Sunday, 31st (17:30 - 18:55) Evening Log
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)
Top
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) Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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) Top 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)
Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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) Top
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)
Top
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)
Top
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 atop this pole does not work
Other observation
Blackthorn flower - - wonderful
Pussy willow - - likewise: stunning yellow against the blue skies
Daffodils - - likewise
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*] indicated that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Thursday, 15th (05:31 - 09:22)
[did not visit the lanes today]
Weather
1.0C > 8.0C Had been a clear night but clouded after 04:00 and this raised the temperature somewhat. But the near total cloud (apart from some brightness to the far SE at first) made for a rather dark morning. Light SW wind and good visibility Narrative
Main activity of the morning was to try and get some shots of the leucistic Black-headed Gull. It was not especially, probably because there were very few gulls to panic on a close approach. But I did not know this to start with and working with a long lens - digiscoping - and the low light (eighth of a second!) was a challenge. So stayed around the lake and logged what I could
Highlights
the gull! But two species of moth on the street lights suggested that spring is well and truly on the way even if Chiffchaff is the only migrant I have recorded so far - but the absence of gulls confirms
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 2 06:45 2 adults seen together this morning: initially in the centre of the lake these stayed together and investigated the NE area and then the dam before go to sleep off the NW sallows. Now are these a new pair? or the immature's moulted? or some other combination? and where did the others go? and why? (answers on one side of the paper only!)
Cormorant 2 06:29 1 seen approaching from the N at 06:29 seems to have carried on! 1 adult then flew low W over the lake at 06:40
Grey Heron 1 06:55 1 seemed to be flushed out of the NW reeds at 06:55 and was presumably the bird I flushed off the N shore at 07:30
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Greylag Goose 11 06:07 party of 10 flew E over the lake at 06:07. 1 noisy bird flew W at 08:35
Canada Goose 9 07:59 no early departures this morning, but birds headed back in the Town Park direction were 3 at 07:59; and 6 at 09:01
Mallard 24 - 24 seemed to be the log this morning - much higher than in recent weeks. 16 of these were drakes. They were flying about a lot, but I tried to discount that. Did not notice the drake with a broken wing
Tufted Duck 12 - 10 drakes
Ruddy Duck 1 - the drake made several forays out of the reeds and is getting dangerously close to failing 'the bread test' and come to one of the regular feeders
Moorhen 6 - 2 of these were on the dam / dam-face today, though the camping fishermen were still there
Coot 21 - 4 was the maximum number seen on the SW grass
Black-headed Gull 37 06:18 none when I arrived. 1 lone bird arrived at 06:18; and then a small party of 12 at 06:25. In total I logged 36 arriving though there must have been more as this excluded the sparkling leucistic bird that I first noted wheeling and diving above the feeding Tufted Ducks near the dam at 06:35. I spent the next 90 minutes, on and off, trying to get close-enough to photograph it in the poor light. When I did get close-enough it was standing on a bouncing buoy actively preening! While the feathers were pure white the eye was dark and the bill and legs orange - perhaps paler than an adult Black-headed Gull, but it could be a first-year bird. In flight it appeared larger and broader-winged than a 'regular' bird, but this may well have been an illusion. It invited identification as an adult Mediterranean Gull though of course it lacked any black on the head. Certainly on the buoy with other birds nearby it looked structurally identical
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 08:40 1 3rd-year type bird was circling over the lake at 08:40 and the only record
Stock Dove 3 06:18 3 flew W at 06:18
Wood Pigeon 391 05:33 / 06:18 another better. First heard calling at 05:33 again; with the first seen in flight at 06:18. 27 birds in trees etc. around the lake; 68(!) seen perched on the wires to the E / NE (see below); only 3 birds noted flying E; but 40 singles / small groups seen flying W. At 06:45 there were c.30 birds in the Wards Rough tree-tops but subsequent checks failed to improve this number until 08:20 when a cloud of birds burst out of the fields to the NE depositing the 68 birds on the wires and at least 250 birds in to the tree-tops in Wards Rough and to the NE
Sky Lark 1 06:16 this bird over the fields to the E with the song carrying over the pre-rush hour traffic
Grey Wagtail 3 05:52 first bird on the dam at 05:56 (perhaps as early as 05:45 - I was rather too far away to confirm) and thereafter 2 birds often seen. At 09:20 a male was feeding in the Wesley Brook alongside the Teece Drive gate
Pied Wagtail 5 05:58
Wren 27 05:33
Dunnock 17 05:45
Robin 23 05:31*
Blackbird 21 05:31*
Fieldfare 8 06:17 1 followed a thrush sp. leaving the SW trees at 06:17 (I was at the dam) and followed it as it flew vaguely towards me and was astonished to see it climb high to join 7 other hitherto unseen Fieldfare (because that is what it was) high overhead and flying SE
Song Thrush 7 05:31* 5 of these in song today
Redwing 0 - first blank day for a long while (since October sometime?)
Mistle Thrush 2 08:29 1 seen in W end trees in Ricoh car park at 08:29; another (?) in the NW area, flying off NW at 09:15
Chiffchaff 7 05:50 / 06:18 all of these in song again. The first song heard was from the bird the other side of Castle Farm Way at the very early time of 05:50 when it was still quite dark. The first along the N side - all the others are - was at 06:18
Goldcrest 2 07:00 1 in the NE area at 07:00: and 1 near the Wesley Brook bridge again
Long-tailed Tit 4 07:04 back to 4 parties again
Blue Tit 14 06:31
Great Tit 15 06:30
Jay 2 09:20 at least 2 birds in the trees alongside Teece Drive making a lot of noise
Magpie 43 05:31* 27 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 84 05:56 passage apparently started with 29 birds on a broad front at 05:56. The only other group of 10 or more birds was 10 at 06:01. A long 'tail' of small groups / singles until the last at 07:48. Only 1 northbound
Rook 25 05:54 Of course they had to be perverse and only 3 of these were seen flying N today - though that may be as much my pre-occupation with photographing the gull as anything else: these birds are not usually vocal when flying singly, unlike Jackdaws that seem to more vocal the smaller the flock-size - I call it the inverse square law of Jackdaws
Carrion Crow 16 05:32
Starling 2 08:39 2 flew S over the W end, probably a feeding foray from birds back on their Priorslee estate nest sites
Chaffinch 7 07:02
Greenfinch 11 06:25 after yesterday's blank day a return to 'normal' (though in several of the recent years there has been a roost and some 100s have been seen)
Goldfinch 4 06:27 1 heard over 06:27; another heard at 07:27; one flew over the W end at 08:45; and 1 in the NW trees at 08:55
Bullfinch 3 07:02 1 male in the NE area again this morning at 07:02; and a pair in the SW bushes flew off W and then returned E at 07:55
Reed Bunting 5 06:18 2 males along the N side, though only 1 in song and the other just incessantly calling. Another calling bird in the NW reeds. And a 3rd calling male in the bushes alongside the M54 while another male sang high atop the bushes in the SW area
Moths
Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) [2189] 1 - on lamp: photo still needs to be checked to confirm
Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) [2243] 1 - on lamp: photo still needs to be checked to confirm
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 0 - gone
fly sp. 0 - dull day so the lamp-posts were devoid of flies this morning
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*] indicated that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday, 14th (05:29- 09:48)
in fields and lanes to E / SE between 06:05 - 07:50
Weather
-0.5C > 10.0C A quite magnificent Spring morning after some early fog and then patchy cloud had dispersed. Frosty and calm with wreathes of mist over the lake tempted me in to the lanes again, but that was a mistake as it became quite foggy and I scrabbled about in the poor visibility for a while until it began to clear under the patchy cloud - that allowed me to get down to some frost photographs. By the time I got back to the lake it was a cloudless blue sky with almost no wind. Apart from the fog(!) it was great visibility
Narrative
as above
Highlights
Nothing much - the weather was too nice to look at birds!
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 1 08:20 adult seen along the N side at 08:20 but not before or after
Grey Heron 1 06:20 1 from the S seemed to be headed for the lake
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Greylag Goose 18 06:25 party of 18 flew E in sub-groups of 3 & 2 & 2 & 11
Canada Goose 4 05:36 4 flew E to N - affected by the fog (though I thought I was looking over it!)
Mallard 11 - 11 on the lake (9 drakes): the drake with the apparent broken wing seen again
Tufted Duck 19 - 15 drakes: same as yesterday
unidentified Aythya species 0 - not recorded
Sparrowhawk 1 09:35 1, probably a female, flew E over the NW area. Oddly there were 3 Crows in close attendance but they were on a slightly divergent path and made no attempt to harass the Sparrowhawk
Moorhen 7 - again: and again none of these was on the dam / dam-face today, though today there were 3 lots of camping fishermen to put them off
Coot 20 - none seen on the SW grass at all!
Black-headed Gull 10 06:10 none when I arrived. I decamped to the lane to the E before any gulls arrived again, but saw 2 flying in from the W at 06:10. Saw no more - partly the fog and partly my position until I got back to the lake at 07:55 when there were just 10: these were all still present at 09:30
Stock Dove 4 07:35 4 seen on the wires to the NE at 07:35
Wood Pigeon 93 05:33 / 06:00 / 06:17 another disappointing day and the fog does not really explain the lack of fly-overs. First heard calling at 05:33; a different bird flushed at 06:00; with the first seen in flight at 06:17. Just 9 in trees etc. around the lake; 16 seen perched on the wires to the E / NE; only 3 birds noted flying E; and a meager 5 flying W. At 08:05 there were c.25 birds visible in the Wards Rough tree-tops and another c.35 in the big old trees to the NE. At other times I failed to see any birds in these locations
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 08:00 1 flew S over W end
Sky Lark 1 09:25 not able to hear the birds over the fields to the E, but 1 flew S calling over the lake at 09:25
Grey Wagtail 4 05:52 first bird on the dam at 05:52 and thereafter 2 birds often seen on the dam and also a 3rd flying off E. At 09:30 a male in the NW area
Pied Wagtail 2 06:14 another poor day
Wren 25 05:29*
Dunnock 16 06:00 late starting this morning, but another high count
Robin 28 05:29*
Blackbird 25 05:29*
Song Thrush 7 05:32 4 of these in song
Redwing 2 07:35 2 flew out of the NE trees and away N at 07:35
Mistle Thrush 1 09:30 1 heard singing to the far NW at 09:30 and then seen in flight
Chiffchaff 7 06:17 all of these in song, though as I noted when there were 3 singing together in the NE area, these songs are amazingly different from each other; and none was a typical breeding period song. One had a stuttering start to its phrases; another had the 'chiff' very slurred and sounded a bit like a cross with a Great Tit's 'teacher-teacher'; and the third sounded very much like a bird I noted last spring that somehow has a 'double' overlapping call and sounds like 2 birds singing just out of sync. One of these birds - I forget which - was also emitting the 'creaky' calls between the song spells: the first time I have heard it this year
Goldcrest 2 08:32 1 in the NE area at 08:32: and 1 near the Wesley Brook bridge again
Long-tailed Tit 3 [06:40] 3 'parties' only today
Coal Tit 1 09:15 1 singing in the NW area again
Blue Tit 13 [06:17]
Great Tit 5 [06:14] why so few? yesterday it was the Blue Tits in low numbers
Magpie 41 05:31 28 birds counted leaving the NE roost today [NB: what Magpie field? lost in the mist today!]
Jackdaw 142 05:52 passage started with groups of 10 & 14 at 05:52 and then the main body of 86 flew over E end of the lake at 05:54 and that was more or less the lot. One small party noted was flying very low and shot along the gully behind Castle Farm Way, almost completely unsighted from where I was standing. A single bird that flew very high N at 09:44 was the only other notable sighting
Rook 12 05:53 I think I have to accept that this species has changed behaviour during the nesting season and there is no longer a roost dispersal. 3 of these were seen flying N; another was flying W; and another oddity was 1 that was on the wires to the E, briefly (I suppose it is still possible that these are moving before I get there - I heard one calling from the roost close to my Newport house at 05:03 this morning!)
Carrion Crow 14 05:39 [NB: what Magpie field? lost in the mist today!]
Chaffinch 5 [06:20]
Greenfinch 0 - not recorded at all - most unusually
Goldfinch 1 09:30 1 in NW trees at 09:30
Bullfinch 1 08:45 1 male in the NE area this morning
Reed Bunting 5 08:15 not seen or heard until I returned from the fields to the E
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 0 - gone
fly sp. 100+ - hordes on the 2 lamp-posts in the sun
Other observation
Willow lots - the rapidly yellowing pussy willow 'flowers' looking great against the blue sky yet again
Daffodils lots - these were looking great: not quite fully open, in the right location they were dusted with melted frost
Blackthorn lots - flowers looking stunning in the sun this morning and a few small flies seen around the trees, so I assume pollination is going ahead OK. The Chiffchaffs were busy investigating all the flowers, so they have found that source of food
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*] indicated that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 13th (6:30pm) Evening - Wonders will never cease. As they say right place at the right time. I was coming back from Shifnal this evening, when I passed the Lake just as a Woodcock shot across Castle Farm Way, across the lake and into the wood in the Northeast corner. Ed had seen one last Wednesday in the SE corner which had come from the northbank, so its quite possible that they spend the night in the wood here!
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Tuesday, 13th (05:27- 09:28) Morning Log -
in fields and lanes to E / SE between 06:05 - 07:55
Weather
0.5C > 9.5C Started clear and frosty except for some high cloud to mar the sunrise to the far SE. Stayed clear and the high cloud moved / melted away. Sun heated things up quickly and pleasantly warm, though a slight breeze sprang up. Excellent visibility
Narrative
Another very pleasant morning to be up and about early. Touch of frost soon chased away by the sun and apart from the breeze springing up stayed very pleasant throughout. Watch the start of the corvid departure and the gull (non) arrival before heading up the lane and around the fields again. Usual completion of the loop of the lake somewhat delayed by the cameras - the yellowing 'flowers' of the pussy-willow against the clear blue sky provided a great contrast
Highlights
Passable sunrise: lot of high-flying Herons again - I logged 6 but was told I had missed 4 more! Great Crested Grebe continues to bemuse me. Chiffchaffs about again; odd-looking Jackdaw with almost white wings
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 1 08:20 adult seen in the middle of the lake at 08:20 and later asleep in the NW area. No sign of any 'partner'
Cormorant 5 06:22 4 flew W together at 06:22 - 1 white-thighed and plumed adult; 2 white-bellied immatures; and an all-dark bird (old immature?); the 1 flew 08:05
Grey Heron 6 [10] 07:03 1 flew high SE 07:03; 1 also high E 08:00; 1 from NE high at 08:13 looked at the NW area of the lake and regained height and left to the NW; then I saw 2 + 1 flying high SE at 08:23, but another birdwatcher told me that these had been preceded by another party of 4 birds!
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today (apart from the Canada Geese!)
Greylag Goose 5 06:59 1 flew W, unusually, at 06:59; then 4 flew E at the unlikely time of 09:15
Canada Goose 24 05:59 6 flew E to the N at 05:59; then 3 flew W, unusually, at 06:06; 6 more flew E to the N at 06:10; with 2 E overhead at 06:11; then 2 birds left the lake to the E / NE separately at the same time of 07:50; finally 8 flew SW towards the Town Park at 08:31
Mallard 11 - 11 on the lake (6 drakes) after a pair flew in at 05:40 from The Flash area. NB: one of the drakes seems to have a broken wing
Tufted Duck 19 - 15 drakes
Common Kestrel 1 06:07 seen flying S to the E again
Moorhen 7 - none of these was on the dam / dam-face today, but one gave me a shock by lurking in the Water Rail's gully in the NE area - not seen one here before
Coot 16 - maximum of 4 seen on the SW grass. Seem to have disappeared on to nests as there are several places where there were 2 birds and where there now seems to be only 1
Black-headed Gull 19 06:22 none when I arrived. I decamped to the lane to the E before any gulls arrived again, but regular checking enabled me to see the first, lone bird fly in at 06:22. No more until 06:40. I could see just 14 at 07:00, with at least 5 of these leaving to the SE at 07:45. Later counts back at the lake gave me 14 birds again at 08:00; and 12 at 08:50
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 08:03 just the 1 bird seen flying SW at 08:03
Stock Dove 4 07:14 1 flew W at 07:14; that prompted me to check the NE wires but they were devoid of pigeons until 3 Stock Doves appeared at 08:15
Wood Pigeon 91 05:57 a very disappointing day. The first bird was seen in flight at the early time of 05:57. A count of just 15 birds in the trees around the lake; just 1 was on the wires to the E / NE; 8 singles / in small groups were seen flying E; with 51 singles / in small groups noted flying W. None was noted in the Wards Rough trees at all. 16 were seen flying to the ENE at 06:25
Collared Dove 2 08:42 2 birds shot through NW-bound
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 09:01 1 heard calling at the W end and then male seen flying from there to the top of a tree in the NW area
Sky Lark 0 - not recorded over the weekday traffic
Grey Wagtail 2 05:50 2 birds flew from the S to the dam at 05:50 and then flew in and out until 06:10 at least; 2 seen again at 08:00 on the dam presumed same
Pied Wagtail 2 06:11 a poor day. The first bird seemed to fly off the dam-top
Wren 28 05:34
Dunnock 17 05:47 a great count - lots of calling / singing / chasing / wing-waving today
Robin 25 05:27*
Blackbird 22 05:27*
Song Thrush 5 05:35 3 of these in song
Redwing 8 06:30 8 flew W 06:30
Mistle Thrush 1 09:20 1 heard singing to the far NW at 09:20
Chiffchaff 3 05:57 1 heard in song at the early time of 05:57 from across the Castle Farm Way - lack of traffic at this early hour allows the song to carry! Another in song along the N side; and a 3rd near the Wesley Brook bridge
Goldcrest 1 08:36 at least 1 near the Wesley Brook bridge at 08:36
Long-tailed Tit 4 [06:12] 4 'parties' once again
Coal Tit 1 09:20 1 singing from its favourite conifers in the NW area
Blue Tit 8 [06:11] why so few?
Great Tit 10 [06:26]
Jay 1 08:30 1 seen in trees to N with 2 Wood Pigeons: when they are all sitting up straight and facing you and the sun these 2 species are remarkably similar at first glance
Magpie 47 05:28 26 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 143 05:54 a better day, positioned better, though I suspect that had little to do with it! No single 'big' departure this morning with the first 94 birds logged over a 5 minute window. Longer 'tail' until 06:30 with a few after than, with several birds heading back N after this time. One of these birds was most odd and difficult to identify having almost completely white wings - a real oddity when in flight! Not a wing-bar like that shown by a few Crows, but an apparently completely pale wing, the centre being the palest and almost white
Rook 41 05:56 an odd day: I am certain (at last) that there is no general early departure and that while scattered small groups leave early there is much coming and going - most of the 41 today were singles or two birds flying 'together' rather than obvious pairs and as early as 06:11 birds were headed N. In fact 16 of the 41 birds were flying N!
Carrion Crow 27 05:32 yet another high count [NB: see below - there were one in the 'Magpie field' today - but there weren't any Magpies either!]
Chaffinch 3 [06:14] all finches in low numbers this morning
Greenfinch 2 09:02 all finches in low numbers this morning
Goldfinch 2 08:43 1 flew S at 08:43; 1 in NW trees at 09:20
Bullfinch 2 08:15 2 females in the NE area this morning
Reed Bunting 5 06:00 the first bird heard calling to the E rather oddly
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 0 - seems to have gone! (there was a small spider on the same lamp today, but I doubt this was the culprit)
fly sp. 100+ - hordes of flies on the poles of same two lamps this morning: they are the poles that are most in the sun so perhaps it is a warmth thing?
spider sp. 1 - small specimen in an impossible to photograph (or view) position on one of the lamps
Other observation
Willow - - the rapidly yellowing pussy willow 'flowers' looking great against the blue sky
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*] indicated that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time (Ed Wilson) Top Monday, 12th (17:05 - 17:20) Evening Log - A quick pit stop to see what was around. As soon as I pulled up I could hear a Chiffchaff calling from the NE Wood close to Castle Farm Way.
Also about was:
- 1 Great Crested Grebe along the Northbank Reedbeds.
- The Mute Swans don't seem to have found anywhere to nest this year and were seen patrolling the dam area, where 12 Magpies were fighting over food scraps on the overflow platform.
- Tufted Ducks were all males with 8 patrolling up and down the northbank, however 1 duck appeared from between the gulls, but didn't see anymore.
- 3 Moorhen along the northbank and around the lake I counted 10 Coot
- 190 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 3 Herring Gulls.
- The Black-headed Gulls only numbered 30.
.- A Grey Wagtail called briefly as it searched the Dam for an evening meal.
- Overhead 10 Jackdaws flew north at exactly the same time as 5 Jackdaws and a single Rook flew South.
- A male Reed Bunting was heard singing from the reeds on the North Bank.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Monday, 12th -
5 Chiffchaff including 3 singing,
Long-tailed Tit with a half built nest and a male Ruddy Duck.
(Martin Grant)
Top
Monday, 12th (05:29 - 09:18) Morning Log - in fields and lanes to E / SE between 05:45 - 08:10
Weather
9.0C After all the thickening high cloud yesterday I was ready for rain, but the day dawned unexpectedly clear to the S & E and with a fabulous sunrise with the high cloud all to the W & N. After 07:00 a lower cloud-sheet spread in from the W and after 08:30 there was some light rain. Rather moderate WSW breeze around the lake was not repeated on the hill overlooking the lake where it was calm for much of the time. A more persistent wind sprang up later. Great visibility, especially to the S & E
Narrative
What appeared to be going to be (and was) a great sunrise tempted me in to the lane again for the best view and photos without the street clutter (signs; lamps; pylons) as foreground and where old trees provide interest to the colour of the dawn. Missed some of the birds I am sure - mainly corvids I guess - but it was a great sunrise. Stayed in lane to E of Castle Farm Way until the morning fly-over activity died and then walked the lane and the streamside back to the lake and the usual circumnavigation of the bit not covered pre-dawn
Highlights
Great sunrise! 6 Herons - all fly-overs - unusual; mystery sighting of a Great Crested Grebe; party of Fieldfare was the first for a few days; 2 Chiffchaffs singing again with another silent bird seen - females already? (and both singing and silent birds to the SE as well)
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 1 08:50 when I checked the lake at 08:50 a hitherto unseen adult Great Crested Grebe was sitting in the middle. At 09:00 it had disappeared again and was not seen again
Cormorant 3 07:00 3 seen flying away to the S - perhaps leaving Bayliss Pools?
Grey Heron 6 07:15 2 birds seen flying together W to S at 07:15; 1, another, flying W to S at 07:17; 1 (perhaps of these) seen circling to the S before heading E at 07:27; 2 flew high W together over the lake at 09:17
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Canada Goose 13 06:14 4 flew E and 9 SE at 06:14
Mallard 12 - 8 on the lake (7 drakes); and 4 seen flying E to the NE at 06:39
Tufted Duck 13 - 10 drakes
Common Kestrel 1 06:16 seen flying S to the E
Moorhen 5 - 3 of these were on the dam / dam-face today: where are they all?
Coot 22 - maximum of 3 seen on the SW grass!
Black-headed Gull 61 06:39 none when I arrived. I decamped to the lane to the E before any gulls arrived and while I could not see the whole lake I could see the 2 favourite buoys used by this species and noted none until 06:39 when 3 birds were flying around. 9 more arrived from the NE at 06:45, but only a scatter seen in flight. Later counts back at the lake gave me 39 birds at 08:10; and 61 at 08:50, and this seemed to be about the total for the day
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 06:45 4 singles records flying W at 06:45, 06:49, 08:30 and 08:59. An immature on the lake at 08:50 briefly
Feral Pigeon 1 07:27 1 pale blue morph flew S to the E
Stock Dove 5 07:05 1 flew W at 07:05; prompted me to check the NE wires - 2 present; then 2 seen display flying over the NW trees at 08:59 - a location I suspected attempted(?) breeding last year
Wood Pigeon 177 06:27 another disappointing day. The first bird was seen in flight at 06:27. A count of 23 birds in the trees around the lake (helped by a party of 16 birds in the N side trees); none was on the wires to the E / NE; 15 singles / small groups were seen flying E; with 39 singles / small groups noted flying W. 25 birds were noted in the Wards Rough trees at 07:00 and this later increased to c.60 birds. 18 were seen flying W to S at 07:02; and 12 flew high E together at 07:17
Sky Lark 1 08:20 1 heard in song to the E at 08:20, after I got back to the lake could still hear the songsters
Grey Wagtail 1 08:48 1 flying over W end at 08:48 only record from the lake
Pied Wagtail 10 06:16 better number: the 10th bird was at over at 09:00 and the only bird that did not seem to be a roost-dispersal bird
Wren 27 05:35 [but one was singing in my Newport garden at 05:05]
Dunnock 10 [05:49]
Robin 38 05:29* even bigger count
Blackbird 20 05:29*
Fieldfare 43 06:33 43 flew S to E
Song Thrush 3 05:37 all of these in song
Redwing 7 06:27 6 flew W 06:27; 1 flushed out of NE trees at 08:21
Mistle Thrush 4 06:21 1 heard in song to far NE at 06:21; 1 seen and heard singing on wires to W 06:25; 1 scolding at W end at 08:59; 1 in NW trees at 09:01 seemed to be a different bird
Chiffchaff 3 [06:41] 1 heard in song along the N side at 08:33 with 1 bird in the same area not calling or singing; 1 in song in the NW area as well
Goldcrest 2 08:45 2 together in the NW area at 08:45
Long-tailed Tit 4 [06:22] 4 'parties' yet again today
Coal Tit 2 08:35 2 seen along the N side at 08:35: did not seem to be with any other tits
Blue Tit 16 [06:20]
Great Tit 6 [06:25] why so few?
Magpie 42 05:29* 28 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 75 06:04 a total affected by my walk to the top of the lane to the E to get in to position for the sunrise. 2 birds at 06:04 followed by the main party of 58 birds at 06:06. These were flying low and well to the W of the usual line and hence against the darkest part of the incoming cloud and (eventually) rain making them hard to see. No 'tail' today, in fact few more at all
Rook 37 05:48 as with Jackdaws probably affected by my positioning. Largest party of just 7 birds at 06:07. 6 of these birds seen flying N - returning to the nest?
Carrion Crow 24 05:57 yet another high count [NB: see below - I recorded 18 together in the 'Magpie field' to the far SE this morning, probably feeding on lamb afterbirths (ugh!)]
Chaffinch 9 [06:20]
Greenfinch 6 [06:35]
Bullfinch 4 08:22 2 pairs in the NE area this morning
Reed Bunting 3 08:25 not in the right area for 'dawn calls': 2 singing along the N side; 1 calling bird at the W end
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still present
fly sp. 0 - no flies on any of the lamps this morning
spider sp. 1 - different species of spider seen on one of the lamps - during the darkest, dampest part of the morning and not identified
Other observation
food - - a half-eaten pizza and assorted drinks cans were dumped at the Teece Drive gate: they are no longer - in my recycle bags as appropriate
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*] indicated that the species was calling / in song when I arrived at the lake and started before this time. (Ed Wilson) Top
Sunday, 11th ( 05:36 - 09:28) -
in fields and lanes to E / SE between 06:00 - 08:00
Weather
3.5C > 8.5C Fine and sometimes sunny through a high-level overcast. Some low-level patches at a splendid sunrise soon dispersed. Light / moderate SW wind. Good visibility, but somewhat hazy with The Wrekin about visible
Narrative
Watched from the S end of dam until it was clear there was going to be a great sunrise and then decamped to the top of the lane. Watched, between pictures of the sunset, the fly-overs from here. Then back to the dam and the usual complete coverage of the lake area
Highlights
2 Chiffchaffs singing today and by straining possible to hear the one alongside Wesley Brook to the SE across Castle Farm Way: these are clearly different birds - one gives a proper 'chiff-chaff' at regular intervals (no 'creak' calls between); one is rather hesitant and sometime hiccups to 'chiff-chiff-chaff-chaff-chiff'; the other bird sings much faster than these two
Species number time narrative
Cormorant 6 06:17 6 flew in tight group from the N to the E, probably headed to Bayliss Pools
Grey Heron 2 06:02 1 flew in from the E at 06:02; 1 flew high S 06:35 seemed to have nothing to do with the lake
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Greylag Goose 16 06:17 all 16 flew E at 06:17
Canada Goose 12 05:51 4 flew E at 05:51; 2 at 05:53; 2 more at 06:03; and 4 at 06:09
Mallard 9 - 7 drakes, on the lake
Tufted Duck 17 - 11 drakes
Moorhen 7 - 5 of these were on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 19 - maximum of 6 seen on the SW grass
Black-headed Gull 25 05:57 none when I arrived. 2 birds arrived from the W at the early time of 05:57.As best I could from the lane to the E I noted just 20 more arriving. After the early arrival I logged 2 flying W at 07:23; and 1 at 07:46. These low numbers confirmed by later counts - 11 at 08:00; and 9 at 09:00
Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 07:02 5 flew W at 07:02 as singles. 1 immature circled over the lake for a while at 08:16, but did not land
Herring Gull 1 08:10 1 sparkling summer-plumaged adult on the lake by 08:10 and still there, on its own at 08:30; but gone by 08:45 (the same bird as yesterday?)
Stock Dove 1 07:05 1 on wires to NE
Wood Pigeon 106 05:40 / 06:22 a poor day. The first bird was heard in song at 05:40 with the first seen in flight at 06:22. A count of 10 birds in the trees around the lake; 2 were on the wires to the E / NE; 33 singles / small groups were seen flying E; with 61 singles / small groups noted flying W. None were noted in the Wards Rough trees today
Sky Lark 1 07:55 1 heard in song to the E at 07:55
Grey Wagtail 3 08:02 2 on dam at 08:02; after 09:00 several sightings of a bird flying over the W end / in Teece Drive
Pied Wagtail 2 06:15 another low count
Wren 29 05:43
Dunnock 15 06:25
Robin 35 05:36* big count again
Blackbird 25 05:36*
Song Thrush 6 05:37 4 of these in song
Redwing 14 06:24 4 flew W 06:24; 6 W at 06:30; 1 at 06:35; then 3 flew out of NE trees at 07:09
Mistle Thrush 4 06:14 1 flew S to the E at 06:14; 1 heard singing to far NE at 07:05; 2 flew from the S and settled at the W end at 09:10 (with 1 of these then seen in the Teece Drive area)
Chiffchaff 2 08:10 at 08:10 I could hear the distant bird in the streamside of the Wesley Brook across the Castle Farm Way! Then at 08:35 a bird was seen singing in the NE trees and later another at the W end of the N side. As noted above these birds were audibly different from each other
Goldcrest 3 08:30 these seem to be relatively sedentary at the moment, with a bird in the NE corner; one near the Wesley Brook bridge; and another at the W end backing on to the Ricoh car park
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:30 4 'parties' yet again today
Blue Tit 10 05:58 calling very early
Great Tit 9 06:41
Magpie 47 05:36* only 29 birds counted leaving the NE roost today
Jackdaw 126 06:08 a total affected by my walk to the top of the lane to the E at the crucial time - but it was also crucial to get in to position for the sunrise! Started with a very loose group of c.100 birds over the lake at 06:08. No more until 06:14 and thereafter just a few groups of no more than 6 birds
Rook 32 06:06 as with Jackdaws probably affected by my relocation between 06:00 and 06:05. Largest party of just 8 birds at 06:08
Carrion Crow 21 05:51 again a high count, with birds flying around all the time making it hard to be sure how many individuals involved
Chaffinch 7 06:19
Greenfinch 9 06:20 a better count aided by a small party of 6 birds flying E
Goldfinch 6 08:25 1 flew E; then a party of 4 flew off from the NW trees, though there was another there later
Reed Bunting 2 08:00 not in the right area for 'dawn calls', but only 1 singing along the N side and then just 1 calling bird at the W end
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still present
fly sp. 0 - no flies on any of the lamps this morning
spider sp. 0 - gone after 2 days on the yacht club hut
Other observation
nest boxes - - Martin Adlam and the Cub Scouts erected some nest-boxes yesterday: I managed to note just 2 (blind in my old age!) (Ed Wilson) Top Saturday, 10th (10:00 - 12:20) Lunchtime - Many thanks to 1st Priorslee and St Georges Cub Scouts, who back in December, put together a selection of excellent nest boxes. With kind permission from the Telford Water Sports Association, four of their nest boxes were put up today in Wesley Wood and along the northbank. Species we are hoping to attract are Tree Sparrow, whose numbers have drastically declined in the past few years. A few pictures have been added to show the boxes. Click here for Nest Box page............
As a break from putting the boxes up, we had a walk along the northbank where several species were noted and in particular a Chiffchaff, one of our first summer migrants. Also seen and heard were Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, a pair of Grey Wagtail along Wesley Brook and Reed Bunting.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Saturday, 10th (05:43 - 09:58) Morning Log -
in fields and lanes to E / SE between 07:25 - 08:20
Weather
4.0C > 11.0C Started overcast at medium-level and scattered below except for a brief flare from the sunrise and some occasional slight drizzle; after 8:25 cleared from the W and mainly sunny. Light W wind increasing moderate; good visibility
Narrative
Watched from the S side until early passage completed and then walked the fields to the E & SE before completing the walk around all the lake
Highlights
Flight of 9 Cormorants was like the old days, except they were not headed for the lake. Good count of Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws: not much else and no Chiffchaff today. A moth on one of the lights seemed to be a Small Quaker
Species number time narrative
Cormorant 10 06:28 9 flew in tight group from the N to the E, probably headed to Bayliss Pools; 1 flew N to the E at 08:02
Grey Heron 3 05:59 1 flew in from the E to the NW reeds at 05:59; 2 flew high SW at 07:07
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Greylag Goose 13 06:19 2 E 06:19; 11 flew SE 06:29
Canada Goose 6 05:47 1 at least heard at 05:47; 1 flew W at 06:09 (unusual for this time); 2 SW, then S 07:01; 2 more SW 07:13
Mallard 12 - 10 drakes, on the lake; most of the ducks seem to have left to lay eggs?
Tufted Duck 24 - at least 14 drakes: 3 flew off towards The Flash at 05:59
Ruddy Duck 1 - drake seen in NW area
Common Kestrel 1 07:25 1 on pylon to E
Moorhen 8 - 2 of these were on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 20 - maximum of 5 seen on the SW grass
Black-headed Gull 153 06:14 none when I arrived. A flock of 62 birds arrived from the W at 06:14, with 38 leaving to the SW at 06:20. The next arrivals seemed to be 42 birds from the E at 06:41. In all 153 logged arriving. At 08:20 there were 136 on the lake, though none was seen feeding on a 'hatch' from the surface. At 09:00 most had left with just 11 left
Lesser Black-backed Gull 38 06:47 first flew SW at early time; 3 flew E, unusually at 06:50; all the rest flew W in small groups. One was briefly on the lake at 08:20
Herring Gull 2 06:32 1 sparkling summer-plumaged adult on the lake by 06:32, but seemed not to stay. 1 immature flew NW at 08:39
Stock Dove 4 07:15 1 flew S to E at 07:15; 2 flew S to the E at 07:35; 1 on wires to NE at 07:40
Wood Pigeon 497 05:53 / 06:30 / 06:33 another reasonable day. The first bird was flushed at 05:53; the first heard in song at 06:30 with the first seen in flight at 06:33. A count of 19 birds in the trees around the lake; 4 were on the wires to the E / NE again; 10 singles / small groups were seen flying E; with 64 singles / small groups noted flying W. At least 100 were in the trees in Wards Rough by 06:55 and every time I looked more birds were arriving from the S / SE until I estimated 400 birds at 07:05. By 08:00 they had all gone - at least some dropped in to the fields to the N and are assumed to be the c.90 birds seen on trees to the far NE at 08:15
Sky Lark 2 07:15 1 heard in song to the E at 07:15; then 1 flew low W calling at 08:54
Meadow Pipit 1 06:39 1 heard overhead at 06:39
Grey Wagtail 2 06:22 1 bird seen on and around the dam from 06:22 onwards. 1 at the W / NW end at 09:50
Pied Wagtail 2 06:28 The first bird was, again unusually, seen flying NW
Wren 32 05:49 yet another large count
Dunnock 11 06:22
Robin 30 05:43*
Blackbird 21 05:43*
Song Thrush 7 05:43* 4 of these in song
Redwing 7 08:15 1 S to E 08:15; 2 flushed out of NE trees at 08:30; 4 in trees in NW area at 09:50
Chiffchaff 0 - not recorded (though singing in copse to E of Castle Farm Way)
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:48 4 'parties' again today
Blue Tit 14 06:38
Great Tit 10 06:36
Jay 2 09:50 2 bouncing around and calling in the NW area
Magpie 31 05:43* only 15 birds counted leaving the NE roost but was not well-positioned to see these
Jackdaw 198 06:11 another good day: no early trickle and started with a mass of c.80 birds across the lake at 06:11. No more until 06:20 then a small number of parties before a long tail of singles and pairs until after 06:50
Rook 28 06:01 again a small number though there was a party of 8 at one stage. As in previous years I noted that many of the singles flying had either full crops and / or full bills apparently with food rather than nesting material. Why would they take it in the normal dispersal direction
Carrion Crow 23 06:20 another high count, though with birds flying around all the time hard to be sure how many individuals involved
Chaffinch 8 06:36
Greenfinch 5 06:28
Goldfinch 2 07:25 2 fighting in NW area
Reed Bunting 5 06:45 1 calling in the SW bushes was the first; later 2 along the N side - all males in song; 2 calling at W end
Mammals
Squirrel 1 09:50 1 in NW area
Moths
Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) [2182] 1 - on lamp - needs re-confirming
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still present
fly sp. 100 - at least: small black flies on two adjacent lamps at the W end - why now 2?
spider sp. 1 - the same in the same place on the yacht-club hut
Other observation
Blackthorn - - the blackthorn is really fantastic
Daffodils - - now in bloom (Ed Wilson) Top Friday, 9th (05:39 - 08:49)
Weather
3.5C > 7.5C Almost cloudless apart from a bank of cloud to the E and, later, a few patches of thin cloud from the W: started almost calm, but rather chill W wind sprung up making it feel rather uncomfortable. Excellent visibility
Narrative
Stayed at the W end so that all (most?) of the corvids would be silhouetted against the clear E sky - and that seemed to pay off. Then did the usual full walk around anti-clockwise. Did not get to the lanes and fields to the E this morning
Highlights
Highlight today was the first singing Chiffchaff seen along the N side - after 2 days being frustrated by the birds being in the copse to the E of Castle Farm Way but just too far to be able to hear from the environs. My 74th species seen at or from the lake this year. Other notables included the drake Ruddy Duck and an unusually high number of Crow sightings
Species number time narrative
Cormorant 6 06:32 2 flew N to the E at 06:32; 1 flew W at 06:45; 1 other with it circled over the lake and was joined at 06:46 by 2 others, but they disappeared without landing
Grey Heron 1 07:07 seen far to NE heading N at 07:07. None around the lake
Mute Swan 2 - the usual birds throughout. No visitors today
Greylag Goose 4 06:05 2 E 06:05; 2 more E 06:34
Canada Goose 11 05:47 3 E 05:47; 3 SE 05:55; 3 (as 1 + 2) SE 06:04; 2 E 06:32
Unidentified goose sp. 18 06:26 party of c.18 flew E to N at this time, too far away and seen too briefly to identify. Normally I would suspect Canada Geese, but recent similar-sized parties of Greylag need to be considered as well
Mallard 15 - 10 birds (7 drakes) on the lake; 3 seen flying high over heading E at 06:45; then 2 drakes flew in from the E, off to the SW and then returned over and away to the E again at 07:20
Tufted Duck 22 - 15 drakes: these were all in a tight group
Ruddy Duck 1 - drake seen in NW area displaying, though no duck seen
Buzzard 1 07:25 1 flew E over Castle Farm M-way junction at 07:25
Common Kestrel 1 06:35 1 on wires to E again, and at various locations along the wire until at least 07:00
Moorhen 8 - none of these was on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 24 - maximum of 8 seen on the SW grass again, but more around the lake in various putative nesting locations - nests being refurbished
Woodcock 0 - not recorded: but was in the wrong location to see this
Black-headed Gull 151 06:07 none when I arrived. The first 8 had arrived from the W by 06:07, but had gone by 06:15. The next birds flew in at 06:23 and total of 110 birds were then noted flying in by 07:05 (94 from the W; and a party of 16 from the N); but others clearly slipped in as a count at 07:10 was 135 birds. Some of the 42 logged at 08:20 were again feeding from off the surface in the NE area. 8 birds flew W overhead at 08:25
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 07:05 just a small party of 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an immature Herring Gull at this time: seen passing to the N these veered off and circled the lake and then headed on
Herring Gull 1 07:05 see narrative for Lesser Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove 3 06:24 2 were on the wires around the Woodhouse Farm at 07:20; 1 bird seen displaying to the SW (unusual area) at 07:30
Wood Pigeon 420 05:46 / 06:11 another reasonable day. The first bird was heard in song at 05:46 with the first seen in flight at 06:11 when a small party left the NE trees, probably disturbed by the Magpie roost dispersal. A count of 26 birds in the trees around the lake; 4 were on the wires to the E / NE; 21 singles / small groups were seen flying E; with 51 singles / small groups noted flying W. A party of 18 birds was seen to the N at 06:42. Only c.80 birds were seen in the trees at Ward's Rough at 06:45 but a recheck at 07:20 revealed at least 300 visible birds. None was visible when I next checked
Grey Wagtail 3 06:12 2 birds seen on and around the dam from 06:12 onwards. 1 at the W / NW end as well
Pied Wagtail 6 06:14 The first bird was, unusually, seen flying NW. All the others E / NE as usual
Wren 33 05:49 another large count
Dunnock 15 06:06
Robin 25 05:39* fewer today, probably because I covered less of the lake before 06:30 - the peak singing time for this species
Blackbird 22 05:39*
Fieldfare 17 06:12 2 seen flying NW to the E at 06:12; and then at least 15 (14 + 1) N to the E 06:23
Song Thrush 3 05:53 not singing when I arrived, unusually. [This mirrors the behaviour noted on my drive in when I am now logging 8 - 10 birds, whereas at the equivalent time pre-dawn 3 weeks ago I was logging >20 in song]
Redwing 22 05:52 1 heard calling along the W end at 05:52 assumed to be one of the 3 birds seen at 08:20 in the NW area; 4 birds seen flying off E from N side at 06:59; 11 flew W to the N at 06:24; 4 seen flying out of the NE trees and off S at 06:25
Mistle Thrush 1 08:35 heard in distant song in the NW area at 08:35
Chiffchaff 1 07:47 1 heard in (rather rapid and uncontrolled) song and then seen along the N side at 07:47. A site year-tick (#74). Whether this is the bird heard in the previous 2 days in the copse alongside the Wesley Brook to the E of Castle Farm Way or whether it is new in, is a moot point and as I did not visit that area today to hear whether it is still there
Goldcrest 4 07:22 1 in the NE area at 07:22; 3 more together along the N side at 07:50. All these birds seemed rather dull-plumaged - the mantle seemed rather grey-toned and not at all olive
Long-tailed Tit 4 06:03 / 06:36 4 'parties' today: the birds that started to call at 06:03 only did so momentarily and nothing more was heard until 06:36
Coal Tit 2 07:45 1 seen at E end of N side at 07:45 - a less usual area, but has the requisite conifers that this species seems to like. 1 in song in NW area at 08:40
Blue Tit 20 06:05 even earlier start to the calls
Great Tit 15 06:19
Jay 2 08:35 2 at least bouncing around and calling on both side of the Teece Drive approach
Magpie 59 05:39* 39 birds counted leaving the NE roost, with 27 of these leaving in a long stream at 06:11
Jackdaw 218 05:59 a better day today with birds silhouetted against the bright eastern sky. No really big flocks with 32 over the lake and another 48 on an easterly track at 07:15. Steady passage until 06:45 with just a few later
Rook 26 05:56 if the conditions were good for seeing Jackdaws it did not help with this species! Almost all singles both over the lake and to the far E. So where are they? If they do go earlier not sure how I can see them to check
Carrion Crow 42 05:50 a very big count boosted by a loose party of 13 birds flying N over the E end of the lake at 06:25; and what appeared to be a different party of 10 birds flying S to the far E - beyond Wards Rough - at 06:55
Chaffinch 15 06:30
Greenfinch 2 06:06 a disappointing day
Goldfinch 1 08:40 1 in NW area only again
Reed Bunting 6 - 3 along the N side - all males in song; 2 calling at W end joined by a bird apparently flying in to the roost area at 06:03
Mammals
Squirrel 1 08:05 1 along the N side
Mole hills 0 - no new hills noted
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still present and moved again a few millimeters!
fly sp. 50 - at least: small black flies all on one of the lamps at the W end - why all on the one lamp?
bumble-bee sp. 1 - seen at W end: my first bee of the year here
spider sp. 1 - on the yacht-club hut
Other observation
- - the Blackthorn is now well out (Ed Wilson) Top
Thursday, 8th (05:39 - 09:20)
but in lanes / fields to E & SE 07:40 - 08:30
Weather
4.5C > 8.5C After some clear spells a large area of medium-level cloud came across just as the corvids were due to depart and then melted away to allow a clear sunrise and thereafter a fine spring morning, though the moderate W wind made it a bit 'bracing' at times
Highlights
Best around the lake was another glimpse of a flying Woodcock near the dam: saw it rather better this morning and convinced that it pitched in the trees in the SE corner, prompting me to make a flushing attempt later when the light was better. No joy. Of the rest the Early Grey moth was a welcome addition
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 0 - none of these either: if they had gone to The Flash yesterday they should have come back today as the excess number had gone!
Cormorant 9 07:04 4 flew W overhead at 07:04 - all adults, though all of them had rather dull white thigh patches. Then 5 flew N at 07:06 with 3 full adults with plumes as well as thigh patches, the other 2 immatures with white bellies
Mute Swan 3 - the usual birds throughout. An adult flew in from the E at 07:50 and left that way at 07:55 having been seen-off
Greylag Goose 3 06:03 2 flew E to the N at 06:03; 1 flew W 06:46
Canada Goose 3 06:26 2 flew E to the N at 06:26; 1 on the lake by 08:05, but gone by 08:25 without being seen and without attracting attention from the Swans
Mallard 12 - 9 drakes. Little flying about and these were all rather sedentary today
Tufted Duck 15 - 8 drakes
Sparrowhawk 1 08:50 female perched briefly on the trees in the NW area
Buzzard 2 07:02 1 flew S to the E at 07:02; 1 seen circling over W end 09:05
Common Kestrel 1 06:41 1 on wires to E again
Moorhen 7 - 3 of these were on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 18 - maximum of 8 seen on the SW grass
Woodcock 1 06:07 amazingly this bird was seen again this morning, again flying along above the dam and then climbing and then seeming to disappear around the back of the trees in the SE area next to the Castle Farm Interchange. Far too dark to see more and after I came back from the lines I conducted a 1-man flushing party in the trees without success
Black-headed Gull 78 06:11 none when I arrived. The first 15 arrived from the W at 06:12. A total of 39 birds were noted flying in from the W, but others clearly slipped in as a count at 07:10 was 83 birds. Many of these headed off SE. Later parties were seen flying in from the far E and over the lake and on - 6 at 07:45; and then 41 at 07:56. I did another count at 08:05 and there were 105 on the lake, so some others must have arrived. At least 150 for the morning. Some of the 105 logged at 08:05 were feeding from the surface on what to seem to have been a 'hatch' again
Lesser Black-backed Gull 12 07:45 a single W at 07:45; then 11 adults seen 'thermalling' over the W end at 09:10
Stock Dove 6 06:24 1 flew S to the E at 06:24; 3 were on the wires around the Woodhouse Farm at 06:33; 1 bird flew W at 07:11; and 1 S to the E at 07:14
Wood Pigeon 311 06:12 / 06:28 another reasonable day. The first bird was heard in song at 06:12 with the first seen in flight at 06:28. Another good count of 23 birds in the trees around the lake; 1 was on the wires to the E / NE; 20 singles / small groups were seen flying E; and 77 singles / small groups noted flying W. Only c.40 birds were seen in the trees at Ward's Rough, but the trees further back held at least 190 birds
Grey Wagtail 2 06:11 2 birds seen on and around the dam from 06:11 onwards. None at the W / NW end today
Pied Wagtail 6 06:17
Wren 29 05:47 large number again today
Dunnock 14 06:05
Robin 36 05:42* yet another big number today
Blackbird 24 05:42*
Song Thrush 7 05:42* just 4 in song
Redwing 10 05:55 1 heard calling along the W end at 05:55 assumed to be one of the 8 birds seen at 09:20 in the NW area; 2 birds seen flying off from N side 07:06
Mistle Thrush 2 09:20 1 seen with Redwings in the NW area at 09:20 with another heard singing in the distance at the same time
Goldcrest 2 08:30 1 in the NE area at 08:30; 1 along the N side at 08:45
Long-tailed Tit 5 06:20 5 'parties', though again several seemed to be lone birds - one party of at least 5 birds
Blue Tit 12 06:09 earlier start!
Great Tit 8 06:22
Jay 1 06:47 1 staged through the pylons to the E as it flew off SE at 06:47
Magpie 53 05:42* 29 birds counted leaving the NE roost
Jackdaw 91 06:09 these unhelpfully passed just as the darkest clouds were overhead, with 12 at 06:09 and 34 at 06:10. These directly over the E end of the lake, but no more until 06:32 and almost all the subsequent birds passed well to the E. Sporadic passage until well after 08:00
Rook 8 05:52 another disappointing day with bird(s) heard while dark under heavy cloud at 05:52 and 05:56. A single at 06:02; and then a group of 4 at 06:32. Late lone bird at 07:00
Carrion Crow 17 05:45 up early again
Chaffinch 7 06:22
Greenfinch 4 06:35
Goldfinch 1 09:50 1 in NW area only
Reed Bunting 5 - 3 along the N side - 2 males in song and a female seen; 1 calling in NW area; and 1 in song at W end
Mammals
Rabbit 1 05:47 on W end path pre-dawn
Moths
Early Grey Xylocampa areola [2243] 1 - on lamp on W end
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - still present
Other observation
- - none (Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday, 7th (05:39 - 09:20)
but in lanes / fields to E & SE 07:40 - 08:30
Weather
1.5C > 7.5C Fine and apart from some patches to the N / NE cloudless morning. Initially calm with a touch of frost a moderate WNW wind sprang up later. Good visibility throughout
Narrative
A splendid spring morning, though no special sunrise, with the sky too clear! An early visit to the S end of the dam to try and see the corvids - of course they went off to the W didn't they! Then back to the W end before the complete anti-clockwise loop with a diversion for the lanes and fields to the E / SE
Highlights
Best around the lake was a glimpse of a flying Woodcock near the dam - a year-tick for me and my 73rd species at the lake for the year. Also noteworthy was the gathering of Black-headed Gulls in the NE area at 08:35 that seemed to be feeding on a 'hatch' pecking at the surface and also stretching their necks to get at insects flying off
Species number time narrative
Great Crested Grebe 0 - none of these either: perhaps all gone to The Flash where there were more?
Cormorant 3 06:35 1 flew N to E 06:35; 2 flew NE to E together 07:29
Grey Heron 2 06:13 first seen flying in from the E at 06:13, presumed same bird pitched in to NE area from the W at 06:16; again presumed same at W end 06:25; again presumed same flushed from SE area 07:21. Bird seen flying W to N at 06:50 likely a different bird
Mute Swan 5 - the usual birds throughout. An adult flew W to N 06:48. 2 adults flew W low over the lake 08:53 (and were probably the 'extra' birds seen at The Flash later)
Greylag Goose 20 06:39 all 20 (as 18 +2) flew E at 06:39
Canada Goose 19 06:12 14 flew E 06:12; 5 flew W to N 06:23
Mallard 14 - 8 drakes. Incredibly hard to count / total as birds were continually flying about and (the same birds?) leaving and arriving
Tufted Duck 16 - 6 drakes
Ruddy Duck 1 - the adult drake seen again briefly in the NE area this morning
Buzzard 1 09:15 1 heard over W end at 09:15
Common Kestrel 1 06:33 1 on wires to ENE for some 20 minutes
Moorhen 10 - 1 only of these was on the dam / dam-face today
Coot 21 - maximum of 11 seen on the SW grass
Woodcock 1 05:56 the distinctive silhouette of this species flew through the binocular field as I was searching for the first corvids. It seemed to have flown over the dam, along the line of the dam and either pitched in the trees in the SE area or disappeared behind them and across the M54
Black-headed Gull 78 06:11 none when I arrived. The first 1 arrived from the W at 06:11 and flew about, but in the absence of any other gulls flew away again. The next was a party of 10 birds at 06:20, though most of these left by 06:30. After this time a small arrival from both the W and NE. I logged a total of 78 arrivals. Subsequent counts of birds on the lake gave me 66 at 07:25; and 77 at 08:35 so there may have been no new arrivals. The gathering in the NE area at 08:35 seemed to be feeding on a 'hatch' pecking at the surface and also stretching their necks to get at insects flying off(?)
Lesser Black-backed Gull 11 06:54 after singles at 06:54 and 07:26, there was a party of 9 birds over at 08:39. All westbound
Stock Dove 7 06:29 1 flew W at 06:28; 4 were on the wires to the NE at 06:33; 1 2 flew W at 07:25
Wood Pigeon 425 06:25 another reasonable day. The first bird seen in flight at 06:25. A good count of 30 birds in the trees around the lake; 7 were on the wires to the E / NE; 30 singles / small groups were seen flying E; and 79 singles / small groups noted flying W. A party of 46 flew out of Ward's Rough area and away W at 06:47; but c.200 were in the tops of the trees in Wards Rough at 07:25, with another 35 in the trees to the NW
Grey Wagtail 2 06:05 at least 1 bird in the dam area; and another at the W / SW end
Pied Wagtail 8 06:15
Wren 31 05:39* large number today as song gets well underway
Dunnock 19 05:57 songs and calls started early; a high count and many singles / 'pairs' / trios seen 'wing-waving'
Robin 37 05:39* yet another big number today
Blackbird 26 05:39* this species now well in song
Song Thrush 7 05:39* just 5 in song - perversely as Blackbirds start singing, this species seems to be quieter!
Redwing 6 06:32 1 heard calling along the S side at 06:32; 3 flew out of N side trees at 07:00; and 2 in NE trees at 08:50
Mistle Thrush 2 06:46 1 in song to far NE 06:46; 1 seen flying off NW from NW area 09:10 assumed a different bird
Goldcrest 2 07:13 1 in the extreme SW corner at 07:13; 1 in NW area at 09:05
Long-tailed Tit 8 07:10 8 'parties' would be a misnomer as although I saw this species in 8 distinct locations around the lake every sighting was of lone birds: how odd
Coal Tit 1 09:20 1 in song in NW area 09:20
Blue Tit 18 06:17 early start; good number
Great Tit 18 06:24 same again: early start; good number
Magpie 47 05:39* 32 birds counted leaving the NE roost
Jackdaw 146 06:09 4 birds surprised me at 06:09 by flying well to the W of the lake, then c.100 in a low, loose flock, flew over the dam at 06:10; thereafter a scatter of pairs / groups through to 06:45, with some more birds slipping by to the far W as well as a few to the far E. Several singles after 08:00
Rook 15 06:06 this species was also first seen unusually far to the E at 06:06 where perhaps the main flock had already passed? No more until a single at 06:44 and thereafter singles only
Carrion Crow 14 05:43 started calling early
Chaffinch 9 06:36
Greenfinch 10 06:24
Goldfinch 3 06:41 1 in alders in NE area at 08:40, otherwise fly-overs
Bullfinch 3 08:45 3 together in NE area at 08:45 - a male; a female and a flying bird
Reed Bunting 2 07:05 1 only, calling at W end; 1 in song along N side
Mammals
Rabbit 1 08:55 along N side - dashed off into Celestica grounds
Mole hills some - more new hills noted at the E end
Insects etc
Calvia 14-guttata ladybird 1 - well it is alive! It had moved a few inches today!
'hatch' many? - see note re Black-headed Gulls feeding - the gathering in the NE area at 08:35 seemed to be feeding on a 'hatch', pecking at the surface and also stretching their necks to get at insects flying off.
(Ed Wilson)
Top Tuesday, 6th (17:05 - 17:25) Evening Log - Managed to get away from work on time and have a quick look at the lake to see what was about. And I am so glad I did, especially as nobody has been to the lake this month. When I arrived there were two separate flocks of Lesser Black-backed Gulls one of 53 which was more than doubled when a further 76 Lessers and a Herring Gull joined them at 17:10 and there was another flock of 23 Lessers and 180 Black-backed Gulls in the NW bay. However what was exciting was to see a Merlin crossing the Lake at 17:10. As the larger Gulls dropped down onto the lake so the Merlin just drifted over the northbank and leisurely passed over the top of them before disappearing south over the M54. Not bad for my first outing to the lake this month.
Also about there was the 2 resident Swans, 12 Tufted Duck which were fairly distributed across the lake and c.200 Woodpigeon in the top fields. It was also interesting to note, that before the normal northward bound corvid roost came across, that a dozen or more Jackdaws and a few Rooks were heading south!
(Martin Adlam) |
