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.
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)
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:
(Ed Wilson)
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(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)
Between the lake and The Flash
Quiet again
(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)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- 1 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) moth still on the roof.
- several plumed midges
- *2 owl midges Psychodidae sp. again
- 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)