I have added some species lists at the end. I have started with notes about changes to the environment. I have followed that with some highlights. I have also added some notes about how the more regular species have fared this year
First let us look at Priorslee Lake
There have been some subtle and not so subtle changes around the lake over the years
- many years ago Severn-Trent stopped paying for much of the grassy area on the S side to be cut annually. This area is gradually ‘scrubbing’ over
- the level of traffic on the M54 and Castle Farm Way continues to increase. When the Armco central barrier on the M-way was replaced by a concrete wall there was a dramatic increase in the noise level as the sound was now reflected back. I am sure this disturbs the birds – it certainly affects my ability to hear them
- the number of dog-walkers increases annually. Most of these don’t know of / read / care about the Severn-Trent signs requesting dog are kept on leads. Some dogs run wild in to the undergrowth and edges of the reed-beds affecting both nesting and roosting birds
- the chemical once used to control the weed in the lake was banned by the EU several years ago. The Sailing Club, who are head leaseholders from Severn-Trent, hire a contractor to cut the weed as it affects their ability to operate their powered safety boat. The cut weed is not always cleanly cleared away
- after local pressure both the Council and local groups planted saplings around the ‘football field’ to replace the completely unnecessary tree-felling and scrub-clearance that took place ahead of the construction of the Holy Trinity Academy. It will take many years to ‘re-wild’ this area. Meanwhile Council contractors continue unnecessary flailing of the remaining hedgerows
- when the Granville tip closed in 2015 there was no longer a local food source for the large gulls and numbers have declined dramatically. 10 years ago a count of 10000 gulls on a winter’s afternoon was not unusual. These days 500 is notable and these are almost all Black-headed Gulls on a pre- or post- roost gatherings – they roost at Trench Middle Pool
- last winter the heavy snowfalls flattened large areas of bramble scrub and reeds making them less suitable for nesting birds
- recent rains have resulted in unprecedented amounts of mud being brought in to the lake from drains emerging under the Holy Trinity Academy. What the effect of this will be after it settles on the bottom is hard to predict. Certainly many of the Tufted Duck – these are underwater vegetation feeders – have subsequently left
Now of course we have the development on the long-abandoned old Celestica site which has been a brownfield for over 10 years. No more. The birds that nested here ‘will have to go elsewhere’ to breed. Not easy because ‘elsewhere’ is either unsuitable or already fully occupied. Apart from the loss of the adjacent wild habitat the 500+ house are bound to increase the level of disturbance with dog-walkers and local cats. One notable loss will be the breeding site for Little Ringed Plover, a Schedule 1 protected bird. This species nested there for at least 10 year. We have necessarily kept its presence low-key. Sadly although two pairs arrived this Spring neither was successful in breeding and no juveniles were seen
I make as many visits as I can when I am in the country. I made 196 visits to the lake in 2018. Rather fewer to The Flash. My main interest is in birds. I started recording butterflies, moths, dragonflies, hoverflies, other insects and spiders and plants a few years ago. Some I can (mis)identify. Something to do when there is not much change on the lake itself
Some statistics
My personal 2018 lake species totals (2017 totals in brackets)
107 (103) birds (2 additional species have been reported to me)
14 (7) butterflies
60 (48) moths
19 (13) hoverflies
10 (7) damsel- and dragonflies
83 (70) other insects and spiders at least partially identified
6 (6) mammals
1 (0) amphibian
8 (6) molluscs (slugs / snails)
86 (109) flowering plants
13 (14) fungus, mostly unidentified
Here are some notes from the lake this year
- after losing control of the lake last winter when lots of visiting swans arrived, the resident Mute Swans had a bad year. The cob was fatally injured protecting his brood, probably by the other pair that nested. The pen and the cygnets were forced off the lake and last seen in the Priorslee Estate. Attempts to rescue them failed. The pen was picked up from the M54 some days later, rehabilitated and returned to Chasewater. The cygnets presumably perished. The other nesting pair raised three of their four cygnets and the family all left together in late October. A third pair looked like breeding but could find no suitable site and left in late April. Since the departure of these birds a pair has arrived. These staked their claim by driving off any visitors. Just before Christmas they left and for the first time I can recall there were no swans at all. A pair was back by New Year and the pen at least from the BTO ring was from this year’s successful pair
- geese numbers have always been low on the lake with the resident swans chasing them away. Numbers overhead have significantly diminished along with the reduced numbers on other local waters
- apart from Mallard and a small wintering population of Gadwall all dabbling ducks stay only a few days. All the usual suspects have been recorded
- diving ducks are usually Tufted Ducks with excellent numbers in late November and early December. Pochard numbers perhaps lower than usual. Goosanders have become occasional very brief visitors and regular fly-overs in winter. Several Goldeneye were unusual, with two different drakes noted. No ‘rare’ ducks – Scaup, Scoter or Long-tailed Ducks this year
- a ‘purple patch’ in November saw 5 Great White Egrets visit for a few minutes one morning. Then a Little Egret dropped in the following day, also briefly
- the Great Crested Grebes had a mixed season with three broods from two pairs noted. None was proven to have successfully fledged though one is still present and could likely fly if it chose to. At least one additional pair seemed to make a half-hearted late attempt at nesting and then disappeared
- I have wondered about Little Grebe breeding here. They stayed late in to Spring and juveniles were seen in late Summer. Unconfirmed
- I remain unsure as to whether Sparrowhawk breeds or not
- Buzzards bred in the Ricoh copse with three noisy begging juveniles. Since then this species has been less obvious than usual
- Coots did better than in recent years. Losses, especially of early broods, are very high but at least 30 birds reached adulthood. Whether these have fledged is hard to say. In all the years I have been watching I have yet to see a Coot fly in or out of the lake despite numbers varying significantly throughout the year. Short hops across the water is all I see. They must only fly at night
- as noted, with the closure of the Granville Tip gull numbers have been very low. Somewhat against this trend the locally scarce Common Gull turned up three times in 2018
- the dead Ash tree that was the Stock Doves nest site collapsed in the snow last winter. There are still birds in the area though I do not know where they are nesting
- the annual Autumn Wood Pigeon passage was somewhat down on some years. I have to be there when conditions are absolutely right and then 1000s of birds pass south between 07:30 and 09:30 – from here to where? This year after a smaller passage almost as many birds were recorded passing north. Odd
- in 2017 Kingfishers bred in the Wesley Brook somewhere below the dam and birds were seen frequently carrying fish over the dam. After the freeze last winter birds left the area and apart from the odd sighting have not returned either to breed locally or on subsequent dispersal
- a Green Woodpecker bred along the N side for the first time I can recall
- the numbers of Jackdaws and Rooks continues to give cause for concern. For many years birds leaving local roosts passed over in large numbers – over 1000 Jackdaws and up to 400 Rooks could be expected. I suspect that their roost sites changed as birds started to pass some minutes later than hitherto. Numbers were lower too. This year Jackdaws numbers have struggled to even reach 200 and most days I am logging no Rooks at all. It is possible that if their roost sites did indeed change then their flight lines changed and they no longer pass nearby. I do hope so
- Autumn numbers of Fieldfare and Redwings on passage were also perhaps slightly lower than previously. Nevertheless some days almost 1000 birds would pass, usually west, and soon after dawn
- generally Spring passage was rather poor with no tern passage; fewer than usual hirundines; and among the passerines no flycatchers or Grasshopper Warbler. Lesser Whitethroat was heard several times but it seems unlikely it bred – it has done in the past. Willow Warblers sang for a while but also moved on. Sedge Warbler also only recorded on passage
- his left Chiffchaff and Blackcaps (in good number) along with Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler as confirmed breeding species. Reed Warblers had some difficulty to start with as last years reeds, flattened by the Beast from the East, provided no nest sites and they had to wait until the vegetation had regrown. As a result several new areas were explored but not, in the event, used
- the only Cuckoo was likely a returning bird
- tit numbers never seem to reflect a successful breeding season. I hear and see plenty of juveniles at the right time. By late summer numbers of each species I log are much the same as in late winter. We are missing Willow Tit now. A lone male sang and sang and sang in 2016 and 2017 being last heard before the cold weather at the end of 2017. This rapidly declining species is no more here
- finches these days are as scarce as they are in most places – apart from Goldfinches which continue to do well. There were three Chaffinch territories in 2018: as far as I know only one pair bred successfully. Greenfinch numbers very low at all times – 10 years ago there was a roost of >400 of these birds. At least three pairs of Bullfinches are around the lake. I hardly ever saw juveniles this year though they are always unobtrusive. There seem to plenty around now
- a record number of Reed Buntings was noted leaving the W end roost in December. Good to see
- I recorded a lone bat in 2018 – a Pipistrelle-type. Usually in Autumn I can see >5 on warmer days. Most years I see up to 5 Noctule-types some mornings. It might be presumptuous to suggest the development of the old Celestica site might be to blame
Before the species lists here are some few highlights from elsewhere nearby for 2018
Firstly The Flash
There has been less change to the environment here
- the island continues to erode. Last winter’s storms broke a huge willow and it currently drapes in the water. Birds shelter / hide under it at times
- the small reed bed at the S end of the water has been all-but destroyed to make way for more fishing platforms. It means we will not get Reed Warblers nesting in future and winter visits by Water Rails are unlikely
- at the S end of squirrel alley several of the large ash trees were affected by Chalara ash dieback. Council contractors did an aggressive pollarding job. Probably necessary for safety. At least they left 20’ of the main trunks which have several holes previously used as nest sites
Some notables in 2018
- not at all sure where all the geese have gone. Council contractors have been dipping the Canada Geese eggs to make them infertile for many years to prevent successful breeding – numbers were getting well out of hand and the mess was disgusting. This summer during their annual moult there were still sometimes 200 Greylag and Canada Geese present. Now double-figures are infrequent
- while the geese were still around a Pink-footed Goose turned up one morning, my first ever here. There has been a surprising range of geese drop in over the years with ‘lost’ birds, both wild and escapes from collections, latching on to the local groups
- Tufted Duck successfully bred here for the first time for many years, at least 5 youngsters reached fledging stage though I never saw them actually fly
- a frustrating ‘was it or wasn’t it’ a duck Scaup was seen distantly one morning only
- the sheer number of Goosanders in the second-winter period was unprecedented. My maximum count was 126 birds. This species first arrived here about 6 years ago and has been an annual winter visitor in variable numbers. There is some thought that number depend upon the state of the Severn, where this species breeds. If it is in spate it is very muddy and the birds perhaps cannot find food and are forced to move elsewhere. The correlation seems rather loose to me
- a Little Egret dropped in on Christmas Eve – a first for me here
- in December what was likely the same Ring-necked Parakeet that roosted just one night in the reeds at Priorslee Lake took up semi-residence on the island here and stayed in to 2019
- a Hobby overhead at the end of August was a new species for me here. This species is increasing in number and I usually see several at the lake
- a Sedge Warbler spent several days singing at the top end of the water at the end of April. He finally moved on to a more suitable location. My first-ever here
- the Mute Swans had a mixed year. After building a nest and probably after starting to lay eggs the pen broke her wing, perhaps fighting with other swans looking for a nesting site. She was taken in to care by Cuan Wildlife Rescue but had to be put down. Amazingly a ‘spare’ pen turned up a few days later and the cob took up with her. It is hard to see inside the island and I do not know whether the same nest was used or indeed whose eggs produced the five (I think) cygnets. Two of these died soon after hatching – a not uncommon occurrence. The other three were coming on OK, though because of the late hatching were rather smaller than normal as Autumn approached. Apparently the cob started to attack two of the cygnets in late October when they would usually have been ready to leave. It is thought that these two were male cygnets. Cuan rescued them. The remaining cygnet, presumably a female, is just able to fly and will hopefully leave before ‘Spring is in the air’ and she is driven off
- we lost the last ‘farmyard’ goose earlier this year. When I first started watching here in the 1990s there were six ‘white’ birds – 3 geese and 3 ducks. They have gone one by one. Our aggressive cob Mute Swan is thought to have been the culprit for the last rather charismatic goose – quite a favourite with the locals
- dabbling ducks were completely absent in 2018 – apart from the omnipresent Mallard
- Great Crested Grebes bred and I think two juveniles fledged successfully
- Coot numbers were well down for much of the year. Numbers picked up in the second winter period. There were several successful nests
- it seems Willow Warblers no longer nest here – perhaps the wooded areas are now too mature for this species. Several sang for some weeks but seem not find a mate. I recorded Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps breeding as usual
- Kingfisher scarce this year
- wagtails also less frequently seen. They do not breed but are usually around the roofs and roadways in winter
- not many finches here either. Both Chaffinches and Greenfinches singing in Spring. Bullfinches seen locally. Goldfinches probably don’t nest here but are common outside the breeding season
The lists
Priorslee Lake
Birds
Species seen in 2018 but not in 2017
Little Egret: first by me at the lake: previous records only fly-overs
Great White Egret: first by me at the lake: previous records only fly-overs
Red Kite: last seen by me in 2015
(Common) Ringed Plover: at least 5 years since my last record
Black-tailed Godwit: at least 5 years since my last record
Green Sandpiper: at least 5 years since my last record (two this year)
Black Tern: last seen in 2016
Yellow-legged Gull: last seen in 2016
Ring-necked Parakeet: at least 10 years since my last record
Cuckoo: at least 15 years since my last record
Yellow Wagtail: last seen by me in 2016
*Common Crossbill: a new species for me at this site
The following have been reported in 2018 but were not seen by me
Pintail: last seen by me in 2016
Kittiwake: last seen by me in 2016
Species seen in 2017 but not in 2018
Egyptian Goose
(Greater) Scaup
Bittern
Merlin
Mediterranean Gull
Willow Tit: sadly this former breeding species is no more in the area
(Bohemian) Waxwing
Birds (in date order)
1 16/01/2018 Robin
2 16/01/2018 Blackbird
3 16/01/2018 Coot
4 16/01/2018 Canada Goose
5 16/01/2018 Tufted Duck
6 16/01/2018 Mute Swan
7 16/01/2018 Mallard
8 16/01/2018 Magpie
9 16/01/2018 Dunnock
10 16/01/2018 Jackdaw
11 16/01/2018 Gadwall
12 16/01/2018 Moorhen
13 16/01/2018 Carrion Crow
14 16/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
15 16/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
16 16/01/2018 Stock Dove
17 16/01/2018 Reed Bunting
18 16/01/2018 Great Tit
19 16/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
20 16/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
21 16/01/2018 Bullfinch
22 16/01/2018 Goldfinch
23 16/01/2018 Herring Gull
24 16/01/2018 Cormorant
25 16/01/2018 Pochard
26 16/01/2018 Grey Heron
27 16/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit
28 16/01/2018 Blue Tit
29 16/01/2018 Siskin
30 16/01/2018 Jay
31 16/01/2018 Wren
32 16/01/2018 Grey Wagtail
33 16/01/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
34 16/01/2018 Collared Dove
35 17/01/2018 Redwing
36 17/01/2018 Little Grebe
37 17/01/2018 Golden Plover
38 17/01/2018 Common Buzzard
39 17/01/2018 Coal Tit
40 17/01/2018 Greenfinch
41 17/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
42 18/01/2018 Water Rail
43 18/01/2018 Goosander
44 18/01/2018 Pied Wagtail
45 18/01/2018 Song Thrush
46 18/01/2018 Chaffinch
47 19/01/2018 Starling
48 19/01/2018 Greylag Goose
49 19/01/2018 Lesser Redpoll
50 19/01/2018 Sparrowhawk
51 19/01/2018 Treecreeper
52 22/01/2018 Mistle Thrush
53 23/01/2018 Rook
54 27/01/2018 Lapwing
55 29/01/2018 Fieldfare
56 30/01/2018 Skylark
57 01/02/2018 Linnet
58 02/02/2018 Yellowhammer
59 05/02/2018 Goldcrest
60 06/02/2018 Shoveler
61 07/02/2018 Woodcock
62 07/02/2018 Green Woodpecker
63 11/02/2018 Kingfisher
64 23/03/2018 (Common) Goldeneye
65 23/03/2018 Chiffchaff
66 23/03/2018 Nuthatch
67 24/03/2018 Peregrine
68 24/03/2018 Oystercatcher
69 24/03/2018 (Common) Redshank
70 24/03/2018 Pheasant
71 26/03/2018 Meadow Pipit
72 29/03/2018 Barn Swallow
73 31/03/2018 Willow Warbler
74 03/04/2018 Sand Martin
75 04/04/2018 Blackcap
76 09/04/2018 (Common) Ringed Plover
77 12/04/2018 Common Sandpiper
78 22/04/2018 Common Whitethroat
79 22/04/2018 Reed Warbler
80 22/04/2018 Garden Warbler
81 23/04/2018 House Martin
82 23/04/2018 Lesser Whitethroat
83 23/04/2018 Sedge Warbler
84 24/04/2018 Swift
85 25/04/2018 Little Ringed Plover
86 23/05/2018 Common Tern
87 29/05/2018 Hobby
88 11/07/2018 Cuckoo
88 05/06/2018 House Sparrow
89 09/08/2018 Black-tailed Godwit
90 20/08/2018 (Common) Kestrel
91 24/08/2018 Green Sandpiper
92 26/08/2018 Black Tern
93 26/08/2018 Shelduck
94 28/08/2018 Yellow Wagtail
95 20/09/2018 Raven
96 26/09/2018 Eurasian Wigeon
97 26/09/2018 Common Gull
98 18/10/2018 Tawny Owl
99 19/10/2018 Yellow-legged Gull
100 20/10/2018 Brambling
101 22/10/2018 Snipe
102 25/10/2018 Common Crossbill
103 06/11/2018 Great White Egret
104 08/11/2018 Ring-necked Parakeet
105 11/11/2018 Little Egret
106 14/11/2018 Red Kite
107 17/11/2018 Teal
Also noted
--- 16/01/2018 Greylag x Canada Goose
and reported to me
--- (c.10/03/2018) Pintail
--- (c.18/03/2018) Kittiwake
Butterflies (in date order)
1 01/05/2018 Green-veined White
2 04/06/2018 Painted Lady
3 06/06/2018 Large Skipper
4 06/06/2018 Common Blue
5 06/06/2018 Speckled Wood
6 11/06/2018 Red Admiral
7 18/06/2018 Ringlet
8 11/07/2018 Small Skipper
9 11/07/2018 Essex Skipper
10 11/07/2018 Large White
11 11/07/2018 Gatekeeper
12 14/07/2018 Small White
13 14/07/2018 Peacock
14 14/07/2018 Meadow Brown
Moths (in date order)
Species numbers according to the British Checklist number as noted e.g. in the Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland by Waring, Townsend and Lewington
I have used vernacular names only. For micro moths these are not always consistently used. I have adopted those used on the very useful Norfolk Moths web site
The nine with ‘*’ are new for me at this site
1 07/03/2018 1934 Dotted Border
2 27/03/2018 1663 March Moth
3 08/04/2018 1746 Shoulder Stripe
4* 08/04/2018 1917 Early Thorn
5 23/05/2018 1076 Common Marble
6 23/05/2018 1727 Silver-ground Carpet
7 24/05/2018 1126 Common Roller
8 26/05/2018 1174 Yellow-faced Bell
9 28/05/2018 1301 Hook-streak Grass-veneer
10 28/05/2018 1760 Red-green Carpet
11* 30/05/2018 1951 Grey Birch
12 31/05/2018 1682 Blood-vein
13 01/06/2018 148 Yellow-barred Longhorn
14 01/06/2018 1082 Plum Tortrix
15 02/06/2018 989 Timothy Tortrix
16 02/06/2018 2441 Silver Y
17 02/06/2018 2463 Burnet Companion
18 02/06/2018 2474 Straw Dot
19* 04/06/2018 1654 Figure of Eighty
20 06/06/2018 17 Common Swift
21 11/06/2018 1759 Small Phoenix
22 18/06/2018 1293 Garden Grass-veneer
23 20/06/2018 385 Common Nettle-tap
24 10/07/2018 1388 Pale Straw Pearl
25 10/07/2018 1732 Shaded Broad-bar
26 11/07/2018 2069 Cinnabar [caterpillar]
27 13/07/2018 424 Bird-cherry Ermine
28 13/07/2018 1304 Straw Grass-veneer
29 14/07/2018 14 Ghost Moth
30 14/07/2018 1708 Single-dotted Wave
31 15/07/2018 1345 Brown China-mark
32* 15/07/2018 1524 Common Plume
33 15/07/2018 1666 Large Emerald
34 15/07/2018 2477 Snout
35 16/07/2018 1713 Riband Wave
36 16/07/2018 1837 Grey Pug
37 16/07/2018 1937 Willow Beauty
38 18/07/2018 1305 Common Grass-veneer
39 18/07/2018 1405 Mother of Pearl
40 18/07/2018 2312 Olive
41* 07/08/2018 15 Orange Swift
42* 10/08/2018 1830 Wormwood Pug
43 13/08/2018 1344 Small Grey
44 14/08/2018 1390 Dusky Pearl
45 14/08/2018 2064 Ruby Tiger
46* 15/08/2018 1306 Barred Grass-veneer
47* 22/08/2018 1914 Dusky Thorn
48 23/08/2018 2353 Flounced Rustic
49 26/08/2018 2269 Centre-barred Sallow
50 23/09/2018 2270 Lunar Underwing
51 24/09/2018 998 Light Brown Apple Moth
52 05/10/2018 1790 November Moth agg.
53 21/10/2018 1923 Feathered Thorn
54 06/11/2018 1935 Mottled Umber
55 16/11/2018 1800 Northern Winter Moth
56 18/11/2018 1799 Winter Moth
57 22/11/2018 1933 Scarce Umber
58 24/11/2018 1288 Many-plume Moth
59* 11/12/2018 2258 Chestnut
60 28/12/2018 1960 Early Moth
Hoverflies (in date order)
With thanks to Leon Truscott of Saltash for help with some of these
The three with ‘*’ are new for me at this site
1 01/05/2018 Helophilus pendulus (The Footballer)
2 01/05/2018 Syrphus ribesii
3 02/06/2018 Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade hoverfly)
4 02/06/2018 Eristalis pertinax (Tapered Drone-fly)
5 02/06/2018 Volucella pellucens (Pellucid Fly)
6 06/06/2018 Syrphus vitripennis
7 07/06/2018 Parhelophilus sp.
8 11/06/2018 Eristalis tenax (Common Drone-fly)
9* 18/06/2018 Tropidia scita
10 20/06/2018 Leucozona lucorum
11 11/07/2018 Melanostoma scalare (Chequered Hoverfly)
12* 11/07/2018 Scaeva pyrastri (or Pied Hoverfly)
13 14/07/2018 Cheilosia illustrata
14 14/07/2018 Volucella bombylans
15 15/07/2018 Eristalis intricarius
16 07/08/2018 Myathropa florea (Dead-head Hoverfly)
17 14/08/2018 Dasysyrphus albostriatus
18 23/08/2018 Sphaerophoria scripta (Long Hoverfly)
19* 02/09/2018 Ferdinandea cuprea
Damsel- / Dragon – flies (in date order)
‘*’ indicates a new species for me at this site
1 23/05/2018 Common Blue Damselfly
2 23/05/2018 Azure Damselfly
3 28/05/2018 Red-eyed Damselfly
4 02/06/2018 Blue-tailed Damselfly
5* 06/06/2018 Broad-bodied Chaser
6 11/07/2018 Black-tailed Skimmer
7 11/07/2018 Emperor Dragonfly
8 14/07/2018 Southern Hawker
9 08/08/2018 Common Darter
10 20/08/2018 Migrant Hawker
I have not included lists of mammals, insects, plants etc.
The Flash
Birds
Species seen in 2018 but not in 2017
* = never logged by me at this site previously
*Pink-footed Goose
*Little Egret
Little Grebe
*Hobby
*Ring-necked Parakeet
*Sedge Warbler
Brambling
Linnet
Species seen in 2017 but not in 2018
Gadwall
Shoveler
Goldeneye
Common Gull
Reed Bunting
Birds in date order
1 16/01/2018 Magpie
2 16/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
3 16/01/2018 Mallard
4 16/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
5 16/01/2018 Tufted Duck
6 16/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
7 16/01/2018 Carrion Crow
8 16/01/2018 Robin
9 16/01/2018 Greenfinch
10 16/01/2018 Coot
11 16/01/2018 Dunnock
12 16/01/2018 Canada Goose
13 16/01/2018 Moorhen
14 16/01/2018 Mute Swan
15 16/01/2018 Goldfinch
16 16/01/2018 Greylag Goose
17 16/01/2018 Herring Gull
18 16/01/2018 Pochard
19 16/01/2018 Grey Heron
20 16/01/2018 Coal Tit
21 16/01/2018 Blue Tit
22 16/01/2018 Wren
23 16/01/2018 Jackdaw
24 16/01/2018 Great Tit
25 16/01/2018 Blackbird
26 16/01/2018 House Sparrow
27 16/01/2018 Chaffinch
28 16/01/2018 Goosander
29 16/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
30 16/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
31 16/01/2018 Bullfinch
32 18/01/2018 Cormorant
33 18/01/2018 Song Thrush
34 18/01/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
35 22/01/2018 Sparrowhawk
36 25/01/2018 Collared Dove
37 28/01/2018 Jay
38 31/01/2018 Common Buzzard
39 31/01/2018 Kingfisher
40 31/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit parties
41 01/02/2018 Pied Wagtail
41 31/01/2018 Siskin
42 08/02/2018 Starling
43 23/03/2018 Chiffchaff
44 26/03/2018 Blackcap
45 26/03/2018 Meadow Pipit
46 28/03/2018 Goldcrest
47 31/03/2018 Treecreeper
48 03/04/2018 Nuthatch
49 04/04/2018 Stock Dove
50 04/04/2018 Willow Warbler
51 10/04/2018 Sand Martin
52 10/04/2018 Brambling
53 12/04/2018 Mistle Thrush
54 22/04/2018 Oystercatcher
55 22/04/2018 Sedge Warbler
56 23/04/2018 Garden Warbler
57 23/04/2018 Barn Swallow
58 02/05/2018 Common Sandpiper
59 02/05/2018 House Martin
60 24/05/2018 Reed Warbler
61 24/05/2018 Swift
62 26/05/2018 Rook
63 02/06/2018 Grey Wagtail
64 15/07/2018 Little Grebe
65 16/07/2018 Green Woodpecker
66 27/08/2018 Hobby
67 28/08/2018 Raven
68 27/09/2018 Skylark
69 30/09/2018 Linnet
70 02/10/2018 Pink-footed Goose
71 30/10/2018 Redwing
72 03/11/2018 Fieldfare
73 20/12/2018 Ring-necked Parakeet
74 21/12/2018 Lesser Redpoll
75 24/12/2018 Little Egret
Also seen
-- 16/01/2018 Feral Goose
-- not noted Greylag x Canada Goose
Moths (in date order)
Same comments re numbering and names as for the lake
The six with ‘*’ are new for me at this site reflecting my increased effort with this group here
1* 07/04/2018 1834 Common Pug
2* 25/04/2018 1747 Streamer
3 01/06/2018 1654 Figure of Eighty
4* 04/06/2018 1759 Small Phoenix
5 09/08/2018 2318 Dun-bar
6* 11/08/2018 1305 Common Grass-veneer
7 16/10/2018 1790 November Moth agg.
8 21/10/2018 1935 Mottled Umber
9* 24/11/2018 1799 Winter Moth
10* 30/12/2018 2259 Dark Chestnut
Other species not consistently recorded
A few words on my visits here
I went a long period in the middle of the year without visiting either Trench Lock or Middle Pools. They are best in winter for birds. I stopped because there were so many fishermen that very little was on the water. This seemed to coincide with the Canal and River Trust, who manage the pool, moving fish here while they did work elsewhere. In the event the lake was infected by Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease and closed for fishing. It was subsequently partially drained for some maintenance work and removal of some of the rubbish thrown in the pool (“more beer bottles than I have ever seen” according to a worker busy removing several bicycles). This produced a late date sighting of a Common Sandpiper on the exposed mud – waders are most unusual here
As a result some common breeding birds have probably been missed
Birds (only)
Recorded in 2018 but not in 2017
Teal
Common Sandpiper
Raven
Marsh Tit
Fieldfare
Mistle Thrush
Recorded in 2017 but not in 2018 [I told you I didn’t visit in the summer!]
Little Egret
Common Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Stock Dove
Swift
Rook
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Treecreeper
Redwing
Meadow Pipit
2018 List
1 17/01/2018 Magpie
2 17/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
3 17/01/2018 Canada Goose
4 17/01/2018 Mute Swan
5 17/01/2018 Moorhen
6 17/01/2018 Coot
7 17/01/2018 Robin
8 17/01/2018 Tufted Duck
9 17/01/2018 Carrion Crow
10 17/01/2018 Mallard
11 17/01/2018 Goldfinch
12 17/01/2018 Cormorant
13 17/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
14 17/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
15 17/01/2018 Grey Heron
16 17/01/2018 Goosander
17 17/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
18 17/01/2018 Blue Tit
19 17/01/2018 Great Tit
20 17/01/2018 Wren
21 17/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
22 17/01/2018 Jackdaw
23 17/01/2018 Blackbird
24 17/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit
25 17/01/2018 House Sparrow
26 17/01/2018 Collared Dove
27 19/01/2018 Greylag Goose
28 19/01/2018 Little Grebe
29 19/01/2018 Goldcrest
30 19/01/2018 Dunnock
31 23/01/2018 Pochard
32 23/01/2018 Herring Gull
33 26/01/2018 Common Buzzard
34 26/01/2018 Starling
35 26/01/2018 Song Thrush
36 30/01/2018 Raven
37 30/01/2018 Coal Tit
39 05/02/2018 Goldeneye
40 05/02/2018 Pied Wagtail
41 05/02/2018 Greenfinch
42 07/02/2018 Shoveler
43 07/02/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
44 07/02/2018 Chaffinch
45 07/03/2018 Sparrowhawk
46 26/03/2018 Jay
47 26/03/2018 Marsh Tit
48 26/03/2018 Chiffchaff
49 08/04/2018 Willow Warbler
50 08/04/2018 Blackcap
52 18/10/2018 Teal
53 18/10/2018 Kingfisher
54 29/10/2018 Common Sandpiper
55 21/11/2018 Mistle Thrush
56 10/12/2018 Fieldfare
plus
-- 17/01/2018 Feral Mallard-type
Usually only visited as an adjunct to Trench Lock Pool. A strange place where unusual things can turn up but usually don’t
- apart from being a favourite place to ‘feed the geese and ducks’ its main claim is its large (>2000) roost of Black-headed Gulls.
- a very few Lesser Black-backed Gulls join the roost some days
- the Mute Swans bred again this year but the two surviving cygnets disappeared in October. One is known to have been taken in to care but died there. The adults left soon after: the cob has been seen subsequently on fields locally
- I do not know whether the geese bred this year. I am not aware of any attempt to prevent successful breeding here by dipping the eggs on the island (as happens at The Flash)
Birds (only)
Recorded in 2018 but not in 2017
Teal
Pochard
Raven
Treecreeper
Starling
Recorded in 2017 but not in 2018
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Meadow Pipit
2018 List
1 17/01/2018 Magpie
2 17/01/2018 Robin
3 17/01/2018 Great Tit
4 17/01/2018 Mute Swan
5 17/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
6 17/01/2018 Coot
7 17/01/2018 Tufted Duck
8 17/01/2018 Dunnock
9 17/01/2018 Canada Goose
10 17/01/2018 Mallard
11 17/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
12 17/01/2018 Goosander
13 17/01/2018 Blue Tit
14 17/01/2018 Blackbird
15 17/01/2018 Goldfinch
16 17/01/2018 Moorhen
17 17/01/2018 Greylag Goose
18 17/01/2018 Treecreeper
19 17/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
20 17/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
21 19/01/2018 Cormorant
22 19/01/2018 Grey Heron
23 19/01/2018 Herring Gull
24 23/01/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
25 23/01/2018 Carrion Crow
26 23/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit parties
27 26/01/2018 Buzzard
28 26/01/2018 Jackdaw
29 26/01/2018 Song Thrush
30 30/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
31 30/01/2018 Stock Dove
32 30/01/2018 Wren
33 30/01/2018 Bullfinch
34 30/01/2018 Coal Tit
35 30/01/2018 Sparrowhawk
36 07/02/2018 Redwing
37 12/02/2018 Raven
38 26/03/2018 Grey Wagtail
39 18/10/2018 Starling
40 02/11/2018 Skylark
41 19/11/2018 Teal
42 19/11/2018 Pochard
43 23/11/2018 Jay
44 23/11/2018 Goldcrest
45 26/11/2018 Pied Wagtail
46 26/11/2018 Siskin
47 24/12/2018 Chaffinch
plus
-- 17/01/2018 Feral Mallard-types
-- 07/03/2018 Greylag x Canada Goose
(Ed Wilson )
03 January 2019
Same comments re numbering and names as for the lake
The six with ‘*’ are new for me at this site reflecting my increased effort with this group here
1* 07/04/2018 1834 Common Pug
2* 25/04/2018 1747 Streamer
3 01/06/2018 1654 Figure of Eighty
4* 04/06/2018 1759 Small Phoenix
5 09/08/2018 2318 Dun-bar
6* 11/08/2018 1305 Common Grass-veneer
7 16/10/2018 1790 November Moth agg.
8 21/10/2018 1935 Mottled Umber
9* 24/11/2018 1799 Winter Moth
10* 30/12/2018 2259 Dark Chestnut
Other species not consistently recorded
Trench
A few words on my visits here
I went a long period in the middle of the year without visiting either Trench Lock or Middle Pools. They are best in winter for birds. I stopped because there were so many fishermen that very little was on the water. This seemed to coincide with the Canal and River Trust, who manage the pool, moving fish here while they did work elsewhere. In the event the lake was infected by Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease and closed for fishing. It was subsequently partially drained for some maintenance work and removal of some of the rubbish thrown in the pool (“more beer bottles than I have ever seen” according to a worker busy removing several bicycles). This produced a late date sighting of a Common Sandpiper on the exposed mud – waders are most unusual here
As a result some common breeding birds have probably been missed
Trench Lock Pool
Birds (only)
Recorded in 2018 but not in 2017
Teal
Common Sandpiper
Raven
Marsh Tit
Fieldfare
Mistle Thrush
Recorded in 2017 but not in 2018 [I told you I didn’t visit in the summer!]
Little Egret
Common Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Stock Dove
Swift
Rook
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Treecreeper
Redwing
Meadow Pipit
2018 List
1 17/01/2018 Magpie
2 17/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
3 17/01/2018 Canada Goose
4 17/01/2018 Mute Swan
5 17/01/2018 Moorhen
6 17/01/2018 Coot
7 17/01/2018 Robin
8 17/01/2018 Tufted Duck
9 17/01/2018 Carrion Crow
10 17/01/2018 Mallard
11 17/01/2018 Goldfinch
12 17/01/2018 Cormorant
13 17/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
14 17/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
15 17/01/2018 Grey Heron
16 17/01/2018 Goosander
17 17/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
18 17/01/2018 Blue Tit
19 17/01/2018 Great Tit
20 17/01/2018 Wren
21 17/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
22 17/01/2018 Jackdaw
23 17/01/2018 Blackbird
24 17/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit
25 17/01/2018 House Sparrow
26 17/01/2018 Collared Dove
27 19/01/2018 Greylag Goose
28 19/01/2018 Little Grebe
29 19/01/2018 Goldcrest
30 19/01/2018 Dunnock
31 23/01/2018 Pochard
32 23/01/2018 Herring Gull
33 26/01/2018 Common Buzzard
34 26/01/2018 Starling
35 26/01/2018 Song Thrush
36 30/01/2018 Raven
37 30/01/2018 Coal Tit
39 05/02/2018 Goldeneye
40 05/02/2018 Pied Wagtail
41 05/02/2018 Greenfinch
42 07/02/2018 Shoveler
43 07/02/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
44 07/02/2018 Chaffinch
45 07/03/2018 Sparrowhawk
46 26/03/2018 Jay
47 26/03/2018 Marsh Tit
48 26/03/2018 Chiffchaff
49 08/04/2018 Willow Warbler
50 08/04/2018 Blackcap
52 18/10/2018 Teal
53 18/10/2018 Kingfisher
54 29/10/2018 Common Sandpiper
55 21/11/2018 Mistle Thrush
56 10/12/2018 Fieldfare
plus
-- 17/01/2018 Feral Mallard-type
Trench Middle Pool
Usually only visited as an adjunct to Trench Lock Pool. A strange place where unusual things can turn up but usually don’t
- apart from being a favourite place to ‘feed the geese and ducks’ its main claim is its large (>2000) roost of Black-headed Gulls.
- a very few Lesser Black-backed Gulls join the roost some days
- the Mute Swans bred again this year but the two surviving cygnets disappeared in October. One is known to have been taken in to care but died there. The adults left soon after: the cob has been seen subsequently on fields locally
- I do not know whether the geese bred this year. I am not aware of any attempt to prevent successful breeding here by dipping the eggs on the island (as happens at The Flash)
Birds (only)
Recorded in 2018 but not in 2017
Teal
Pochard
Raven
Treecreeper
Starling
Recorded in 2017 but not in 2018
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Meadow Pipit
2018 List
1 17/01/2018 Magpie
2 17/01/2018 Robin
3 17/01/2018 Great Tit
4 17/01/2018 Mute Swan
5 17/01/2018 Black-headed Gull
6 17/01/2018 Coot
7 17/01/2018 Tufted Duck
8 17/01/2018 Dunnock
9 17/01/2018 Canada Goose
10 17/01/2018 Mallard
11 17/01/2018 Great Crested Grebe
12 17/01/2018 Goosander
13 17/01/2018 Blue Tit
14 17/01/2018 Blackbird
15 17/01/2018 Goldfinch
16 17/01/2018 Moorhen
17 17/01/2018 Greylag Goose
18 17/01/2018 Treecreeper
19 17/01/2018 Wood Pigeon
20 17/01/2018 Lesser Black-backed Gull
21 19/01/2018 Cormorant
22 19/01/2018 Grey Heron
23 19/01/2018 Herring Gull
24 23/01/2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker
25 23/01/2018 Carrion Crow
26 23/01/2018 Long-tailed Tit parties
27 26/01/2018 Buzzard
28 26/01/2018 Jackdaw
29 26/01/2018 Song Thrush
30 30/01/2018 Feral Pigeon
31 30/01/2018 Stock Dove
32 30/01/2018 Wren
33 30/01/2018 Bullfinch
34 30/01/2018 Coal Tit
35 30/01/2018 Sparrowhawk
36 07/02/2018 Redwing
37 12/02/2018 Raven
38 26/03/2018 Grey Wagtail
39 18/10/2018 Starling
40 02/11/2018 Skylark
41 19/11/2018 Teal
42 19/11/2018 Pochard
43 23/11/2018 Jay
44 23/11/2018 Goldcrest
45 26/11/2018 Pied Wagtail
46 26/11/2018 Siskin
47 24/12/2018 Chaffinch
plus
-- 17/01/2018 Feral Mallard-types
-- 07/03/2018 Greylag x Canada Goose
(Ed Wilson )
03 January 2019