Monday, 25th (17:00)
On the way back from work I stopped off at the Castle Farm layby to have a quick look at the lake. The water level was the highest I have seen it for many years and the rows of marker buoys just off the southbank had all disappeared under the water. The full effect of Wesley Brook downstream has been devastating for Shifnal, with so much water in the reservoir it was no surprise to hear that many premises alongside the brook were under 2 to 3 feet of water for the second time this month. As for the wildlife on and around the lake the sudden rises in water levels will surely have had an effect on some of creatues living close to the waters edge.
The only birds that seem to be coping were the Mute Swans and their four healthy looking cygnets. They were up on the northbank when I arrived and looking very well. Around the lake the Coots seemed to have got away with the rise in the water levels and a couple of nests look as if they managed to keep afloat as the water rose. However something did catch my eye in the northeast bay and once I had my binculars on it I could see a very large dead Carp of approx 15 - 20lbs bobbing about in the reeds. Difficult to say why it died though on occassion sudden changes of water temperature can be fatal!
Recently I have noticed more and more corvids heading north in the evenings and though I didn't see any this evening (it was still raining), on Sunday there was a good passage overhead at around 6pm. I have also noticed large Gulls moving north in the evening presumably Lesser Black-backed Gulls, though none stopped at the lake. And finally the Swifts are still here with a large concentration over the NE Woods late Sunday evening.
(Martin Adlam)
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Sunday, 17th (11:10pm - 12:15pm) Midday Log
Narrative:
Visited just the one nest box (Click here for update) this lunchtime in Wesley Wood and then had a walk around the Lake. Wesley Brook was still very high after all the rain.
Highlight
No real highlights today, in fact more of a low as it appears that one of the Cygnets has disappeared. As they are quite large now I would suspect a Fox has had one and we are now down to 4.
Birds seen:
Great Crested Grebe 6 - Two by Northbank Reedbeds with a two young on the back of one of the adults and two just off Wesley Reedbeds
Mute Swan 6 - The 2 Adults and now just the 4 cygnets were just off Wesley reedbeds
Mallard 26 - A little bit down on last weeks count, but good to see a duck with 4 ducklings in the NE bay.
Coot 16 - including a couple of birds on nests, an adult feeding a juvenile in the NE bay and an adult with two chicks just inside the Wesley Reedbeds.
Wood Pigeon present
House Martins 10 appeared over the lake as the sun appeared.
Swallow 2 feeding over the grass on the SW bank
Pied Wagtail 1 flew west along the northbank
Magpie present
Jay by Wesley Brook Bridge
Carrion Crow 2 on the Dam
Wren present
Dunnock present
Reed Warbler present
Sedge Warbler present
Blackcap 5 - 3 in Wesley Wood, 1 South West Wood and 1 North Bank wood
Garden Warbler Not seen or heard today
Common Whitethroat An adult flew from Pond Wood on the South bank into the hedge alongside the Motorway
Willow Warbler 1 - One singing from Pond Wood
Chiffchaff 3 - In Wesley Woods, Ne Wood and SW Wood
Robin Present
Blackbird present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Coal Tit 1 - calling in Wesley Wood
Long-tailed Tit Still several parties with juveniles around the lake
Chaffinch present
Greenfinch present
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds and Northbank Reedbeds
Mammals:
Brown Rat - On the dam
Fish:
Fry - Thousands of small fish along the banks in the new growth weed that has now shot up.
Insects:
Emperor Dragonfly sp. - A pair of dragonflies in the southwest corner of the lake hawking over the grass.
Meadow Brown - A pair just south of Wesley Reedbeds
Skipper Butterfly - 1 seen in the grass just south of Wesley Reedbeds.
Plants:
Orchids 3 Species now in flower
(Martin Adlam)
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Friday, 11th (08:10am and then 9:25pm)
Evening - This evening the anglers down at the lake pointed out the lack of buoys on the water. With so much rain in the past 48 hours the lake has risen well over a foot, submerging the anchored buoys. Even the wooden staging to the east of the boat ramp was submerged. We shall have to see what effect this has had on the breeding Coots dotted around the lake.
Morning - For the 3rd time this summer another Common Tern was at the lake this morning. This time it stayed to feed on the small fry that is in abundance just off the Southbank.
(Martin Adlam)
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Wednesday, 10th (9:00pm)
After 29 days the 5 remaining Mute Swan Cygnets are still going strong. Last year, as you may recall, we had 9 but ended up with just 1, after a Mink devastated the family. This year it has been Mink clear and even though we lost 2 within the first two days, these guys I think will do really well.
Also about were quite a few Swifts over the treetops.
(Martin Adlam)
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Saturday, 9th (12:00pm - 1:15pm) Midday Log
Narrative:
Visited just the one nest box (Click here for update) this lunchtime in Wesley Wood and then had a walk around the Lake. It was a lot warmer than my last visit with the thermometer reading 28C. No photographs this weekend, still trying to identify the one from last week.
Highlight
Main highlight was watching the Cob Mute Swan chasing off anything and anyone that was within 20metres of the family. Including me, I didn't see it coming as I walked onto the first jetty on the east side of Wesley wood. I had just stepped onto it when from across the water I saw the cob start running across the water heading in my direction. En route it scared the living daylights with a drake Ruddy Duck which was minding its business. Apparently a Canadian passerby was pinned to the ground on the southbank last weekend. Not sure of the whole story but the Cob took exception of the gentleman and knocked him to the ground.
Confession time seems I was a slightly wrong with the report above concerning the Canadian gentleman ..... Click here for explanation (4th July)
Birds seen:
Great Crested Grebe 3 - Two by Northbank Reedbeds and a single bird just off Wesley Reedbeds
Mute Swan 7 - The 2 Adults and 5 cygnets were just off Wesley reedbeds and doing very well.
Mallard 35 - A good count for the day
Ruddy Duck 1 - a drake just off Wesley Reedbeds.
Coot 17 - including a couple of birds on nests.
Wood Pigeon present
Feral Pigeons 4 - Two pairs stopped on the dam and Northbank for a bathe and drink before flying off (Racing Pigeons possibly including a pure white bird)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 - calling from just the other side of Castle Farm Way where Wesley Brook crosses under the road.
House Martins 2
Swallow 2
Magpie present
Wren present
Dunnock present
Reed Warbler present
Sedge Warbler 1 - An adult close to the yacht club compound, some 40metres from the water.
Blackcap 3 - Wesley Wood and South east Wood where there were some juveniles being fed by both parents.
Garden Warbler 1 singing by the Oak tree bridge on the northbank.
Common Whitethroat not heard or seen today.
Willow Warbler 2 - One in Wesley Woods and the other in the NE wood
Chiffchaff 3 - In Wesley Woods including an adult with food
Goldcrest 1 - singing by gate by Wesley Wood entrance
Robin Present
Blackbird present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Coal Tit 1 - calling in Wesley Wood
Long-tailed Tit several parties with juveniles around the lake
Chaffinch present
Bullfinch 4 - A pair in Wesley Wood and a pair in pond wood on the southbank.
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds and Northbank Reedbeds
Mammals:
Squirrel - 1 in the NE wood
Brown Rat - On the dam
Fish:
Pike - A dead Pike just off the southbank.
Fry - Thousands of small fish along the banks in the new growth weed that has now shot up.
Insects:
Dragonfly sp. - A pair of dragonflies on the southbank. Only caught a glimpse of the female which was very dark. Didn't catch the colour of the male.
Skipper Butterfly - 1 seen in the grass just south of Wesley Reedbeds.
Plants:
Orchids now in flower
(Martin Adlam)
Top Friday, 8th
- Raven flew over this morning
(Ed Wilson)
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Friday, 1st (12:00pm - 1:00pm) Midday Log
Narrative:
Visited the nest boxes (Click here for update) this lunchtime around Wesley Wood and then had a walk around the Lake. It was a very pleasant 25C. Also took a few more photographs of the insects from around the Lake.
Highlight
Another Common Tern . Almost the same as last Saturday as it flew NW over the lake towards the Flash.
Birds seen:
Great Crested Grebe 3 - Two by Wesley Reedbeds and a single bird just off the northbank
Mute Swan 7 - The 2 Adults and 5 cygnets were sitting it out on the Southbank.
Mallard Present
Coot Present
Common Tern 1 - A lone tern drifted across the lake and disappeared over Wesley Wood towards the Flash at 12:45
Wood Pigeon present
House Martins 5
Swallow 2
Magpie present
Wren present
Dunnock present
Reed Warbler present
Blackcap 3 - Wesley Wood
Common Whitethroat 2 - 1 in the Woods on the south bank and the other singing from within the old Celestica grounds.
Willow Warbler 2 - In Wesley Woods
Chiffchaff 2 - In Wesley Woods
Robin Present
Blackbird present
Mistle Thrush 1 - in Wesley Wood
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Long-tailed Tit present
Chaffinch present
Goldfinch 2
Bullfinch 6 - A pair in Wesley Wood and a pair with two juveniles in the NE Wood
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds and Northbank Reedbeds
Insects:
Photographs to follow
Plants:
Orchids just about to bloom at 3 locations
(Martin Adlam)
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