11.0°C: Low cloud and pulses of rain. Light easterly breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:58 BST
no photos today
! = a new species for me here this year
!! = a new species for me in Shropshire
A not entirely successful attempt to avoid the rain.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:15 – 07:50
no photos today
! = a new species for me here this year
!! = a new species for me in Shropshire
A not entirely successful attempt to avoid the rain.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:15 – 07:50
(113th visit of the year)
Viewing from the dam-top area only.
Bird notes:
- Sometimes in rain gulls, terns and waders are inclined to stop off at lakes and await better weather. Not today. The only movements I noted were the arrival of a pair of Canada Geese and also a pair of Mallard.
- variable numbers of Swifts and hirundines: when the rain was heaviest there were the largest numbers feeding over the water; and as the rain eased they dispersed. Whether it was the same birds returning each time is impossible to say.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- none
Hirundines etc. noted: see notes: largest 'instant' counts
- >10 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins
- >15 Barn Swallows
- >6 House Martins
Warblers recorded:
None
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 5 (1 brood) Canada Geese: an additional pair flew in
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens
- 20 + 6 (3 broods) Coots: no doubt some sheltering in the reeds
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
Insects noted
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 5 (1 brood) Canada Geese: an additional pair flew in
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens
- 20 + 6 (3 broods) Coots: no doubt some sheltering in the reeds
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
Insects noted
None
The Flash: 07:55 – 09:55
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:55 – 09:55
(116th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- there seems to be the beginnings of a build-up of the geese ahead of their post-breeding wing-moult when they become flightless for several weeks.
- that said one of the 'juvenile' Mute Swans chased nine of the Canada Geese away.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
Bird notes:
- there seems to be the beginnings of a build-up of the geese ahead of their post-breeding wing-moult when they become flightless for several weeks.
- that said one of the 'juvenile' Mute Swans chased nine of the Canada Geese away.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
'nominal' warbler:
- 2 (2) Goldcrests
Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 9 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 13 (12♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 11 + 2 (1 brood) Coots: no doubt many sheltering in the reeds
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
'nominal' warbler:
- 2 (2) Goldcrests
Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 9 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 13 (12♂) Mallard
- 6 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 11 + 2 (1 brood) Coots: no doubt many sheltering in the reeds
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
Other flies:
- 1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria dead in a spider's web
- 1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria dead in a spider's web
Beetles:
- many Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
Sightings from previous years
2009
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
2 Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
- many Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
(Ed Wilson)
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Sightings from previous years
2009
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
2 Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)