Priorslee Lake and The Flash
6.0°C > 10.0°C again: Another day that was mainly clear early. Medium-level cloud rolled in from the W after 07:30. Almost calm. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:13 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:50 // 07:50 – 09:30
(88th visit of the year)
Best today was my first singing Common Whitethroat of the year, singing at 05:45 behind the sailing club shelter. I did not hear or see it later. My 81st bird species here this year.
Bird notes:
- At least four Common Sandpipers. At various times I noted singles, duos, trios and a quartet flying around in response to disturbance around the lake. There were possibly more individuals.
- One pair of the local Jays started making even more noise than usual and I noted two other Jays flying high W and nothing to do with the lake.
- In additions to the Sky Lark singing as usual over the fields to the E another bird was seen flying SW and calling. This strikes me as most unusual at this date as most birds have been on territory for some weeks.
- Just two Willow Warblers today. One of them singing from the same location where I have heard song for the last ten days. Whether it is the same bird setting up a territory or several birds stopping in a suitable feeding location is impossible to say.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: singles again
- 3 Stock Doves: single and pair
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- 7 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 6 Cormorants: a quintet and a single
- 2 Jays: see notes
- 19 Jackdaws
- 5 Rook
- 1 Skylark: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins briefly over the water
- 1 Barn Swallow briefly over N side trees
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 20 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 15 (12) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 4 (3♂) Mallard: no ducklings
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Ducks: of these a pair and drake arrived separately again
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *4 Common Sandpipers: see notes
- no gulls
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
The poles were again covered in a heavy dew
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
Noted later:
- *1 small ichneumon
6.0°C > 10.0°C again: Another day that was mainly clear early. Medium-level cloud rolled in from the W after 07:30. Almost calm. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:13 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:50 // 07:50 – 09:30
(88th visit of the year)
Best today was my first singing Common Whitethroat of the year, singing at 05:45 behind the sailing club shelter. I did not hear or see it later. My 81st bird species here this year.
Bird notes:
- At least four Common Sandpipers. At various times I noted singles, duos, trios and a quartet flying around in response to disturbance around the lake. There were possibly more individuals.
- One pair of the local Jays started making even more noise than usual and I noted two other Jays flying high W and nothing to do with the lake.
- In additions to the Sky Lark singing as usual over the fields to the E another bird was seen flying SW and calling. This strikes me as most unusual at this date as most birds have been on territory for some weeks.
- Just two Willow Warblers today. One of them singing from the same location where I have heard song for the last ten days. Whether it is the same bird setting up a territory or several birds stopping in a suitable feeding location is impossible to say.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair inbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: singles again
- 3 Stock Doves: single and pair
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- 7 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 6 Cormorants: a quintet and a single
- 2 Jays: see notes
- 19 Jackdaws
- 5 Rook
- 1 Skylark: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Sand Martins briefly over the water
- 1 Barn Swallow briefly over N side trees
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 20 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 15 (12) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose remains keeping watch
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 4 (3♂) Mallard: no ducklings
- 11 (9♂) Tufted Ducks: of these a pair and drake arrived separately again
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *4 Common Sandpipers: see notes
- no gulls
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
The poles were again covered in a heavy dew
- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
Noted later:
- *1 small ichneumon
Another day, another sunrise.
A touch of mist to take the edge off the view.
Surely not Autumn already? Did I miss Summer?
One Common Sandpiper, likely one of the above, caught as it perched, briefly.
The flowers of these Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) are now holding their heads proudly even though some have been nibbled.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:55 – 07:45
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:55 – 07:45
(86th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- More of the Willow Warblers have, as expected, moved on.
- No Bramblings seen or heard
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Rook
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- *5 (4) Willow Warblers
- 10 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (4) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese: of these a single and a trio departed
- 12 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 22 (17♂) Mallard: no ducklings found
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 40 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Herring Gull: first year
On / around the street lamp poles:
Bird notes:
- More of the Willow Warblers have, as expected, moved on.
- No Bramblings seen or heard
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Rook
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- *5 (4) Willow Warblers
- 10 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (4) Blackcaps
Noted on / around the water:
- 24 Canada Geese: of these a single and a trio departed
- 12 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 22 (17♂) Mallard: no ducklings found
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 40 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Herring Gull: first year
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Seen elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Looking North-West across the water as the early sun provides contrast with the approaching cloud.
As far as I can determine this is the Long-tailed Tits' nest that I photographed a couple of weeks ago that has been dragged out of the hedge. Not sure what would have done so. Magpie? Grey Squirrel? Marvel at the intricacy of the nest and wonder how they do it with such a short stubby bill (and no hands!).
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen beside the upper pool
- 2 Willow Warblers singing: one at the lower pool; the other above the upper pool
- 1 Chiffchaff singing from trees between the pools
- 1 Blackcap singing by the upper pool: first in this area this year
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen beside the upper pool
- 2 Willow Warblers singing: one at the lower pool; the other above the upper pool
- 1 Chiffchaff singing from trees between the pools
- 1 Blackcap singing by the upper pool: first in this area this year
This Song Thrush stood on a wall and looked at me.
An unusual fly / midge with particularly long front legs. No idea as to family / species.
A tiny, tiny spider though perhaps just a young spiderling. I'll see what Nigel makes of it.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- the usual plumed midges
- *a fly or midge with unusually long front legs
- *a tiny, tiny spider
(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 Great Crested Grebes
3 Grey Herons
2 Greylag Geese over
9 Tufted Duck
1 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpipers
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warbler
117 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling-type Goose
29 Tufted Ducks
3 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
7 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes
8 Greylag Geese
13 Tufted Duck
3 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
4 Wheatear
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
(Ian Grant)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Buzzard
3 Chiffchaff
(Tony Beckett)
Long Lane, Wellington
10 Ringed Plover
5 Dunlin
(J W Reeves)
2012
Nedge Hill
2 Redstart
1 Wheatear
(Martin Grant)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Grey Wagtail
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Tufted Duck
1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
Common Redstart
11 Wheatear
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)
Telford Railway Station
11 Waxwings
(Colin Wright)
2007
Nedge Hill
1 Buzzard
4 Skylark
1 Fieldfare
3 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
4 Linnet
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Village
Black-tailed Godwit
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Greylag Geese
3 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
12 Chiffchaff
7 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcaps
1 Sky Lark
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Willow Tit
4 Greenfinch
3 Linnet
5 Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam, John Isherwood)