Saturday, 27th
05:15 - 07:15: 7.0C with showers clearing away and clear for a time; moderate NNW wind; good visibility with 'hat' on The Wrekin
Best was the fine breeding plumage Redpoll feeding in the W end alders with a female Siskin (if they bred would they produce a Redskin?). 3 other Redpolls and 3 other Siskins flew over
Otherwise
- after a long period with sporadic appearances of Heron I had 4 sightings of at least 3 birds this morning
- lowest Coot numbers yet: I could find only 47 this morning
- a Sparrowhawk seemed to come out of the NW trees at first light: I think they bred here two years ago (did not seem to last year)
- a lone gull: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over
- party of 16 Fieldfares flew N; Redwing over as well
- Mistle Thrush singing from the top of the SW trees and then flew off, singing in flight again. A few seconds later another was singing from the same place - surely 'Stormhens' don't sign!
- a Willow Warbler singing from along the N side
- the Magpie roosts seem to be fading away: logged just 18 (8 in NW; 10 in NE)
- still no passing Rooks: >200 Jackdaws this morning
and
- the Chicken / Red Jungle-fowl heard again
- 3 moths on the lamps - all Dotted Border moths
The numbers
-
4 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 or 4 Herons
- 2 Swans: residents
- 18 Canada Goose: up to 4 on the lake
- 4 Gadwall: 2 pairs again
- 10 Mallard: 6 drakes
- 29 Tufted Duck: 20 drakes
- 5 Moorhen
- 47 Coots
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull the only gull seen
- 43 Wood Pigeon
- c.215 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 2 Rooks to the NE
(Ed Wilson)
Top Friday, 26th
At the lake and The Flash: then Trench
After all the rain, clearing as I arrived, the lake, The Flash and both pools were very muddy and the Wesley Brook running fast between them
at the lake
- for the second time this week Teal heard: previously too misty to check but no such problem today - still couldn't find it though
- 3 Buzzards circling together
- a few gulls for a change: 3 first year Black-headed Gulls flew through; and 18 large gulls - all seemed to be Lesser Black-backed Gulls but some were rather distant - flew SW
- Tufted Ducks chasing around in small groups: getting ready to leave?
- a Mistle Thrush singing from the NW area and set-off SW still singing in flight: never seen a Mistle Thrush do this before - Wrens often do (how do they manage that?); but other birds?
and
- despite the mild night no moths on the lamps
The numbers
-
1 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe after much looking and counting - very elusive and mobile
- 2 Swans: residents
- 22 Canada Goose: up to 6 on the lake
- 4 Gadwall: 2 pairs again
- 6 Mallard: 4 drakes
-36 Tufted Duck: 27 drakes (see notes)
- 6 Moorhen
- 52 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls flew through
- 18 large gulls all flying over
- 40 Wood Pigeons
- c.160 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 13 Rooks to the NE
between Priorslee Lake and The Flash
- 'Phil the Pheasant' still on guard at the Ricoh deliveries entrance despite fears for its safety from the locals
- a female Siskin on alders near the upper pool
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Thursday, 25th Usual visit to the lake and The Flash
05:15 - 08:45 9C > 10C: Started cloudy and then some drizzle before brightening. Light SE wind and moderate visibility
A few bits and pieces this morning with no new species: indeed the Willow Warbler was not heard this morning
- a second pair of Gadwall at the lake this morning
- hard to be certain as song still a bit intermittent but a calling Chiffchaff at the lake suggests perhaps the females have started to arrive as well
- just the odd Rook at first light for some weeks: today there were c.25 in the trees at Wards Rough to the NE at 08:20 so perhaps they are feeding in the fields behind there and not crossing the lake?
- think I have found where the Linnets are roosting at the moment: 6 came out of the hedge behind the last house in Teece Drive at 06:00
- 1 Reed Bunting near the same pool. Could not decide whether it was a well-marked female or a drab first-year male. Whatever: my first here (though habitat looks OK)
and
- mild weather gave me a good crop of 5 moths of 4 species on the lamps with Oak Beauty new for the year; and a live Hebrew Character
The numbers
- 1 Little Grebe
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Swans: residents
- 2 Greylag Geese: over
- 16 Canada Goose: 4 on the lake
- 4 Gadwall: 2 pairs
- 10 Mallard: 7 drakes
- 27 Tufted Duck: 18 drakes. 3 of these flew off
- 11 Moorhen
- 62 Coots
- 4 Black-headed Gulls stayed for a while
- no large gulls
- 34 Wood Pigeon
- c.210 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- c.25 Rooks to the NE
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday, 24th
Mild (8C > 9C), overcast with some light rain, moderate S wind; moderate visibility
At the lake and Flash 05:15 - 09:00
Best today was my second Oystercatcher of the year at the lake commuting between the dam and the SW grass until flushed by dog-walkers at 08:30
Other notes from today
- just the 1 pair of Gadwall again
- single gull over: adult Lesser Black-backed Gull
- small passage of Pied Wagtails: 11 heard over early and then 2 on dam and 2 on SW grass. No White Wagtails though
- 2 Redwings flew off from NW area: getting late in the season for these here
- Willow Warbler intermittently singing in same area
- 4 Chiffchaffs in song
- having built the nest the Long-tailed Tits seem not to be using it
- another day with no Rooks seen on dispersal: c.225 Jackdaws though
- party of 12 Linnets flew over
- another late Siskin over
and
- the remains of a Hebrew Character moth hanging from a spider-web on one of the lamps
The numbers
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Swans: residents
- 3 Greylag Geese over
- 6 Canada Goose: all on the lake at various times
- 2 Gadwall: 1 pair
- 15 Mallard: 9 drakes again
- 28 Tufted Duck: 17 drakes
- 5 Moorhens only
- 54 Coots
- 1 gull seen - Lesser Black-backed Gull over
- 32 Wood Pigeon
- c.225 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- no Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday, 23rd Usual visit to the lake, The Flash and the lanes to the E
05:15 - 08:45 0C > 2C Started clear with high cloud but then fog and low cloud despite chill S breeze
A few bits and pieces this morning
- Teal heard calling at the lake but not seen in the mist
- no gulls seen or heard only partly attributable to the fog / low cloud
- another (the same?) Willow Warbler singing, often quietly, along the N side of the lake
- 2 Redpoll over at least - was busy with the sunrise pictures at the time
- 1 Siskin over: late in the season for these here
and
- what I think was a Lead-coloured Drab moth on one of the lights
Some numbers
at the misty lake
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Swans: residents
- 13 Canada Goose: 5 on the lake
- 2 Gadwall: 1 pair
- 15 Mallard: 9 drakes
- 24 Tufted Duck: 16 drakes
- 13 Moorhen
- no count of Coots in poor visibility
- no gulls seen
- 27 Wood Pigeon
- c.160 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 3 Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Monday, 22nd
Migration really starts!
Notes from today
- 2 Sand Martins by 08:00 increased to 4 later
- Willow Warbler along N side. Good job I walked clockwise around the lake as this bird, singing quietly, moved quickly through along the N shore and away. My earliest here
and
- one of the Chiffchaffs singing this morning had the distinctive hic-cup song. The 4th year at least that I have heard this distinctive song here - same bird? learned at the nest here?
Otherwise
Much quieter at the lake and noticeable devoid of birds when I arrived
- only 1 pair of Gadwall this morning
- Tufted Ducks moving out: only 23 left (16 drakes)
- many fewer Coot visibly - 53 logged today. Numbers seem very variable and may depend upon how many are hiding on nests in the reeds
- no gulls: just the odd visitor now with 3 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls very transient visitors
but
- Stock Doves still hanging about the NW trees
- 2 of the 4 Pied Wagtails were on the dam: which they tend to do on passage
- 2 of the 3 Mistle Thrushes on the SW grass: something that seems to happen only in Spring
- 8 Linnets
and
- 2 March Moths on the lamps
The numbers
- 1 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Heron
- 2 Swans: residents
- 9 Canada Goose: all on the lake
- 2 Gadwall: 1 pair
- 13 Mallard: 9 drakes
- 23 Tufted Duck: 16 drakes
- 8 Moorhen
- 53 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: none stayed
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all over
- 3 Herring Gulls: also over
- 70 Wood Pigeon
- c.130 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 3 Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 21st
05:20 – 07:15 1.5C>3.0C; clear with slight frost after rain cleared; light N wind; good visibility though a few mist patches
Short visit before a day cycling around the lanes of Shropshire
Of note just
- 2 Fieldfare in the SW trees flew off: getting late but there were >500 near Wall Farm later in the morning
Numbers
- 1 Little Grebe
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Swan: no interlopers
-
20 Canada Goose: 9 on the lake
-
6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 15 Mallard: 9 drakes
-
36 Tufted Duck: 23 drakes
-
7 Moorhen
-
75 Coot
-
2 Black-headed Gulls: singles over
-
32 Lesser Black-backed Gull all flying SW
- 42 Wood Pigeon
-
149 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
-
no Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson) Top
Overall sightings between Mon 15th - Sat 20th March
- some signs of Spring with the first obvious arrivals and departures
--- Little and Great Crested Grebe displaying, the latter at both the lake (3 pairs?) and The Flash (2 pairs?)
--- Mallard numbers at their nadir as pairs leave to breed: the drakes will soon be back!
--- Pochard gone with Monday 15th the last day
--- Tufted Duck particularly hard to count: they are scattered and all continually diving as they, I assume, feed-up before they leave
--- a male Pheasant had taken to being the gate guard at the Ricoh goods entrance and making a lot of noise about it: he has at least two hens in the wood here
--- Moorhens back on the pools between the lake and The Flash
--- gull numbers now very low / almost non-existent
--- Stock Doves seen or heard almost daily in NW area at the lake
--- a Wood Pigeon on a nest at eye-level at The Flash
--- Meadow Pipit now almost daily passing N
--- the small Pied Wagtail roost dispersal now seems to have ceased: birds left?
--- small parties of up to 15 Redwings most days: no song heard yet
--- Martin Grant beat me to Chiffchaff with one on Wednesday 17th: but singing birds aplenty the following morning with 3 at the lake; 1 in the copse by the sluice exit; and 2 at The Flash (and 2 more at Trench)
- the Swans at the lake have had up to 12 interlopers some days but held territory; at The Flash one of last year's cygnets finally seems to have left after some days of coming and going and the other less developed bird is being tolerated
- 6 Gadwall at the lake throughout: sometimes getting flighty though
- up to 8 Song Thrushes can be heard at first light around the lake and in the distance; but neither thrushes can be heard at The Flash (and numbers well down on my journey from Newport as well)
- Nuthatch heard to S of The Flash twice: unusual in the area, but just about annual
- Linnets still daily occurrence: mostly singles flying E from roost, but still occasionally at the W end of the old Celestica
and
- first March Moths on the lamps on Tuesday 16th and daily thereafter
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Saturday 20th:
10C; started fine but damp, but then rain; light S wind; good visibility Notes
- significant drop in Coot numbers (from c.80 to c.60), but may be weather related. Birds sitting on nests now
- roost of finches in the NW area with c.35 Greenfinches, c.15 Goldfinches and c.10 Linnets noted departing
otherwise quiet
Numbers from around the lake
- 1 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Swan: no interlopers
- 6 Canada Goose: 4 on the lake
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 11 Mallard: 7 drakes
- 39 Tufted Duck: 25 drakes
- 10 Moorhen
- 61 Coot
- 21 Black-headed Gulls: 2 only on the water
- 67 Wood Pigeon
- 146 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 1 Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Friday 19th - no visit
Top
Thursday 18th:
7->9C; solid high cloud; moderate S wind; rather hazy
Notes
- the apparent Greylag Goose paired with Canada Goose seen again (otherwise Greylags absent all week)
- against the trend over 100 Black-headed Gulls seen, but most paused before continuing to the E
- 1 heavily matted dead Crow on the dam-face: not seen before or since so was it long-dead or did it fall in the water?
Numbers from around the lake
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 6 Swan: 0 + 4 interlopers briefly
- 10 Canada Goose: 6 on the lake
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 9 Mallard: 6 drakes
- 22 Tufted Duck: 15 drakes
- 10 Moorhen
- 77 Coot
- 115 Black-headed Gulls: 21 on the water
- 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 1 on the water
- 1 Herring G: 0 on the water
- 87 Wood Pigeon
- 180 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 9 Rooks on roost dispersal (Ed Wilson)
Top
Wednesday 17th:
5->7C; mostly cloudy; light S wind; good visibility
Notes
- 1 dead Canada Goose at the lake: seemed to have just keeled over and was supported by its bill and feet and seemed uninjured otherwise nothing of import
Numbers from around the lake
- 2 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe
- 12 Swan: 2 + 8 interlopers briefly
- 16 Canada Goose: 6 on the lake
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 13 Mallard: 8 drakes
- 20 Tufted Duck: 12 drakes
- 9 Moorhen
- 71 Coot
- 65 Black-headed Gulls: 65 on the water
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 5 on the water
- 49 Wood Pigeon
- 83 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 2 Rooks on roost dispersal (Ed Wilson)
Top
Tuesday 16th:
1->6C; slight frost to start; broken cloud, light SW wind and excellent visibility
Notes
- several small groups of Wood Pigeon flying N high up: birds on the move
- 3 Redpolls flew E together
- Reed Buntings looking for territory: 1 in the S side bushes and 1 in fields to E
and
- Pussy Willow beginning to break
Numbers from around the lake
- 1 Little Grebe
- 7 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Heron in the distance
- 4 Swan: 2 + 0 interlopers briefly
- 18 Canada Goose: 8 on the lake
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 15 Mallard: 9 drakes
- 19 Tufted Duck: 12 drakes after the clearance on Monday
- 8 Moorhen
- 86 Coot
- 20 Black-headed Gulls: 22 on the water
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: none on the water
- 73 Wood Pigeon
- 99 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 20 Rooks on roost dispersal (Ed Wilson)
Top
Monday 15th:
4->11C; pleasant Spring day with moderate NW winds; clouded up later in the morning
the day that the 'weed treatment' was done to the lake with a boat on the water (see separate post). This meant all the geese, Tufted Ducks and gulls left - the ducks probably to The Flash
Notes
- duck Goosander flew around the lake at 06:45 and carried on west
- Great Tit seen investigating a loose cover at the base of one of the lamps: have nested there for at least 3 years
- 2 Starlings were a surprise inclusion in a party of Jackdaws leaving their roost
Numbers from around the lake
- 2 Little Grebe
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Heron flew in but not seen thereafter
- 5 Swan: 3 + 0 interlopers briefly
- 1 Greylag Goose: 1 on the lake
- 20 Canada Goose: 14 on the lake
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs
- 13 Mallard: 7 drakes
- 1 Pochard: 1 drake
- 41 Tufted Duck: 25 drakes
- 1 Goosander: duck overhead
- 9 Moorhen
- 81 Coot
- 10 Black-headed Gulls: 6 on the water
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: none on the water
- 4 Herring Gulls: none on the water
- 64 Wood Pigeon
- 108 Jackdaws on roost dispersal
- 6 Rooks on roost dispersal
(Ed Wilson)
Top Sunday, 14th
Cloud clearing gave a late touch of frost; moderate NNW wind sprang up; excellent visibility
Lots of bits and pieces but no real stars
- 2, perhaps 3, Little Grebes seen fighting and calling in NW area
- apparently only 5 Great Crested Grebes now
- 1 Cormorant briefly
- 7 Swans: 5 (4 (sub) adults and 1 1st year) flew in and had not been dislodged after 2 hours of chasing: 1 ring read - Blue 7FAD
- 1 Common Gull: an adult flew through W
- Stock Dove calling from the NW area
- best corvid passage for a while - 253 Jackdaws, but only 11 Rooks
- Linnet flushed from around the Teece Drive gate as I arrived at 05:35
- 9 Reed Buntings with pair along the N side
and in the lane / fields to the E
- Willow Tit calling from near the sluice exit
- male Siskin feeding in the alders near the sluice exit
Water bird numbers from the lake
- 3 Little Grebes (see notes)
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant
- 7 Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese flew off
- 16 Canada Geese: 10 of these on the lake at some time
- 6 Gadwall: 3 pairs again
- 17 Mallard: 10 drakes
- 2 Pochard: 1 drake. These seemed to disappear
- 47 Tufted Duck: 31 drakes
- 11 Moorhens
- 77 Coots
- c.300 Black-headed Gulls after 06:15
- 1 Common Gull
- 59 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 6 on the lake, the rest flying W / SW
- 6 Herring Gulls
( Ed Wilson)
Top
Saturday, 13th A fine and frosty start at the lake: clouded after 07:30. Light winds and excellent visibility After the usual look and the lake and the lane to the SE I made my first visit of the year to Nedge to try and find an early Wheatear - not here yet, but I know they are on the Lancashire hills already
So the notes from the day
- another Swan visitor: allowed to stay all of 3 minutes!
- still up to 16 Canada Geese on the lake with 6 more-or-less resident. Strangely the Swans seem unconcerned about these at the moment. Perhaps when they are nesting they will see them off as they usually do
- all 3 pairs of Gadwalls seen again
- Pochard numbers same as yesterday
- one of the Buzzards was on the verge of Castle Farm Way just inches from the traffic: would it do that on a weekday rush hour?
- Coot numbers seem to have stabilised - even slightly increased with 81 counted today
- single Lapwing over (but see Nedge notes)
- large number of Black-headed Gulls today: on the way back from Nedge at 09:30 there were over 1100 present
- still low numbers of Wood Pigeons but some of those noted today were flying higher than usual suggesting they are on the move
- 3 Redwings in the trees; no song noted
- Magpies still mainly in the two roosts: 24 in the NW; and 17 logged in the NE
in the lanes
- very quiet again and nothing of note
Numbers from the lake
- 5 Great Crested Grebes: possibly more
- 1 Heron flew in before 06:00 but was not seen later
- 3 Swans (see notes)
- 2 Greylag Geese flew W
- 23 Canada Geese: 16 on the lake at various times; 7 others over
- 6 Gadwall: 3 drakes
- 13 Mallard: 8 drakes
- 4 Pochard: 1 drake
- 48 Tufted Ducks: 33 drakes
- 8 Moorhens
- 81 Coots
- 1 Lapwing over
- >1100 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- c.30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 26 on the lake and only 4 seen over
- 5 Herring Gulls, all on the water (Ed Wilson)
Top Friday, 12th
At the lake and The Flash in occasional light rain
Best today was what I assumed was the same pair of Shoveler that flew about several times, always appearing to leave: perhaps there were 4 pairs?
Notes
- big party of 10 Swans - 2 sub-adults and 8 1sy years - flew in but were soon dispatched
- only 2 pairs of Gadwall seen today but the group has split up and the pairs can be hard to keep track of
- big drop in number of Pochard: just 4 this morning
- 1 Meadow Pipit flew in to the trees at the W end: they only seem to do this in Spring and usually on migration
- over a week since I last heard / saw anything of the Willow Tits
- 1 Starling flew out of the W end reeds and away - seemed to have roosted there!
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Thursday, 11th At the lake, around the Woodhouse Lane area; on to The Flash; and then Trench
Fine, cold and very frosty (no ice though) but rather misty and later low cloud and very poor visibility at Trench
Notes
- single Lapwing over
- a male Sparrowhawk perched briefly at the W end
- Stock Doves again in the NW area
- Mistle Thrush singing to N now regular: another pair seen
- a Long-tailed Tit nest now almost complete: now has dome and side-entrance and only needs some more camouflage to finish
- Magpie nest at W end similarly now (re)constructed: a dome nest here - some Magpies make open nests
- 8 Linnets back feeding on the weedy bank at the W end of the construction site
- 15 Reed Buntings: 3 singing birds and 12 seen leaving the W end roost
and
- another Dotted Border moth braving the sub-zero temperatures
very very quiet around the lanes
(Ed Wilson)
Top Wednesday, 10th
At the lake, around the Woodhouse Lane area; on then to the Flash: cloud just about broken, keen E wind but no frost and good visibility
Notes
- Little Grebe again sped off in to the NW reeds when the dog-walkers arrived
- Cormorant fishing from 08:20 and 08:50 at least
- 2 interloping Swans arrived while the cob was inspecting the nest site and were left unmolested for a while: both yellow-ringed 'B7CF' and 'B7CJ' with the younger-looking (all white plumage but dull bill) breaking reeds/sedges and laying them on the water - practicing nest-building?
- the Water Rail in the NE area early only
- 2 Stock Dove seen display-flying over the NW wooded area: I suspected they nested here in 2008 but never proved it
- Treecreeper seen again in NW area
- Goldcrest in same area
- Yellowhammer heard while on the dam: singing from the fields to the W above the noise of the week-day traffic
but
- despite the milder weather no moths on the lamps
East of Priorslee lake:
from the quiet lanes and fields to the E / SE (another attempt on the Barn Owl)
- male Grey Wagtail at the sluice exit
- 2 Goldcrests in scrub around the sluice exit / bridge
(Ed Wilson)
Top Tuesday, 9th
At the lake, around the Woodhouse Lane area; on to the Flash; and then both Trench Pools: unexpected sunshine and clear skies, but frosty start
Best today were 3 Snipe seen in flight
Otherwise
- drake Teal hiding in the over-hanging sallows in the NW area
- rather more Pied Wagtails - 11 logged flying E/NE from a roost somewhere: some years >50 have been logged, but until recently only 1 / 2 per day this winter
- Wren numbers picking up - at least the song is. Logged 15 this morning: still about half the normal Spring number though
- 13 Reed Buntings: 10 left the roost at the W end, leaving 3 birds singing
and
- Dotted Border moth on one of the lamps along the W-end path
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Monday, 8th
At the lake and The Flash for a short mid-afternoon watch in glorious sunshine: almost expected some migrants!
Only thing to note
- the Magpies get their timing right: as the mobile snack-bar pulled away from the lay-by there were 13 waiting!
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 7th A short visit until 08:00
Fine and frosty with light SE wind and good visibility. Very little ice
I'll have to stop pontificating: after remarking about lack of Cormorants and Water Rails recently (and before that Siskins) all have re-appeared, as we shall see
Best today
- 2 Yellowhammers could be heard from the dam: they were singing to the E and with almost no traffic were clearly audible: a site year-tick for me
Otherwise the notes
- 8 Great Crested Grebes for sure this morning
- 1 Cormorant seen flying away at 07:07, but I suspect it never landed
- 5 Goosanders flew high W: at least 2 drakes
- 1 Water Rail in the NE ditch even allowed some (poor) photos
- another dearth of gulls today:
---- no more than c.150 Black-headed Gulls and arrival started with singles at 06:15 and then 06:29
---- very few large gulls (though this is usual at weekends)
- 62 Magpies logged and odd behaviour noted. 39 had gathered on the trees in the NW area when 2 Crows flew low from the N calling and they all dived for cover - surely not from Crows? and why were the Crows calling loudly?
An even quicker sprint to Woodhouse Lane failed to find the Barn Owl seen yesterday
now all the water-bird numbers
- 8 Great Crested Grebes (see notes)
- 1 Cormorant (see notes)
- 4 Swans: 2 interlopers before 06:00 but chased away after the locals woke up
- 18 Canada Geese: 8 on the lake at various times
- 6 Gadwall: usual 3 pairs though flying around in 3s this morning
- 17 Mallard: 10 drakes
- 26 Pochard: 14 drakes
- 62 Tufted Duck: 40 drakes exactly again, but 2 more ducks than yesterday
- 1 Water Rail (see notes)
- 3 Moorhens only
- 76 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: only 3 seen on the lake
- 2 Herring Gulls: only 1 on the lake
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Saturday, 6th
East Priorslee
-
1 Barn Owl - excellent views of hunting bird down to 30m at about 0830. Also, Stock Dove, Redwing, Yellowhammer, Buzzard
Priorslee Lake
-
Gadwall - 6 (3 pairs)
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Lake
Low cloud with only a few breaks made it rather dull and with moderate visibility: keen NW wind. No frost or ice
The notes from today where the best for me was
- 1 Meadow Pipit flew N: a site-year tick of a bird that normally roosts in small numbers in the grass in the SW area: too cold and wet this winter?
Gripped off by John Isherwood who logged
- Barn Owl hunting the hedgerow along Woodhouse Lane to the SE
- c.25 Siskins in tight group overhead Otherwise
- at least 7, possibly 8, Great Crested Grebes with 3 pairs displaying one of which included an obvious immature bird
- not seen or heard anything of the Water Rails here for a while: when I sneak across the footbridge all that is in the brook is Moorhen
- after all the early gulls yesterday a dearth today:
---- no more than 200 Black-headed Gulls and arrival started very late at 06:50
---- c.70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls almost all flying W over
---- just an immature Herring Gull at 06:00: 5 others over
- Wood Pigeons started calling before 06:00 but apart from the c.30 around the lake very few others
- Goldcrest seen again
- a few Linnets still seem to be roosting around Teece Drive trees and leaving to the E early
now all the water-bird numbers
- 7 Great Crested Grebes (see notes)
- 4 Swans: 2 interlopers after 08:15
- 5 Greylag Geese over
- 15 Canada Geese: 12 on the lake at various times
- 6 Gadwall: usual 3 pairs
- 11 Mallard: 7 drakes: hiding this morning!
- 36 Pochard: 19 drakes
- 60 Tufted Duck exactly: 40 drakes exactly
- 11 Moorhens
- 71 Coots
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- c.70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : only 3 seen on the lake (see notes)
- 6 HGs: 1 on a buoy at 06:00 was the only gull at that time (see notes)
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Friday, 5th Another cold and frosty start: some mist patched produced low cloud patches; otherwise sunny with light NW wind and good visibility
The notes from today
- strange gull behaviour: >1000, almost all Black-headed Gulls, circling low over at 06:00 and seemed reluctant to settle and many flew off W; settled by 06:30 when there seemed to still c.1000! Then all up again and leaving to W & SE at 06:35. Then >350 new / back by 07:30
- another fall in Coot numbers: 72 today
- now seen Grey Wagtail 2 days running: very sporadic this year and my first for 3 weeks (and 1 at The Flash) on Wednesday
- 10 Pied Wagtails over: another species that has been scarce so far this year: easily my highest number
- great views of the Treecreeper again: it was calling loudly and persistently near the Teece Drive gate
- 55 Magpies logged: 37 of these in the NW roost with 15 of these flying straight off rather than gathering in the tree-tops with the others. 16 on the NE roost and 2 others
- smaller finches seem to be moving out with Linnets (1), Redpoll (0) and Siskin (2) few today and reduced over the last week
- despite 3 singing Reed Bunting territories there were 9 others seen leaving the W end roost this morning
now all the water-bird numbers
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Heron
- 2 Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese over
- 29 Canada Geese: 16 on the lake at various times
- 6 Gadwall: usual 3 pairs
- 21 Mallard: 13 drakes - but again lots of flying about and chasing
- 28 Pochard: 16 drakes
- 57 Tufted Duck: 34 drakes
- 5 Moorhens: seem to have gone to ground (nest?)
- 72 Coots
- >1000 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- c.55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: only 18 seen on the lake
- 6 Herring Gulls: 3 on the water
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Thursday, 4th Lunchtime Report (12:30 – 13:00)
- A leucistic (pure white) Black-headed Gull (bright red bill with faintest smudge behind eye) with c 250 normal Black-headed Gulls
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c. 350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
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1 Imm Great Black-backed Gull
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1 Common Gull
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1 probable adult Yellow-legged Gull
- Great Crested Grebe 2+2+1
-
Dabchick 1
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Pochard 36 (15 M + 21 F)
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Tufted Duck c. 40 (~ 50:50 M:F)
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Long-tailed Tits calling from copse to left of layby / M54 exit slip
(Mike Cooper)
Morning Report
A fine but frosty start with only thin high cloud, light E wind and excellent visibility
In addition to the lake and The Flash I walked the lanes and fields to the E / SE. Here the farmer is continuing to clear all the vegetation along the E side of the Wesley Brook - all the hazel catkins there have now gone - and the whole stream is now very open
The notes from this morning
- another interloper Swan for the residents to chase
- good arrival of gulls early: c.600 Black-headed Gulls and c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Just 7 Herring Gulls
- one of the immature Black-headed Gulls in a strange state of moult such that the wing pattern looked like a Bonaparte's Gull: but sadly it did not have an all-dark bill!
- the rare sight this year of a flock of Wood Pigeons: c.150 put up to the E
- Long-tailed Tits seen nest building: more signs of Spring!
- great views of Treecreeper by the Teece Drive gate
and
- 2 Rabbits: both rather small and must be recent births
in the lanes and fields a few things
- 2 Sky Larks in song: both distant and intermittent
- 4 Song Thrushes: 2 in song
- 6 Yellowhammers, 3 of these singing males
but generally very quiet and 1 Buzzard and 5 Wood Pigeons was all that was in the stream-side copse
Water-bird numbers
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Swans (see above)
- 1 Greylag Goose over
- 11 Canada Geese
- 6 Gadwall
- 20 Mallard: 11 drakes
- 32 Pochard: 18 drakes
- 55 Tufted Duck: 37 drakes
- 3 Moorhens only
- 84 Coots
- >600 Black-headed Gulls all arrived in 3 groups: c.100 by 06:15 from W; c.150 06:45 - 06:55 from W; c.350 07:00 - 07:15 from N
- >100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with c.80 on the lake by 07:15
- 7 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Top Wednesday, 3rd
Some notes from this mornings visits
- Little Grebe in full summer plumage now
- 4 Swans: 2 interlopers (including Blue 7DSC) declined to leave and a battle ensued: drawn when I left
- 1 rather small Greylag x Canada Goose arrived with other Canadas. The Swan ignoring the geese at the moment
- 6 Gadwall: now 3 pairs
- 77 Coots another substantial drop from the start of the week (c.100)
- rather few gulls now: c.250 Black-headed Gulls and c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Mistle Thrushes seen with 1 in song more or less throughout
- 1 Goldcrest: a site year-tick for me
- 2 noisy Jays and these started to make their Buzzard-like 'mew' calls they make in the Spring
- 8 Linnets: at least 3 of these seemed to have roosted in the trees alongside Teece Drive
and
- single Pale Brindled Beauty and Dotted Border moths on the lamps suggested it was milder than it felt (I had a Vanessid butterfly over Newport yesterday)
Water bird numbers
- 1 Little Grebe (as above)
- 5 Great Crested Grebes: all adults
- 4 Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 23 Canada Geese: 15 on the water and 8 over
- 6 Gadwall (as above)
- 22 Mallard (14 drakes) but lots of flying about made accurate numbers difficult
- 33 Pochard (19 drakes)
- 71 Tufted Duck (49 drakes)
- 8 Moorhens
- 77 Coots
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, mostly over
- 2 Herring Gulls (Ed Wilson)
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