30 Apr 22

No Sightings in today.

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 22

No Sightings in today.

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 22

No Sightings in today.

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: A persistent area of medium cloud refused to break or move away; clearer to N & W. Calm start again with more light E wind later. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:47 BST

* = a photo today

Not sure I have chosen a good time with the migrants eventually arriving (my first Swift of the year was over Newport this afternoon). I am concentrating on my aviation hobby for the next few days and there will be no reports from me.

A postscript on recent and rather late records of Willow Warbler: I read that yesterday c.100 had been logged at Hilbre Island in the mouth of the River Dee. Since the island has very little vegetation these must have been passage birds. Seems everything is late this year with bad weather in Spain and Portugal being quoted as the reason.

Priorslee Lake: 05:00 – 06:25 // 07:30 – 09:35

(101st visit of the year)

It was of course nine species of warbler yesterday: I forgot to tabulate the Garden Warbler.

Bird notes:
- The second Canada Goose seemed to come off the nest for a protracted period. I wonder what that means?
- A Grey Heron flew W over the dam at 05:25. I was unsure whether it was flying in or flying over. I did not see it again.
- A second Garden Warbler also now in a traditional nesting area.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Greylag Geese: trio outbound
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: together
- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: also immature
- 1 Grey Heron
- 9 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 2 Ravens: together

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 16 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 4 (4) Reed Warblers again
- 24 (17) Blackcaps
- *2 (2) Garden Warblers
- *3 (2) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck: departed 07:50
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Common Sandpipers

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *5 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders

Noted later in mostly cloudy and chilly conditions:
- Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Mostly cloudy throughout. A brief burst of colour

"I hear no worms". Well you wouldn't on concrete. I noted only this one Common Sandpiper at 06:00: by 09:00 a second bird had appeared.

The Common Whitethroats are being camera-shy at the moment. One pair are happily lurking in scrubby cover, the male performing brief display flights and diving back in. This other male is performing wonderful display flights and always alights at the tops of the trees furthest away from wherever I am positioned.

Well the grey head and white throat are visible but not the brown on the flight feathers.

And this is no better.

It is not only Common Whitethroats that hide. My best photo (so far) this year of Garden Warbler. This mainly grey warbler is distinguished by having no distinguishing features! Perhaps the all dark and, for a warbler, the short and rather thick bill are notable. Like all warblers it best identified by song. To my ears it is quite distinct from Blackcap with a different rhythm and timbre. Most bird books say they are hard to tell apart. Learn Blackcap properly and you will not be fooled.

While waiting, in vain, for the Common Whitethroat to land in view this male Reed Bunting popped up. The head seems still to show a few flecks of white. I would have expected it to be jet black apart from the white eye-ring and moustache at this date.

There were five Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders on various lamp poles pre-dawn. This was the largest of them. It seems to have a deformed right pedipalp.

My other hobby. This is a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X registered to the suitably anonymous "65383 Inc., as Trustee" in Wilmington, Delaware in the USA – a tax-advantageous location. It is new and was only registered on 2nd April. This link HERE will tell you all I know.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25

(98th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A pair of Mallard seen with five ducklings. These were not tiny so I assume they are the remnant of the brood of nine seen last Sunday.
- A drake Pochard new in: a very unusual date.
- I saw the Herring Gull in flight and confirmed that today's bird at least was a second year.
- At least two Willow Warblers: possibly a third though it may have been one of the others moving about.
- A Sedge Warbler again. This bird was somewhere at the bottom end. I heard it sing twice when I was a long way away and could not pinpoint the location. When I was closer it had stopped singing (or moved on). Likely a different bird to that recorded yesterday.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 8 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler again
- 7 (5) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 32 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 4 Mute Swans
- 20 (17♂) + 5 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 17 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 1 Herring Gull: second year

On / around the street lamp poles or elsewhere:

Nothing noted

It's no wonder I sometimes struggle to find many drake Mallard some days. Here are seven roof-sitting.

A record shot of a most uncooperative drake Pochard. It was always 'the other side' of the water and continually diving. My previous record here was on 8th March. A very small number breed in the Midlands but most are long gone to mainland Europe where they breed on reedy lakes. A most unusual date for here.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 2 Moorhens heard at the upper pool giving alarm calls – a cat in the area?
- 2 Blackcaps: one singing and one calling between the pools

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 1 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) moth still on the roof but some distance away.
- 3 owl midges Psychodidae sp.: I did not photograph any of them!

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 May 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 8.0°C: Early low overcast lifted somewhat: threatened to break but didn't. Calm start with light E wind developing. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:49 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:10 – 06:25 // 07:25 – 09:30

(100th visit of the year)

Definitely a 'warbler day' (as it often is at this time of year):
- my second Grasshopper Warbler of the year was reeling away from deep inside the S side hedge, bordering the M54, at 05:35. I did not hear it later. The song of this species is liken to a fishing reel being rapidly wound – hence 'reeling'. They have been recorded making this noise for five minutes without a pause. This is probably the first year that I have logged more than one individual.
- the first Garden Warbler of the year was singing from a usual location in the SW area. Species #86 at or from the lake in 2022 for me.
- while trying to relocate the Grasshopper Warbler I found a second singing Sedge Warbler in the S side hedge. The bird that has been in the NW area for several days was still singing away there.
- there are now four Reed Warblers (at least) singing.
With the Willow Warbler still present and the usual Cetti's, Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats and Blackcaps that makes eight warbler species on the same day – not something I recall have noted previously. Also warblers of five different genera, also a first.

Other bird notes:
- The Tufted Duck departed as soon as it saw me – and who can blame it!.
- A Stock Dove was again calling from trees near the Teece Drive gate.
- A Moorhen was seen circling around and around gaining height before leaving to the N. I cannot recall ever having seen one fly in or out of the lake (or anywhere else come to that).
- *One Jay flew E very high up and seemed to be unconnected with any of the nesting pairs in trees around the water.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair outbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: a pair outbound; a pair inbound
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves: singles
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Jay
- 11 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 7 Sand Martins
- 6 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as ever
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 16 (10) Chiffchaffs [yesterday's totals should have read 21 (13)]
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 4 (4) Reed Warblers
- 1 (1) Grasshopper Warbler
- 20 (15) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats again

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: briefly
- 4 Moorhens: see notes
- 17 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, very briefly

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 Brindled Flat-body moth (Agonopterix arenella)
- *1 Common Roller (Ancylis badiana)
- *several Plumed midges

Later in cloudy and cool conditions:
Nothing noted

One of today's three Common Sandpipers treading through the dew-covered grass.

A few shots of the high-flying Jay as it bounded over. Terrible light but the rounded wings show well.

As they do here. Very distinctive.

Here the upper wing is visible with the blue feathering showing even if it does not look very blue in this light.

Not a very exciting moth – a Brindled Flat-body (Agonopterix arenella). It was a new species for me here last year and then I saw several. I suspect I have overlooked it in previous years (or filed it in the 'too hard' box: it has rather few distinguishing features). Moth species #13 around the lake this year.

An attractive little moth. It is a Common Roller (Ancylis badiana). This is one of a group of moths where the larvae spin a leaf in to pod which they then seal at the ends with silk – hence 'roller'. Moth species #14 around the lake this year.

For a change a photo of a female plumed midge of the most common species I see and which I believe to be Chironomus plumosus.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  06:30 – 07:20

(97th visit of the year)

The 'warbler day' continued here: a Sedge Warbler was singing from water-side vegetation at the top end. I have recorded this species on Spring passage here on four out of the last five years. In 2021 there were at least three different birds involved. This year it becomes bird species #61 here.

Other bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan was all on its own this morning, the 2019 bird and the two 2021 birds were all together at the opposite end.
- I did not see the Herring Gull in flight so my ageing of this bird is tentative.
- No Willow Warbler located.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws: singles

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- no Willow Warbler
- 7 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 8 (6) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 28 Canada Geese: of these seven arrived together
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 4 Mute Swans
- 22 (20♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 11 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 24 Coots still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Herring Gull: second? year

Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 3 plumed midges

Noted elsewhere:

Nothing

A fly taking off. I was planning to check it out by taking its photo and it obviously objected to the camera's range-finder beam (I usually stick my finger over the beam to stop this happening). On this occasion just as I pressed the shutter (or whatever the electronic equivalent is) it took off and amazingly I caught it in mid-air.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

Quiet again

- 1 Moorhen heard at the upper pool
- 1 Chiffchaff singing around the lower pool

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 1 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) moth still on the roof.
- several plumed midges
- *2 owl midges Psychodidae sp. again

One day I am going to stop photographing owl-midges Psychodidae sp.

But not today! Note that this one has very obvious antennae that the other lacks.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 Skylarks

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)

25 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Early patchy cloud cleared for a while. Puffy clouds from 08:30. Light NNW breeze increasing somewhat. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:51 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:05 – 06:20 // 07:15 – 09:35

(99th visit of the year)

Contractors have now begun to erect a 'real fence' around the football field. Quite why they went to the bother with temporary fencing is hard to fathom.

Severn Trent were investigating the discolouration in the Wesley Brook adjacent to the footbridge. Emulsion paint apparently. Origin unknown.

Severn Trent contractors were showing the company's ETS (Environmental Tidiness Syndrome) and mowing down many of the wild flowers. It would be nice to think the timing was a prelude to 'no mow May' but somehow I doubt it.

Bird notes:
- The Tufted Duck all departed when the mowing machines arrived.
- A Stock Dove was calling from trees near the Teece Drive gate. It is some while since I saw one here. It used to be a nesting site for them but the hole-ridden dead tree they used collapsed many years ago.
- Before 06:00 there were two Common Sandpipers. After the mowing machines had departed I could only find one. It is possible this was a new arrival.
- Two Grey Herons were sparring in the SE area at 05:40. I didn't see either later.
- A late arriving Willow Warbler has appeared here now. It was singing along the S side – not a location where I have heard any others this year.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 6 Canada Geese: a single and a pair outbound; a trio inbound
- 3 Greylag Geese: a trio outbound
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature again
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults, singly; again
- 12 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted:
-1 Barn Swallow flew straight through

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 21 (132) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler remains
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers
- 19 (14) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest
- 7 (5♂) Mallard: no ducklings noted
- *8 (5♂) Tufted Duck: all departed
- 5 Moorhens again
- 22 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *2 Common Sandpipers
- 5 Herring Gulls: two (near) adults together, briefly; three immatures together, also briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adult briefly
- 2 Grey Herons

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- several Plumed midges, including...
- *1 plumed midge with patterned wings
- 1 Clubiona sp. spider

Noted later in sometimes cloudy and cool conditions:

Bees:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Hoverflies:
- Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe elegans)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

and:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

As the early clouded moved away to the SW there was a dramatic, if not very colourful, sunrise reflected in the, then, calm water. The question arises: where does the wind go at night?

Four of the Tufted Duck flushed by the mowing machine. The outer birds are ducks and the centre two with whiter flanks and bellies are drakes.

And here a duck leads two drakes. Intriguing to see that that the duck seems to have a pale band around her neck.

I managed to creep up on this Common Sandpiper. I have enlarged the image somewhat to highlight the black flecks amongst two different shades of brown on the back and folded wings. These markings are only visible as the bird comes in to breeding plumage. I am not sure I have ever seen them so well.

A 'different' plumed midge with patterned wings and with antennae that a chimney sweep would be proud to own (does anyone know what a chimney sweep is these days?)

A Clubiona sp. spider and a male with long pedipalps. Quite why only two of its eight eyes have reflected the camera flash I am unsure. Do I need to use the red-eye option?


(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 07:10

(96th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I could not locate any Mallard ducklings.
- I did not see the Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight so my ageing of this bird is tentative.
- The Willow Warbler was singing very intermittently from the same pair of trees where I noted it yesterday.
- There seemed to be Blackcaps everywhere today. None willing to pose for the camera.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- *1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (7) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 26 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these a single and a pair departed
- 4 Mute Swans
- 16 (14♂) Mallard: no ducklings seen
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 24 Coots again
- no Great Crested Grebes noted
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year?

On / around the street lamp poles:

Nothing noted

Noted elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

"I hear no worms". A Song Thrush on the hunt for food.

A not very good photo of the Willow Warbler that has been along the East side for two days now. The well-developed eye-brow is visible as are the – er – dark legs. The books all say the legs on this species are pink: they are – usually.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 1 Chiffchaff singing around the upper pool
Very quiet!

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 1 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) moth again. In a slightly different position.
- several plumed midges
- *2 owl midges Psychodidae sp.

Owl midges are a nightmare to photo – they are so tiny, the largest just 4mm across (0.15 inches for folk like me who only work in old money). Here is one.

And here is another. About 100 species in the UK. I have no idea how individuals can be ascribed to any particular species or indeed how anyone knows there are 100 species anyway.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014

Priorslee Lake

1 Reed Warbler

1 Sedge Warbler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

1 Lesser Whitethroat

5 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2013

Priorslee Lake

Tawny Owl

4 Great Crested Grebes 

2 Cormorants

2 Lapwings 

2 Common Sandpiper 

3 Reed Warblers

14 Blackcaps 

8 Chiffchaffs 

2 Willow Warblers 

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Great Crested Grebe 

1 Greylag Goose 

1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose 

12 Tufted Duck 

5 Song Thrushes 

3 Blackcaps 

3 Chiffchaffs 

3 Willow Warblers

(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane

3 Common Whitethroats

2 Linnets.

7 Yellowhammers

Blackcaps

Chiffchaffs 

Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

4 Meadow Pipits

4 Sky Lark

20 Wheatear

2 Fieldfare

1 Lesser Whitethroat.

2 Common Whitethroats.

3 Blackcaps.

2 Chiffchaffs.

1 Linnet.

2 Yellowhammer

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington

1 Whimbrel

2 Curlew

6 Dunlin

2 Ringed Plover

(JW Reeves)

2012

Priorslee Lake

35 Swallows

2 House Martins

Grey Wagtail

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

2 Swift

1 Grasshopper Warbler

(John Isherwood, J W Reeves, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill

1 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2011

Priorslee Lake

1 Yellow Wagtail

Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

9 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

3 Common Sandpiper

(Andy Latham)

Nedge Hill

Swift

12 Wheatear

1 Whinchat

Lesser Whitethroat

2 Whitethroat

Blackcap

(Andy Latham)

2009

Priorslee Lake

1 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

19 Wheatear

1 Lesser Whitethroat

2 Turtle Doves

(John Isherwood)

2008

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

Sand Martins

Swallows

1 Tufted Duck

1 Sedge Warbler

4 Reed Warblers

1 Lesser Whitethroat

1 Common Whitethroat

3 Blackcaps 

6 Chiffchaffs 

1 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

2 Wheatear

1 Common Whitethroat

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee

3 Great Crested Grebes

1 Tufted Duck

1 Wheatear

1 Chiffchaff

1 Willow Tit

1 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

5 Wheatears

1 Whinchat

1 Sedge Warbler

Common Whitethroat

4 Linnets

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

Swallows

1 Grey Wagtail

6 Blackcaps

6 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

7 Great Crested Grebes

4 Herons

4 Greylag Geese

4 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Duck

2 Kestrels

2 Common Sandpipers

1 Skylark

23 Sand Martins

12 Swallows

29 Wrens

2 Sedge Warblers

2 Reed Warblers

11 Blackcaps

8 Chiffchaffs

2 Willow Warblers

2 Jays

7 Greenfinches

21 Redpolls

5 Reed Buntings.

Lanes

3 Whitethroats

2 Skylarks

3 Whitethroats

2 Blackcaps

1 Chiffchaff

4 Linnets

6 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)