Wednesday, 28th (05:57 - 09:16) -
Weather
7.0C - 9.0C Another day when the weather impacted the birdwatching. A morning of three halves: fine when I arrived but blowing hard and I then some 90 minutes of squally showers before a clearance from the W brought some pale 'washed' blue skies for a while, before broken cloud returned, but with no showers. Strong / gale W winds and good visibility
Narrative
Had to stand up in the SW hut against the squalls, but after the clearance at 07:45 was able to walk (slither, slide, paddle - it is really, really wet and boggy now) all the way around the lake before leaving for The Flash (and Trench pools, but that is another story)
Highlights
A new addition to the site year-list for me was an overflying Linnet. Also of note was my third Peregrine sighting of the year - a male apparently. With a Meadow Pipit heard overhead and then probably the same bird flushed from the SW grass later. Better corvid passage today and what was probably my largest-ever count of Magpies, though that is at least in part because I know when and where to look for their roost dispersal
Lowlight
Wind and early showers
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 0 - not seen today
Great Crested Grebe 1 - just one again, with an adult seen along the S side; and then apparently the same bird feeding alongside the dam
Cormorant 4 07:29 1 adult with white thigh-patch but no plumes flew in from the E at 07:29 - the same time as yesterday - but flew off SW at 07:33. 2 birds flew N to the E at 07:45. Then another apparent adult (all-dark plumage) without white thigh patch or plumes flew in from E at 07:49 and stayed throughout
Grey Heron 0 - not seen again today
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds
Greylag Goose 19 06:34 2 flew E at 06:34; then 13 flew W at 09:03 and 4 more at 09:05
Canada Goose 9 06:42 1 flew S to the E (to Town park?); 8 flew W to N at 08:59
Mallard 14 - only: 8 drakes again
Mallard x Pintail 0 - not recorded
Pochard 2 - 1 drake and 1 duck
Tufted Duck 15 - 7 drakes
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Ruddy Duck 1 - drake seen again - even came to visit me close to the SW shore at 07:00, but thereafter typically elusive
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 2 07:50 1 seen low over / just E of Castle Farm Way at 07:50. What was probably a different bird was circling to the NE at 08:45
Common Kestrel 0 - not recorded
Peregrine Falcon 1 07:12 1, apparent female on size, flew low W across the N side scattering the Wood Pigeons, though it seemed uninterested
Pheasant 0 - not recorded
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 10 - 4 on the dam again today
Coot 21 - 13 seen on the SW grass again before most left to take up positions around the W end of the lake. 3 in the NW area; 3 at the dam: and 2 along the NE side
Lapwing 0 - not recorded
Black-headed Gull 200 06:28 none when I arrived. The first 16 arrived from the W at 06:28: the next 33 at 06:33 and then a trickle of small groups before 122 arrived high from the W at 06:59, bringing the total to 192. Birds seen flying off NW and SE this morning and no more noted arriving though 8 flew high N at 07:55. At 08:30 there were 34 on the lake, but these seemed to be remnants of those seen earlier
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 157 07:09 all birds heading W / SW with the first lone bird at 07:09. Many of these were in parties to the N and from the shelter of the hut it was not possible to see the horizon and there were probably many more. Bigger groups included 54 to the N at 08:17 with another 21 overhead at 08:18; and c.40 to the NW (perhaps put up from The Flash) at 08:48
Herring Gull 4 07:13 4 of this species seen in the parties of Lesser
Black-backed Gulls, but not all birds could be specifically checked
Great Black-backed Gull 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 2 07:28 blue morphs flew S together at 07:28
Stock Dove 2 07:00 1 W 07:00 (the first pigeon seen this morning); 1 E 08:45. None on the wires to the NE - too windy?
Wood Pigeon 64 07:04 a better day for this species. The first bird was seen in flight at 07:04. 15 of these birds were seen in the trees around the lake, but in the conditions none was seen displaying / calling; none was on the wires to the E / NE; 10 singles were seen flying E; and 9 singles flying W. None in Wards Rough trees this morning. Party of 8 seen flying to the E at 07:05; and 22 flew NW to the NE 07:35
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 0 - not recorded
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 1 07:05 1 heard calling in flight at 07:05: probably the same bird was flushed from the SW grass at 07:55
Grey Wagtail 1 07:40 2 records of probably the same bird in flight: 1 at 07:40 at the W end; and another flying W away from the dam at 08:35
Pied Wagtail 5 06:40 3 of these flying over: 1 bird on the SW grass at 06:46; and another seen on the roof of the Celestica building at 08:17
Wren 22 06:04 / 06:25 one singing early: the next heard 21 minutes later - well it was rather wet
Dunnock 11 07:01
Robin 26 05:57*
Blackbird 13 06:02 not singing when I arrived - very wise in the wind and rain
Fieldfare 0 - none today
Song Thrush 6 05:57* all of these in song, seemingly impervious to the wind and rain (as far as I could hear)
Redwing 11 06:29 at least 2 birds calling pre-dawn at the W end: 5 birds seen flying away from N side trees; and 4 more flying over
Mistle Thrush 0 - not recorded
Goldcrest 0 - not recorded
Long-tailed Tit 2 08:51 2 parties today
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 10 06:29 fewer today - weather related
Great Tit 10 07:05 late hearing this
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 63 05:59 at least 47 seen leaving the NE roost site this morning! Some of the others may have originated there, but there are roosts in the NW area; at a nest along the W side; and in the SE area, so I think the numbers are correct
Jackdaw 196 06:35 wind and rain-affected no doubt, but departure time seemed unaffected directly as it coincided with a gap in the weather. The main party of 59 birds went low over the water at 06:43 after several small groups, and thereafter it was mainly a long 'tail' of singles / pairs with only 3 parties of >5 birds. Almost all gone by 07:15
Rook 88 06:33 see comment above re weather: biggest loose group of 40 birds at 06:35. Much smaller 'tail' than with Jackdaws
Carrion Crow 11 06:40 early birds hiding against the winds today?
Starling 1 07:39 flew NW at this time
Chaffinch 9 07:03
Greenfinch 12 06:55
Goldfinch 8 07:15 4 of these in alders in the NE area; 2 in alders in the NW area; and 2 singles over
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Linnet 1 07:07 1 flew SE overhead: ****** site year-tick for me ******
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 1 08:30 heard only
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 10 06:44 2 flew off from W end at 07:12; 4 more at 07:17. Thereafter 2 calling / singing at W end; and 2 more along N side
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 0 - not recorded
Mole hills 0 - no new hills noted
Moths
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on the same lamp: boring
Other observation
- - pussy willow beginning to burst
- - some of the hawthorns showing green in the buds
- - blackthorn well out - but nothing around to pollinate it?
- - some daffodils out
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 27th (17:15 - 17:30) Evening Log - A slightly longer look at the Gull roost this evening, though nothing special. The species seemed to have swapped round this evening with 600 Black-headed Gulls and only 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. In amongst them there was 1 Herring Gull.
Also about there was:
Mute Swan - 1 alongside the Wesley Reedbeds and another, presumably the pen, in the reeds.
Buzzards - 2 birds flying behind each other along the north bank heading west.
Corvids - Managed to log a small number of Jackdaws (98) and Rooks (36) heading north, with counts of 24, 30, 12, 21, 3, 4, 2 and 2 Jackdaws and 8, 6, 2, 9, 7 and 4 Rooks.
Starling - 1 bird seen flying across Castle Farm way and behind the the northbank towards Priorslee village.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Tuesday, 27th (05:57 - 08:4) Morning Log -
Weather
4.0C > 6.0C Surprisingly dry in view of the weather forecast, the overnight rain and the very low clouds giving poor - moderate visibility. Mainly light drizzle until c.07:00 after which it was almost dry with just a few light pulses of rain. Fresh S / SW winds seemed to fall away
Narrative
Got less wet than the last few days! And there were more birds around than I expected. I stayed in the SW hut expecting the heavens to open: and when they had not after 90 minutes I walked (well, slithered) all the way around again. It had been breezy to start, but even though the water stayed rippled the wind seemed to die away. Although it was an early start I did not expect to see much in the way of corvid dispersal, especially as the cloud was almost 'on the deck' at that time, but I did better than yesterday. Birds - so unpredictable!
Highlights
No real highlights as it was very dull and overcast, but I eventually found most of the expected species. No Little Grebe, but the drake Ruddy Duck appeared and disappeared as usual. The Cormorants managed to find the lake through the low cloud with one a splendidly-plumed adult. More Aythya ducks this morning, with some also seen flying off while still dark. Low numbers of gulls but a rather strange sighting of an immature Great Black-backed Gull more or less motionless on the lake. Very few Wood Pigeons over and no chance of seeing Wards Rough through the mist
Lowlight
poor visibility
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 0 - not seen today
Great Crested Grebe 1 - just one again, with an adult feeding alongside the dam
Cormorant 2 07:29 1 adult with extensive white plumes flew in from the E at 07:29. Another apparent adult (all-dark plumage) with white thigh patch but no plumes flew in from E at 07:42. They fished together throughout
Grey Heron 0 - not seen today
Mute Swan 2 0 oops - seem to have left this off the log for the last few days! Usual 2 present throughout
Greylag Goose 15 06:44 15 flew E 06:44 in single party
Canada Goose 2 - 2 flew E 06:36
Mallard 15 - only: 8 drakes. Strangely they did not do much flying today - perhaps the low cloud put them off
Mallard x Pintail 0 - not recorded
Pochard 4 - 2 drakes and 1 duck remaining on the lake after 1 drake flew towards The Flash at 06:36
Tufted Duck 19 - 8 drakes and 5 ducks remaining on the lake after 4 unsexed birds left at 06:29 towards The Flash
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Ruddy Duck 1 - drake seen mainly at the W end again though it had an early foray in to the middle of the lake with the Tufted Ducks
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 0 - not recorded
Common Kestrel 0 - not recorded
Peregrine Falcon 0 - not recorded
Pheasant 0 - not recorded
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 8 - one of these birds wandering around on the grass behind the copse along the N side: 4 on the dam today
Coot 19 - 13 seen on the SW grass before most left to take up (breeding?) positions around the W end of the lake. 4 more at the dam: and 2 along the NE side
Lapwing 0 - not recorded
Black-headed Gull 59 06:39 none when I arrived. The first 2 arrived, probably from the W, at 06:39: the next 8 arrived at 06:52 and then a steady trickle of small groups saw 54 on the lake by 07:20. These more or less stayed throughout. 5 more flew W with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 07:43 but, unlike those birds, the Black-heads flew on
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 07:43 2 (with Black-headed Gulls) came from the E and paused at the lake
Herring Gull 0 - not recorded
Great Black-backed Gull 1 07:04 this was the time the bird was first logged, but may well have been present earlier. This seemed to be a 3rd / 4th winter bird with some white-tipped coverts and dark on the bill. When first seen I thought the rather dull head suggested Lesser Black-backed Gull, but in better light the large bill pointed to Great Black-backed Gull. The bird stayed more or less motionless throughout and seemed to be sitting rather low in the water suggesting that perhaps it was unwell
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 2 - 2 flew E 07:45
Wood Pigeon 20 07:10 another poor day for this species. The first bird was seen in flight at 07:10. 19 of these birds were seen in the trees around the lake, with many displaying / calling; none was on the wires to the E / NE; none was seen flying E; and a single flew W. None in Wards Rough trees this morning (what trees?)
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 0 - not recorded
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 0 - not recorded
Grey Wagtail 1 06:25 just 2 records of probably the same bird heard with the first in flight over the W end
Pied Wagtail 3 06:55 all flying over
Wren 36 06:01 started early again and very vocal throughout, with my best count of the year so far
Dunnock 9 06:37
Robin 28 05:57*
Blackbird 13 05:57*
Fieldfare 0 - none today
Song Thrush 8 05:57* 6 of these in song
Redwing 7 06:23 several birds heard calling at 06:23 were probably dawn calls of the 7 birds seen later in the W / NW area
Mistle Thrush 1 08:20 1 flew from the SW area to the W end at 08:20
Goldcrest 1 08:09 1 heard in the NW area
Long-tailed Tit 3 07:09 3 parties today, one with at least 5 birds
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 14 06:21 sometimes difficult to separate some calls from notes used by Robins these birds did seem to be abroad early today as were
Great Tit 14 06:23 see comment on Blue Tit, though with this species there is much less confusion
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 2 08:05 2 in NW area sparring with Magpies
Magpie 20 06:47* rather hard to see birds leaving the roost this morning - and they were late appearing: I normally hear birds calling as I arrive and walk around, but all was quiet this morning
Jackdaw 134 06:41 another strange day: the main party of 63 went out at 06:47 and today there seemed to be no 'late passage' with all but 6 the birds through by 08:00
Rook 51 06:29 all flying low in small groups, luckily below (rather in the bottom of) the low cloud. All gone through by 07:00
Carrion Crow 10 06:02
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 6 06:45
Greenfinch 8 06:44
Goldfinch 5 08:10
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 7 07:52 pair in the NW area; 1 male and 2 females in NW area; pair along the W side
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 4 07:01 2 calling at W end; 2 seen flying off from the N-side reed bed at 07:15
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals
Rabbit 1 06:02 1 at W end was as surprised to see me as I was to see it!
Squirrel 0 - not recorded
Mole hills 0 - no new hills noted
Moths
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on the same lamp
Other observation
- - none of note today
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Monday, 26th (17:05 - 17:10) Evening Log - A quick look at the Gull roost, which comprised of some C.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with an even split between adult and 1st Winter Birds. Also present were 3 Herring Gulls and 80 Black-headed Gulls.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Monday, 26th (05:56 - 09:45) Morning Log - In lanes and fields to E / SE between 06:55 - 08:20 See Local Bird News...........
Full reports will follow: with a fine day I was out all day ahead of
promised rain. I have yet to complete the logs
Weather
5.5C > 6.0C Mixed weather with much cloud to start after
overnight showers, soon breaking and with near blue clear sky just before
sun-up. But by 08:00 yet more clouds and sharp showers. Moderate / fresh
NNW wind making it distinctly nippy. Excellent visibility
Narrative
Another morning dodging the showers and trying to stay out of
the wind as far as possible. After yesterday's experience with the Rooks seeming to beat me I arrived earlier only to fail to see or hear any
significant corvid passage, and those I did see were much later than
yesterday!
Highlights
A slow morning generally, but at the end I had amassed a good
log which included two site year-ticks: a Yellowhammer flew E - indeed it
may have been roosting in the bushes along the S side next to the M54; and
2 Collared Doves flew NW over the dam. A Water Rail was seen today, with
what may well have been my first-ever flight view of this species as it
flew across the water in the NE ditch to reach the cover of the reeds
faster than scurrying across the water. 2 Sky Larks overhead, calling were
only the second record around the lake. And the immature Buzzard was
sitting on the roof of the old(?) Celestica factory again. Perhaps the
oddest sighting was a Heron flying high overhead with its neck
outstretched and raising hopes of a crane sp.!
Lowlight
Apart from getting wet - again, the lack of all gulls was notable
- many more at The Flash today
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 25th (06:07 - 09:34) -
Weather
5.5C > 6.5C Mainly cloudy but with some breaks especially early. Early remnant showers, but later more organised showers. Moderate NW wind with a much 'fresher' feel to the day. Excellent visibility
Narrative
A morning dodging the showers this morning, as well as trying stay out of the wind as far as possible. I arrived earlier as the mornings as are getting lighter quickly now. Made it before the Wrens started up. But it still seems it was not early-enough as I could hear Rooks calling on their way out of the roost, though had I been there earlier it is a moot point whether I could have seen them anyway
Highlights
I suppose pride of place must go to the site year-tick of drake Ruddy Duck - not the bird that was at The Flash earlier in the week (unless it can moult in to pristine adult plumage and acquire a bright blue bill in 3 days!). My 69th species seen at or over the lake this year. But running it very close was a splendid female Peregrine which was travelling with the largest group of gulls seen all morning. A Lapwing over also noteworthy these days
Lowlight
Getting wet
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 1 - seen again along the N side, more to the W again, probably due to the fishermen camped where it was yesterday
Great Crested Grebe 2 - I give up trying to work out what is going on here! Today it looked to me like the 2 adults were in the NW area and no other birds were seen. Hard to be certain of the age of these birds as they were asleep more or less throughout
Cormorant 1 07:04 1 flew in from the E at 07:04 but left again to the NE at 07:16
Grey Heron 2 06:42 1 seen flying in from the NE at 06:42: it paused on the dam for a few minutes and then flew off to the NW area where it was still present at 07:30, but not noted thereafter. A bird flew high E overhead at 09:05 assumed to be a different bird
Greylag Goose 5 - 2 E 06:21; 3 E to N 06:45
Canada Goose 11 - 7 E (as 6 + 1) E 06:30; 2 E 06:52; then 2 W to N 07:05
Mallard 26 - 15? drakes: lots of flying about again with birds flying in from, unusually, the S: as well as 2 pairs leaving to the E. Later 22 on the water (13 drakes)
Mallard x Pintail 0 - not recorded
Pochard 7 - 4 drakes: party of 5 (2 drakes) in NE area at 09:00, but 2 drakes had flown off towards The Flash at 06:37
Tufted Duck 7 - 5 drakes
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Ruddy Duck 1 - splendid drake seen in NW area at 07:10. Not seen later, but presumably hiding in the reeds
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 0 - not recorded
Common Kestrel 2 - 2 sightings: a bird in the SW area at 07:06; a bird on top of a pylon to the E at 08:25 seems likely to have been a different bird
Peregrine Falcon 1 - 1 female flew W at 09:05. My attention to this was drawn by a sudden arrival of a mixed party of gulls overhead with the Black-headed Gulls flying in such a tight group and at speed with pointed, angled wings that I thought it was a flock of waders at first glance! The Peregrine did not seem very interested in chasing anything and gently moved off W, the gulls setting, briefly, on the water
Pheasant 0 - not recorded
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 6 - fewer today with the SW grass devoid of birds
Coot 20 - just 10 on the SW grass and the others scattered around that lake
Lapwing 1 - 1 flew W 09:30
Black-headed Gull 178 06:35 none when I arrived. 9 birds arrived from the W at 06:35. The next group of 10 arrived at 06:42 after which there was a slow build-up with a total of 50 logged arriving. None seemed to leave to the SE this morning, though a party of 9 birds flew over in that direction. After 07:45 68 more birds arrived from the N / NW. And a party of 6 flew through W with a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Then the mixed gull party with the Peregrine at 09:05 contained 45 more which also settled on the lake
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 41 07:16 just 12 birds were seen flying over before the mixed gull party with the Peregrine at 09:05 contained 29 birds which briefly settled on the lake
Herring Gull 1 09:05 a second winter bird arrived in the mixed gull party with the Peregrine at 09:05
Great Black-backed Gull 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 3 - 1 heard calling in the NW area at 07:55; 1 only on the wires to the NE at 08:25; 1 flew W at 09:15
Wood Pigeon 63 06:09 / 06:49 not a good day with this species as there seemed to be no birds in the Wards Rough area. The first bird was heard in song in the NW area well pre-dawn at 06:09; with the first flying bird at 06:49. A good count of 30 seen in the trees around the lake (many displaying); just 1 single seen flying E; 14 singles seen flying W; and none on the wires to the E. The only party was a loose group of 18 that flew low W at 07:05
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 0 - not recorded
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 0 - not recorded
Grey Wagtail 3 07:18 at least 8 sightings of birds this morning with a summer-plumage male feeding in the Wesley Brook near the Teece Drive gate. Also 2 together seen flying E calling loudly. So probably at least 3 altogether
Pied Wagtail 8 06:45 all flying over
Wren 26 06:07 more today: timing of my walk around I suspect
Dunnock 14 06:32
Robin 28 06:07*
Blackbird 21 06:07*
Fieldfare 0 - none today
Song Thrush 11 06:07* 8 of these in song. 2 birds chasing in the SE area seemed to be having a real scrap
Redwing 15 06:27 1 heard overhead at 06:27; 3 flew N to the E at 06:52. All the other 11 seen around the lake with 4 at the W end and 7 in the NE trees
Mistle Thrush 1 - 1 flew W along the length of the lake at 07:19: probably the same bird heard in distant song to the NW at 08:00
Goldcrest 1 08:25 1 along the N side
Long-tailed Tit 3 - 3 parties at least, all of small numbers - 6 together in the NE area taking shelter from a shower with me!
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 18 06:42
Great Tit 8 06:43
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 53 06:09* 40 seen leaving the NE roost today, with 17 together flying off E at 06:47 and another 11 on the food hand-out on the dam 'boxing ring'
Jackdaw 39 06:45 ho hum! So where were they this morning? Passage started later than I expected with a loose group if 19 flying high. No other groups, and indeed hardly any more! Perhaps they went earlier and I missed them
Rook 14 06:14 well I might know how I missed these as I heard birds calling in flight at 06:14 when I was not in a position to see the flight-path notwithstanding that it might well have been too dark anyway! I did see 2 at 06:21, but it was hard. Very few after that
Carrion Crow 14 06:09* better count
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 14 07:09
Greenfinch 14 06:58 after the blank day yesterday they were back in some force with a group of 7 males together again. So where were they yesterday
Goldfinch 8 07:29 started with 4 flying NW
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 0 - not recorded again
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 6 07:19 3 of these seen flying off - 1 at 07:20; 2 at 07:33. Others heard singing, though the one on the N side was very intermittent and I did not hear it until I was across the lake on the S side
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 1 - in the NW area
Mole hills 1 - group of new hills in the SW area
Moths
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on lamp
Other observation
- - none of note today
(Ed Wilson) Top
Saturday, 24th (14:10 - 14:20) Lunctime Report - A quick drop in at the lake, after spending the morning at Sherlett trying to locate a Goshawk, without success. Did get a Crossbill, albeit a call from one.
Main highlights:
The lake is fairly quite a the moment and the main anticipation is the arrival of our Spring Migrants. On the lake today though there were a few gulls about with 130 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and c.300 Black-headed Gulls. At 14:15 another 30 Lessers came in plus a Herring Gull. The two adult Great Crested Grebes are still present at the dam end with another at the entrance to Wesley Brook. Also on the lake was a single Cormorant.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Saturday, 24th (06:18 - 09:56) but in lanes / fields to E / SE 07:15 - 08:30 see Local Bird News.................
Weather
6.5C > 8.0C Mostly cloudy at various levels with a few clearer areas. Some passing mainly light showers. Light / moderate WNW wind. Good visibility
Narrative
After watching the early gulls and the corvid roost dispersal I again walked to the top of the lane to the E and used that as a vantage point - and got wet with a passing (slowly) shower. Back around the lake with the 'paths' very wet indeed Also the Daffodils are just turning over and showing some yellow; and Blackthorn is well out in the sheltered areas
Highlights
Kingfisher was new for me at the lake this year. Otherwise the number of Cormorants seen was the only really different sighting
Lowlight
Apart from getting wet I met John Isherwood who reported a Ruddy Duck at the lake this morning - not evident while I was there (probably hiding in the reeds). And also a Stonechat present while I was visiting SW England. Both would have been lake year-ticks for me Separate report Again the 'local' birds in the lanes, fields and streamside are the subject of a separate report
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 1 - seen again along the N side, more to the E than usual
Great Crested Grebe 3 - today the 2 adults were often close together feeding near the dam; later they were asleep side-by-side off the N side reeds. The immature acquiring plumes was only latterly and briefly off the NW reed
Cormorant 9 - 1 seen flying off S at 07:25, though whether it landed or not is hard to say. Then 4 seen flying towards the lake from the far SE at 07:30 seemed to stop off at the fishing pools behind the M-way services and presumably the same were those seem flying away from there to the E at 07:59. But there were 4 on the lake 08:20 which left singly by 09:20
Grey Heron 3 - 1 seen lurking in the NE reeds at 07:20 and appeared to fly off S at 07:22. 2 flew E to the S at 07:55 may have included this bird, but there was (another?) in the NW area at 08:45 and that too flew off S
Greylag Goose 21 - 2 E 06:46; 14 SE 06:58; 6 E to N 06:59
Canada Goose 4 - 4 E to 06:34; 2 E 06:35
Mallard 10 - 6 drakes. lots of flying about again with up to 8 birds in flight, but these all seemed to return
Mallard x Pintail 0 - not recorded
Pochard 3 - 3 drakes feeding together: 1 of these flew out towards The Flash at 06:56; later a duck seen again
Tufted Duck 13 - 8 drakes
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 1 - 1 flew SW in the gloom of 06:35
Common Kestrel 2 - 3 sightings of probably 2 birds: 1 on wires to E at 06:32. 1 flew SW across the lake at 07:28. 1 was back(?) on the wires to the NE at 09:05
Pheasant 0 - not recorded
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 9 - fewer on dam now as birds seem to be moving to establish territories and there is much chasing
Coot 28 - birds seemed to have been flushed off the SW grass and were mainly along the S side where it is harder to count them
waders 0 - none recorded
Black-headed Gull 323 06:40 none when I arrived. 3 birds arrived from the W at 06:40. The next group of 84 arrived at 06:47 and thereafter birds started to move away to the SW, joined by many birds that flew straight through from W. I logged 308 birds flying SE before passage stopped at 07:13. Later 8 flew S at 08:15. 7 were on the lake at 08:55 and these stayed
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 117 07:24 all 117 seen flying over. The first group was 12 birds flying W at 07:29 (all birds were flying W this morning). Only 6 more before a party of 86 flew W at 08:54. A few singles thereafter
Herring Gull 1 07:28 an immature flew low W across the lake at 07:28 on its own
Great Black-backed Gull 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 5 - 1 flew W at 07:33. 3 were seen around the wires at Woodhouse Farm at 07:35, but there were 4 there 07:45
Wood Pigeon 281 06:25 / 07:05 not quite such a good day with this species. The first bird was heard in song at the W end at 06:25; with the first flying bird at 07:05. 3 only seen in the trees around the lake (1 displaying); just 3 singles seen flying E; 16 singles seen flying W; and none on the wires to the E. The now-regular party eventually turned up on the trees in Wards Rough, with small groups seeming to fly in from the SE, until there were at least 230. A party of 28 flew high E overhead at 08:05 and seemed to be separate
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 1 06:59 heard calling as it sped across the lake, but could not pick it up
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 0 - not recorded
Grey Wagtail 2 06:50 3 records of probably 2 birds with one heard calling in flight over the dam
Pied Wagtail 3 06:53 all flying over
Wren 16 06:23 fewer than yesterday
Dunnock 11 06:31 less vocal here today
Robin 15 06:18*
Blackbird 16 06:18*
Fieldfare 1 07:05 1 flew W out of Ward's Rough
Song Thrush 10 06:18* 9 of these in song
Redwing 8 - again hard to know how many birds with at least 7 birds seen / heard around the W / NW area after 09:40. 1 other was seen in flight to the E
Mistle Thrush 1 - 1 flew N to the E 07:45
Goldcrest 1 - 1 at W end 09:25
Long-tailed Tit 1 - just 1 party of 3 birds in the NW area at 09:40
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 14 07:00
Great Tit 9 07:00 same number as yesterday
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 1 - heard in NW area 09:15
Magpie 31 06:18* 24 seen leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 180 06:38 passage again different: started with 36 at 06:38; then a lull before a party of 11 unusually well to W at 06:49; a few more and then a party of 56 at least well to the E at 06:52. No more large groups, but a long 'tail' with small groups (usually pairs) until 07:20; then sporadic
Rook 49 06:34 just one group of 24 high to the E at 06:35; otherwise mainly singles / pairs. Why so few?
Carrion Crow 7 06:38 unusually late for 'first' sighting - birds usually active well before Rooks
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 8 07:15
Greenfinch 0 - not recorded: after yesterday's bumper number and group - today none. Partly down to timing at the W end, but not entirely
Goldfinch 3 09:45 1 in NW area
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 0 - not recorded
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 2 07:15 again not in the right place to see any birds leave the W end / N side roost. 2 birds heard only
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 0 - not recorded
Mole hills 2 - groups of new hills at the S end of the E end; and at the E end of the N side
Moths
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on lamp
Other observation
- - the daffodils are just turning over and showing some yellow blackthorn well out in the sheltered areas
(Ed Wilson)
Top Friday, 23rd (06:19 - 09:24)
but in lanes / fields to E / SE 07:05 - 08:20 see local bird news....................
Weather
6.0C > 7.0C Mainly cloudy with barely broken low stratus under
scattered medium-high level cloud. Always threatened to break or shower,
but did neither and often rather dull. Moderate S wind fell light.
Moderate visibility with no sign of The Wrekin
Narrative
A much better morning though rather dull at times. There did
seem a chance of a sunrise so I went to the lane to the E which gave me a
good view all around of anything flying over and to / from the lake
Highlights
Nothing of real interest but the Little Grebe reappeared;
higher count of Canada Geese overhead; a better passage of Black-headed
Gulls; fewer Jackdaws; a party of 10 Redwings around the lake, with one
feeding in the open on the grass
Separate report Again the 'local' birds in the lanes, fields and
streamside are the subject of a separate report ..........................
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 1 - this seen along the N side by the main reed bed. Would be
nice to know if it is coming and going or just hiding away. No sign of
breeding plumage yet
Great Crested Grebe 3 - the saga changes again: the 2 adults were only
very loosely together along the N side and near the dam. None was seen at
the W end
Cormorant 2 - 2 flew W to S 07:35
Grey Heron 0 - not recorded
Greylag Goose 7 - 1 E 06:36; 6 E 06:40
Canada Goose 38 - 1 E 06:36 (at the same time as but not with the Greylag
Goose); 8 W to N 06:42; 3 E to N 06:44; 22 (in groups of 10; 11 & 1) E
06:47; then 4 W 06:53
Mallard 19 - 11 drakes. 2 (pair) flew out NW at 09:15
Mallard x Pintail 0 - not recorded
Shoveler 0 - not recorded
Pochard 5 - 4 drakes feeding together flew out towards The Flash at 06:50;
later a duck seen
Tufted Duck 9 - 5 drakes: a confusing set of counts, but luckily all the
birds eventually gathered together
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 0 - not recorded
Common Kestrel 2 - 1 seen on wire to E at 07:20
1 seen very far to the ENE being chased by a Crow over Wards Rough at
07:33 seems likely to have been a different bird
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 2 - 1 on SW grass; 1 in SE area; 3 on dam; 1 on the grass on the N
side
Coot 26 0 maximum of 17 on SW grass though I was not in the area at the
peak time for this species
waders 0 - not recorded
Black-headed Gull 156 06:36 none when I arrived. 6 birds arrived from the
W at 06:36 to be joined by 4 more at 06:40. Very few on the lake but 85
seen flying SE between 07:08 and 07:33 seemed to be a mix of birds that
had stopped at the lake and birds flying straight through from the W (and
assumed to include the birds logged earlier). Another 19 flew through NE -
SW at 07:20. 9 flew NW at 08:10 may have been some of these birds
returning. Later 29 were logged flying W overhead. Just 14 were on the
lake at 08:20 and these stayed
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 29 07:24 all 29 seen flying over westbound, with
the first loose group of 9 at 07:24. All those seen well were logged as
adults. Apart from parties at 07:24 and 07:28 all the birds seen were
singles
Herring Gull 0 - not recorded
Great Black-backed Gull 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 0 - not recorded
Stock Dove 5 - 2 were seen around the wires at Woodhouse Farm at 07:25 and
thereafter. 2 flew S to the E at 07:45. And I was seen over the NW trees
around the lake at 09:20
Wood Pigeon 556 06:39 a much better day with this species. 7 seen in the
trees around the lake (1 displaying); 22 singles seen flying E; 47 singles
seen flying W; none on the wires to the E; and 2 large groups - the first
of c.230 birds seen to the NE at 06:50 with birds descending in to the
trees in Wards Rough. A flock of c.250 birds seen to the far NE at 07:22
(and again at 07:32) seem to have been a different flock as there were
still many birds visible in the trees in Wards Rough and many were also in
the adjacent field
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 0 - not recorded
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 0 - not recorded
Grey Wagtail 2 06:53 2 birds along / over the dam
Pied Wagtail 1 07:00 heard flying over: just the 1 today again
Wren 26 06:26 at least
Dunnock 20 06:45 perhaps my largest-ever count as they were very vocal
both calling and singing this morning
Robin 27 06:19*
Blackbird 23 06:19*
Fieldfare 1 07:45 flew W to S
Song Thrush 8 06:17* 7 of these in song
Redwing 14 - hard to know how many birds the 10 birds seen around the W /
NW area after 09:15 likely included the birds heard calling pre-dawn (and
a bird, most uncharacteristically feeding on the SW grass with the Mistle
Thrushes!). 2 birds in the NE area at 08:45 seem likely to have been
different birds. And 2 others were seen in flight
Mistle Thrush 4 2 birds seen on around the wires to the E at 08:10 and
then heard in song. At 08:50 there were another (?) 2 birds on the SW
grass feeding with the Coots, Moorhens, Magpies and a Redwing!
Goldcrest 0 - not recorded
Long-tailed Tit 4 07:09 4 parties today: all small
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 14 07:02
Great Tit 9 06:59
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 47 06:19* 29 seen leaving the NE roost today, with 27 of these
streaming out at 06:55. 7 together in the SW trees was unusual again
Jackdaw 100 06:39 another strange passage (and yet another suspiciously
'round' number! The first group of 16 was a typical low, tight flock, but
thereafter there were few flocks and those that occurred were much more
open and 'loose'. After 07:20 all the birds were flying much higher
Rook 96 06:34 steady initial passage with 73 in small parties before
06:45. Thereafter mostly singles
Carrion Crow 11 06:22
Starling 10 - after many blank days I now get 3 sightings on the same day!
A lone bird flew SE at 07:12. A party of c.8 birds was seen flying far to
the N at 07:15. And a lone bird flew W at 07:22
Chaffinch 10 07:03 better numbers
Greenfinch 16 07:23 included 9 birds in the top of the same tree at the W end
Goldfinch 3 08:05 2 in trees along N side; 1 flew over NW area
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 3 06:49 not in the right place to see any birds leave the W
end / N side roost. 3 birds heard only
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals:
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 0 - not recorded
Mole hills 0 - not recorded
Moths:
none 0 - not recorded
Insects:
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on lamp
Other observation
0 - nothing today
Top Thursday, 22nd (6:18 - 08:22) -
Weather 7.5C > 8.0C Cloudy with periods of mainly light rain, though tending to heavier bursts. Moderate S wind. Moderate visibility
Narrative
A wet morning that discouraged me from a walk around and I spent the whole time sheltering in the hut on the SW grass and abandonned the visit early
Highlights
A pair of Shoveler the best today - 67th special for the year at / over the lake The Mallard x Pintail drake, also seen at The Flash this week, was chasing
a duck Mallard (with another drake) very few Aythya ducks today: and some of the Pochard were back to their earlier behaviour of flying off towards The Flash adult Common Gull was another brief view as the bird seemed to fly through
Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 0 - not recorded
Great Crested Grebe 3 - the saga changes: 2 adults together and displaying along the N side and near the dam. A bird moulting in to adult plumage seemed to move out of the SW area and then disappeared. None was seen in the NW area
Cormorant 0 - not recorded
Grey Heron 1 06:59 flew in from E and disappeared in the NW reeds
Greylag Goose 4 - 2 E 06:51. 2 small geese seen flying N to the E at 07:30 assumed to be this species
Canada Goose 23 - 7 E 06:47; 2 E 06:52; 12 E to the far N 06:53; then 1 W 07:48
Mallard 12 - of these 2 flew off NW 06:47; 3 (2 drakes) flew in from the NW at 07:00; and 2 (with the Mallard x Pintail) flew around 07:58. Very few on the lake, but did not visit the dam area
Mallard x Pintail 1 - the drake seen previously at The Flash was flying around with a drake and duck Mallard at 07:58, but where they came from and where they went to I have no ides
Shoveler 2 - a pair tucked up in the SE corner as I left at 08:10 had probably been present throughout
Pochard 4 - 1 drake on the lake; 2 birds (1 drake at least) left to NW 06:36; 1 duck left to NW 06:49
Tufted Duck 4 - 2 drakes; 2 ducks. While I did not walk all the way around I could see all the surface and I am pretty confident that there were no others
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Goosander 0 - not recorded
Sparrowhawk 0 - not recorded
Buzzard 2 - 1 flew S to the E at 06:45; 1 circling to NE 07:05
Common Kestrel 0 - not recorded
Water Rail 0 - not recorded
Moorhen 2 - 2 on SW grass. NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Coot 25 0 maximum of 21 on SW grass. 4 others along N side. NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around waders 0 - not recorded
Black-headed Gull 52 06:51 none when I arrived. 4 birds arrived from the W at 06:51 and sat straight on the buoys. No more until 07:11 and a total of
45 flew in from the W. Also seen were 7 birds flying & without pausing
Common Gull 1 07:12 an adult flew in from the W at 07:12 but did not seem to stay
Lesser Black-backed Gull 10 07:27 just 10 seen flying over on a wet day. First seen at 07:27 when 2 flew NW. All others flew W or S. One, an immature, circled a few times, but moved straight through
Herring Gull 0 - not recorded
Great Black-backed Gull 0 - not recorded
Feral Pigeon 2 07:50 flew S together. Rather strange birds that looked a lot like Stock Doves - grey morphs?
Stock Dove 0 - not recorded
Wood Pigeon 23 07:06 a poor day in the poor weather. 5 seen in the trees around the lake (2 displaying); 9 singles seen flying E; 9 singles seen flying W; none on the wires to the E; and no flocks with no birds sitting in the tree-tops in Wards Rough to the NE today
Collared Dove 0 - not recorded
Kingfisher 0 - not recorded
Green Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 - not recorded
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded
Meadow Pipit 1 07:08 heard over
Grey Wagtail 1 07:00 heard along S side
Pied Wagtail 1 07:08 heard flying over: just the 1 today
Wren 10 06:26 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Dunnock 3 06:40 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Robin 15 06:18* NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Blackbird 7 06:18* NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Fieldfare 5 07:04 flew S to the E
Song Thrush 6 06:18* 5 of these in song. NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Redwing 6 - 1 heard overhead at 06:32. 5 seen flying off SE, probably from the NE trees, at 07:13
Mistle Thrush 2 1 on SW grass at 07:34. Then 2 at the W end at 08:10 assumed to include this bird
Goldcrest 0 - not recorded
Long-tailed Tit 0 - not recorded. NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Coal Tit 0 - not recorded
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded
Blue Tit 7 07:04 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Great Tit 6 07:09 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Treecreeper 0 - not recorded
Jay 0 - not recorded
Magpie 41 06:18* 28 seen leaving the NE roost today. But 9 together in the SW trees was unusual
Jackdaw 197 06:45 these were flying low in small groups this morning, with 30 the maximum group size. Passage continues until 07:30 with parties of 2
- 10 birds, and a few thereafter
Rook 86 06:42 later than yesterday in the poor weather. These too were flying unusually low and in smaller groups than usual. Main passage complete by 07:10. But a second small passage 07:22 to 07:28; and 07:45 - 08:00
Carrion Crow 13 06:52 fewer than on some days, but none seemed interested in using the wires to the E this morning
Starling 0 - not recorded
Chaffinch 4 07:09 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Greenfinch 13 06:45 ? / 07:01 NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Goldfinch 4 07:22
Siskin 0 - not recorded
Redpoll 0 - not recorded
Bullfinch 0 - not recorded
Reed Bunting 7 06:35 2 birds left to SE 07:32; 4 left to N at 08:10; at least 1 still singing from W end. NB: numbers affected by weather as I did not walk around
Yellowhammer 0 - not recorded
unidentified Finch flocks 0 - not recorded
Mammals:
Rabbit 0 - not recorded
Squirrel 0 - not recorded
Mole hills 0 - not recorded
Moths:
none 0 - not recorded
Insects etc:
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still on lamp
Spider sp. 1 - on light: very different shape from those seen on previous visits, but too dark to attempt a picture
Other observation
none 0 - nothing today
NB: times are the first / only observation of the species, usually when first heard calling (does not apply to resident water-birds. A '*' indicates the species was already singing / calling when I arrived
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday, 21st (06:16 - 09:51) but 07:00 - 08:40 in lanes / fields to the E / SE see local bird news..........
Started surprisingly cold at 3.0C as overnight shower clouds cleared away for a while before some more light showers arrived c.07:15. Rather moderate visibility with some mist patches, but these cleared away and The Wrekin became visible. Calm to start, but a light / moderate W wind sprang up
A separate report covers the birds in the lanes and field to the E, though as usual overflying birds have been added to this main list
Highlight was an all too brief view of a scuttling Water Rail that was feeding under one of the fishing piers along the N side and could stand my presence no more and made a sprint for the reeds
Other features of a this morning
- no change in the Great Crested Grebe saga: an immature in the NW area; the adult in the N-side area again
- low numbers of Aythya ducks again
- no gull roost last night
- just 16 Black-headed Gulls on the lake early. 26 seen flying over. And 9 on the lake later
- exactly 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls all seen flying over with none noted on the lake
- just 1 Herring Gull identified
- higher number of Wood Pigeons with at least 100 in the trees in Ward's Rough again and several more parties
- all song started early today with Wrens and Blackbirds (as well as the usual Robins and Song Thrushes) already singing when I arrived. And the first Dunnock at the early time of 06:35
- corvid passage very early and fast and low again, with many of the Jackdaws probably out of sight. Again several groups of Rooks were well ahead of the tight, fast-moving parties of Jackdaws
The more detailed notes from the lake
- no Little Grebe today
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: as noted above - 1 immature and 1 adult
- 2 Cormorants. 1 flew N to the E at 07:12; and 1 flew NE to the SE at 07:35
- no Herons noted this morning
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Canada Geese. These flew E at 06:45 in uncharacteristic silence
- 2 Swans. The resident pair throughout
- 17 Mallard (10 drakes). 16 (9 drakes) was the pre-dawn dam-area count and then 1 drake arrived from the NE at 07:10. A pair left to the NW at 07:20; and 3 pairs left to SE 07:12
- no Pochard now
- 12 Tufted Ducks (8 drakes). The pre-dawn dam-area count was 5 (4 drakes)
- no Goosanders seen
- 2 Buzzards seen together over the fields to the NE at 07:06
- 2 Kestrel seen on the wires / pylons to the E / NE. 1 at 07:48 and a female at 08:30. But then 2 together at 08:35
- 1 Water Rail as noted above
- only 6 Moorhens logged with just 2 in the dam area (but only 1 pre-dawn)
- 30 Coots. A maximum of 17 on the SW grass, with other birds perhaps taking up breeding positions. More today with less disturbance enabling them to congregate where they are easier to count
- Gulls today:
- - only 41 Black-headed Gulls. None when I arrived. The first 6 birds flew in at 06:46 and in the absence of any other gulls seemed reluctant to settle and flew out and back and up and down gather a few additional birds until there were 16 flying around at 07:10. Did not seem to settle. 25 birds were logged flying over, with 3 E; 2 S and 20 W. Then by 08:40 there were just 9 on the lake - birds which did not stay long either
- - 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls exactly. The first 27 of the total were flying W to the far N at 07:19 with 3 more flying S at the same time. Thereafter a small W / NW passage between 07:55 and 08:45 of just 19 birds! Another flew W at 09:50. None was seen on the lake
- - 1 Herring Gull only were specifically identified today. 1 adult flew W at 09:10
- - no Yellow-legged Gull-types noted
- - no Great Black-backed Gulls seen
- 2 Feral Pigeons flew S at 07:25 - both blue morphs
- 4 Stock Doves: 1 flew S at 07:38; and 3 were on the wires around Woodhouse Farm at 07:40
- 269 Wood Pigeons on another better day. The first was logged in flight at 07:11. 9 birds were seen in the trees around the lake, with 2 displaying this morning; 1 was seen perched on the wires to the E; 19 singles seen flying E; and another 30 birds were noted flying W. Of the parties seen, totalling 210, a flock of at least 100 was in the trees in Wards Rough to the NE; and several other parties were birds flying unusually high
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker seen bounding in from the SE at 07:25
- no Grey Wagtail
- 2 Pied Wagtails both heard in flight, with the first at 06:48
- no Fieldfares seen
- 11 Song Thrushes with 10 heard in song
- 4 Redwings at least: 1 heard over at 06:32; 2 birds at least in the NE area at 08:55; and a bird over the W end at 09:30
- 1 Mistle Thrush. 1 bird heard scolding far to the NW at 09:35 and then presumed the same heard in distant song
- 4 Long-tailed Tit parties today, with one comprising at least 5 birds
- 58 Magpies another high count: I logged 39 of these leaving the NE roost. While most were flying off E at least 4 birds flew off N this morning
- 140 Jackdaws logged: see comment above: the largest group logged today was just 48 birds and seen over the W end of the lake. Several parties were noted flying very low to the E just above the fields and many may have slipped past unseen this morning. The first 2 birds were at 06:48 and most birds passed by 07:03
- 39 Rooks only logged. First loose group caught me by surprise in the dark at 06:29 and 31 of these birds went through before 06:30! May well have missed earlier birds
- 4 Reed Buntings at least. 2 males in song along the N side; 1 singing males in the W / NW area later; and then another male seen alongside the Teece Drive gate - further away from the water / reeds than usual
Checked the street lights I passed-by for insects etc:
- the Calvia 14-punctata ladybird
- 1 small Tortrix moth with a strange wing-shape suggesting Acleris emargana but quite wrong in colour and flight-time
My complete log of the birds at the lake today was
no Little Grebe; 2 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Cormorants; no Heron; 2 Swans; no Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese; 17 Mallard (10 drakes); no Pochard; 12
Tufted Ducks (8 drakes); no unidentified Aythya sp.; no Goosanders; no Goldeneye; no Sparrowhawks; 2 Buzzards; 2 Kestrels; 1 Water Rail; 6 Moorhens; 30 Coots; no waders; 41 Black-headed Gulls; 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 specifically identified Herring Gull; no Yellow-legged Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls; 2 Feral Pigeons; 4 Stock Doves; 269 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Green Woodpeckers; 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 2 Pied Wagtails; 20 Wrens; 15 Dunnocks; 31 Robins; 25 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 11 Song Thrushes; 4 Redwings; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrests; 4 Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits again; 11 Great Tits again; no Treecreepers; no Jays; 58 Magpies; 140 Jackdaws; 39 Rooks; 12 Crows; no Starlings; 9 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Redpolls; 2 Bullfinches; 4 Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers; no unidentified Finch flocks
Also recorded
Mammals:
- 1 Rabbit at the W end
Moth:
- 1 unidentified Tortrix moth
[numbers are the British Checklist Numbers]
Insects:
- 1 Calvia 14-guttata ladybird
Year total of species seen on, around and from the lake
- 66 birds: nothing added this morning
- 2 mammal sps. (seen - mole hills not counted!)
- 2 moth sp. none added today [yet - moth still unidentified]
- (no count of 'other species' is being made, though I am listing them)
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 20th (06:21 - 09:30) - A rather dull morning and although the early low cloud moved away there were other layers above that, though it was somewhat brighter and with better visibility. Almost calm throughout
After 2 weeks away in the SW there were some changes with the ducks and coots in lower numbers. Gulls too, especially the larger gulls, were in lower numbers as well - but in SW England the Black-headed Gulls have all moved out of the inland wintering areas and many have gone from the estuaries (to Poland already?) so I was not surprised
Highlight was an all too brief view of an over-flying Curlew, showing that spring movement has indeed started already. New for the site this year - my 66th species of the year here
Other features of a this morning
- the Little Grebe missing today
- the renewal of the Great Crested Grebe saga: an immature in the NW area, though that is now coming in to adult plumage with a good set of plumes; the adult in the N-side / dam area again
- now low numbers of Aythya ducks [though there were still plenty on The Flash later]
- no gull roost last night
- just 37 Black-headed Gulls arrived on the lake but thereafter a very different set of movements observed with c.75 birds flying high E overhead before a party of at least 160 seen to the NW flying to the football fields to the W. These were joined by another c.60 that flew over from the E and another c.280 flew W to the N. But throughout numbers on the lake stayed low
- the Lesser Black-backed Gulls had changed behaviour as well with the first 11 of the total of 64 birds logged overhead all flying SE (and mixed up with the Rooks!). Thereafter a small SW passage before birds started passing N-bound. Only 4 birds were noted on the lake
- just 1 Herring Gull identified among the Lesser Black-backed parties
- better numbers of Wood Pigeons with at least 100 in the trees in Ward's Rough
- Coal Tit along the N side
- 2 Jays seen over the NW area
- corvid passage fast and low both to E & W as well as overhead made counting a challenge. It was back to a more 'traditional' pattern with the lead being scattered groups of Rooks ahead of tight, fast-moving parties of Jackdaws
- 3 Reed Buntings males now feeding on the Greater Reedmace / Bulrush heads
The more detailed notes from the lake
- no Little Grebe today
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: as noted above - 1 immature and 1 adult
- 1 Cormorant came and looked and went at 07:29
- 1 Heron. This 'appeared' in the NW sallows at 07:52 and then flew off c.07:55
- 9 Greylag Geese. A party flew E 07:54 - this is a regular-sized flock here and at The Flash
- 14 Canada Geese. These flew E at 07:57 in sub-parties of 5 + 2 +2 +5
- 2 Swans. The resident pair throughout
- 19 Mallard (>9 drakes). The pre-dawn dam-area count was 14 (8 drakes). Of the 19 2 (a pair) flew off E at 06:46; 2 birds seen flying W to far n at 06:49 might (or might not) have been the same 2
- 1 drake Pochard only
- 13 Tufted Ducks (6 drakes) a much lower count. The pre-dawn dam-area count was 8 (5 drakes)
- no Goosanders seen
- 2 Kestrel seen on the wires to the NE: 1 at 07:05 and 2 by 07:07
- 12 Moorhens logged: back to 6 in the dam area (but only 4 pre-dawn). Several 'pairs' seen sparring
- 20 Coots. A maximum of 8 on the SW grass, with other birds perhaps taking up breeding positions. Birds have certainly moved out
- 1 Curlew seen flying NW to the NE at 08:40
- Gulls today:
- - c.620 Black-headed Gulls. just 37 Black-headed Gulls arrived on the lake but thereafter a very different set of movements observed with c.75 birds flying high E overhead at 07:15. Then 8 birds flew high W at 07:18. A party of at least 160 was seen to the NW flying to the football fields to the W at 07:20. These were then joined by another c.60 that flew over from the E at 08:30 with another c.280 flew W to the N. Finally a lone bird flew N in a group of Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 09:15. But throughout numbers on the lake itself stayed low, with all birds having left by 08:50
- - 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The first 11 of the total of 64 birds logged overhead were flying SE at 07:01 (and mixed up with the Rooks!). Thereafter a small SW passage before 07:50 when birds started passing N-bound. Only 4 birds were noted on the lake with 3 adults at 08:20; and an immature at 08:40
- - 1 Herring Gull only were specifically identified today. 1 adult in a group of 5 gulls flying SW at 07:29
- - no Yellow-legged Gull-types noted
- - no Great Black-backed Gulls seen
- no Feral Pigeons
- no Stock Doves
- 146 Wood Pigeons on a much better day. The first was logged in flight at 07:12. 10 birds were seen in the trees around the lake, with 4 displaying this morning; 8 were seen perched on the wires to the E; 12 singles seen flying E; and another 16 birds were noted flying W; at least 100 birds could be seen in the tops of the trees in Wards Rough to the NE
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker seen bounding away from the NW area to the SE at 08:09
- 1 Grey Wagtail. 1 on the dam at 07:07 flew off
- 2 Pied Wagtails both heard in flight, with the first at 07:11
- no Fieldfares seen
- 15 Song Thrushes with 12 heard in song: several in more or less constant song
- 8 Redwings at least: hard to know how many as knots of 2 - 5 birds seen flying around and between the NE / N / NW / W areas all the time after 07:30. Eventually 8 seen together over the NW area 09:20 seemed to be the entire group flying off
- 1 Mistle Thrush. 1 bird heard scolding at the W end 07:31
- [2 Goldcrests seen in the NE area by another birdwatcher while I was trying to sneak up on the (non-existent Water Rail at 08:45]
- 3 Long-tailed Tit parties today, but again none of them seemed to comprise >4 birds
- 1 Coal Tit at least along the N side at 08:35
- 45 Magpies another high count: I logged 29 of these leaving the NE roost and flying off E
- 2 Jays flew in along the line of Teece Drive and disappeared in the trees around the Wesley Brook at 09:20
- 193 Jackdaws logged: see comment above: the largest group logged today was just c.60 birds and seen over the W end of the lake. If there was the usual big party to the E it was possibly hidden in the murk. First at 06:46 was a group of 10 birds; with the last group comprising 31 birds at 07:01 and only a scatter thereafter
- 101 Rooks logged - 1 more than on my last visit! First loose group of 16 birds at 07:44, with the last group being 10 birds at 06:59
- better numbers of Greenfinches (12)
- a small charm of 4 Goldfinches feeding in the alders
- 11 Reed Buntings at least. 3 males along the N side ripping the Greater Reedmace apart. 5 seen flying off from the W end reeds. With a female and
2 singing males in the W / NW area later
Checked the street lights I passed-by for insects etc:
- I confirmed the Calvia 14-punctata ladybird still present - perhaps it only a case of an expired specimen?
- nothing else
My complete log of the birds at the lake today was
no Little Grebe; 2 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Cormorant; 1 Heron; 2 Swans; 9 Greylag Geese; 14 Canada Geese; 19 Mallard (>9 drakes); 1 Pochard (1 drake); 13 Tufted Ducks (6 drakes); no unidentified Aythya sp.; no Goosanders; no Goldeneye; no Sparrowhawks; no Buzzards; 2 Kestrels; no Water Rails; 12 Moorhens; 20 Coots; 1 Curlew; no other waders; c.620 Black-headed Gulls; 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 specifically identified Herring Gull; no Yellow-legged Gulls; no Great Black-backed Gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 146 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Green Woodpeckers; 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; 2 Pied Wagtails; 27 Wrens; 10 Dunnocks; 34 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 15 Song Thrushes; 8 Redwings; 1 Mistle Thrush; [2] Goldcrests; 3 Long-tailed Tit parties; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Treecreepers; 2 Jays; 45 Magpies; 193 Jackdaws; 101 Rooks; 17 Crows; no Starlings; 4 Chaffinches; 12 Greenfinches; 5 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; 11 Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers; no unidentified Finch flocks
Also recorded
Mammals:
- obvious new molehills noted along the S side
Insects:
- 1 Calvia 14-guttata ladybird
Year total of species seen on, around and from the lake
- 66 birds: Curlew added this morning
- 2 mammal sps. (seen - mole hills not counted!)
- 2 moth sp. none added today
- (no count of 'other species' is being made, though I am listing them)
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 11th (16:35 - 17:40) Evening Log - After all the heavy snow from thursday and friday, then saturdays rain, it was no surprise to see Wesley Brook full to the brim. I had hoped to come across a Water Rail or two, but with so much water about it wasn't a surprise not to see any. The evening was quite mild and dry with just a slight breeze going across the lake.
Main features of the evening were:
- a Dabchick just off the northbank
- the duck Goldeneye still present in the NE bay.
- 2 Buzzards that passed each other, without even the slightest deviation. One headed east across the lake and the other headed SW at 5:07pm.
- There were a good number of winter thrushes
about with one fairly large party of 33 Fieldfare heading north and a scattering of Redwing in the bushes along the northbank.
The more detailed notes from the lake:
- 2 Great Crested Grebe seen this evening with one at the mouth of Wesley Brook and the other asleep in the middle of the Pochard in the NE bay.
- A lone Dabchick was just off the northbank
- A Grey Heron took off from the NE bay and ended up at Wesley Brook.
- The 2 resident Swans were at the dam end.
- a pair of Canada Geese flew west towards the Flash at 5:35pm
- Very few ducks around. In fact this must be the first time in a very long time I haven't seen a Tufted Duck on the lake.
- The duck Goldeneye was in amongst the Pochard and resting up for the night.
- - There were 33 Mallard logged, with most paired up and sitting it out on the edge of the dam.
- - The Pochard were made up of 9 drakes and 3 ducks.
- 9 Moorhen was a pretty good number, with most up around the dam and on the grass bank
- The Coot seem to have split up into two groups with 26 (South bank) and 22 (Slipway).
- Very few gulls this evening:
- - There were 16 Black-headed Gulls.
- - There were slightly more Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 22. But when a Heron flew over at 4:50pm they all took off and headed west.
- - There were 6 Herring Gulls in amongst the Lesser's, with one pure white headed bird. Unfortunately I never got close enough to identify it, as the Grey Heron put them all up and they all disappeared west
- Not many Wood Pigeon about with only 5 logged.
- 1 Grey Wagtail headed into the old Celestica grounds at 4:45pm
- There were a few Pied Wagtails, but not one of them headed towards the Town centre, in fact all 16 birds I logged were heading south to Stafford Park. A new roost perhaps!
- Not too many Robins about, with 8 heard singing around the lake.
- 7 Blackbirds seen and heard, with a few chattering away at the roosting Magpies that had congregated by Teece gate.
- 2 Song Thrush heard
- Plenty of Redwing with 9 birds in the hedgerow to the NE of the lake.
- 33 Fieldfare flew over the lake heading north at around 4:50pm.
- There were 15 Magpies congregated in the fields across Castle Farm way to the east and 17 came into roost in the woods by Teece Drive gate. These birds didn't fly over me so I guess they were two separate parties.
- The corvid passage was quite impressive with several parties of birds flying north with 1 Rook flying south for some reason. In total there were 133 Rooks and 192 Jackdaws.
- 2 Starlings this evening. Both lone birds heading towards Priorslee village.
- A single Treecreeper heard calling in amongst the mixed Tit flock on the northbank by the big bridge
- Quite a few Tits this evening with mixed flocks roaming both north and south banks. One flock of Long-tailed Tits had 13 birds in it plus 3 Blue Tits, 4 Great Tits and 2 Goldcrest. Also about was Willow Tit in Wesley Woods.
- Not many Chaffinches with most seen in the bushes alongside Celestica's fence.
- 3 Greenfinch logged
- 4 Bullfinches 3 females and a male.
- 4 Reed Bunting heard three in Wesley Reed beds and one in the NE corner.
My complete log of the birds at and around the lake this evening was:
2 Great Crested Grebe; 1 Little Grebe; 1 Grey Heron; 2 Mute Swans; 3 Canada Geese; 33 Mallard; 12 Pochard; no Tufted Ducks; 1 Goldeneye (duck); 9 Moorhens; 53 Coots; 16 Black-headed Gulls; 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls; 2 Buzzards; 1 Kestrel; 5 Wood Pigeons; 1 Grey Wagtails; 16 Pied Wagtails; 5 Wrens; 2 Dunnock; 8 Robins; 7 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; 15+ Redwing; no Mistle Thrush; 33 Fieldfare; 5 Goldcrest; 2 Long-tailed Tit parties (13 in one party); 6 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 1 Treecreeper; 32 Magpies; 192 Jackdaws; 133 Rooks; 2 Crows; 2 Starlings; 7 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 4 Bullfinches; 4 Reed Buntings
Also
Mammals:
- 1 Rabbits between Wesley Woods and the west bank.
- 1 Grey Squirrel in the Oak on the northbank.
- Fresh molehills all about the lake
(Martin Adlam)
Top Thursday, 8th (16:15 - 16:40) - The heaviest snow had fallen by the time I got to the lake and there was just light flurry when I stopped off to look at Gull roost. It wasn't quantity this evening but quality; for in roost there was 1 Caspian Gull (4th Winter), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Common Gull and 5 Herring Gulls. Not forgetting the 120 Lesser Blacked Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 200 Black-headed Gulls. The Caspian and Yellow legs stayed around for 10 minutes, but when a another party of Lesser's arrived they took off and headed east towards Belvide. The yellow legs on the Yellow-legged Gulls were very visual as they flew overhead.
Also about there was:
- 2 Mute Swan
- 60 Tufted Ducks
- 30 Pochard (14 drakes and 16 ducks)
- 20 Coot
- 2 Moorhen around the dam
- overhead the corvids were heading to their roost in the north and I just managed to log 50 Jackdaw and 20 Rooks as I arrived.
- 6 Magpie all up at the dam.
- a small party of Long-tailed Tits by the layby.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Tuesday, 6th ( 06:39 - 10:10) - NB from 07:40 - 09:15 in lanes and fields to the E / SE See Local News - A better morning though rather strange weather. There had been a heavy hoar frost and everywhere was white when I arrived, but it was by then cloudy and a few snow grains were falling. The cloud did not raise the temperature enough to melt the frost (no ice on the lake though). It then cleared for a while a promised a good, if hazy sunrise. But that faded away and it was after 09:00 before clearer weather spread from the N and the sun came out to chase the frost away
Other features of a this morning
- the Little Grebe missing today
- today's episode of the Great Crested Grebe saga: amazingly and almost uniquely the same as yesterday with both immatures in the NW area; and the adult in the N-side / dam area
- even better numbers of Aythya ducks all at the W end today - especially Tufted Ducks
- Water Rail heard in the Wesley Brook area - the first I have heard for months and I wonder whether it suggests there is more than I bird at this end
- very strange apparent gull roost with just 6 gulls of 3 different species! Again no Black-headed Gulls seemed to arrive from the W (hard to be certain as I was overlooking the lake from the E). What I do know is that over 200 birds were seen flying in from the SE (from the pools behind the service area? I think not), and some of these flew straight through and some seemed to stop
- reasonable and steady passage of large gulls flying W followed by a small arrival from the N, but rather few Herring Gulls identified
- better numbers of Wood Pigeons but still many fewer than in previous years
- Green Woodpecker calling along the N side
- Coal Tit in song in the NW area
- Willow Tits heard again along the W side today
- much better corvid passage with the large (c.140) group of Jackdaws seen to the E at the same time as c.50 over the lake, with extended small passage thereafter. Just 1 smaller, well-spaced group of Rooks
- Reed Buntings male seen feeding on the Greater Reedmace / Bulrush heads again
The more detailed notes from the lake
- no Little Grebe today
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: as noted above - 2 immatures and 1 adult
- no Cormorant
- 2 Herons. 2 together over E end of the lake at 08:45; assumed one of these in the NW sallows at 09:40
- 34 Greylag Geese an excellent count: 2 E at 07:17; 2 E to the N at 07:22; then parties of 8 & 9 SE at 08:11; then 4 flew W at 10:21; and 9 W (perhaps one of the earlier groups?) flew W at 10:26
- 2 Canada Geese. These flew NW at 08:20
- 2 Swans. The resident pair throughout
- 23 Mallard (14 drakes). The pre-dawn dam-area count had been just 9 (6 drakes) this morning
- 9 Pochard. 9 drakes again with all the ducks missing
- 56 Tufted Ducks (37 drakes) another good count - one duck fewer than yesterday
- no Goosander seen
- 3 Buzzard records: a bird was heard calling to the SE at the early time of 07:13; 1 flew SW at 07:34; and then at 09:55 there was an immature (dark cere) on the roof of the 'old' Celestica factory, which Magpies chased off before I could get the camera attached to the scope
- 1 Kestrel seen on the wires to the E at 08:45, but not before or after
- 1 Water Rail. Heard from where the Wesley Brook runs through the reeds in to the lake
- 6 Moorhens logged again: again only 2 in the dam area pre-dawn
- 41 Coots. Up to 27 on the SW grass
- Gulls today:
- - 775 Black-headed Gulls. 2 in the group of 6 gulls on the lake at 07:05. No more seen arriving from the W. But parties came from the SE, with c.100 at 07:55 being the first such flock to 'register' and a total of 223 logged, though not clear how many of these stopped off and how many flew through. Also logged was a lone bird flying high S over. Later totals of birds on the lake gave me c.320 at 09:10; and c.450 at 09:40. This seems to make a minimum of 775
- - 488 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 3 in the group of 6 gulls on the lake at 07:05. The first record of flying birds was 17 birds flying W at 07:36 and all the fly-overs were moving in this direction. In total 424 birds were seen flying over. After 09:00 there was a small arrival of birds from the N with 61 by 09:10, though this reduced to 25 by 09:40
- - 3 Herring Gull only were specifically identified today. 1 adult in the group of 6 gulls on the lake at 07:05. Just 2 birds flew NW at 08:05 quite separate from any other gulls. Whilst I cannot claim to have checked every Lesser Black-backed Gull I noted no Herring Gulls amongst these parties this morning
- - no Yellow-legged Gull-types noted
- - 1 Great Black-backed Gull seen flying N at 08:35 on its own
- 2 Feral Pigeons flew W at 07:59 - a blue morph with an all-white bird (these are normally seen circling around their lofts only)
- 3 Stock Doves: 1 of the regular birds on the wires to the NE at 08:00; and 1 flew S at 08:25; another W to the S at 08:27
- 50 Wood Pigeons exactly on a better day. The first was logged in flight at 07:46. 4 birds were seen in the trees around the lake, with 2 displaying this morning; 3 were seen perched on the wires to the E; 6 singles seen flying E; and another 20 birds were noted flying W; a party of 17 birds seen to the S
- 2 Grey Wagtails again. 1 on the dam at 07:30 flew off E; and 1 in the Teece Drive at 10:05
- 4 Pied Wagtails all heard in flight heading 'E', with the first at 07:26
- no Fieldfares seen
- 8 Song Thrushes with 7 heard in song: fewer today but I was away from the lake for some of the prime song period
- 1 Redwing only seen flying N at 07:25
- 2 Mistle Thrushes. 1 bird on the wires to the E at 07:54 then heard singing before it flew off to the NE and sang from there. 1 at the W end at 10:20
- 1 Goldcrest heard at the W end at 10:20
- 1 Long-tailed Tit party only
- 1 Coal Tit singing near the Teece Drive gate at 10:25
- 1 Willow Tit heard along the W side hedge at 10:20
- 41 Magpies a high count as I was near the NE roost when it dispersed
- 250 Jackdaws exactly logged: see comment above: 2 large early parties and a long 'tail' of mainly single birds, all heading SE / SSE
- 100 Rooks exactly logged - both Jackdaws and Rooks in round numbers! See comment above. Just 3 birds seen flying N, at the later time of 07:48
- no Starlings
- 2 Reed Buntings only , but I was in the wrong place to hear / see these at roost. A bird at the W end in song. The N side bird ripping the Greater Reedmace again as noted above
Checked the street lights I passed-by for insects etc:
- 1 Calvia 14-punctata ladybird still present on the same light-fitting
- nothing else
My complete log of the birds at the lake today was
no Little Grebe; 3 Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; 2 Herons; 2 Swans; 34 Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese; 23 Mallard (14 drakes); 9 Pochard (9
drakes); 56 Tufted Ducks (37 drakes); no unidentified Aythya sp.; no Goosanders; no Goldeneye; no Sparrowhawks; 3 Buzzards; 1 Kestrel; 1 Water Rail; 6 Moorhens; 41 Coots; no waders; 775 Black-headed Gulls; 488 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 specifically identified Herring Gull; no Yellow-legged Gull; 1 Great Black-backed Gull; 2 Feral Pigeon; 3 Stock Doves; 50 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; 4 Pied Wagtails; 10 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 28 Robins; 19 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 8 Song Thrushes; 1 Redwing; 2 Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tit party; 1 Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Treecreepers; no Jays; 41 Magpies; 250 Jackdaws; 100 Rooks; 15 Crows; no Starlings; 5 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; 2 Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers; no unidentified Finch flocks
Also recorded
Mammals:
- no Rabbits
- 1 Grey Squirrel at the W end
- obvious new molehills noted along the N side this morning
Insects:
1 species of other 'insects'
- 1 Calvia 14-guttata ladybird
Year total of species seen on, around and from the lake
- 65 birds: nothing new added this morning
- 2 mammal sps. (seen - mole hills not counted!)
- 2 moth sp. none added today
- (no count of 'other species' is being made, though I am listing them)
(Ed Wilson) Top Monday, 5th (06:41 - 09:41) - A disappointing morning with the weather: mist and fog - just about see the length of the lake - and low cloud made it almost impossible to see anything flying over. And after 2 calm days there was a rather chill moderate NW breeze
But there are always compensations: nothing new, but for the first time this winter I managed to see Water Rail in both the Wesley Brook bridge area; and at the ditch in the NE area
Other features of a this morning
- the Little Grebe seen again!
- today's episode of the Great Crested Grebe saga: both immature in the NW area; and the adult in the N-side / dam area
- good numbers of Aythya ducks scattered all across the lake in the morning and they stayed to rest-up at the E end - especially the Tufted Ducks
- slightly higher Coot numbers this morning with less disturbance
- yet another dire start for the Black-headed Gulls and whilst I just managed 3-figures I got the impression that most were pausing on a westbound path: there was certainly no coming and going either to the Ricoh grounds or the football field at the W end
- rather few large gulls but in the conditions I was happy with c.75 overhead
- very low number of Wood Pigeons was not surprising
- 11 Pied Wagtails today and there did seem be some roost dispersal from the town area this morning
- Willow Tits heard along both the N side and in the NE area
- only those corvids that passed directly over the lake could be seen today, so numbers were predictably low
- unusual was a single Starling perched on one of the trees in the SW area
- Reed Buntings in full song again and 1 male seen feeding on the Greater Reedmace / Bulrush heads - not sure I've seen them do that before, but they are 'Reed' Buntings!
The more detailed notes from the lake
- 1 Little Grebe: back in the usual position, though I had been standing counting ducks for some 10 minutes when it stopped holding its breath and shot out from under one of the fishing platforms
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: as noted above - 2 immatures and 1 adult
- no Cormorant
- no Heron today
- 2 Greylag Geese: these flew in at 07:27 from ? - too foggy; and left at 07:37 without apparently attracting the ire of the Swan
- 6 Canada Geese at least: multiples heard in flight but unseen in the fog at 07:05 and 07:20; then 2 seen flying E overhead at 07:33
- 4 Swans. The resident pair throughout, though they seemed to be frequently well away from each other. 2 more adults flew E overhead at 09:17 [one of the regular bird-feeders told me that there were 8 at The Flash at c.07:00; there were only 5 when I got there at c.10:00 - see below - so these had probably come from there]
- 29 Mallard (19 drakes). The pre-dawn dam-area count was 11 (6 drakes) this morning, but there was no food! The full sweep count revealed fewer than in recent days though the behaviour of these birds is already changing for breeding - at The Flash there were many paddling about in the sedges, perhaps selecting nest sites?
- 12 Pochard (9 drakes) again - same as yesterday
- 57 Tufted Ducks (37 drakes) a good count - and not at the expense of The Flash where there was also a good count
- no Goosander seen
- 2 Water Rails: 1 just upstream of the Wesley Brook bridge scuttled for cover as I crept on to the bridge, giving me barely-enough time to note the long red bill. I made a special effort to see the bird in the NE area and deposited the scope and put my pale gloves away before creeping up only to find the ditch empty. Went back for the scope and marched past and glanced along the ditch to see the bird standing in the middle looking at me, and only sauntering off! Too encumbered by the scope to get the camera on it - always the way!
- 6 Moorhens logged again: only 2 in the dam area pre-dawn and also later;
2 at the W end; and 2 on the SW grass
- 39 Coots. Up to 32 on the SW grass
- Gulls today:
- - 118 Black-headed Gulls. None at 07:00 as far as I could tell, with 5 on the water by 07:12 and no more seen arriving from the W. The only movement was hitherto unseen birds flying out W in small parties and there were at least 84 between 07:55 and 08:20. A later arrival of 9 birds by 08:40 built to reach 17 by 09:00! A party of 12 flew through W without pausing at all [observations the following day suggets that this species is now largely moving NW and that birds are no longer arriving from the football fields at the W end]
- - 76 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The first record was 3 birds flying W at 07:52 and all the fly-overs were moving in this direction, until after 09:15 when they were all moving N! In total only 65 birds were seen flying over which I reckoned was a good count in the conditions. At 09:15 there was a small arrival of 11 birds that barely touched the surface of the lake before they moved on west
- - 10 Herring Gull were specifically identified today. 6 of these seen flying over (2 adults of which flew S together): and with the small Lesser Black-backed Gull arrival there were 4 Herring Gulls (1 adult; 3 first year birds)
- - no Yellow-legged Gull-types noted
- - no Great Black-backed Gulls
- no Feral Pigeons
- 1 Stock Dove flew S at 09:00
- 10 Wood Pigeons only! The first was logged in flight at 07:40. 7 birds were seen in the trees around the lake (all but 1 in the NW area), with 2 displaying this morning; none was seen perched on the wires to the E (what wires!?); 1 single seen flying E; and another 3 birds were noted flying W; no parties seen
- 2 Grey Wagtails at least: seemed very vocal this morning with birds heard at the W end (Ricoh grounds?); on the SW grass; on the dam; and along Teece Drive. At least 2 birds involved
- 11 Pied Wagtails all heard in flight heading 'E', with the first at 07:24
- no Fieldfares seen
- 13 Song Thrushes with 9 heard in song: highest count so far this year
- 4 Redwings: 2 heard when flushed out of trees around the lake pre-dawn; and then 2 seen in flight
- 1 or 2 Mistle Thrushes. 1 bird flew W low across the dam at 09:02. This may or may not have been the bird heard in song to the far N at 09:30
- no Goldcrest
- 4 Long-tailed Tit parties today
- 2 Willow Tits heard: 1 at the W end of the N side; and another at the E end of the N side
- 1 Jay at least calling loudly in the NW area 09:30
- 19 Magpies another more modest number but I could not see the NE roost area in the mist
- 6 Jackdaws only: gulp - again! With very poor visibility only those overhead could be seen or heard, but so few
- 11 Rooks logged: same comment as for Jackdaws
- 1 Starling: these are rather scarce at the lake and odd to see one perched atop a tree here - especially when there seem to be so few about at the moment [though there was one on roofs in Teece Drive as I left; and I had one singing from the roofs around The Flash last week, perhaps suggesting they are returning to breeding sites in the area]
- still very few finches but I did note ?
- 3 Bullfinches with 2 males in the NE area attacking the hawthorn buds already
- 3 Reed Buntings today with calling birds along the N side and at the W end: and a bird at the W end in song. The N side bird ripping the Greater Reedmace as noted above
Checked the street lights I passed-by for insects etc:
- I confirmed the Calvia 14-punctata ladybird still present
- nothing else
My complete log of the birds at the lake today was
1 Little Grebe; 3 Great Crested Grebes; no Cormorants; no Herons; 4 Swans; 2 Greylag Geese; >6 Canada Geese; 29 Mallard (19 drakes); 12 Pochard (9
drakes); 57 Tufted Ducks (36 drakes); no unidentified Aythya sp.; no Goosanders; no Goldeneye; no Sparrowhawks; no Buzzards; no Kestrels; 2 Water Rails; 6 Moorhens; 39 Coots; no waders; 118 Black-headed Gulls; 76 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 10 specifically identified Herring Gull; no Yellow-legged Gull; no Great Black-backed Gulls; no Feral Pigeon; 1 Stock Dove; 10 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Kingfishers; no Green Woodpeckers; no Great Spotted Woodpeckers; no Sky Larks; no Meadow Pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; 11 Pied Wagtails; 18 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 32 Robins; 26 Blackbirds; no Fieldfares; 13 Song Thrushes; 4 Redwings; 1 or 2 Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 4 Long-tailed Tit parties; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 17 Great Tits; no Treecreepers; 1 Jay; 19 Magpies; 6 Jackdaws; 11 Rooks; 6 Crows; 1 Starling; 9 Chaffinches; 11 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; 3 Reed Buntings; no Yellowhammers; no unidentified Finch flocks
Also recorded
Insects:
1 species of other 'insects'
- 1 Calvia 14-guttata ladybird
Year total of species seen on, around and from the lake
- 65 birds: nothing new added this morning
- 2 mammal sps. (seen - mole hills not counted!)
- 2 moth sp. none added today
- (no count of 'other species' is being made, though I am listing them)
(Ed Wilson) Top Sunday, 4th (06:40 - 11:04) - [NB: 07:05 - 09:50 in lanes and field to E / SE of the lake! - sunrise and frost pictures See Local News....] - Another superb day with sharp white frost and then a great sunrise with plenty of thin high cloud to give it interest. Lack of wind made it feel almost pleasant once the sun was up! Fed up with pylons and street lights in the sunrise photos I opted to walk to the lanes to the E and use the trees as better foreground for the cloudscapes. And was then diverted by the fantastic shapes and effects of the frost and, for the third time in recent days, more or less gave up the bird watching! Well, not really true as the ears were still working even when the eyes were peering down the lens, but many of the counts were affected by this - and of course by not being around the lake for the normal full early songs and calls
Features of a this morning
[separate report covers the birds seen to E / SE unless they were also lake fly-overs in which case they are included here]
- today's episode of the Great Crested Grebe saga: just one immature seen and that asleep along the S side
- all the Aythya-type ducks had left yesterday morning when the model boat club arrived, but there were some back today
- Coot numbers do seem to be reducing even though the weekend disturbance scatters them around and makes them harder to count
- another dire start for the Black-headed Gulls and did not seem to pick up!
- very few large gulls at all
- very low number of Wood Pigeons and one small party
- after hearing a Sky Lark calling as it flew over while I was in the fields to the E I was cursing - still needed for the lake year-list. Was therefore pleasantly surprised when 1 (another?) was heard in flight over the lake at 10:45. Added to the lake year-list - now 65 species for the year
- 1 single Pied Wagtail only [since writing Friday's note I have had birds over Lilleshall Hill both days, though today they were heading N rather than toward any Telford roost: and of course there were more (7) yesterday anyway]
- Willow Tit heard along the N side again
- a Treecreeper heard calling at W end, but not located
- the corvids seemed largely absent yet again this morning
- Chaffinches in full song today
- Reed Buntings in full song as well
- the 'less than daily' log today included Willow Tit and Treecreeper
I may have solved the mystery bird seen flying N to the E on several occasions recently: while I was in the lanes to the E I saw what was clearly a Mistle Thrush flying somewhat hesitantly N at 07:36
The more detailed notes from the lake
- no Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: one immature seen and that asleep along the S side
- no Cormorant
- 1 Heron. 1 flew SE over E end at 09:20
- 6 Greylag Geese: 2 flew SE at 07:23; 2 flew S over E end of lake at 06:29; 2 flew NW at 08:25 - perhaps 2 of those seen earlier?
- 24 Canada Geese: 6 flew E at 07:15; then 18 flew W at 09:28, though 2 birds peeled off and flew off S
- 3 Swans at least: the resident pair throughout; the wing-beats of one or more departing birds heard at 09:45
- 28 Mallard (18 drakes): this was the pre-dawn dam-area count this morning. Later counts gave me fewer as many birds in cover. The dam count was high considering there were fishermen camped on the dam, but the taxi-driver had been with the food!
- 12 Pochard (9 drakes)
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