackcaps

4 Chiffchaffs

2 Willow Warblers

5 Greenfinches

5 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

26 Apr 21

Priorslee Lake, Woodhouse Lane and The Flash

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.

Not seen the Little Grebes for a while. Small birds a long way away. Sorry about that. Not mistaking they are adults in breeding plumage with their chestnut necks and yellow spot at the base of the bill.

I am fairly certain this is a Grey Patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida) with the reddish-brown hair pile on the top of the thorax contrasting with the black, shiny abdomen. Here in a Dandelion, which is a favourite source of nectar. Note that pollen grains are all over the thorax and legs. This makes mining bees more effective pollinators than Honey Bees which collect pollen and store it dampened by nectar on their hind-legs from where it cannot escape when they visit the next flower.

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).

Spider #2. This looks rather like the money spider Entelecara acuminata, though I am not sure it was small-enough.

Spider #3. This at least has the decency to be patterned on the abdomen. Sadly many species seem similarly patterned to my eyes.

Not a very good photo of spider #4. It decided it did not like my torch, curled up a dropped on a thread to swing about in the breeze.

If you are allergic to tree pollen hold your breath while looking at this. These are the unobtrusive flowers of an Acer tree, possibly a Sycamore though there are many apparent cultivars around the lake.

(Ed Wilson)

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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.

(Ed Wilson)

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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

By the upper pool this Chiffchaff was working around almost on the ground and apparently totally oblivious of what was going on.

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)

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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)

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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)