Weather
Though the thermometer said 14.0C it felt a lot colder, with a brisk NE wind. At least the sun was out, albeit on its way down.

Narrative
Thought I'd check the nest boxes out, unfortunately still no takers yet. Quite a few people out walking and the carp anglers were out in force, didn't see anyone catch anything though.

Highlights
Difficult to know where to start, but first things first. Little Grebe in the Northeast bay was a surprise as it has been absent for quite some while. However after seeing it briefly at 17:35 I didn't see again! Next was 4 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows over the dam are at 17:50, they stayed for 5 minutes before heading west and then 3 more Sand Martins followed at 18:25, they headed east after a brief feed over the water. If that wasn't enough a Peregrine flew along the southbank towards junction 4 of the M54 before veering southeast towards Nedge Hill.

Species number time narrative
Little Grebe 1 see narrative above
Great Crested Grebe 0 None seen very strange!
Mute Swan 2 - Both adults at the nest where the pen was adjusting her position on at least 2 eggs. Difficult to see into the nest for a proper count. The cob was helping with a bit of repair work and then headed off into the lake on his patrol.
Mallard 16 - logged 10 drakes and 2 ducks. Also the two "oversized" Mallard
Tufted Duck 16 - 13 drakes
Peregrine Falcon 1 - Flew east. See narrative above
Moorhen 8 - 1 of these was in the NE wood
Coot 24 - 15 seen on the SW grass! One bird seen with nesting material heading off into Wesley Reedbeds.
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 Seen heading north. They flew straight underneath the Peregrine with neither batting an eyelid.
Wood Pigeon 9 Singles and a few pairs dotted around the lake
Sand Martin 7 See narrative above
Swallow 2 See narrative above
Grey Wagtail 1 Seen flying over Wesley Reedbeds and then landed on the boaters hut before dropping down by the slipway.
Pied Wagtail 2 A single bird feeding on the SE bank at 18:00 and another 2 headed west towards the Town Centre at 18:45
Wren 8 Everywhere
Dunnock 7 mostly in the NE wood
Robin 9
Blackbird 6
Song Thrush 1 skulking in the small clump of trees by the yachts.
Redwing 7 06:27 6 flew W 06:27; 1 flushed out of NE trees at 08:21
Chiffchaff 6 - 3 in Wesley Wood, 1 NE Wood, 1 South Hedgerow and 1 SW Hedgerow
Goldcrest 4 Two pairs one in Wesley wood the other in the NE wood
Long-tailed Tit 6 Three pairs Wesley Wood, North East wood and West bank
Coal Tit 1 heard from Wesley wood
Willow Tit 2 heard from Wesley wood
Blue Tit 8
Great Tit 4
Magpie 10
Jackdaw 19 heading in all directions with 11 at least heading north
Rook 16 similarly heading in all directions
Carrion Crow 3
Starling 1 A single bird flew north at 18:45
Linnet 1 A single bird flew NW over the dam at 18:08
Chaffinch 10 Very local around the lake
Greenfinch 2
Bullfinch 2 in Wesley Wood
Reed Bunting 2 Both males Wesley Reedbeds and NE Reedbeds

Insects etc
Bumble Bees sp. 9 - along northbank and west bank

(Martin Adlam)

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Tuesday, 27th - Morning Log

Ahead of a few days 'grouse watching' I made a quick visit to a very misty Priorslee Lake. The visibility was poor throughout and I never managed to see one end from the other - indeed one side from the other. So all numbers are somewhat suspect. And of course the number of fly-overs was minimal!

Highlights:
Even though there was little activity there is always something of interest: the highlights from a walk all the way around:
- after a single Meadow Pipit flushed off the S side grass there were at least 12 more flushed off the dam and another 3 still lurking on the dam-face. I am sure my largest number here and never recorded any parties on the dam previously
- the mist obviously affected the corvid dispersal and my attempt to see it - but it also affected their ability to disperse! At 06:45 a party of Jackdaws was heard approaching calling noisily: they got overhead my position on the N shore and once over the lake seemed to loose orientation and circled still calling noisily before dropping in to the trees along the N side where they continues to call for some 10 minutes before they flew off when I was able to get a reasonable estimate of c.50 birds. A flock in trees around the lake was a unique experience for me
- 1 Redpoll flushed out of the W end at 07:20

Some other bits and pieces / numbers
- 1 Great Crested Grebe heard and seen off the NW reeds
- no Cormorants or Heron
- no Swans either! I am sure they must have been there somewhere - perhaps always at the other end to me?
- 2 Canada Geese taking advantage of the mist and hiding from the Swans in the mist at the dam at 07:43
- just 11 Mallard (9 drakes)
- 2 Pochard - a pair - were new in: perhaps the long-time pair from The Flash unable to get back in the mist? No time to visit The Flash to check
- 27 Tufted Ducks (21 drakes)
- 10 Moorhens good in the circumstances
- 17 Coot was probably an incomplete count
- 1 1st year Black-headed Gull was the only gull seen and that only for a short while
- 18 Wood Pigeons in the trees around the lake: started calling at 06:28
- 2 Grey and 3 Pied Wagtails heard
- 16 Meadow Pipits as noted above
- 15 Dunnocks with the first in song early at 06:06
- 36 Robins a good count: as I walker well pre-dawn around from the NW to the NE area via the S side and the dam I logged 28 in song
- 28 Blackbirds also a good count: 15 on the early walk, but almost as many later
- 7 Song Thrushes in song: another 2 heard calling
- 2 Mistle Thrushes heard in song
- 5 Chiffchaffs in song at least: perhaps a 6th. Started singing with a long, long succession of 'chiff' notes only at 06:34
- apart from the Jackdaws in the trees I noted 1 other bird
- no Rooks
- still unable to see the Magpie roost dispersal and only 15 seen leaving the roost, but sounded many more. At least 8 others around the lake
- 7 Reed Buntings: along the N side a male burst straight in to song at 06:26 without apparently calling first

No mammals or moths. But worth noting is that the warm sun and calmer winds yesterday showed just how fast things can change at this time of year
- some of the Acer buds burst and the young leaves are clearly visible
- a spurge sp. has sprung up in the grass near the Teece Drive gate: did not notice it yesterday, but at least 9 inches high today

All in haste!
(Ed Wilson)

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Monday, 26th (06:09 - 09:27) in lanes / fields to E / SE 08:00 - 08:45

Weather
5.0C - 5.5C Low overcast that kept threatening to break, but didn't. Light / moderate E wind. Moderate visibility at best

Narrative
Another difficult day for watching with the very low cloud and lifted mist giving almost no contrast other than straight overhead. As a result I varied the 'routine' and abandoned the distant view of the N / NE area and went to search the birds at close-quarters. Then completes a lap, before checking the street lights for moths and doing another lap, interspersed with a quicker than usual walk around the lanes and fields to the E / SE

Highlights
Best has to be the Little Ringed Plover on the SW grass - my first-ever here as far as I can recall (I do not have a historic documented personal definitive list from the lake, but I think all the birds I have seen here previously have been (Great) Ringed Plover). But any other day (another!) Kittiwake would have been the star. Support was provided by the drake Mallard x Pintail that was at The Flash yesterday after several months when I did not see it anywhere. And there was a moth on the street lights as well - though I have recorded March Moth here previously this year

Note
This will be the last full report from me for a few days while I go off grouse-watching. May manage a short look and a highlight post

Separate report - 1 covering the lanes and fields to the E / SE
Separate report - 2 covering Priorslee Flash

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 0 - now where have they gone!
Cormorant 1 07:09 1 immature present by 07:09; hauled itself on the jetty at 07:15 and was still there at 09:00
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. The cob had some Canada Geese to threaten, but they never landed
Greylag Goose 14 06:47 all 14 flew ESE 06:47
Canada Goose 5 06:23 2 (or more) birds heard to the N at 06:23; 2 circled the lake at 08:47 but did not land and flew off N; 1 flew in from The Flash at 09:25 - not sure what happened as I was unable to see the lake after that time
Shoveler 0 -
Mallard 18 - all on the lake (13 drakes). The bird with the apparent broken wing seen today
Mallard x Pintail 1 - at the dam at 08:45: seemed to be getting some hassle from the 'real'(?) drake Mallard [this was at The Flash yesterday]
Tufted Duck 18 - 14 drakes today: a significant reduction after a few days of stable numbers
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake seen in the NE area briefly and once only
Moorhen 10 - 2 seen on the dam-face today
Coot 20 - a maximum of 9 was logged on the SW grass today
Little Ringed Plover 1 07:15 at this time I heard a wagtail sp. in the area of the SW grass and was unsure whether the brief call heard over the weekday M54 traffic noise was from a Pied of Grey Wagtail: as I checked the likely area of grass there stood a very small wader! Probably my first-ever here and my 78th species of the bird seen / heard at / from the lake this year. The bird was flushed at 07:24 by the arrival of a dog-walker and left high to the E. The wings without wing-bar were clearly visible and this confirmed the identification, though the size next to Moorhen was clear-enough.

Little Ringed Plover (Click on image to enlarge)

Black-headed Gull 12 07:06 None when I arrived. 2 arrived from the W at 07:06 and birds arrived in dribs and drabs until there were 12 at 08:47. None seemed to leave
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 07:08 4 birds (3 adults, 1 near-adult) were low over the lake and dipping in to the water at 07:08. Gone by 07:15. Did not see where they came from or went to
Kittiwake 1 08:47 as I got back to the dam from the lanes and fields at 08:47 this bird was flying around gaining height and left to E. Not seen that clearly to check the head-marking, but seemed to be a different bird from that seen last Thursday
Wood Pigeon 76 06:35 another poor day First seen in flight at 06:35. 24 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 17(!) together on the wires to the E / NE; no birds were noted flying E; with just 5 in singles noted flying W. No more than 30 birds were seen to the E in the tree-tops of the Wards Rough area
Meadow Pipit 1 08:55 1 flushed from the trees in the NE area at 08:55
Grey Wagtail 1 06:47 first heard from the dam area at 06:47 and then seen flying off N at 06:49. Unusually no more records, though I was not in my usual watching spots for much of the time
Pied Wagtail 4 07:05 3
Wren 33 06:09*
Dunnock 14 06:30
Robin 29 06:09*
Blackbird 24 06:09*
Song Thrush 6 06:09* 5 in song today
Redwing 1 09:25 1 flew out of trees in NW area
Mistle Thrush 1 09:26 1 heard in song far to NW at 09:26
Chiffchaff 3 06:35 not sure how many birds there really are here: I logged birds in 5 different locations, but never singing at the same time - there were certainly 3 males
Goldcrest 1 07:02 1 bird singing in its favoured area near the Wesley Bridge at 07:02
Long-tailed Tit 4 07:15 4 parties noted again today
Coal Tit 3 07:45 2 birds in larches in the SE area alongside the Castle Farm Interchange at 07:45; then 1 bird in the NW area at 09:18
Blue Tit 10 06:55
Great Tit 10 06:54
Magpie 39 06:10 I think I screwed up the count of the roost-departure: when I decided to reposition to the NE area I had to pass-by the roost departure area and I did so after the birds were already jumping about and I suspect a number flew off N below the tree-level
Jackdaw 77 06:30 just the close parties again this dull morning with 54 at 06:30 being followed by 4 at 06:31 and 12 at 06:34. All others singles with one bird flying N
Rook 2 07:55 2 singles only - at 07:55; and 08:23. So where are the 300 / 400 I sometimes log in the autumn?
Carrion Crow 16 06:40 2 of these birds seen carrying sticks
Chaffinch 8 06:54
Greenfinch 3 07:01
Goldfinch 3 09:02 late sightings: 2 in N-side trees at 09:02; and 1 over the NW area at 09:20
Bullfinch 3 07:05 1 heard in NW area at 07:05; and 2 (1 male) along N side at 09:05
Reed Bunting 6 06:37 3 along the N side; 1 in SW area; 1 at W end; 1 in NW area today

Mammals
Rabbit 1 09:13 1 under the Teece Drive gate
Mole hills few - new hills noted at W end

Moths
March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) [1663] 1 - on lamp along W side path

Insects etc
fly sp. none - perhaps the flight-period has finished?

NB times noted
nn:nn* indicates that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time [nn:nn] refer to time the first bird was heard calling / in song in the lanes / fields to the E rather than at the lake

(Ed Wilson)

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Sunday, 25th (06:19 - 09:02 (now on BST))

Weather
6.0C > 6.5C Very disappointing weather with low more or less complete overcast making it dull; a brisk NE wind making it feel chilly; hazy and with at best moderate visibility

Narrative
A difficult day for watching: it very dull and rather hazy making it hard to spot flying birds against the sky; and the moderate / fresh NE is about the worst possible direction, making it almost impossible to shelter out of the wind anywhere and still see significant proportion of the eastern sky - where most of the interesting birds are. There were some brighter bits and the sun was visible once or twice, but it remained hazy and soon filled in again

Highlights
A pair of Shoveler that stayed about an hour were best. A noisy but distant Green Woodpecker. A few Meadow Pipits on the move. But generally a quiet day

Lowlight
None

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 1 - only 1 for certain: an adult seen along the S side, then off the dam, then seemingly asleep in the middle of the water though heading unerringly for the NW area. As it approached the reeds a bird was heard calling but I could not determine whether it was this bird or another hidden in the reeds. Whatever, this bird (still apparently asleep) stayed off the reeds for 30 minutes before moving off to the dam again - and still apparently asleep until it got there when it started fishing. Very odd
Cormorant 3 07:31 1 flew low NW at 07:31; then an immature, at even lower level, arrived from the S at 07:32 and stayed throughout, spending most (all?) the time hauled out on the jetty; an adult was seen leaving the water to the NW at 08:13, though not seen previously
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. The cob had some Canada Geese to deal with. The pen spending a high proportion of the time on the nest (site?)
Canada Goose 5 06:44 1 (or more?) heard at 06:44 seemed to be flying W, but not seen. 2 arrived from the SE at 07:17 and were seen off at by the swans at 07:25, leaving to the NE. And 2 W to S at 08:08, heading towards the Town Park
Mallard 13 - all 13 on the lake (10 drakes). Birds flew in: 1 from SW at 06:33; a pair from NW at 06:43; 2 drakes from the S at 06:57, though these left to the W at 07:29. All on the lake when I did the count. The bird with the apparent broken wing not noted today
Shoveler 2
Tufted Duck 27 - 19 drakes today: 2 more drakes than yesterday
Buzzard 1 06:53 1 circling over the NW wooded area at 06:53 seen off by Crows
Common Kestrel 1 07:02 1 hovering over the SW area at 07:02 and presumed the same bird subsequently noted over the W end at 07:20 and the SE area at 07:25
Moorhen 8 - again: none seen on the dam-face as these tend to be more territorial as they begin to nest
Coot 24 - a maximum of 10 was logged on the SW grass today - both numbers the same as yesterday
Black-headed Gull 3 07:42 None when I arrived. 1 adult came in high from the W at 07:42; 2 present by 07:50 but only 1 by 07:55. 2 again by 08:05 and thereafter throughout
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 08:01 1 immature flew S at 08:01; 4 adults flew S at 08:08
Stock Dove 1 07:20 1 seen in display flight to N at 07:20
Wood Pigeon 53 06:19* / 06:50 a poor day First heard calling at 06:19 as I arrived; with the first seen in flight at 06:50. 34 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 7 on the wires to the E / NE; 9 birds noted flying E; with just 3 in singles noted flying W. None seen to the E in the Wards Rough area or elsewhere
Green Woodpecker 1 06:54 what was presumably the same bird heard calling to N (NE?) at 06:54; again at 08:19 and then 08:25
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 08:58 1 heard calling in NW area at 08:58
Sky Lark 1 07:05 bird heard in song at 07:05 - I assume it was over the fields to the E, but as I was at the extreme SW part of the area I am really surprised I could hear it - the song was too far away to get a positive direction and I do wonder whether it was in the Stafford Park area. The bird heard at 08:25 was over the fields to the E - could even see it!
Meadow Pipit 4 07:35 3 flew N at 07:35; and 1 more at 07:36
Grey Wagtail 2 06:40 first heard from the dam area at 06:40 after which 2 birds flew off W. Fewer sightings / soundings this morning
Pied Wagtail 4 06:50 all heard flying over
Wren 29 06:19* same number as logged yesterday
Dunnock 12 06:40
Robin 22 06:19* rather low total
Blackbird 21 06:19*
Fieldfare 5 06:55 party of at least 5 birds heard flying W to the S at 06:55, but my view blocked by hedges - possibly many more
Song Thrush 9 06:24 only 4 in song today. 4 of the non-singing birds were seen together in the wet area of the NW woods - migrants? Was expecting them to be a small group of Redwings, but they weren't
Redwing 9 07:50 9 seen flying W then back E to the SE at 07:50
Mistle Thrush 1 08:28 1 bird heard in song and then seen on tops of trees to E of Castle Farm Way at 08:28. None in the W / NW area today
Chiffchaff 6 06:29 early start to the song again. 3 birds in song along N side with another bird calling; and from the lake 1 bird heard in Stafford Park across the M54; and 1 in the copse to the SE the other side of Castle Farm Road
Goldcrest 1 08:00 1 bird singing near the Wesley Bridge at 08:00
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:58 4 parties noted today
Coal Tit 3
Blue Tit 15 06:54
Great Tit 9 07:02
Magpie 36 06:19* again very hard to see these leaving the roost with the poor light this morning and indeed when I checked the usual trees in which they gather pre-departure all it contained were 2 Crows
Jackdaw 99 06:36 just the close parties again this morning with 12 at 06:36 followed by 30 at 06:37 and 46 at 06:36. All others singles with one bird, unusually, flying W to the N
Rook 6 06:37 slightly better - not much! 2 at 06:37; 3 at 07:10 and 1 at 07:12 was all I could find
Carrion Crow 34 06:26 but not at sure about these totals: I eventually concluded that there was a roving party of c.8 birds that were looking for a territory and battling with the local owners. Thus I was probably counting the same 8 in several locations
Chaffinch 11 07:04
Greenfinch 8 06:55
Bullfinch 5 06:58 1 heard along S side at early time of 06:48 and still there when it flushed at 08:40 and unusually flew away high clear across the lake and away. 2 in the NW area at 07:58; and 2 in the NE area at 08:20
Reed Bunting 7 06:50 first birds heard were again apparently in the S side hedge. 3 along the N side. Also 2 in the W end

NB times noted
nn:nn* indicates that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time

(Ed Wilson)

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Saturday, 24th (11:50am - 12:25pm) Midday Log -

Weather
10.0C > 11.0C  A slight northerly breeze, with 6/8 cloud cover. When the sun came out it felt even warmer than 11.0C

Narrative
Still nothing from the nest boxes I'm afraid, though a pair of Blue Tits scolded me as I passed nest boxes one and two. My walk was from Teece Drive gate, through Wesley Wood, over Wesley Bridge, along the northbank as far as the Oak Bridge and then I back again over the same walk.

Highlight
Main highlight again was more Chiffchaff and considering I didn't walk all the way round the lake, a total of 7 within a few hundred metres wasn't bad. Other highlights were my first Coal Tit at the lake, its taken awhile. 2 Buzzards circling overhead, one with tattered wings and the pen Mute Swan still adding bits to her nest.

Lowlight
Seeing tracks of a motorbike that had obviously been ridden along the northbank.

Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - Both at the dam end together.
Mute Swan 2 - Adults still present with pen still building her nest.
Mallard 2 - As I hadn't gone all the way round the lake the only 2 Mallard I saw were the "giant" Mallard alongside Wesley Reedbeds.
Tufted Duck 19 - Two groups of:
- - 3 drake / 1 duck - by dam
- - 14 drake / 7 duck - north bank
Buzzard 2 Both Circling over Wesley Wood
Moorhen 3 - Saw two in the water just off the northbank and heard one from inside Wesley Reedbeds
Coot 16 - 10 seen on the SW grass with the others dotted around the lake
Black-headed Gull 20 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 110 -
Herring Gull 1 - A large individual standing on one of the buoys to the south of the lake.
Wood Pigeon 6- 4 in Wesley Wood
Meadow Pipit 3 - All flying north over the lake
Grey Wagtail 2 - Flying about along the northbank shoreline
Wren 10 - A lot of birds in in a few hundred metres they seemed to be everywhere.
Robin 4 - All singing
Blackbird 3 - All around Wesley Wood
Song Thrush 1 - Saw one feeding along Teece Drive as I was driving down to the gate.
Chiffchaff 7 - All singing in Wesley Wood and along the tree line up to the Oak Bridge.
Goldcrest 4 - 2 pairs with a real commotion between 1 pair by the Oak Bridge. I know not why!
Long-tailed Tit 2- a pair along the northbank just past Wesley Brook Bridge
Coal Tit 1- My first this year from the lake by Teece Drive Gate
Blue Tit 6
Great Tit 6
Magpie 8 - All on the grass verge along Teece Drive as I was driving down to the gate.
Chaffinch 4
Greenfinch 2
Goldfinch 3 -
Bullfinch 4 - Two pairs one in Wesley Wood either side of Wesley Brook Bridge.
Reed Bunting 2 - A male in the clearing just before Wesley Wood and the other on the northbank just before it turns in towards the Oak Bridge.

Mammals:
Grey Squirrel 1 in the trees in Wesley Wood

Insects:
Bumble Bee - just past Wesley Brook Bridge coming out of the grass
Mosquito's/Midges - Everywhere

(Martin Adlam)

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Saturday, 24th (05:18 - 07:48 and then a brief stop at 09:15 on the way back from Nedge Hill See local area...........)

Weather
1.5C > 3.0C Started with almost complete low-cloud cover - rather thin and the sun looked as if it would burst through at any minute. But didn't! Moderate NNW wind made it feel rather 'raw'. Moderate visibility at best

Narrative
- 1 Different strategy on a rather dull morning with a raw breeze and did a complete early lap of the lake and watched from the W end later - the visibility was not conducive for fly-overs, especially distant birds. And then left for The Flash early as I wanted to get an early look at Nedge Hill as well before going home to repair the bike!

Narrative
- 2 Brief stop on he way back from Nedge Hill to check the gulls and for any hirundines: only gulls logged and entered in table in [square brackets]
Highlights 2 new species for my lake year-list: a Pheasant was clearly audible from the dam - light weekend traffic helped, but it was very close. Then a definite but still tantalising view of a Sand Martin low over the E end of the water at 07:13 but did not stop or reappear. But you only need 1!

Lowlight
None

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 4 - all 4 were together for a while off the dam at 06:11. Oddly at 06:44 one was seen in flight, circling higher and higher. Never saw whether it left, but thereafter a maximum of 3 birds logged
Cormorant 1 06:21 1 noted in the water at 06:21; an immature hauled out on the pier in the SW corner at 06:30 was presumably the same bird; and the immature in the water at 09:21 seemed likely to be the same bird!
Grey Heron 1 05:56 1 seen repositioning in to the NE reeds at 05:56, but where from and where it went is a mystery
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors
Canada Goose 13 05:35 7 flew SE and another 3 E at 05:35; 2 flew S at 06:17; and 1 flew S at 06:30
Mallard 14 - 12 on the lake with additional single drakes seen flying off S at 05:35 and E at 05:35: 9 drakes. The bird with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 25 - 17 drakes today
Ruddy Duck 1 - this bird spent a lot of time in the NE area and displayed vigorously to a Coot!
Pheasant 1 05:53 male heard calling to the E: and several times after that. The first I have heard from around the lake and my 76th species from the lake this year
Moorhen 8 - 3 on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 24 - a maximum of 10 was logged on the SW grass today
Black-headed Gull 6 [7] 06:03 None when I arrived. 1 adult arrived at 06:03 but had gone by 06:10; a first-year bird arrived at 06:15 and new birds arrived in dribs and drabs until there were 5 at 07:25. [when I stopped on the way back from Nedge Hill at 09:15 there were 7 birds present]
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 [1] 06:01 1 flew SE 06:01; 2 flew SE 06:15 - an unusual direction; 2 (1 adult and 1 sub-adult) flew low W at 07:28 [when I stopped on the way back from Nedge Hill at 09:15 there was 1 adult present on the lake]
Feral Pigeon 2 07:40 2 flew W at 07:40
Wood Pigeon 33 05:24 / 05:55 a poor day with few fly-overs and none seen in the Wards Rough area in the moderate visibility. First heard calling at 05:24; with the first seen in flight at 05:55. 24 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; none on the wires to the E / NE; just 1 bird noted flying E; with 8 singles / small groups noted flying W
Sky Lark 1 06:35 one of the local birds over the fields to the E could easily be heard from the dam-top
Sand Martin 1 07:13 1 seen over the water at the E end at 07:13 but not again - and it was a long way away from where I was!
Grey Wagtail 2 05:25 the first was a bird flushed off the SW grass at the very early time of 05:25. Then the now-regular 2 birds coming and going between the dam and to the W
Pied Wagtail 5 05:48 4 heard flying over; male on SW grass at 07:15
Wren 28 05:25
Dunnock 14 05:42
Robin 20 05:18* not sure why the number was much lower today: but as I walked the NE area there were hardly any calling / singing whereas there are usually at least 6 birds logged
Blackbird 33 05:18* in contrast to the Robins these were abundant today and they seemed to have reached the stage in the breeding cycle where the males have to sit exposed on tree / bush-tops. This boosts the numbers of course - usually I count only those in the dawn chorus and any that I happen to flush
Song Thrush 9 05:18* 5 in song today
Redwing 1 07:45 1 called in the NW area and then flew off N at 07:45
Mistle Thrush 2 07:15 1 at W end 07:15, but 2 by 07:20 with chasing going on as well as intimidating the local Magpies. 2 in NW area at 07:30 assumed same
Chiffchaff 3 05:50 3 again
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:02 4 parties noted today
Blue Tit 10 05:46 started calling very early
Great Tit 11 05:53
Jay 1 07:22 1 heard scolding from the NE trees at 07:22
Magpie 32 05:24 no big roost dispersal this morning: with the food already on the dam and no vehicles in the lay-by many of them flew straight for a snack rather than off to the E straight from the roost. I did log 14 of these together in trees in the NE area as they surveyed the day before flying off
Jackdaw 117 05:36 much as yesterday with 2 early reasonable-sized groups of 70 at 05:36 and 33 at 05:40; and thereafter almost nothing
Rook 0 - gulp: not a single Rook seen or heard. Perhaps my first-ever blank day (other than in thick fog)
Carrion Crow 18 05:30
Chaffinch 9 06:00
Greenfinch 4 05:30 / 06:02 I thought I head a bird call at 05:30, but that seems rather early and it was over 30 minutes before I heard this species again
Goldfinch 1 07:37 1 in the NW trees at 07:37 was the only bird
Bullfinch 4 06:29 3 birds (2 males, 1 female) in NE area at 06:29; 1 female in NW area at 07:00
Reed Bunting 6 05:41 1 calling at W end; 1 in song from SW bushes; 2 near the large reed bed on the N side (1 a male in song); 1 male in song at W end of N side; 1 calling from NW reeds

Moths
none - - too cold last night?

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too dull?
bumble bee sp. 1 07:20 1 flying around the NW area even earlier than yesterday

NB times noted
[nn:nn] refer to time the first bird was heard calling / in song in the lanes / fields to the E rather than at the lake

(Ed Wilson)

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Friday, 23rd (05:20 - 09:09) [in lanes and fields to E / SE 07:15 - 08:05 See Local Area....................]

Weather
5.0C > 6.0C Mainly cloud with lowest cloud barely broken below medium overcast making it dull. Moderate N / NE wind. Good visibility. Early occasional spots of light drizzle. Later much brighter to the N & E as the cloud began to break - as I was leaving!

Narrative
The dull start to the morning was always going to make it hard work, but managed to find a few things of interest. Stayed around the lake throughout the early dispersal passage and then made a quicker walk around to the E / SE (separate report) before completing the circuit

Highlights
Nothing to compare with yesterday and it was an average day enlivened by at least 13 Cormorants; a Lapwing seen flying off; an infrequently seen Collared Dove fly-over; two separate Great Spotted Woodpeckers; and the sight of Long-tailed Tits trying their nest for size - looked too small to me!

Lowlight
None

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 4 - confirmation that there are 2 pairs now when both sets of birds seen displaying simultaneously
Cormorant 13 06:14 8 seen to SE circling Bayliss Pools at 06:14 were presumably the party of 8 seen flying NW to the E at 06:19 by when they had been joined by a 9th. 1 more seen flying N at 06:21; 2 flew low NW at 06:31; and then 1 flew NW to far NE at 06:33. None came anywhere near landing at the lake this morning
Mute Swan 4 - the usual birds throughout. At 06:05 an adult flew off NW, I assume seen off by the resident cob. Then at 07:02 a first-year bird was seen leaving to the W [one of the regulars who feeds the birds 'rescued' the first-year bird that was pinned down by the cob and lumps were being plucked out of it(s plumage?). He noted the ring as Blue 7EDV]
Greylag Goose 6 05:51 6 flew E at 05:51
Canada Goose 4 06:18 2 flew SE at 06:18; 2 more flew W at 07:04
Mallard 14 - all on the lake: 11 drakes at least. The bird with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 29 - 20 drakes today
Ruddy Duck 1 - a single sighting of a bird on its own today [NB: 1 at The Flash at 09:30; and a pair seen at Howle Pool much later in the day]
Common Kestrel 1 06:26 at least 1 bird. 1 seen flying S over the lake at 06:26 veered off to hover over the E end. Female seen hovering over the W end at 06:48 probably the same bird. Then at 08:25 a bird flew N - same again?
Moorhen 6 - 1 only on the dam today
Coot 21 - a maximum of 7 was on the SW grass today
Lapwing 1 07:20 1 seen flying away NW and I think it came off the SW grass, though I had not seen it previously
Black-headed Gull 6 06:10 None when I arrived. 3 birds arrived from the E at 06:10 but 2 of them seemed to fly off SE at 06:16. Nonetheless there were 3 again by 06:25 and a 4th by 06:55. At 08:05 there were 6 birds on the lake, but these seemed to have gone by 08:30 though there were 3 again by 08:50. Inclined to the view that these were all the same birds
Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 07:05 2 adults circling high overhead being carried away S by the wind. 2 adults flew low W at 07:14; then at 08:34 an adult and a sub-adult circled low over the water once before continuing W
Stock Dove 3 1 flew W at 06:00 - strange how often the flight of this species precedes the Wood Pigeons. Then 2 flew S to the E at 06:27
Wood Pigeon 242 05:20* / 06:02 a much better day First heard calling at 05:20 as I arrived; with the first seen in flight at 06:02. 31 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 8 on the wires to the E / NE; just 4 birds noted flying E; with 24 in singles / small groups noted flying W. At 06:39 something put all the pigeons in NE area to flight and I estimated 175 birds in this party
Collared Dove 1 07:00 1 shot S over W end of lake at 07:00
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 06:25 1 seen bounding NW to far E at 06:25; then bird heard calling from NW area at 08:55
Meadow Pipit 1 06:45 not seen, but apparently put up by the hovering Kestrel
Grey Wagtail 2 05:47 first heard and then seen at 05:47 when 2 birds came in from the E - I had thought that these arrived from the S previously. Thereafter much coming and going of single birds with 1 at least usually on the dam
Pied Wagtail 3 05:56 all heard flying over
Wren 29 05:20*
Dunnock 16 05:46
Robin 27 05:20*
Blackbird 24 05:20*
Song Thrush 9 05:20* 6 in song again today
Redwing 2 06:35 1 at W end heard calling and then seen flying off E at 06:35; another heard calling at W end 06:50
Mistle Thrush 2 06:21 2 birds flew down on to the SW grass at 06:21. Then after 1 bird heard calling in the NW the pair seen heading for the 'matrimonial bed' of the pine tree though perhaps one had a headache today!
Chiffchaff 3 05:46 only 3 now
Goldcrest 3 07:05 2 birds in the S side bushes alongside the M54 at 07:05; then the bird singing, located back near the Wesley Bridge at 08:50
Long-tailed Tit 4 07:18 4 parties noted today: in the NE area I spotted 2 birds busy in and around a nest they were building, trying the entrance hole for size!
Blue Tit 19 06:22
Great Tit 14 06:10
Magpie 50 05:21 rather dull this morning and probably missed some of these: 1 logged 27 birds leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 83 05:42 another struggle to find these birds in the gloomy conditions. Passage started with c.46 birds low across the E end of lake at 05:42, though from the noise I suspect that there were more birds behind me to the W. 26 more at 05:48. And thereafter just a few stragglers / pairs
Rook 21 06:18 only slightly better than yesterday with another late start with one at 06:18 and thereafter all singles. But today only 2 birds seen flying N
Carrion Crow 22 05:25 again there were several small groups of 6 - 8 birds: really hard to be certain how many individuals there are
Chaffinch 9 06:14
Greenfinch 6 06:34
Goldfinch 6 06:08 1 heard flying W at 06:08; 3 flew NW at 06:37; then much later (08:50) there were 2 birds in the NW trees, assumed different birds
Bullfinch 6 06:48 1 heard at W end at 06:48; 2 birds seen along the S side at 07:00 flew off to the SW bushes before I could sex them; 2 were in the NE area at 08:17; and 1 at least at the W end of the N side at 08:40
Reed Bunting 6 06:24 2 at the W end; 1 singing from the SW bushes; 2 flushed from alongside the fishing jetty in the N-side reeds; and 1 singing from high in trees at W end of N side

Mammals
Rabbit 3 06:56 3 together at W end ran off to the Ricoh car park area
Mole hills few - new hills noted at W end

Moths
Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) [2179] 1 - in a different position but on the same lamp as yesterday and assumed to be the same specimen

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too dull?
bumble bee sp. 1 08:50 1 flying around the NW area even though at this time it was still dull and the car thermometer was reading just 5.0C

NB times noted
[nn:nn] refer to time the first bird was heard calling / in song in the lanes / fields to the E rather than at the lake

(Ed Wilson)

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Thursday, 22nd (05:26 - 09:13)

Weather
1.5C > 4.0C Not as bad as it appeared when I looked out from home and saw the wet ground. Overcast and rather dull with mostly light rain, but with the N wind having fallen light - even calm - it did not feel cold as it had the previous days and I did not get wet. Visibility was rather poor at times

Narrative
As noted the rain was neither as heavy as I expected nor was there any wind to chill me and it was almost pleasant! I headed straight for the hut but soon realised that I did not need to and made my usual way around the lake, taking time and photographs of rain-dappled Blackthorn blossom and Willow 'catkins'

Highlights
Top of the list - a brief stop by an adult Kittiwake - the date and weather conditions were ideal for this to drop in, though helped by an inquisitive Lesser Black-backed Gull it stayed less than 5 minutes. My 75th species for the lake this year and a new 2007 Shropshire record for me. The supporting cast of 2 new moths on the street lights was a surprise, especially as the moth trap in my garden was empty (and one of the moths - a Pine Beauty - was a species that I have never seen before). And mating Mistle Thrushes. Even a reasonable number of Jackdaws

Lowlight
Visibility meant there were very few fly-overs

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - unsure whether to go for 2 or 4! 2 seen displaying off the NW area at 05:40; then 2 displaying off the N reed-bed at 05:52. Thereafter display seen in both places several times but never saw more than 2 birds at a time and they were also seen together between the two locations
Cormorant 4 06:38 4 at least: 1 immature flew low W at 06:38; 2 birds (1 an immature) flew low W at 07:08 and while they seemed to carry on a sub-adult was on the SW pier at 07:22 and then 2 including an immature were in the water at 07:35. Then at 07:38 these took off and joined a 3rd bird flying E and they all left
Grey Heron 1 06:08 1 seen flying away E across Castle Farm Way: but then a bird flew low W along the N side and then away up the line of the Wesley Brook towards The Flash at 06:09 and this could have been the earlier bird returning or a different bird that had just been sparring and seen off the other
Mute Swan 3 - the usual birds throughout. But at 07:30 an adult flew low E over the dam - unclear whether this had landed and been seen off or done a 'touch & go'
Canada Goose 5 05:48 3 flew E at 05:48; and then 2 at 05:52
Mallard 18 - all on the lake: 14 drakes at least. The bird with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 33 - 26 drakes today: big surplus of drakes
Ruddy Duck 1 - this was with one of the groups of Tufted Duck in the NE area for a while before disappearing in to the NW reeds as usual
Moorhen 9 - 2 on the dam; most of the others 'pairs' (though there was an odd number of birds!)
Coot 24 - a maximum of 15 were on the SW grass today
Black-headed Gull 15 06:30 None when I arrived. 2 birds arrived at 05:40 and spend a long while flying up & down before settling on buoys at 06:05. 3 more arrived at 06:07. Sporadic arrivals boosted the total to 15 by 06:40, but thereafter fewer seen, with 9 only by
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 06:40 1 sub-adult on the lake: stayed until at least 07:30 at which point it was 'worrying' the Kittiwake, though not seriously (though the Kittiwake did not stay)
Kittiwake 1 07:26 an adult still with a hint of the dark winter-plumage ear-spot 'appeared' sitting on the water at 07:26. The Lesser Black-backed Gull came and investigated it any moved it out of camera range, but it stayed a short while only and flew off NE at 07:31. My 75th species at the lake this year
Stock Dove 0 0 most of the time unable to see the relevant parts of the wires
Wood Pigeon 28 05:26* / 06:04 a poor day, mostly due to the misty conditions but there were almost no birds flying over. First heard calling at 05:26 as I arrived; with the first seen in flight at 06:04. 18 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 9 on the wires to the E / NE; just 1 bird noted flying E; with none noted flying W. Unable to see the Wards Rough trees
Grey Wagtail 2 05:56 first heard at 05:56 and then 2 birds flew W at 06:12; and seen in and around dam on several occasions
Pied Wagtail 5 05:52 all heard flying over
Wren 31 05:28
Dunnock 12 05:49
Robin 24 05:26*
Blackbird 23 05:26*
Song Thrush 8 05:26* 6 in song today - they seem as pleased as I am that the wind has dropped
Redwing 1 09:13 1 flew out of NW trees at 09:13 the only record
Mistle Thrush 3 06:38 1 heard scolding at W end was probably one of the 2 birds seen copulating on top of a conifer (careful!) in the NW area at 09:10, as was the bird heard in song in the same area at 07:10. But the bird in song on the SE trees at 07:55is assumed to be a different bird
Chiffchaff 4 05:52 / 06:02 started singing but then thought better of it for 10 minutes!
Long-tailed Tit 3 06:40 only 3 parties noted today
Blue Tit 17 06:14
Great Tit 16 06:16
Jay 1 08:20 1 heard from the NW area at 08:20, briefly
Magpie 34 05:52 not a bad count in the poor visibility (though perhaps any number other than zero is a bad count for this species!). Strangely none was calling when I arrived (later than I intended) and it was while before I heard any waking up. Just 18 birds counted leaving the NE roost today, with many lost in the mist I am sure
Jackdaw 176 05:44 a good count in the circumstances as with low cloud, drizzle and mist only birds passing more or less over the lake were visible and yesterday most birds were well to the E. Passage started when most of the birds logged flew out at 05:44 - I counted 104 in a spread-out flock. 63 more in the next 5 minutes does not leave many stragglers!
Rook 4 06:21 rather dire! 2 birds flew N at 06:21; and 2 S at 07:36. I hope the rest were just lost in the mist
Carrion Crow 19 05:40 included 10 seen together bouncing around the trees and the wires alongside the Castle Farm lay-by, one of which showed distinct white wing-bar on both wings - not noted that on these birds for a while [there is a very white bird at Trench lock that shows white even on the closed wing]
Chaffinch 5 06:19
Greenfinch 7 05:56 early start - in my garden it is always the Chaffinches that are in first
Goldfinch 7 06:22 hard to be sure that these were all different birds as singles persistently seemed to fly off from the NW trees. Perhaps they flew back?
Bullfinch 3 08:02 2 at least heard in NE area at 08:02; a female along the N side at 08:15
Reed Bunting 5 05:44 / 06:04 bird called briefly at 05:44 but then fell silent for 20 minutes. An odd sighting of a male feeding on the dam-face was the first I can recall. Otherwise 2 at the W end; 1 along the S side; 1 along the N side

Mammals
Rabbit 2 05:32 1 flushed from W end as I walked from the car at 05:32; another in the NW area at 08:23

Moths
March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) [1663] 1 - a common species but unexpected in the conditions - cold & wet!
Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) [2179] 1 - my first-ever record of this species, though it seems not be rare and feeds on sallow blossom and comes to light - but it does need Scots Pines …

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too dull?

Other observation
- - - both the Blackthorn and the Pussy Willow looked great with a hint of drizzle attached to them - would have looked better if it had frosted, but not complaining!

(Ed Wilson)

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Wednesday, 21st (5:20pm - 6 :40pm) Evening Log -

Weather
7.0C > 4.0C  A windless evening with 1/8 cloud cover.

Narrative
Still no movement around the nest boxes. Met up with John Isherwood who told me he had seen a Stonechat a few weeks back around the Wesley Wood area.

Highlight
Main highlight was a few more Chiffchaff around the lake. Also a male Sparrowhawk graced its present over Wesley Reedbeds much to the annoyance of a pair of Pied Wagtail that were heading in the same direction towards their roost in the Town Centre. Fortunately for them he had other things on his mind or bigger prey.

Lowlight
None, the weather was good and the dog handlers had better control over their pets.

Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - When I arrived the pair were at opposite ends of the lake. Obviously disagreed over something. When I left though (a good hour later) they were back together again around by the northbank reedbeds
Mute Swan 2 - Adults still present with pen on her nest asleep. When I left the cob was by the nest.
Mallard 16 birds logged. 10 drakes and 4 ducks plus a pair of "giant" Mallard which completely dwarf the regular sized birds.
Tufted Duck 19 - Three groups of:
- - 7 drake/2 duck - northeast bank
- - 4 drake/2 duck - north bank
- - 1 drake/1 duck - south bank
- - 1 drake/1 duck - southeast bank
Ruddy Duck 0 - No Ruddy duck this evening
Sparrowhawk 1 - A male flew across the Wesley Reedbeds towards the Town Centre at 5:30pm
Moorhen 7 - a pair were wandering around on the grass behind the copse along the N side.
Coot 18 - 10 seen on the SW grass with the remainder spread across the lake
Black-headed Gull 12 - All but 2 had left by 6:40pm.
Lesser Black-backed Gull 104 - All gone by 6:20pm
Herring Gull 1
Wood Pigeon 8 - 2 in Wesley Wood, a pair on the Northbank and the remainder flying across the lake
Green Woodpecker 0 - No Woodpecker this evening.
Meadow Pipit 0 - None
Pied Wagtail 2 - a pair heading towards the Town Centre
Grey Wagtail 1 - On the dam
Wren 8 - Single birds dotted around the lake
Dunnock 6 - Mostly in the NE wood
Robin 10 - Fairly scattered around the lake and all singing
Blackbird 7 - Mostly along the north bank
Song Thrush 2 - both heard calling from along the northbank hedges
Mistle Thrush 2 - one bird singing from the top of the Oak tree by the northbank bridge
Chiffchaff 8 - 2 in the NE wood, 3 in the northbank hedgerow, 2 in the northbank reedbeds, 1 Wesley Reedbeds and 1 singing in Wesley Wood.
Goldcrest 0 - not heard or seen this evening
Long-tailed Tit 8- 4 pairs along the northbank from Wesley Wood the the NE Wood.
Willow Tit 1- A single bird calling from Wesley Wood and one from the NE Wood
Blue Tit 6
Great Tit 4
Magpie 10 - 5 birds together in the north bank trees closest to the Celestica grounds
Jackdaw 53 - Three flocks heading north. One of 35 at 6:25 closely followed by a flock of 10 then 8
Rook 2 - all heading north at 6::20pm
Carrion Crow 1 - In the tall trees on the northbank
Chaffinch 5
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 0 - None
Bullfinch 4 - Two pairs one in Wesley Wood and the other in the NE Wood.
Reed Bunting 2 - A male in the Northbank Reedbeds and another male feeding in amongst the rocks on the dam.

Mammals:
Grey Squirrel 1 in the trees on the northbank

Fish:
Perch Lots of the under the Wesley Brook Bridge

(Martin Adlam)

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Wednesday, 21st (05:17 - 09:14) [in lanes / fields to E / SE 05:55 - 07:55 See local Area....................................... ]

Weather
-2.0C > 2.0C Almost cloudless and NNW wind much lighter, especially early though with enough strength to stop most of the hoar frost forming. Really excellent visibility. Some high cloud appeared to the NW but that seemed to fade away. And thicker cloud to the NE was probably showers well to the E and did not affect

Narrative
A much better morning though a chill breeze did spring up later, but otherwise it was almost spring-like with real strength in the sun. Not much else to report - went to the lanes and fields (separate narrative): song was somewhat down from the mild spell last week

Highlights
Plenty of Cormorants again; 2 parties of Fieldfare; great light conditions allowed me to see both Magpies and Jackdaws leaving roost properly and my highest total of Magpies and over 400 Jackdaws logged - but still very low number of Rooks

Lowlight
None

Separate report - 1 covering the lanes and fields to the E / SE See Local Area..................................
Separate report - 2 covering Priorslee Flash See Local Area ....................................

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 3 - 3 seen again with 2 together off the N side reeds; and a bird always asleep when visible, off the NW willows / sallows
Cormorant 8 06:19 another high count: 2 immatures flew low E at 06:19; 1 immature flew N at 06:29; 1 bird was on the SW pier by 06:30 and is assumed to be the bird seen leaving at 08:20; meanwhile 1 immature flew N at 06:36; 1, another immature, flew NW at 06:37; and 2 immatures flew low at 08:13. All these immatures seemed, superficially, to be different birds with vary varying amount of white on the belly / chest
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout
Greylag Goose 2 08:25 2 flew E at rather strange time of 08:25
Canada Goose 10 05:48 1 flew N to the far E at 05:48; then 1 flew W at 06:51; finally a party of 8 birds flew SW towards the Town Park at 8:35
Mallard 17 - 15 on the lake included 13 drakes at least. 2 birds flew high E at 05:42. The bird with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 28 - 19 drakes today
Ruddy Duck 1 - still visible sporadically
Buzzard 1 09:05 1 circling to NW 09:05
Moorhen 5 - one of these was on the still rather exposed dam / dam-face today
Coot 19 - a maximum of just 9 were on the SW grass today
Black-headed Gull 51 06:30 None when I arrived. First noted by me when a party of at least 44 birds came from the NE at 06:30, with 2 more at 06:36. 26 birds seen flying off SE at 06:40 seemed to be from this group and there were just 14 left on the water at 06:52
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 06:24 3 flew N to the W at 06:24; 1 (of these?) was on the water at 06:30, but not seen again
Stock Dove 3 06:25 3 on the wires to the NE at this time, and later
Wood Pigeon 141 05:22 / 05:59 another reasonable day. First heard calling at 05:29; with the first seen in flight at 05:59. 21 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 5 on the wires to the E / NE; just 3 birds were noted flying E; with 32 as singles / small groups noted flying W. At 06:30 at least 80 birds were over the Wards Rough trees
Grey Wagtail 2 05:54 first heard at 05:54 with 1 or 2 birds in the dam area whenever I checked: occasional flights to the W, but they soon flew back
Pied Wagtail 8 05:59 3 heard flying over
Wren 27 05:19
Dunnock 7 [06:35]
Robin 21 05:17*
Blackbird 21 05:17*
Fieldfare 48 06:40 11 flew W at 06:40; then 37 counted flying N to E at 07:20
Song Thrush 4 05:25 just 1 of these in song
Redwing 2 05:44 1 flew out of NE trees and off S at 05:44; another came out of the same trees and flew off W at 05:45
Mistle Thrush 1 08:20 heard in song in NW area 08:20
Chiffchaff 2 [05:54] just 2 around the lake today, both in song
Long-tailed Tit 6 [06:06] seemed to be as many as 6 parties around the lake today, butt no parties with more than 2 birds
Blue Tit 14 [06:36]
Great Tit 9 [06:02] early start for this species
Magpie 67 05:18 no fewer than 59 birds counted leaving the NE roost today: partly attributable to my position and the clear skies, but a frightening thought! Probably my highest-ever count
Jackdaw 410 05:35 best day for ages as the parties were silhouetted against the clear early sky. Most of the parties were some way to the E - several of them a long way away indeed. They mainly went out with a rush, and I logged 10 parties between 05:35 (first birds) and 05:45 comprising 394 birds with the largest the first group of c.95 birds! Just 1 flew N this morning
Rook 17 05:36 it may have been a bumper Jackdaw passage but this species was distinctly scarce! The first were 4 to the E at 05:56 and these seemed to be about the only 'normal' departures with the next 5 birds flying N and no more southbound until 06:18
Carrion Crow 20 05:33 first seen at the E end
Chaffinch 6 [06:12]
Greenfinch 7 [06:29]
Goldfinch 3 [06:25] 1 in the NE trees at 08:10; and 2 in the NW area at 08:55
Bullfinch 6 08:20 3 (2 males) in the NE area at 08:20; female along N side at 08:25; pair in NW area 08:35
Reed Bunting 0 - amazingly there were none singing or calling when I got back from the lanes to the E!

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too cold again?

Other observation
- - other Blackthorn bushes taking over on the display
- - the Willow catkins (pussy willow) clearly now show some variation in colour and size and clearly several (sub?) species are involved

NB times noted
[nn:nn] refer to time the first bird was heard calling / in song in the lanes / fields to the E rather than at the lake nn:nn* indicates that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time

(Ed Wilson)

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Tuesday, 20th (5:00pm - 5:55pm) Evening Log -

Weather
7.0C > 4.0C  The temperature was up a bit, but with the wind chill, factor it felt more like -1.0C. There was a good westerly breeze blowing and 7/8 cloud cover. Every now and then there was the odd snow flake.

Narrative
Checked on the nest boxes, nothing to report I'm afraid. Perhaps when the weather warms up we might see a bit more activity around them.

Highlight
Main highlight was a female Merlin that came in from over the M54 heading in a northerly direction. Also 6 Redpoll by the Water Sports gate, at the bottom of Teece Drive. They came across from the RICOH factory towards Celestica. I did try to relocate them, but to no avail. Also saw the drake Ruddy Duck for the first time this year. He was doing his display but I didn't see the duck! Also the pen Mute Swan is sitting on her nest now. From were I was standing it was impossible to see into the nest, to see if she had eggs. Instead I watched her as she continually got up, moved around, sat down and then grabbed small pieces of reed mast from the base of the nest to reposition them. Lets hope she has better luck than last year, when 9 cygnets became 1 after the Mink attack.

Lowlight
A lot of dogs running around in the undergrowth, which were definitely upsetting the pen Mute Swan. Even from Wesley Wood I could hear her hissing; not just once, but on two or three occasions and at more than one dog. It's great to see the dogs enjoying themselves in the open places, but with lots of ground nesting birds around the lake at this time of year, owners must ensure that there dogs are under proper control.

Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - Two adults still courting just off the Northbank Reedbeds. The Ruddy Duck was close by and they didn't take too kindly to him. They joined forces and swam at him, he just turned and headed back towards the reeds.
Mute Swan 2 - Adults still present with pen on her nest. The cob was seen patrolling around the lake. See highlight above for full story.
Mallard 11 birds logged. 9 drakes and 2 ducks
Tufted Duck 23 - Three groups of:
- - 7 drake/4 duck
- - 4 drake/1 duck
- - 4 drake
- - 2 drake/1 duck
Ruddy Duck 1 - Male displaying just off the northbank reedbeds.
Merlin 1 - A female Merlin flew across the lake at 5:03pm putting all the Large gulls up. It went over the northbank and onwards towards Celestica
Moorhen 9 - one of these birds wandering around on the grass behind the copse along the N side.
Coot 19 - 9 seen on the SW grass with the remainder spread across the lake
Black-headed Gull 16 - They had all left by 5:30pm
Lesser Black-backed Gull 145 - They all took off at 5:03pm when a female Merlin flew low over the top of them. Fifty or so headed north with the remainder coming back down onto the water. They stayed until 5:30pm
Wood Pigeon 2 - 1 in Wesley Wood and 1 flying across the lake
Green Woodpecker 1 - Same bird maybe on the N bank just west of the No Swimming Sign. It flew up from the ground and flew into the old Celestica Grounds.
Meadow Pipit 1 -Single bird heading north
Pied Wagtail 3 - 1 on the dam and a pair flew north over Celestica
Grey Wagtail 1 - On the dam
Wren 6 - Single birds dotted around the lake and a pair just by the northbank reed banks.
Dunnock 1 - In the NE wood
Robin 4 - Fairly scattered around the lake.
Blackbird 8 - Mostly along the north bank
Chiffchaff 5 - 2 in the NE wood, 1 in the RICOH hedge, 1 Wesley Reedbeds and 1 singing in Wesley Wood.
Goldcrest 1 - heard in Wesley wood just as you cross over the bridge.
Long-tailed Tit 6 - 3 pairs along the northbank again. A pair in the Northbank Reedbeds sounded just like Bearded Tits with that characteristic "Pinging". I got all excited!
Willow Tit 1- A single bird calling from Wesley Wood
Blue Tit 6
Great Tit 6
Magpie 7 - 5 birds together in the SE copse
Jackdaw 9 - Two flocks heading north. One of 4 birds at 5:10pm and the other, 5 birds at 5:30pm
Rook 3 - all heading north at 17:50pm
Carrion Crow 1 - In the tall trees on the northbank
Chaffinch 3
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 2 - Over Wesley Wood
Reed Bunting 1 - A male in Wesley Reedbeds

(Martin Adlam)

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Tuesday, 20th (05:22 - 08:37 // 14:30 - 14:45) Morning/Afternoon Log

Weather
- 1 1.5C > 3.0C Another morning to blow the cobwebs away! Mainly clear though with a bank of cloud (shower?) to far E meant the sun did not rise above it until 06:40. Elsewhere some scattered patches of medium cloud, otherwise clear and blue. Fresh / strong NNW / N wind making it feel chilly. Excellent visibility

Weather
- 2 4.5C Mainly cloudy now with the wind perhaps a little less strong

Narrative
- 1 Another morning for keeping out of the wind somewhere where I could see and hear the birds. Once the sun came up and in shelter it was almost pleasant, but the chill factor in the 20 knot and just 2C was distinctly cob-web clearing! Nevertheless managed to steel myself for the complete walk round, albeit with a quick sprint (oh OK: quick march) across the dam! And see some interesting things to see as ever. The taxi-driver arrived with the bird-food at 05:40 this morning - it was 07:00 yesterday! And despite the cold weather it really is Spring - today the street lights went out before 06:00 for the first time this year

Narrative
- 2 Another quick stop as I was passing. No hirundines, not unexpectedly, but a small party of gulls on the water to scrutinise. Only unusual bird was an immature (2nd year?) Great Black-backed Gull alongside one of the largest Herring Gulls I have ever seen. [totals in square brackets in the main report]

Highlights
Great Crested Grebes continue to confuse; plenty of Cormorants over; Buzzard on the ground; Green Woodpecker heard again; another Meadow Pipit over

Lowlight
very few Great Tits for some reason

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 3 - 3 together in the dam area at 06:20 and then later along the N side for a while, before the '3rd' disappeared. They did seem to be a pair together glaring at the 3rd bird as it lay its neck along the water towards them and called before diving. The pair then did a mating dance (but without weed) before moving off together. Did not see the 3rd bird again
Cormorant 12 06:09 1 flew N at the early time of 06:09; 8 were seen together to the E struggling N against the wind at 06:28; then 3 apparently different birds seen flying over heading NW at 06:34 comprised a very clean white-bellied juvenile, another juvenile with faint white spotting on the belly, and an adult with a small white thigh patch but no apparent head-plumes
Grey Heron 0 - still AWOL
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. Again when I arrived only the cob was asleep on the lake with the pen on the nest (site?). Later they were both moving about both together and separately, with the cob assiduously chasing off the Canada Geese
Greylag Goose 13 05:54 all 13 in a single group flying E at 05:54
Canada Goose 8 05:48 2 flew W (oddly) at 05:48; 2 arrived from the direction of The Flash at 05:57 but were chased off, leaving to the E at 06:20; what seemed to be a different 2 birds came from the same direction at 06:14 and also were driven off leaving to the E at 06:18. 1 bird seemed to be struggling against the wind flying W (though it may have been debating whether to land and brave the Swans - it didn't land); finally 1 flew W at 07:50
Mallard 15 - 11 drakes at least. 14 counted on and around the lake, but one at least was calling as it flew off W at 05:21. The bird with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 24 - 16 drakes: apparently an extra pair from yesterday
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake occasionally at the W end again
Buzzard 1 08:20 1 flushed off the ground in the NW area at 08:20 - I cannot recall seeing any on the ground at the lake previously
Common Kestrel 2 05:56 1 flew SW low over the lake at 05:56; presumed same hovering along the S side hedge at 06:01; but 2 birds hovering at the same time in the SE area at 06:33 with the female seen flying low N over the lack at 06:35
Moorhen 5 - none of these was on the very exposed dam / dam-face today
Coot 23 - a maximum of just 5 were on the SW grass today
Black-headed Gull 6 06:29 None when I arrived. 2 birds were present by 06:29 but I did not see them arrive - birds seemed to stay at the E end which was not where I was today! Variable numbers seen, but 6 was the largest count. None was seen to arrive or leave so assume that all the records relate to the same few birds
Lesser Black-backed Gull 30 [123] 06:14 6 birds seen circling to the N at 06:14 seemed to the source of the 4 birds that flew SW over the lake at 06:16. 2 more flew SW at 06:25. Then 22 were counted to the N (over the tip?) at 07:00 [123 at 14:45, with all but 5 apparently adults]
Herring Gull 0 [6] - not recorded [6 at 14:45]
Great Black-backed Gull 0 [1] - not recorded [1 immature (2nd year?) at 14:45]
Stock Dove 0 - forgot to look on the wires to the NE but in the wind ..?
Wood Pigeon 188 05:27 / 06:01 a better day but still with many birds recorded in trees around the lake and only a 'panic' from Wards Rough to improve the number. First heard calling at 05:27; with the first seen in flight at 06:01. 32 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake (with 8 of these on the grass in the old(?) Celestica land); 1 even managed to perch on the wires to the E / NE; no birds were noted flying E; with just 5 singles seen flying W. At 06:20 at least 150 birds were put up over the Wards Rough area but they were not evident in the trees here or elsewhere at any other time I checked
Green Woodpecker 1 06:31 1 heard calling distantly to the N for the 3rd day running
Meadow Pipit 1 06:40 1 heard flying off at 06:40
Grey Wagtail 2 06:07 first heard at 06:07 from the E end and then 2 flew from there on to the SW grass at 06:17 before flying off W. 5 other records of birds flying off W and 1 (still?) on the dam face at 07:30, but it seems improbably that these were (all?) different birds
Pied Wagtail 8 05:57 6 heard flying E; then 2 seen at 06:25 flying NW away from the dam
Wren 26 05:39 another good count in the circumstances especially as they were late starting up
Dunnock 11 06:09
Robin 18 05:22* same low count as yesterday in poor weather
Blackbird 14 05:22*
Song Thrush 2 05:32 both in song
Redwing 13 05:53 1 at least heard in flight overhead at 05:53; 2 flew W to the N at 05:54; 7 flew NW to the NE at 05:55; and 3 flew N at 06:14
Mistle Thrush 2 07:08 perhaps as many as 4. A bird singing in the SE trees again at 07:08; then 1 different-sounding bird singing in the N side trees at 07:55; but 2 on the SW grass at 08:00 - did not see the bird fly off in this direction
Chiffchaff 3 06:03 an early start for this species that must wish it were still in Africa after all! But only 3 today, all in song
Goldcrest 3 06:55 2 calling at the W end in the Ricoh hedge at 06:55; 1 calling in the NE area at 07:55. The bird around the Wesley Brook bridge not seen or heard today
Long-tailed Tit 5 07:05 5 parties seemed to be the number today - still no more than 3 birds seen in any of the currently active groups
Coal Tit 2 08:25 2 birds in the NW area at 08:25 with 1 in continual song - pair?
Blue Tit 12 06:25
Great Tit 2 07:05 why so few - this 'more robust' bird is normally calling / singing before Blue Tits
Magpie 55 05:25 no less than 44 birds counted leaving the NE roost today: so when do they disperse to breeding sites? Actually there are several nests being refurbished around the lake at the moment, so perhaps 'soon' is the answer
Jackdaw 27 05:48 Disappointing! Birds were heard at 05:48 - apparently the normal large early group - but I was totally unable to find them! All I saw were mainly very high-flying pairs / singles, mainly far to the E with my first seen at 06:06
Rook 24 05:59 A strange day with most (14) of the birds flying N and the first 2 unusually flying low W whereas southbound birds were all flying high
Carrion Crow 15 05:27 first heard calling in NE area today
Chaffinch 10 06:15
Greenfinch 14 06:08 several small parties (3 / 4 birds) helped the total
Goldfinch 5 06:45 at least 3 different birds in the NW area and 2 flying E at 06:45
Bullfinch 4 07:50 1 heard in the NE area at 07:50; 3 birds (2 males) along the N side at 08:05
Reed Bunting 5 06:25 2 at W end; 1 in NW reeds; 2 in / near N side reeds

Mammals
Squirrel 1 06:50 seen at dray in W end alongside Ricoh car park
Mole hills none - no new hills noted at the W end

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too cold?

Plants
- - other blackthorn bushes taking over on the display
- - the willow catkins (pussy willow) clearly now show some variation in colour and size and clearly several (sub?) species are involved

(Ed Wilson)

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Monday, 19th (05:21 - 09:12 // 17:20 - 18:00) Morning/Evening Log

Weather
- 1 Visit 1: 0.5C > 4.0C: A dark morning after some overnight snow and for the first 90 minutes that was how it was - snow / light snow / sleet / snow grains! Thereafter began to clear with a late sunrise glowing through the falling snow. Eventually broken / scattered clouds and fine. Initially the overnight winds seemed to have died away, but a brisk N wind developed. Good visibility when it wasn't snowing too hard: later excellent visibility

Weather
- 2 Visit 2: 5.5C: A breezy showery late afternoon visit when I dropped in on the my back from the hospital. The showers were beginning to fade away and the sky clearing to give some great cloud and light effects

Narrative
- 1 Visit 1: a morning that turned out better than I expected when I started holed-up in the hut against the snow. Sadly, in a way, the snow was not sticking and just got in the way. But clear it did though it felt mighty cold with the fresh N wind and the damp conditions

Narrative
- 2 Visit 2: essentially to have a quick look and see whether there were any Sand Martins yet - during spring arrival early mornings if not a good time for hirundines, but evenings can be. Disappointed in that there were none, but with the strong winds they probably needed somewhere more sheltered to feed. (And I needed the shelter too: I stayed in the car in the lay-by!] The only sightings of interest were an adult Cormorant that hauled itself on to the SW platform; and a pair(?) of Canada Geese that were soon seen off by the cob Swan. [These sightings are included in the main narrative in square brackets; the numbers are unchanged and cover only the morning period]

Highlights
More gulls than recently; Green Woodpecker calling yet again; more Meadow Pipits over; 5 Robins feeding close proximity and making sure they were not looking at each other! Chiffchaff singing away in the snow!

Lowlight
Weather again

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - just the 2 adults in the area of the N side reeds today, the first noted at 06:12 and joined by a 2nd at 06:29 though most of the time they were hiding in the reeds - very wise! [only 1 noted off the N reeds on visit 2]
Cormorant 2 06:56 1 flew very high S to the E at 06:56; then 1 adult came in low from the SE at 07:22 and stayed fishing until 08:06 when it left to the N [1 at 17:20 left at 17:23]
Grey Heron 0 - seems to have gone AWOL
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. Note that when I arrived only the cob was asleep on the lake and the pen seemed to be on the nest (site?). Later they were both moving about [and at 17:20, with pen on nest]
Canada Goose 10 06:17 4 (as 2 x 2) flew SE through the snow at 06:17; 2 flew W at 07:50; and 4 flew W at 08:08 [2 flew in at 17:30 and were chased off be 17:35, leaving towards The Flash]]
Mallard 18 - 13 drakes. The bird with the apparent broken wing not seen but again I had a struggle to find these as many were all tucked away against the weather. 6 of these birds - 3 pairs - left in the direction of The Flash before 06:00 [the drake with the broken wing seen]
Tufted Duck 22 - 15 drakes: apparently 1 fewer drake than yesterday [not counted]
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake occasionally at the W end [not seen]
Buzzard 1 08:00 1 flew low W across the dam at 08:00
Moorhen 5 - better number, but was not searching! 3 of these on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 22 - up to 10 were on the SW grass today [8 on the grass]
Black-headed Gull 109 06:24 None when I arrived. 1 lone bird arrived from the W at 06:24. 2 birds flew W at 06:34. 1, a different bird, was over the lake at 06:52, with 1 more at 07:00. 2 more flew W at 07:20. Then a group of 9 flew W to the N at 07:50. 16 birds appeared to come from the S at 07:55 and circled the E end of the lake before being blown back SE by the wind. At 08:25 a party of 77, mostly immatures, were settled on the lake until they saw me and they too left - to the N [none seen]
Lesser Black-backed Gull 9 07:12 2 flew W to the N at 07:12; 1 flew SW at 07:20; 1 flew at 07:25; 1 immature was circling low over the lake at 07:30 and was joined by 1 adult at 07:36 but neither stopped. 2 flew W to the N at 07:43; and 1 flew W at 07:52 [2, probably this species, seen flying N to far W at 17:40]
Herring Gull 4 07:25 3 adults flew W together at 07:25; and then 1 rather small immature, apparently this species, was seen flying W, low over the water at 07:55. I would have liked to have seen this rather better as it seemed rather too well-marked for this species and might just have been something more interesting
Feral Pigeon 1 07:55 1 all-white (Snow Pigeon?) flew S through the small party of Black-headed Gulls
Stock Dove 1 07:55 the passage of the Feral Pigeon reminded me to check the wires to the NE: just 1 Stock Dove noted
Wood Pigeon 34 05:44 / 06:43 a poor day but not surprising in the circumstances with most of birds recorded in trees around the lake and the rest keeping their heads down. First heard calling at 05:44; with the first seen in flight at 06:43. 15 birds logged in trees etc. around the lake; 2 managed to perch on the wires to the E / NE; 13 birds noted flying E; and 4 singles seen flying W. No birds were seen over the Wards Rough trees
Green Woodpecker 1 06:55 1 heard calling distantly to the N again
Meadow Pipit 8 06:16 2 birds flushed off the grass near the hut at 06:16 and flew off E; 2 more flew E at 06:18; 1 SE at 06:21; 2 flew N / NE at 06:24; with the final bird flying NW at 07:35. Whether these were all different birds is a moor point
Grey Wagtail 3 06:24 first were 2 birds flying from the dam off W at the later time of 06:24 - I guess they were at the dam earlier, but I wasn't! What I assume was the same 2 birds were back on the dam by 08:10. 1 in the Teece Drive area at 09:10
Pied Wagtail 6 06:15 all heard
Wren 25 05:21* a good count in the circumstances
Dunnock 6 06:38 started calling rather late again
Robin 18 05:21* low count in poor weather: see note above about 5 Robins in a small wind-protected area between hedges in the Ricoh grounds all feeding very close together on snow-free grass but studiously pointing outwards so that they could not see each other's red breasts (About 5 years ago I saw 13 birds do the same thing in a pocket-sized garden in Plymouth, Devon during a prolonged cold snap: who says Robins are territorial? not when survival is the name of the game)
Blackbird 20 05:21*
Song Thrush 3 05:25 all 3 in song, but they seemed to want to stay hidden today!
Redwing 5 05:38 2 at least heard in flight overhead at 05:38; 2 flew N to the E at 07:00; and 1 was seen leaving trees the other side of Castle Farm Way and flying off N
Mistle Thrush 2 08:30 1 heard in song at 08:30 from far to the N, though once again the far-carrying song of this species could not be tied down more specifically. 1 seen flying off from NW area 09:05 seems likely to have been a different bird
Chiffchaff 5 05:55 / 06:17 a stutter of a song at 05:55 in the driving snow. Took until 06:17 for the song to get underway properly. Just 4 in song with another rather bright bird with a more disyllabic call raised hopes of an early Willow Warbler, but the black legs, constantly dipped tail and rather poorly marked supercilium suggested otherwise
Goldcrest 1 08:50 the regular bird near the Wesley Brook bridge calling at 08:50 though it later flew off in to the reeds
Long-tailed Tit 4 08:00 another late start - probably my positioning. But the 'usual' 4 parties of very small numbers (1 - 3 only)
Blue Tit 12 06:34
Great Tit 6 06:24 rather few for some reason
Magpie 34 05:24 20 birds counted leaving the NE roost today which was amazing in the poor snowy conditions at the time
Jackdaw 70 06:02 was well-pleased with this number: the first seen was a party of 36, barely visible through the driving snow as they flew unexpectedly high SE at 06:02. As the snow intensified I logged no more until after the snow petered out and then 2 flew out at 06:49, with a further steady passage of pairs of birds until 07:20, with just 4 thereafter
Rook 18 06:18 2 flew N through the falling snow at 06:18 but then, as with Jackdaws, there seemed to be no more until the cessation of the snow at 06:47 - though perhaps I just could not see them? All the others seen were singles or 2 birds that did not seem to pairs
Carrion Crow 15 05:33 first heard calling in NW area again
Chaffinch 9 06:31 same number as yesterday
Greenfinch 8 06:32
Goldfinch 1 07:40 1 flew S at 07:40; 1 in NE trees at 08:20; none in the NW area - their first absence for some days
Bullfinch 3 08:25 male seen in NE area eating blackthorn buds; and pair heard in NW area
Reed Bunting 8 06:01 4 at the W end; 1 in the SW; 1 along the S side; and 2 along the N side

Insects etc
fly sp. none - too cold?

(Ed Wilson)

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Sunday, 18th (3:20pm - 4:40pm) Afternoon Log -

Weather
3.0C > 1.0C  Very cold and snowy. The wind was blowing a gale across the lake and with the squally snow showers it made birding very difficult.
Blizzard conditions

On Saturday night the gales and sudden gusts blew down several trees around the lake.
One of several trees that came down in the gales last night

Narrative
Thought I'd check out the new nest boxes around the lake and was scolded by 2 Blue Tits around the vicinity of Nest Box 3. They were a good 10metres away from the box but were not happy by my presence. Needless to say I moved and left them in peace. The walk around the lake was in a clockwise direction, though with the snow in my face on the last leg, I wished I'd gone the other way round.

Highlights
Main highlight this afternoon was the number of Chiffchaff around the lake. There wasn't a single singing bird, instead all you could hear was a plaintive Wheet from a couple of birds. In total there were 9 Chiffchaff, with 5 birds feeding on the ground and lower branches in the wood in the NE corner of the lake. There were 2 in Wesley Wood, 1 in the Northbank Reedbeds and another single bird in the Reedbeds by the sailing Club jetty.

Lowlight
Poor visibility

Species number narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - Two adults courting just off the Northbank Reedbeds. No weed gathering but lots of head shaking and crouching down on the water.
Courtship display
Mute Swan 2 - Adults still present. Every now and then the the Pen would leave the Cob at the dam and swim down towards Wesley Reedbeds. It looks as if there is new nesting material on top of the old nest, so perhaps she was checking that all was well.
Canada Goose 5 - All the birds flew east over the southbank.
Mallard 8 birds logged, but I'm sure there were more earlier on. But when the first blizzard hit at around 4:15pm I could only see 8.
Tufted Duck 4 - Just 3 drakes and a duck up by the dam.
Moorhen 10 - one of these birds wandering around on the grass behind the copse along the N side: There was also one quite a way up Wesley Brook.
Coot 20 -11 seen on the SW grass with the remainder mostly in the NE Bay.
Lapwing 0 - not recorded
Black-headed Gull 11 - When I arrived there 10 heading towards the Flash. There were none on the water after that until 4:25pm when a solitary bird drifted across the lake in the snow shower.
Lesser Black-backed Gull 12 - All the birds left the lake along with the Black-headed Gulls when I arrived.
Wood Pigeon 4 - 2 in Wesley Wood and a pair in the NE Wood.
Green Woodpecker 1 - Just as I approached the NE wood from the west one flew across the path and into the old Celestica Grounds.
Meadow Pipit 2 - Two single birds heard heading north
Grey Wagtail 2 - 2 single birds with one on the dam
Wren 7 - Single birds dotted around the lake
Dunnock 2 - Both birds in the NE wood
Robin 9 - Fairly scattered around the lake.
Blackbird 6 - Mostly along the north bank
Chiffchaff 9 - See Highlights above
Goldcrest 1 - heard in Wesley wood just as you cross over the bridge.
Long-tailed Tit 6 - 3 pairs along the northbank.
Willow Tit 1- A single bird calling from Wesley Wood
Blue Tit 5 - 2 in the north wood see narrative above, the remainder were a both ends of the lake in Wesley Wood and NE Wood
Great Tit 2 - Just the two heard calling from Wesley wood
Magpie 14 - 7 birds together in the SE copse before they headed south across the M54 at 4:10pm.
Carrion Crow 2 -
Chaffinch 2
Reed Bunting 2 - A pair "feeding alongside" the Chiffchaff in the NE Wood

Mammals
Squirrel 2 - in the trees overhanging Wesley Brook
Mole hills 0 - no new hills noted

Insects etc
Bumble Bees 2 - despite the freezing conditions I came across two Bumble Bees. One in Wesley Wood and the other in North Wood

(Martin Adlam)

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Sunday, 18th ( 05:21 - 08:31) Morning Log -

Weather
4.5C > 5.5C Started clear with a very strong and 'fresh' NW wind. A few scattered light showers later in the area, all missed me. Necessary to shelter from the wind. Good visibility, though a bit hazy

Narrative
Aa day best described as 'bracing'! While the temperature was not that low (c.5.0C) the very low humidity and the very strong NW wind made it feel much, much colder. The wind was strong-enough to make holding binoculars still an impossibility and shelter was the order of the day! For the birds too I suspect.

Highlights
Green Woodpecker calling again; several Meadow Pipits over; with the return of the cold weather the return of the Redwings

Lowlight
Weather! almost no gulls, for instance

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - just the 2 adults in the area of the N side reeds today, the first noted at 06:30
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout
Canada Goose 1 06:23 1 struggled SW against the wind at 06:23: the only goose of the day
Mallard 24 - 17 drakes, including the bird with the apparent broken wing. Had a struggle to find these as many were all tucked away against the wind
Pochard 1 05:46 drake flew off towards The Flash
Tufted Duck 23 - 16 drakes: unlike previous days when they tended to gather together these were in 5 groups this morning
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake still making forays out of the reeds: no more display observed
Buzzard 4 06:01 1 circling to NE at 06:01 moved SW across SE part of lake; 1, another circling to the NE moved off W to the N at 06:03; 1 seen VERY far to the E at 06:29; 1 circling to the E, low over Castle Farm Way (or perhaps just E) at 06:55
Moorhen 1 - at the W end: did not spend a lot of time searching for these from the windy dam!
Coot 19 - 9 were on the SW grass today
Black-headed Gull 1 [06:05] first noticed an immature sitting on the SW grass at this time, though I suspect it had been there throughout. It seemed reluctant to fly, though it seemed alert-enough. It did move to the pier; and later back again and I did see it standing and walking slowly later. Seemed to have gone my 07:45 though
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 08:31 1 3rd year bird flew W just as I was leaving
Wood Pigeon 121 05:35 / 06:03 a reasonable day in the circumstances with most birds around the lake and the rest keeping their heads down. First heard calling at 05:35; with the first seen in 'flight' (blown out of the sky almost!) at 06:03. 32 birds again logged in trees etc. around the lake; 1 managed to perch on the wires to the E / NE; just 3 birds noted flying E; and 15 singles / small groups seen flying W. c.70 birds were seen over the Wards Rough trees at 06:20 but whether they were coming or going was hard to tell
Green Woodpecker 1 06:50 1 heard calling distantly to the N
Meadow Pipit 4 06:31 1 flew W at 06:31; 2 flew SW at 06:55; 1 flew W to the N at 06:58. It always amazes me that a bird that seems as if it is struggling to fly even in calm weather seems relatively unaffected by such strong winds
Grey Wagtail 2 05:46 first bird heard calling to the S - I suspect from the roof of one of the Stafford Park factories (with little traffic on Sunday mornings you can really hear that far away!) at 05:46; and then flying to the dam at 05:53 before 2 birds flew along the S side to the SW grass at 05:58. Thereafter several singles noted at E end - presumed these 2
Pied Wagtail 3 05:57 2 heard as singles: 1 seen flying W to far N at 06:05
Wren 24 05:28
Dunnock 13 06:41 first heard rather late!
Robin 24 05:21* lower count in the windy weather: at least partly due to not getting to the E end at first light
Blackbird 21 05:21*
Song Thrush 7 05:27 5 of these in song today, though all song intermittently: not singing when I arrived again. One of the songs sounded rather strange and I do wonder whether it was a Redwing in song - long while since I have heard one sing and this seemed to be sub-song and definitely 'thrush-like'. But I could not locate the bird and most Redwings are very flighty at the moment and fly-off calling at any approach. So ..?
Redwing 33 05:40 1 calling from W end at 05:40; 6 flew off S from the NE trees at 05:53; 6 more did likewise at 06:10 with 2 from the S side bushes joining them. 2 flew out of the N side and off W at 06:26. 2 were in the NE trees at 06:54; and then 14 flew S over the NW area at 08:20
Mistle Thrush 2 07:25 1 heard in song at 07:25 though in the wind impossible to say where. 2 seen on the SW grass at 08:20 probably included the songster
Chiffchaff 3 06:09 / 06:12 all of these in song, though fewer today. The bird in the NW area started calling at 06:09 and only burst in to song at 06:12
Goldcrest 2 07:25 1 calling from bushes at the W end of the S side at 07:25. And the apparently regular bird near the Wesley Brook bridge in song at 08:15
Long-tailed Tit 5 07:05 despite starting their activity rather late this morning I still managed 5 different singles / parties
Willow Tit 0 - not recorded but worth noting that one of the Great Tits was doing a good impression at times
Blue Tit 11 06:14
Great Tit 12 06:19 same number as yesterday
Magpie 39 05:22 19 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 99 05:46 passage started at 05:46 with a flock of at least 52 birds low over the lake - flocks usually fly low when it is windy when it is hard to predict where they will appear and they are in view for a very short while. Luckily when they fly low they tend to be more vocal even in flocks and give some warning of the their approach. Sporadic small parties passed to both E and W of the lake until 06:15 after which it was all singles
Rook 12 05:45 2 flew S in the company of a Crow at 05:45: next was a single flying N at 05:57 with the next southbound bird at 06:10. None after 07:04
Carrion Crow 19 05:40 first heard calling in NW area where there were, unusually, 8 birds together at 08:10
Chaffinch 9 06:42
Greenfinch 2 06:40 both flew off
Goldfinch 4 06:24 1 flew N at 06:24; 1 flew N at 07:11; 2 birds in the NW area again, calling / singing and then flying off a short distance after 07:35
Bullfinch 5 07:25 1 heard in the SW area at 07:25; and then pairs seen in the NE and NW areas later
Reed Bunting 6 05:51 3 calling at W end; 1 male in song and 1 calling near the N side reeds; 1 singing from the SW bushes

Mammals
Mole hills none - no new hills noted at the W end

Insects etc
fly sp. none - bright day should have had flies on the lamps, but too windy? too cold

(Ed Wilson)

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Saturday, 17th (05:23 - 08:17) Morning Log -

Weather
9.5C Cloudy with some light drizzle from time to time, especially early. Somewhat brighter later. Moderate / fresh W wind. Moderate visibility, especially in spells of drizzle

Narrative
A very different day with low overcast, drizzle and a chill wind discouraging me from spending too long at the lake, but walked all the way around anyway

Highlights
Green Woodpecker in NE area

Lowlight
Weather

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 - Hmm: well after 4 for certain yesterday there were just 2 adults today: these seemed to be the pair from the N-side reed beds, but if so as they toured the lake and passed the 'other location' in the NW area they failed to elicit any response from the birds that were there yesterday
Cormorant 3 06:55 1 adult in the lake by 06:55, gone by 07:15. 2 seen flying SW overhead at 07:19, with one peeling off and returning N with the other eventually doing the same
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout
Greylag Goose 16 06:10 16 flew E at 06:10
Mallard 21 - 15 drakes, including the bird with the apparent broken wing: 3 pairs seen flying off E between 05:40 and 05:52
Tufted Duck 12 - 10 drakes
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake yet again made several forays out of the reeds
Common Kestrel 2 06:49 1 seen hovering over W end grass at 06:49; 1 on wire to E at 07:50 assumed a different bird
Moorhen 6 - 2 of these seen some 15' up the bushes in the NE corner
Coot 20 - 12 were on the SW grass for a while
Black-headed Gull 20 05:51 none when I arrived. 14 birds arrived from the NE at 05:51 and stayed until 06:12 when they left to the W. 1 flew low E 06:16. 1 was on one of the buoys at 06:55. 4 flew low W with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 07:28
Common Gull 0 - not recorded
Lesser Black-backed Gull 9 06:55 2 seen flying S to the E at 06:55; 3 were seen circling to the NE at 07:20; 4 flew W but then circled off NE at 07:28
Stock Dove 2 07:21 2 of the usual birds on the wires to the NE at 07:21
Wood Pigeon 51 05:24 / 06:15 a poor day with most birds around the lake and no parties seen. First heard calling at 05:24; with the first seen in flight at 06:15. 32 birds in trees etc. around the lake; 3 seen perched on the wires to the E / NE; 7 birds noted flying E; and only 9 singles / small groups seen flying W. No birds seen in the Wards Rough trees or the surrounding area
Collared Dove 2 08:15 2 flew low and fast NW over the W end at 08:15
Green Woodpecker 1 07:26 1 calling loudly from the NE trees at 07:26
Sky Lark 1 07:40 bird heard singing over fields to the E
Grey Wagtail 2 05:53 first bird on the dam at 05:53 with 1 / 2 birds here whenever I checked. They were also seen flying along the S side and on to the pier
Pied Wagtail 3 06:04 all 3 heard as singles
Wren 31 05:23*
Dunnock 10 05:47 / 05:55 not sure about the first time - there was no follow-up
Robin 36 05:23* another large count
Blackbird 22 05:23* one more than yesterday
Song Thrush 7 05:25 6 of these in song today: not singing when I arrived again
Redwing 6 05:44 1 calling from SE area at 05:44; 5 flew off from S side at 06:25
Mistle Thrush 1 07:01 1 heard in song distantly to the N at 07:01; presumed same heard in distant at 08:00
Chiffchaff 5 05:50 / 05:56 all of these in song, with 1 bird away from the N side for the first time. Also the first bird heard calling (as well as singing). Again not sure about the first time - subliminal? / distant? / imagination?
Goldcrest 2 07:15 1 singing near the Wesley Brook bridge again at 07:15; another calling and seen along N side at 07:28
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:31 the 'usual' 4 parties at least - perhaps a 5th today
Willow Tit 2 07:26 2 in the NE area
Blue Tit 16 06:22
Great Tit 12 06:20 today 3 were singing en route from Newport prior to 05:30 - but not here!
Magpie 44 05:39 18 birds counted leaving the NE roost today, though the 11 seen on the dam probably came from there as well
Jackdaw 112 05:23 bird(s) heard over as I was parking up at 05:23! Otherwise passage started late on the dark morning with at least 46 low to the E at 06:01 and 18 pursuing then. No other parties of > 10 birds. 3 of these noted flying N
Rook 12 05:49 bird(s) heard overhead at 05:49 but no more until 06:03. All singles this morning with 4 of the 12 flying N
Carrion Crow 18 05:40
Chaffinch 8 06:30
Greenfinch 9 06:25 better day
Goldfinch 1 06:40 1 flew S at 06:40; the 'usual' in the NW area at 07:55
Bullfinch 4 07:30 1 male and 2 females seen along N side at 07:30; unseen calling bird in NE area at 07:40
Reed Bunting 8 06:32 males again seen high (>15' up) in trees in the NE area and along Teece Drive, but neither of the birds was singing or calling

Mammals
Squirrel 1 07:26 in NW area
Mole hills some - new hills noted at the W end

Insects etc
fly sp. none - dull day - no flies

(Ed Wilson)

Top

Friday, 16th (05:23 - 09:33) in lanes to E 06:05 - 07:55 -

Weather
-1.0C > 7.0C A clear morning with almost no cloud visible. Started calm but a moderate W wind sprung up. Good visibility

Narrative
A great morning to be up and about with a slight nip in the air soon chased away by the rising sun. Some good frost-effects in the open areas, but not cold-enough to frost the bushes

Highlights
A late party of Golden Plover seen to the far E. Earlier in the week I was confused by the numbers of the Great Crested Grebes at The Flash: now I am confused about the much lower numbers here!

Lowlight
One of the fishermen gripped me off - he was awoken by the call of a male Pheasant outside his tent on the dam-top: I have yet to record one at the lake this year!

Separate report
one covering the lanes and fields to the E / SE See local News

Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 4 - after several blank days and then 2 adults ranging widely across the lake yesterday there were 4 birds today, quite clearly as 2 'pairs', with the 'usual' locations of the main N-side reed bed; and the NW area
Mute Swan 5 - the usual birds throughout. One rather tatty sub-adult (all-white but dull bill) was seen flying off (perhaps low over?) SE at 06:55. By 07:55 a battle was already underway on the lake and it was after 09:00 before order was restored. The interloper adults were both ringed, but in the confusion and splashing around I was only able to read one - blue Darvic ring '7DSB'
Greylag Goose 4 06:20 2 flew E at 06:20; perhaps the same 2 flew W at 09:17
Canada Goose 9 05:55 2 flew E at 05:55; 1 flew E to N at 06:23; 1 flew N at 06:25, and then S again! another 1 flew N at 06:53; 2 flew SW towards the Town Park at 08:11; and 2 more the same way at 08:30
Mallard 15 - 10 drakes, including the bird with the apparent broken wing
Tufted Duck 15 - 11 drakes
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake made several forays out of the reeds again
Buzzard 3 05:55 1 circling to the NW at 05:55; 1 to far E at 09:10; 1 high to far NW 09:23
Common Kestrel 1 06:40 1 seen on wires to NE at 06:40
Moorhen 5 - 1 of these were on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 21 - 6 was the maximum number seen on the SW grass
Golden Plover 46 09:10 this medium-sized flock was swooping and swirling in typical patterns over the fields to the far E at 09:10. Did not see where they came from or where they went to
Black-headed Gull 7 06:17 none when I arrived. 7 birds arrived from the W at 06:17 and that seemed to be it. Most stayed only 10 minutes or so, but there was still 2 birds at 07:55; and singles left at 08:25 and 09:15
Lesser Black-backed Gull 72 06:27 1 bird flew W to N at 06:27; 1 was seen to the far NE at 08:30; but c.70 were seen circling far to the N, presumed in the tip area at 09:05
Stock Dove 4 06:07 1 flew W at 06:07; and then 4 of the usual birds on the wires to the NE at 06:45
Wood Pigeon 281 05:25 / 06:07 another reasonable day. First heard calling at 05:25; with the first seen in flight at 06:07. 13 birds in trees etc. around the lake; only 2 seen perched on the wires to the E / NE; 5 birds noted flying E; but 41 singles / small groups seen flying W. At 06:45 there were c.120 birds in the Wards Rough tree-tops and then by 06:50 there were another c.100 birds in the big trees to the NE. Subsequent checks failed to find any large numbers at all
Grey Wagtail 4 05:50 first bird on the dam at 05:50 with birds here again at c.08:00 (and, per the fishermen, most of the time). At 09:00 2 birds were at the W end and flew off up Teece Drive towards The Flash, but probably the same were on the SW pier at 09:15
Pied Wagtail 1 06:04 just 1 heard this morning
Wren 27 05:35 late starting to sing
Dunnock 18 [06:07]
Robin 38 05:23* very large count!
Blackbird 21 05:23* same number as yesterday
Song Thrush 6 05:34 3 of these in song today: not singing when I arrived
Redwing 1 06:25 flew out of NE trees
Mistle Thrush 2 08:15 1 singing in the SE trees at 08:15 - a most unusual singing-post. 1 seen in the NW area at 09:30
Chiffchaff 4 [06:00] all of these in song. Fewer today
Goldcrest 1 08:54 1 singing near the Wesley Brook bridge again at 08:54
Long-tailed Tit 4 08:40 the 'usual' 4 parties
Blue Tit 12 [06:11]
Great Tit 13 05:41 seemed early to be singing, but in fact the last 2 mornings I have noted this species calling while I have been en route from Newport
Jay 3 08:59 3 flew in noisily from the NW and jumped around the trees for a while: 1 flew to the SW area and back before they all flew off back again
Magpie 35 05:25 21 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 159 05:45 passage started with 10 birds at 05:45; 5 groups comprising 52 birds flew out in the next few minutes and then large parties of c.50 and c.30 birds flew at the same time (05:49) with the c.50 high to the far E and the c.30 over the lake. After that all singles / pairs with 2 noted flying N
Rook 66 05:43 a better day today but no group larger than 8 birds and mostly singles, of which 16 were logged flying N
Carrion Crow 13 05:30
Starling 3 06:39 3 flew W to the N at 06:39
Chaffinch 7 [06:10]
Greenfinch 2 [06:07]
Goldfinch 3 [06:27] usual birds in NW trees
Bullfinch 2 08:40 male and unseen calling bird in NE area at 08:40
Reed Bunting 3 08:40 2 of these birds (at least 1 male seen) were calling from high in the NE trees some way from the reeds at 08:40. 1 male in song along the N side. None seen in the NW / W / SW area

Insects etc
fly sp. 2.5 lamps - with the return of the sun, the return of the flies with 2 lamp-posts well covered and a few on a third pole - the lamp at