5.0°C > 9.0°C: Early patchy cloud mostly cleared before medium-level cloud from North. Light south-easterly wind. Good visibility with haze. Mist over the water.
Sunrise: 05:52 BST
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:05 – 06:20 // 07:30 – 09:30
* = a species photographed today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:05 – 06:20 // 07:30 – 09:30
(102nd visit of the year)
Bird notes
Two new bird species for the year here:
- a Lesser Whitethroat was giving its rattling song intermittently from the West end hedge and near the Telford Sailing Club HQ after 07:40 to give me a complete set of the likely warbler species this year.
- a Yellow Wagtail called as it flew over c.09:00 so loudly that I think I must have flushed it off the south-west grass though I did not see it there.
My bird species total for here in 2025 moves on to 92.5.
Bird notes
Two new bird species for the year here:
- a Lesser Whitethroat was giving its rattling song intermittently from the West end hedge and near the Telford Sailing Club HQ after 07:40 to give me a complete set of the likely warbler species this year.
- a Yellow Wagtail called as it flew over c.09:00 so loudly that I think I must have flushed it off the south-west grass though I did not see it there.
My bird species total for here in 2025 moves on to 92.5.
Other bird notes:
- *the pair of Gadwall did their 'appearing' trick on the south-west grass at 09:10.
- *the duck Pochard still present.
- still five Sedge Warblers heard singing. Not all of them in the same place as yesterday.
- Blackcaps numbers back to full strength.
- *three Common Whitethroats noted: two singing males; the third bird probably a female: I did not hear it sing.
- three Starlings were on the football field c.06:10 collecting food to take back to nests around the estate. The first time I have seen that this season.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 3 Greylag Geese: a single inbound; a pair outbound
- 16 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 36 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Yellow Wagtail: as highlighted
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: of these two pairs departed separately
- 2 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- *1 (0♂) Pochard
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 + 6 (3 broods) Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: departed 05:55; presumed same seen leaving the football field c.06:05
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- *the pair of Gadwall did their 'appearing' trick on the south-west grass at 09:10.
- *the duck Pochard still present.
- still five Sedge Warblers heard singing. Not all of them in the same place as yesterday.
- Blackcaps numbers back to full strength.
- *three Common Whitethroats noted: two singing males; the third bird probably a female: I did not hear it sing.
- three Starlings were on the football field c.06:10 collecting food to take back to nests around the estate. The first time I have seen that this season.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 3 Greylag Geese: a single inbound; a pair outbound
- 16 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 36 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Yellow Wagtail: as highlighted
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: of these two pairs departed separately
- 2 Mute Swans
- *2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- *1 (0♂) Pochard
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 + 6 (3 broods) Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: departed 05:55; presumed same seen leaving the football field c.06:05
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- *2? (1) Cetti's Warbler: perhaps a second bird seen briefly
- 16 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Sedge Warblers again
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 17 (13) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- *3 (2) Common Whitethroats: see notes [named Greater Whitethroat by the Merlin app.]
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- *2? (1) Cetti's Warbler: perhaps a second bird seen briefly
- 16 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Sedge Warblers again
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 17 (13) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- *3 (2) Common Whitethroats: see notes [named Greater Whitethroat by the Merlin app.]
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Flies:
various dew-covered midges
various dew-covered midges
Spiders, harvestman etc.:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
*1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Also noted:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
*1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Also noted:
Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Other flies
*unidentified cranefly
unidentified flies of several species
*unidentified cranefly
unidentified flies of several species
New flowers for the year:
*Bird Cherry Prunus padus
*buds of Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.
The duck Pochard is still here. I saw her flap her wings again today and while it was a very brief view the feathers looked to be normal. So I am not sure why she has not flown away.
*Bird Cherry Prunus padus
*buds of Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.
A hazy, misty start.
Even more mist here as the sun is about to pop up.
The pair of Gadwall were at ease on the south-west grass.
Mrs. Gadwall was quite happy to watch me as I walked past.
Mr. Gadwall decided he was happier on the water.
I was trying to persuade the Garden Warbler to appear when this Long-tailed Tit popped out.
There is always a branch in the way.
Yummy: breakfast!! A female Blackbird with a beakful of delicious worms.
I am being given a hard stare by the Cetti's Warbler.
He obviously decided I was harmless.
Did I mention about a branch always being in the way?
Or leaves!
"I can see you". A male Common Whitethroat trying to hide.
"No photos please".
These are the flowers of a Bird Cherry Prunus padus.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:25 – 07: 25
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The Flash: 06:25 – 07: 25
(99th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- just two Great Crested Grebes noted, only loosely together and not particularly close to the island either.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other presumed to be on the island.
- 13 (12♂) Mallard
- 10 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 + 6 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 8 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps yet again
Noted elsewhere
Nothing
How could I resist? Not sure whether this Goldcrest is looking for its next meal or inspiration.
(Ed Wilson)
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2014
Nedge Hill
2 Redstart
7 Wheatear
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
(Ian Grant)
2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
5 Common Sandpipers
2 Reed Warblers
6 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
20 Tufted Duck
2 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)
Long Lane, Wellington
1 Little Ringed Plover
3 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
Lesser Whitethroat
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
11 Greylag
1 Tufted Duck
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
14 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
11 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
5 Greylag Geese
17 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
3 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Lapwings
1 Green Woodpecker
6 Skylarks
4 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
8 Wheatear
28 Fieldfare
2 Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Reed Warblers
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Common Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Tufted Duck
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Trench
8 Tufted Duck
8 Swallows
3 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Linnet
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebe
1 Ruddy Duck
4 Common Sandpiper
3 Swift
32 House Martin
3 Swallow
3 Reed Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
6 Blackcap
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Chiffchaff
4 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
14 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
7 Sand Martins
14 Swallows
1 House Martin
3 Stock Doves
3 Grey Wagtails
30 Wrens
2 Sedge Warblers
1 Reed Warbler
1 Common Whitethroat
9 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
8 Greenfinches
1 Linnet
1 Redpoll
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
Lanes to the East of Priorslee lake
6 Stock Doves
2 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
3 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
4 Linnets
1 Reed Bunting
7 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)