22 Mar 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:25 – 08:20
The Flash:  08:25 – 09:20

1.0°C > 4.0°C:  Frosted: scattered cloud, mostly at high level. Chilly moderate ESE wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:06 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  05:25 – 08:20

(56th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Pheasant heard calling from across Castle Farm Way was my first of the year in the area. In recent years one or more birds has attempted to breed in the Ricoh copse and often emerged on to the SW grass pre-dawn. Not this year so far.
- A Cormorant arrived; caught and ate a moderate-sized fish (Perch?) and left almost immediately.
- The additional pair of Great Crested Grebe seen recently seem to have moved on.
- Two Song Thrushes calling from trees along the N side flew off E together. Migrants? There was a bird ‘on territory’ singing loudly only a few feet away.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair outbound)
- 1 Canada Goose (single outbound)
- 1 Common Buzzard once more
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: both adults
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
- 2 Stock Doves
- 47 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks again
- 3 Fieldfares again (one group)
- 3 Redwings (one group)

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
None

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 13 (8) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks still
- 1 Cormorant briefly
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 40 Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull: first year, briefly
- 1 Kingfisher once more

Also noted:
- Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) seen in bud only – likely because they were still in the shade at the time I saw them. This species has been in flower in my lawn(!) for at least 10 days.

Additional bird species for my 2020 bird list at this site:
#70     Pheasant

While the street lamps were still alight a very red sunrise.

 The sunrise silhouetting some of last year’s dead willow herb (and one Great Reedmace) heads

The colour starting to fade as it spreads across the sky.

Here looking almost due north.

The cob Mute Swan on the warpath after a Canada Goose.

You can see the effort it is putting in to chase the goose.

My distance from the bird means this sequence of photos is necessarily fuzzy. Here a Cormorant has caught what looks like a Perch. If so the spines need to be treated with caution.

Carefully manoeuvred to go down head first and avoid those spines.

This shot is even less sharp but see how wide the Cormorant can open its mouth.

“Good-bye and thanks for all the fish”. Note that this bird is already losing the white thigh-patch. Pairing and mating are complete: just feeding and rearing now.

Caught this Grey Heron by surprise and for a while it just looked at me. The very orange bill indicates it is in breeding condition as do the long hackles on its back.

It soon decided to leave. Note the big feet hanging down as it takes off.

The other Grey Heron present today – a much duller bill.

A Little Grebe. This is yet to acquire full breeding plumage. The yellow patch at the base of the bill is fully developed but the head and neck are yet to go reddish ....

... unlike this bird. Sexes cannot be separated on plumage.

From the shape of this male Bullfinch he has been eating too many buds.

At least he can still fly a short distance.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:25 – 09:20

(55th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Only one Great Crested Grebe located today. Looked in all the likely hiding places to no avail.
- I have not recorded Kingfisher here for a week now. I assume they have moved off somewhere to breed. They have been around the main lake the last three days. Two years ago they seemed to breed on the Wesley Brook towards Shifnal and were flying in and out of the lake most of the summer.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Jackdaws
- 7 Redwings

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 16 Canada Geese
- 24 (16♂) Mallard
- 58 (36♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 5 Moorhen
- 16 Coots

Coots are always rather feisty. At this time of year even more so. Those stupid feet have rather sharp-looking claws. Despite this I have never seen any injury as a result of these fights.

Take that!

Seems to be coming back for more?

Chasing as well as fighting ...

Chasing creates a lot of splashing.

The Nuthatch is still upside down and working on the hole in the tree. Is it adding mud to the back of the hole? Or pecking the wood away?

Looks to be slyly looking at me out of the corner of its eye.

Just to prove it can work the right way up.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
24 Tufted Duck
9 Meadow Pipits
4 Redwings
4 Chiffchaffs singing
2 Brimstone butterflies
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant)

The Flash 
43 Tufted Ducks 
1 Sky Lark
2 Chiffchaffs singing
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
8 Lapwings
3 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

Trench 
2 Little Grebes 
30 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
2 Gadwall
23 Tufted Duck
4 Sand Martins
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaffs singing
8 Linnets 
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
7 Wheatear
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Sky Lark
1 Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe
43 Tufted Duck
2 Sparrowhawks
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorant
33 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Kittiwake
31 Wren
24 Robin
23 Blackbird
1 Redwing
4 Chiffchaff  singing
34 Magpie
176 Jackdaw
7 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
10 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
1 Willow Tit
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
6 Great Crested Grebes
49 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Water Rail
2 Lapwings
c.950 Black-headed Gulls
509 Wood Pigeon
6 Stock Doves
613 Wood Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
13 Pied Wagtails
24 Wrens
19 Robins
22 Blackbirds
5 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Tits
17 Magpies
17 Greenfinches
4 Siskins
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

21 Mar 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:35 – 08:20
The Flash:  08:25 – 09:25

3.0°C > 5.0°C:  Broken cloud. Chill moderate / fresh E wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:08 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  05:35 – 08:20

(55th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The geese were more or less left alone by the Mute Swans. The Greylags left of their own volition. The Canada Geese saw the swans coming and went to the opposite end of the water.
- Four additional Mallard (three drakes) flew in to land on the remnant muddy area of the old Celestica site not yet being built upon. These do not qualify as ‘on the lake’ or as ‘fly-overs’ so ...!
- The drake Shoveler, while not new for the year here, was very welcome. Dabbling ducks, Mallard apart, have been scarce this winter. No doubt this was the birds seen flying W overhead. It had gone from the lake by this time, though I never saw it go.
- Only one gull showed any interest in the water. A second-year Herring Gull was flying with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and peeled off to circle around for a while and then touch down. Just as it did so more Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed over and it flew off to join them.
- Several of the Rooks seemed to be carrying food. All birds were seen singly.
- Less Chiffchaff song in the chilly conditions. Two birds singing differently from ‘standard’, though both variations seem to be not uncommon on newly arrived birds. One of them was stuttering on the ‘chiff’ part – ‘chiff-chiff-chiff-chaff-chiff-chiff’. The other was given a ‘broken’ song, getting as far as halfway through the ‘chaff’ and starting again – ‘chiff-ch..-chiff-chaff’.
- The party of four finches was just too far away to hear any calls. Linnets would be my best guess.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 5 Greylag Geese (single outbound; trio and single inbound)
- 18 Canada Geese (eight outbound in four groups; 10 inbound together)
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler: the bird from the lake?
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 10 Black-headed Gulls: eight adults
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adult
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
- 35 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
- 3 Fieldfares (1 group)
- 4 Redwings (single and trio)
- 4 finches (Linnets?)

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 1 Redwing
I was possibly rather late arriving to see anything else.

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 8 (6) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Greylag Geese: one pair arrived; later all four departed together
- 2 Canada Geese: throughout
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler: departed
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- [no Grey Herons]
- 1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- 10 Moorhens again
- 38 Coots
- 1 Herring Gull: 2nd year, briefly
- 1 Kingfisher again

Also noted:
- first signs of Cowslip flowers (Primula veris).

Chilly wind and scudding clouds this morning

Eventually a hint of colour.

This drake Shoveler departed before it was properly light so a rather fuzzy record shot.

Never quite sure whether this behaviour of Great Crested Grebes is threat or an overture to an intended. Whatever it leaves the head plumes rather soggy ....

...as we see on the right here.

Yesterday a well-lit single Moorhen. Today what I assume is a pair. I do not often see two birds together other than while they are having their breakfast on the SW grass.

Nesting time! Deep in the under-storey this female Blackbird takes nesting material to its intended site.

Treecreepers are quite well-camouflaged creeping up trees. Tail used as prop.

Less camouflaged when viewed on the side of trunk. The powerful feet can be seen here.

The flower is about to fully open on this Cowslip (Primula veris).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:25 – 09:25

(54th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Mute Swans seen mating.
- No Cormorant today.
- Certainly a third Great Crested Grebe: possibly two pairs.
- Two Feral Pigeons looked very similar to Stock Doves in tone and markings. Just small white rump patches said otherwise. Two real Stock Doves seen later – different head shape on this species.
- The same VERY distantly singing Song Thrush.
- A Pied Wagtail overhead was new for me here this year. Interestingly late March / early April has been my ‘first date’ for four out of the last five years. Had I been asked I would have assumed it was sporadically present around the Derwent Drive roadways all winter – not so it seems.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Stock Dove
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 26 Canada Geese
- 31 (19♂) Mallard again
- 64 (39♂) Tufted Duck
- [no Cormorant]
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Moorhen
- 20 Coots

Additional bird species for my 2020 bird list at this site:
#57     Pied Wagtail

The Mute Swans were amorous today. This head-dipping seemed to be a precursor ....

.... to a synchronised display. Nearest is the cob with the larger swelling at the base of the bill. It also has the brighter bill, though the pen’s bill has brightened considerably in the last few weeks.

She is somewhere under there ....

... and not quite drowned. “Do you like being bitten on the back of the neck missus?”

I am sure you can make up a suitable caption!

From this angle the white rump band of Canada Goose is very obvious. As they fly over it is not at all apparent.

A duck with a white face. Could it be a duck (Greater) Scaup and not a duck Tufted Duck? Well sadly no. Look at the crown – a hint of a tuft that Scaup would never show. Neither would Scaup ever show any white behind a smaller black tip to its bill.

No mistaking a drake Tufted Duck. Good job they named this species this way otherwise Goldeneye ducks would have needed a less obvious name.

I think the Tufties are thinking about setting off to their breeding grounds. They seemed rather restless today, gathering in small groups. Here are three drakes and a duck.

This pair of Great Crested Grebes were at the top end of the water.

This Great Crested Grebe was just off the Derwent Drive lay-by and a different bird to the pair.

A Wood Pigeon steps out. As I note each year – strange shaped pupil. Why do we have round pupils anyway?

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Brambling
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 Wigeon 
2 Gadwall 
29 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Ringed Plover
c.750 gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
6 Redwings
7+  Fieldfares
279 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
7 Swans 
1 Pochard 
1 Greater Scaup 
66 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
1 Raven
Stock Dove
3+ Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Chiffchaff singing
(Martin Grant)

2011
The Flash 
48 Tufted Duck 
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jays
2 Reed Buntings
Nuthatch
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Fieldfare
1 Little Grebe 
4 Great Crested Grebe 
6 Gadwall
36 Tufted Duck
149 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Willow Tit
4 Chiffchaff
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
Wheatear
1 Blackcap
5 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
28 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Stock Dove
141 Wood Pigeon
8 Pied Wagtail
27 Wren
21 Robin
21 Blackbird
48 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
8 Chiffchaff
67 Magpie
410 Jackdaw
1 Willow Tit
7 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Barn Owl
c.750 Black-headed Gulls
4 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail.
289 Wood Pigeon
29 Pied Wagtails
25 Blackbirds
7 Redwings
16 Greenfinches
11 Siskins
1 Linnet
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

20 Mar 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  05:25 – 08:40
The Flash:  08:45 – 09:25

4.0°C > 6.0°C:  Early cloud soon moved away SE. Clear for a while. Increasing cloud after 08:00. Chilly light / moderate NNE breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:11 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  05:25 – 08:40

(54th visit of the year)

Many bangs from bird-scarers in the fields to the E. I presume this means that the farmer is expecting to harvest the crop here and that there will no house-building on these fields before then.

Bird notes:
- A lone Canada Goose arrived. It was soon moved on by both Mute Swans.
- A Tufted Ducks flew off W at 05:50 when too dark to sex. Presumed the ‘other’ drake seen yesterday; only a pair remained later.
- While watching Chiffchaffs from the bridge across the Wesley Brook a Kingfisher shot down the line of the brook and landed on what I assume is a regular perch less, than 18 inches from me. Only then did it see me and shoot off back up the brook. I saw it, or another, later in reeds.
- A group of 14 Fieldfare with a single Redwing left trees at the W end at dawn. Another Redwing seen leaving the SW copse. Later three groups of Redwings overhead. All birds heading E – “goodbye and thanks for all the fish” from these migrants off, back to Northern Europe. Even later one Redwing was giving a rare (in this area) burst of song from trees alongside Teece Drive.
- Two single Starlings left roost(s) – did not see exact departure points. Later two overhead and then four on the football field. Suggests that the local breeding birds have returned to the estate.
- At least nine Chiffchaffs. Six seen in the same general area along the N side all flitting around and calling as well as singing.
- A party of 11 Siskins stopped briefly in trees near the Wesley Brook bridge.
- A trio of Reed Buntings flew out of a roost along the S side – I have seen no evidence of the roost at the W end for some while. Later two males seen chasing around a female along the N side.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Greylag Goose (outbound)
- 6 Canada Geese (single and trio outbound; pair inbound)
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 37 Wood Pigeons
- 30 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 24 Redwings (3 groups)
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 9 Goldfinches

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
[most Magpies no longer in roost and not counted]
- 2 Starlings
- 14 Fieldfare
- 2 Redwings
- 3 Reed Buntings

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 9 (9) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂?) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Little Grebes
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- no gulls
- 1 Kingfisher

Also noted:
- Dog-violet sp. flower
- Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) about to flower.

Cloud was rather late moving away to the SE and this was the best of the sunrise.

Sunrise through last year’s seed heads of Great Reedmace (Typha latifolia). Often called Bulrush though nothing like the ones that Moses was found in! The tits have been pulling the heads apart to get at the seeds and will probably use the fluffy down in their nests.

A rather distant view of one of three Little Grebes. Now in full breeding plumage with the chestnut head and yellow at the base of the bill.

Even more distant shot of the other two, looking as if they are paired.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes did a short display near their nest site in the NE area. One of these birds entered the reeds by diving underwater and disappearing. Not noticed that before.

Good light on this Moorhen. The streaks across the face and neck are reflections from the water.

Always happy to photograph a posing Blackbird. Surprisingly large feet.

Atop one of the large trees alongside Teece Drive was this Redwing. It sang briefly. It is not too often I hear the song in Shropshire – they usually wait until they are on territory in Northern Europe.

Chiffchaffs were abundant. Not always very cooperative for photos. Here is one.

And another.

And another – no dispute over leg or feet colour here: black!

The best of the bunch and another bird caught mid-chiff (or –chaff).

One of a group of 11 Siskins briefly atop this tree. A male – yellowier than the more streaky female. The black cap barely discernible from this angle.

One of the two male Reed Buntings that were flying around and around a female. She was hiding away from them (and the camera).

The Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is now in full blossom.

Another view. The plant that produces sloes. On Blackthorn the flowers precede the leaves. On Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) it is the other way around – leaves first.

This is a species of Dog-violet though from this angle it is not possible to separate Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) from Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). On date it is likely the former, though with the mild winter that might not hold true.

The white flowers of this Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) are yet to open. Rather ‘crushed together’ as I was having to hold the stems to minimise the motion of the wind.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:45 – 09:25

(53rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Lesser Black-backed Gulls overhead were the only gulls I noted all morning.
- A VERY distantly singing Song Thrush was my first here since 3rd March

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets)
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 4 Greylag Geese: 2 of these arrived
- 24 Canada Geese: 2 of these arrived
- 31 (19♂) Mallard
- 53 (29♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhen
- 19 Coots

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
7 Wigeon 
2 Gadwall 
27 Tufted Ducks 
6 Redwings
138 Jackdaws
1 Chiffchaff
1 Redpoll
7+ Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
7 Mute Swans
1 Pochard 
56 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
133 Lapwing
17 Golden Plover
1 Redshank
3 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
3 Teal
c.600 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Herring Gull. 
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Duck 
11 Golden Plover
17 Meadow Pipits
5 Chiffchaffs (4 in song)
Raven
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
40 Golden Plover
11 Lapwing
1 Red-legged Partridge
2 Green Woodpeckers
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash 
32 Tufted Duck 
1 Curlew
2 Brambling
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
5 Great Crested Grebe 
6 Gadwall 
39 Tufted Duck
146 Jackdaws on roost dispersal 
c.35 Greenfinches
c.15 Goldfinches
c.10 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebe 
36 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
435 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Peter Wilson)

2007
Priorslee lake
3 Great Crested Grebe
12 Cormorant
24 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Merlin
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Great Black-backed Gull
188 Wood Pigeon
1 Green Woodpecker
26 Wren
5 Chiffchaff 
1 Willow Tit
55 Magpie
14 Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

The Flash
9 Great Crested Grebe
2 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
1 Chiffchaff singing
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.250 Black-headed Gulls
146 Lesser-black Backs
15 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-leg Gulls
2 Common Gulls
36 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant
2 Water Rail
3 Siskins
2 Redpoll
3 Linnet
3 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)