6.0°C > 10.0°C: Low overcast started to break after 08:30 with only thin high cloud and hazy sun by 09:30. Moderate south-easterly breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:48 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:50
(101at visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a surprise was a pair of Greylag Geese with seven small goslings. Where was their nest?
- a duck Mallard with three ducklings was probably a brood I have seen previously. A new brood of eight small ducklings was noted. One of the fishermen reported seeing what was probably the previously see group of two ducklings and another very new brood of five ducklings!
- a first year Black-headed Gull visited briefly.
- a Common Sandpiper seen at 05:30 but not later. [the fishermen reported seeing two later yesterday]
- an adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls present at 05:30 only.
- I again failed to hear (or see!) the Cetti's Warbler.
- only one Sedge Warblers singing at a location where one has been for about ten days.
- only three Reed Warblers heard today.
- the Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the Ricoh hedge throughout. Another was singing by 09:15 from the hedge between the lake and the M54.
- the one Common Whitethroat still singing.
- in an attempt to confirm the improbable number of singing Blackcaps I made a rapid and complete circumnavigation as soon as I arrived, ensuring as far as possible there was no over- or under-lap in the count. The result: even more! 25 songsters. Gulp.
- no Garden Warbler heard singing. I used the Merlin app to see whether it was any better than my ears in hearing this species among the cacophony of Blackcaps. It told me it could hear Little Ringed Plover and Nuthatch. I suspect not: one of the local Song Thrushes?
Feedback
Feedback from Martin Grant on the pair of Mute Swans seen trying to invade both here and at The Flash recently.
- 7JSS is a pen and was fitted with this ring in 2016 having previously been fitted with an Orange (Herefordshire?) ring. From 2019 she was paired with the cob Blue 7JNU and nested here until March 2025 when 7JNU was found dead and she was forced out by the current pairing.
- 7JXV is a cob that was abandoned as a cygnet in 2022 near Much Wenlock, raised by Cuan Wildlife Rescue and released with his six siblings later that year near Cosford. He had to be rescued again when he became grounded on the M54 in October 2023.
- These two have been seen together since May 2025, initially as part of the small influx at The Flash at that time.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs flew East separately
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 7 Jackdaws
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair throughout chased on to the grass by the cob Mute Swan
- *2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *14 (9♂) + 18 (4 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 4 Moorhens only
- 20 Coots only again
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
At one stage there must have been at least 75 hirundines over the water, mainly Sand Martins. Then with much calling they rose high in the sky and mostly departed with mostly Barn Swallows remaining.
- >50 Sand Martins
- >10 Barn Swallows
- >4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Cetti's Warbler!
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 27 (25) Blackcaps
- no Garden Warbler
- 2 (2) Lesser Whitethroats again
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Continuing chilly overnight. Also breezy
nothing!
Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
- >10 Barn Swallows
- >4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Cetti's Warbler!
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 27 (25) Blackcaps
- no Garden Warbler
- 2 (2) Lesser Whitethroats again
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Continuing chilly overnight. Also breezy
nothing!
Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths:
none
none
Bees, wasps, etc.:
- *Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- *Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Hoverflies:
- *Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
- *Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Other flies:
- *Muscid fly Phaonia errans
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *otherwise unidentified flies.
- *Muscid fly Phaonia errans
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *otherwise unidentified flies.
Bugs:
- *Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
- *Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Beetles:
- *Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
The pair of Greylag Geese with their seven brand-new goslings.
A duck Mallard with three growing ducklings.
Another with a very new brood of eight...
...in close up. As far as I know it is not possible to sex the ducklings from photos.
A Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius. The square-looking appearance suggests this is a queen...
...getting covered in pollen.
Smaller and slimmer than the drone flies this the an Early Epistrophe hoverfly Epistrophe eligans.
A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
A Meadow Field Syrph hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus , smaller and brighter yellow than...
This seems to be the Muscid fly Phaonia errans. It is certainly of this genus with the bulge in the wing leading edge.
And this the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
A very similar-looking fly though the thorax markings are different.
Obsidentify suggests this is also one of the root-maggot flies though very different in appearance.
A pair Dock Bug Coreus marginatus ensuring the continuity of the species.
An Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni complete with my shadow reflected on its back.
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 6 midges
- 2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Where are all the moths this year? Last year I logged 50 species here!
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30
- 6 midges
- 2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Where are all the moths this year? Last year I logged 50 species here!
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30
(98th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- yesterday's Mallard ducklings not seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull: second year?
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 12 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- no Greylag Goose
- 2 Mute Swans (the pen not seen and presumed to be on the island)
- 26 (23♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens yet again
- 21 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Bees, wasps, etc.:
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Flies:
- *1 cranefly Tipula varipennis
- 1 midge
- *1 cranefly Tipula varipennis
- 1 midge
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 money spider?
And again. With their short, stubby bills how do they manage to grab the insects? Adults were coming and going all the while. It is known that the two parents often have "helpers" - last year's juveniles effectively learning the ropes.
On one of the street lamp poles I found this cranefly Tipula varipennis. The pointed tip to the abdomen is the female ovipositor.
I cannot get an identity for this spider. Initially I thought a money spider: I think it is too big. The markings visible are largely from the camera flash so that makes identification more difficult.
(Ed Wilson)
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)
- *1 money spider?
A popular roof – seven drake Mallards with a Wood Pigeon on the chimney.
More "home delivery" of food for the Long-tailed Tit nestlings.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)