30th May, Tuesday - The resident Mute Swans and their 4 Cygnets are still doing well and tending to feed at the dam end of the Lake.

28th May. Sunday - Cuckoo heard and seen heard flying just north of the Lake over Priorslee Village. (Martin Adlam)

26th May, Friday - A quick look across the lake on this grey and murky morning revealed: 2 individual Great Crested Grebes, 5 Tufted duck (3 drakes), 12 Coots with two pairs with a pair of "cootlings' each, 1 Moorhen, 2 House Martins high above the lake and the Mute Swans with 4 cygnets. What was interesting to note, and it maybe pure coincidence, but the area sprayed with the chemical Luxan Dichlobenil (See latest news - 19 May 06 ) was devoid of any water birds. (Martin Adlam)

22nd - 25th May, Monday - Thursday - The last few days has seen an increased number of Sandmartins on the Lake collecting food. Which means that somewhere fairly close there is a Sandmartin colony. Some sad news the Cygnets are now down to 4 from the original 9. Its not known why their numbers have dropped, but in the last week a Mink has been seen in Wesley Brook which is where the Swan nest was located.

22nd May, Monday -A late start after early rain: and then more rain and soaking drizzle at the lake. Thus the sightings are not entirely comparable with the normal logs

Highlights at the lake today were
- just 2 Great Crested Grebes seen today and both seen catching and swallowing large pink-gilled fish. I thought one of the birds was going to take the fish into the reeds for its, presumed, brooding partner: but no - it ate the fish itself, with a struggle.
- the 8 cygnets again this morning
- no Mallard ducklings seen today: but then again no duck Mallard were noted either
- 4 Tufted Ducks were circling higher and higher as I arrived and left to the W. Later a drake was on the lake
- 4 'cootlings' recorded today from 3 different broods. As far as I could tell these were 1 from brood #4; 2 from brood #7; and 1 at least still with the parent in the nest of brood #9. The pair with brood #8 seemed to have no young around and were busy adding sticks to their already sizeable structure. A nest attached to the dam seems to have been abandoned - not surprised as there are rats on the dam-face
- the hirundines were behaving most oddly this morning, mainly feeding low over the lake, but every so often all c.30 House Martins would all rise up in the air in a relatively compact group for a few minutes and then gradually drifting back to the lake. There was no obvious reason - no evident raptors; change of weather etc. And the few Swifts and fewer Swallows seemed not to be involved
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in flight over the W end this morning
- a Song Thrush in the SW area was in full voice: I say Song Thrush but I remain rather confused as among the usual wide array of repeated phrases there was some obvious mimicry of other species in a way that I cannot recall hearing before. The strangest was the sound made by juvenile Starlings when flying after their parents. But it was also doing a great impression of a begging juvenile Coot. And confusing me with a Reed Bunting call. As it was singing almost exactly where I logged a singing Garden Warbler yesterday I began to wonder, without coming to any definite conclusion! Before the rain eased and allowed me out of the hut the song had stopped and I was unable to investigate further
- a (the?) Sedge Warbler was singing from the bushes where the Wesley Brook runs under the Teece Drive approach road by the entrance gate this morning
- only 4 Reed Warblers noted singing in the rain
- no Lesser Whitethroat again, but ?
- a Common Whitethroat was singing intermittently from the hedge between the lake and the Ricoh factory alongside the path
- no Garden Warblers today (but see note above re Song Thrush)
- 2 different Chaffinches seen carrying food
- the family party of Greenfinches again
- 2 Linnets flushed off the dam-face again
Also
- another (the same?) Rat seen on the dam

So not bad for a wet visit

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake was 2 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with 8 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; 14 adult Mallard (all 14 drakes); 5 Tufted Ducks (4 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 3 adult Moorhens; 28 adult Coots with 4 juveniles from 3 broods; no waders; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 21 Wood Pigeons; 6 Swifts; no Kingfisher; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight; no Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 4 Swallows; c.30 House Martins; no pipits; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 18 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 12 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; 5 Song Thrushes, all of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 4 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; 1 Common Whitethroat; no Garden Warblers; 5 Blackcaps (all males); 3 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 6 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 11 Magpies; no Jackdaws; no Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; no House Sparrows; 4 Chaffinches with 2 carrying food; 8 Greenfinches with juveniles; 1 Goldfinch; 2 Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; 5 Reed Buntings (one a female carrying food); and no Yellowhammer heard

Mammals:
2 Rabbits.
1 Rat

Insects:
no butterflies

(Ed Wilson)

21st May, Sunday
Lake: 04:55 - 05:35 // 06:20 - 06:55 // 08:15 - 09:15
Lanes to E / SE 05:35 - 06:20

Back to the early start and two laps of the lake, interspersed with excursions around the lanes to the E / SE; and to The Flash and back. Mainly cloudy and often light rain, getting heavier. The Oystercatcher the best bird!

Highlights at the lake today were
- just 8 cygnets recorded this morning: saw one riding on the back of the pen yesterday - hope that is not significant as by the time I left the lake this morning there were only 4 in the water and there was a bundle of cygnets on the cob's back
- no ducklings seen today again
- 3 Tufted Ducks, though again they either left or went in to hiding in the reeds. Looked hard at these and elsewhere but no sign of the possible Scaup reported by the fishermen
- a Kestrel seen on the wires far to the NE this morning
- no 'cootlings' recorded today. Most likely in the rather cool and wet weather the newer broods at least were being brooded in the nest by the adults
- Oystercatcher the bird of the day, flying W overhead and calling at 06:55
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls today, with parties of 12 and 3 seen flying W overhead
- Stock Dove heard calling from the NW trees: another flew over
- eventually 4 Swifts, no Sand Martins; 3 Swallows and c.20 House Martins seen feeding over the lake in the rain. Once again the Swifts were the first to appear. And the House Martins spent as much time high in the air to the NW as they did over the lake and feeding in the lee of the trees along the N shore
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling from the trees between the lake and the Castle Farm M-way interchange
- the Sedge Warbler was neither seen nor heard this morning: it failed to respond to pishing. Perhaps it has gone?
- 6 singing Reed Warblers again today. Oddly on my second lap there were 2 birds singing from the bushy / scrubby areas behind the reeds, but these did not seem to be additional birds
- the Lesser Whitethroats not seen or heard again
- 2 Garden Warblers again today but both very intermittent and singing in very short bursts. The bird that was along the M54 hedge was presumably the bird in the willows by the old fishing(?) hut
- family party of Greenfinches again
Also
- 1 Rat seen on the dam

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below
3 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with only 8 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese flew over; 19 adult Mallard (17 drakes) with no ducklings seen; 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes); 1 Ruddy Duck (1 drake); 1 Kestrel far to NE; no other raptors; no Pheasants; 4 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 26 adult Coots with no juveniles logged; 1 Oystercatcher flew over calling noisily; no Common Sandpipers; 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; 20 Wood Pigeons; no Cuckoo; 4 Swifts; no Kingfisher; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling; 1 Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 3 Swallows; c.20 House Martins; no pipits; 3 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtail; 24 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 21 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; no Sedge Warblers; 6 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; 2
Garden Warblers; 9 Blackcaps (8 males); 5 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrests; 1 large party of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; only 4 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Jays; 6 Magpies; 10 Jackdaws; 5 Rooks; 12 Crows; 1 Starling; no House Sparrows; 8 Chaffinches; 9 Greenfinches, with juveniles; 2 Goldfinches; no Linnets; 1 Bullfinch; 7 Reed Buntings (one a female carrying food); and no Yellowhammer heard

Mammals: 2 Rabbits; 1 Rat; some more Mole hills

Insects: no butterflies

Lanes: Notes from the walk around the lanes to the E / SE
- 1 Heron seen flying over and again was not the bird frequently seen at the lake with the very noticeable ragged wings
- Canada Geese heard calling: as it was rather misty at the time I could not be sure but these seemed to be calling from the pools on the S side of the M54 along the back-road to Shifnal
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling alongside Castle Farm Way and probably the same bird as heard around the lake
- only 1 Whitethroat heard: I guess they are busy on nesting duties (or perhaps the rain, though other things did not seen so affected)
- Garden Warbler not seen or heard

The full log of additional birds seen or heard to the E / SE was (note only the lanes and not the stream-side area): 1 Heron; 1 Mallard; no raptors; 1 Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 1 Great Spotted Woodpeckers; 3 Sky Larks; no hirundines; no wagtails; 14 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 7 Robins; 10 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Lesser Whitethroats; 1 Common Whitethroat; no Garden Warblers; 3 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Willow Warbler; no Goldcrests; no parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 4 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; 1 Magpies; 5 Jackdaws; 22 Rooks of which 20 were in a field with sheep; 5 Crow; no Starlings; 9 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 2 Linnets; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings; and 6 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

20th May, Saturday (05:45 - 06:45 // 08:15 - 09:40) - Another later start on another cloudy morning with periods of mainly light
rain. Did the usual two circuits interspersed with a walk to & around The Flash.

Highlights at the lake today were
- the Great Crested Grebes in the NW area were gathering nesting material again
- all 9 cygnets still present and correct with mum & dad
- no ducklings seen today
- 4 Tufted Ducks, though one of the 2 pairs seemed to have left
- 'cootlings' today numbered 8 and seemed to be 2 from brood #4; 3 from brood #7; 2 at least still in the nest of what will be brood #8; and 1 at least still in another nest of what will be brood #9. No sign of the well-grown juvenile from brood #2 this morning
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 2 Stock Doves seen flying out of the NW trees with 3 more to the E
- eventually c.15 Swifts, no Sand Martins; 2 Swallows and c.25 House Martins seen feeding over the lake in the light rain, though only 3 Swifts seen before 08:00
- as often seems to happen in / after rain many more Blackbirds noted - 30 logged this morning
- the Sedge Warbler still singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout
- 6 singing Reed Warblers again today. No non-signing birds seen
- the Lesser Whitethroats not seen or heard again
- 2 Garden Warblers today with the bird along the N side singing intermittently again
- the 'double-call' Chiffchaff was even odder today as it was in the company of a normally calling bird and I thought it had learned a new trick for a while!
- Willow Tits are breeding on the N side and what seemed to be a juvenile was seen this morning as well as the usual adult contact calls heard
- 1 Jay seen carrying food and flying low and silently in the NW area suggesting they might be breeding here
- 1 Starling fly-over only the second record this month
- a family party of 5 Greenfinches - i.e. 3 juveniles begging from parents
- 2 Linnets flushed off the dam-face were a pleasant surprise - they are scarce these days, perhaps as a result of the vegetation growing on the dam-face.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below
3 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron flew over; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; 23 adult Mallard (20 drakes) with no ducklings seen; 4 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no Kestrels or other raptors; no Pheasants; 4 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 31 adult Coots with 8 juveniles from four broods; no Common Sandpipers; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; 5 Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Cuckoo; c.15 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no
woodpeckers; no Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 2 Swallows; c.25 House Martins; no pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtail; 27 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 30 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes, both of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 6 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; 2 Garden Warblers; 7 Blackcaps (5 singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles; 1 Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tit, one a juvenile; 9 Blue Tits; 13 Great Tits; 1 Jay; 8 Magpies; 4 Jackdaws; 4 Rooks; 6 Crows; 1 Starling; no House Sparrows; 9 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches, with juveniles; 1 Goldfinch; 2 Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; 6 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard

Mammals: 2 Rabbits seen

Insects: no butterflies

(Ed Wilson)

9th May, Friday (05:40 - 06:30 // 08:00 - 10:10) - A later start this very windy and cloudy morning but managed the usual two
circuits interspersed with the walk to & around The Flash.

Highlights at the lake today were
- all 9 cygnets still present and correct with mum & dad
- 1 duckling again with one of 2 Mallard ducks - 19 drakes today
- no Tufted Ducks today
- 'cootlings' today seemed to be 1 from brood #2; 1 from brood #6; and 4 from brood #7. They are hard with the juveniles seen very intermittently
- no Common Sandpiper again
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen flying over
- 2 Stock Doves seen flying S
- 11 Swifts, 3 Sand Martins; 2 Swallows and c.20 House Martins seen feeding over the lake in the windy conditions
- 1 Sedge Warbler still singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout
- 6 singing Reed Warblers today with 2 in the N reeds; 3 in the Wesley Brook reeds; and 1 in the small W end reed-patch. At least 2 non-signing birds seen as well
- the Lesser Whitethroats not seen or heard again
- the Garden Warbler adjacent to the M54 again
- few Jackdaws and Rooks at this later time

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today was:
3 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; 21 adult Mallard (19 drakes) and just 1 duckling; no Tufted Ducks; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no Kestrels or other raptors; no Pheasants; 4 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 28 adult Coots with 6 juveniles from three broods; no Common Sandpipers; 3 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; only 9 Wood Pigeons; no Cuckoo; 11 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Larks heard to NE; 3 Sand Martins; 2 Swallows; up to 20 House Martins; no pipits; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtail; 24 Wrens yet again; 5 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; no
Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 8 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 6 Blackcaps (all singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrests; 1 big party of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 7 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Jays; 10 Magpies; 7 Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; only 1 Crow; no Starlings; no House Sparrows; 7 Chaffinches; 7 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Redpoll; 1 Bullfinch; 3 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard

Mammals: 3 Rabbit

Insects: no butterflies

(Ed Wilson)

18th May, Thursday (05:00 - 06:15 // 08:00 - 09:45) - Another cloudy start at Priorslee but it had started to break up by the time I completed my usual walk to The Flash and back between two complete circuits of the lake. All the approach grassy areas along Teece Drive as far as the gate have now been mown and all the dandelion clocks are no more.

Highlights at the lake today were:
- all 9 cygnets still present and correct with mum & dad. While they are still brooded from time to time they also go on 'big expeditions' all the way to the dam and back!
- Only 1 duckling now with one of 3 Mallard ducks - 17 drakes today
- a pair of Tufted Ducks today
- 'cootlings' today were 1 from brood #2; and 2 from brood #7. Water a bit choppy to see some of the others?
- no Common Sandpiper again
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew W this morning
- 2 Swifts over the N side before 05:00 with a steady increase to at least 25. Often hunting in the lee of the poplars on the N side
- 2 Sand Martins seen were rather unusual on this date - they are generally passage birds here and not sure where the nearest colony might be. The Swallow was a brief visitors, but some of the House Martins were around for a long while
- at the W end there were 2 Song Thrushes singing away close together: between them another bird was carrying nesting material
- Mistle Thrush again in the NW area, but only as I arrived
- 1 Sedge Warbler still singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout
- just 3 singing Reed Warblers today
- the Lesser Whitethroats not seen or heard again
- the Garden Warbler adjacent to M54 again
- the 'double-note' Chiffchaff was singing away again, though he also managed spells of proper song (and a few aberrant chiff-chiff-chiffs as well)
- two noisy parties of Long-tailed Tits both with juveniles
- other tits rather scarce, though a Coal Tit was singing away
- few Jackdaws today
- a female Reed Bunting seen carrying food; a male singing away from deep within the large patch of cow parsley on what was the SW grass - seems unwise as no doubt Severn Trent's contractors will mow it all down before any juveniles could fledge from here.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below
3 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; 1 Canada Goose over; 20 adult Mallard (17 drakes) and just 1 duckling; 2 Tufted Ducks (1 drake); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no Kestrels or other raptors; no Pheasants; 4 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 22 adult Coots with 3 juveniles from two broods; no Common Sandpipers; 3
Lesser Black-backed Gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 13 Wood Pigeons; no Cuckoo; up to 25 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Larks heard to NE; 2 Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; up to 10 House Martins; no pipits; no Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtail; 24 Wrens again; 6 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 23 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; 1 Mistle
Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 3 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 6 Blackcaps (all singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits, both with juveniles; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 7 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 9 Magpies; 15 Jackdaws; 10 Rooks; 10 Crows again; no Starlings; no House Sparrows; 8 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Redpoll; 1 Bullfinch; 6
Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard

Mammals: 1 Rabbit

Insects: 1 Green-veined White and 2 Speckled Wood butterflies

(Ed Wilson)

17th May, Wednesday (05:00 - 05:40 // 06:40 - 07:15 // 08:30 - 09:52) - : around the Lake
(05:40 - 06:40): around the lanes to the E
(07:15 - 07:30 // 08:15 - 08:30): walking to & from The Flash

Another cloudy start at Priorslee and it stayed rather dull with some misty conditions at first. A long visit with two complete circuits, interrupted by visits to the lanes to the E / SE; and then the usual walk to The Flash and back.

Highlights at the lake today were
- all 9 cygnets still present and correct with mum & dad
- 2 ducklings only with one of the 4 Mallard ducks - 18 drakes as well
- 4 Tufted Ducks today
- the male Kestrel seen hovering over W end again: another on the wires to the far NE
- yet another new brood of 'cootlings' seen - the 7th. To my surprise in addition to the 2 juveniles from this brood there was a single from brood 2; and 2 from brood 4. Neither brood 5 or 6 put in an appearance this morning
- 1 Common Sandpiper again
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 5 flew W together and an immature flew E
- a Cuckoo called from the W end and then was seen flying E at 07:10 - perhaps the bird seen over the lanes to E earlier
- up to 6 Swifts and just 2 House Martins logged
- Mistle Thrush again in the NW area
- 1 Sedge Warbler again singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout
- at least 5 singing Reed Warblers today, with 2 other birds seen. 2 of the songsters were along the N side, with 1 still singing the scrub behind the reeds. My surmise that the lake might have run out of territories is supported by the appearance this morning of a bird singing in the reed-patch at Priorslee Flash
- the Lesser Whitethroats not seen or heard today
- 1 Garden Warbler only today - the birds adjacent to M54
- one big party of at least 12 Long-tailed Tits with juveniles noted today - perhaps they are gathering together already? - other tits rather scarce, though a Coal Tit was singing away
- Jackdaws were in larger groups again this morning with 46 noted
- there were fewer Rooks but all of them were showing extensive wing-moult
- a Redpoll flew over - a rather unusual date for here?
Also
- 2 Rabbits at the W end, one of which was under the yacht club hut
- another dead Pike

Interestingly despite 2 complete laps of the lake and the walk along the Teece Drive extension it was as I got back to the car to leave that I added five species to the day list
- 2 House Martins flew down from the estate for a 'top-up' at the lake
- a Mistle Thrush flew in to the trees where I suspect the nest is
- a Goldcrest appeared in the trees
- a family party of Starlings flew out of the estate on a feeding foray
- a House Sparrow flew over carrying food
Perhaps I should stand by the car rather than walk around!

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:
4 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; 3 Greylag Geese flew over; no Canada Geese; 22 adult Mallard (18 drakes) but down to 2 ducklings; 4 Tufted Ducks (3 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 2 Kestrels; no other raptors; no Pheasants; 5 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 23 adult Coots with 5 juveniles from 3 broods; 1 Common
Sandpipers; 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 4 Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 17 Wood Pigeons; 1 Cuckoo; up to 6 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 1 Sky Larks heard to NE (in addition to the birds logged on the walk around the lanes); no Sand Martins; no Swallows; 2 House Martins; no pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail; 24 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 8 Song Thrushes, 6 of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 7 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 8 Blackcaps (6 singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 3 Willow Warblers (all singing males); 1 Goldcrest; 1 large party of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 4 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Jays; 8 Magpies; 46 Jackdaws; 6 Rooks; 10 Crows; 4 Starlings; 2 House Sparrows; 9 Chaffinches; 11 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; 1 Redpoll; 1 Bullfinch; 5 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard.

Mammals: 1 Grey Squirrel; 2 Rabbits

Insects: no butterflies seen this morning

Lanes: The walk around the lanes to the E / SE well after sun-up produced little of note:
- 2 Herons seen flying over, one going for the Grey Heron altitude record. Neither was the bird frequently seen at the lake which has very noticeable ragged wings
- no Pheasants seen or heard, which was a bit unusual
- two sightings of flying Collared Doves was a surprise and a disappointment - they should be Turtle Doves over the open county!
- a Cuckoo was heard in song and then seen flying towards the lake (where I saw it / another later)
- Garden Warbler not seen or heard

The full log of additional birds seen or heard to the E / SE was (note only the lanes and not the stream-side area): 2 Herons; 1 Mallard; no raptors; no Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 13 Wood Pigeons; 2 Collared Dove; 1 Cuckoo; no woodpeckers; 4 Sky Larks; 1 Swallow over the fields; no wagtails; 12 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 13 Robin; 11 Blackbirds; 1 Song
Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Lesser Whitethroats; 4 Common Whitethroats; no Garden Warbler; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 1 Willow Warbler; 2 Goldcrests; no parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; 4 Magpies; 8 Jackdaws; 4 Rooks; 3 Crow; no Starlings; 8 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 4 Linnets; 1 Bullfinch; no Reed Buntings; and 6 Yellowhammers.

Notes from the walk to The Flash and back
- the duck Mallard was brooding her ducklings alongside the upper pool today and while I logged just 8 heads there may have been more tucked underneath. 2 drakes here as well
- no Moorhens noted today

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk to & from The Flash was: 11 Mallards (2 drakes; 1 duck; at least 8 ducklings); no Moorhens; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no Swifts; no woodpeckers; 1 Swallow; 6 House Martins; no wagtails; 4 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 8 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 5 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; 4 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 3 Crows; 13 Starlings; 5 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; no Bullfinches; and no Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

16th May, (05:00 - 06:15 // 07:50 - 10:05) - A rather cloudy start at Priorslee Lake, but the weather did brighten up a bit. A long visit trying to get a picture of the Sedge Warbler at the W end, punctuated by two complete laps around the lake between which I
walked to The Flash and back.

Highlights at the lake today were:
- another(?) Great Crested Grebe seen circling overhead
- the usual Heron with the very ragged wings flew in to the NW reeds - first sighting for a while
- all 9 cygnets present and correct with mum & dad
- 3 ducklings again with one of the 2 Mallard ducks - 19 drakes today!
- no Tufted Ducks
- male Kestrel seen hovering over W end on at least 3 occasions and seen leaving with prey - 2 new brood of 'cootlings' seen (the 5th and 6th of the year). No sign of any extant juveniles from the continually battling pairs in the NW area. The 5th brood is 4 birds taken out on the lake; the 6th was a single juvenile being fed at the nest in the reeds and was almost certainly part of a larger brood. Time will tell
- 1 Common Sandpiper again
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 11 of which were circling together to the N
- a Stock Dove seen in flight probably came out of the NW trees again
- a Cuckoo called from the W end briefly before 05:30
- up to 18 Swifts and 4 Swallows logged
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in flight to the NE
- one of the Song Thrushes was seen singing with a beak-full of food and then flew to the nest-site still singing!
- Mistle Thrush mixing it with the Magpies in the NW area - think the thrush has a nest here
- 1 Sedge Warbler singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout. Managed a few passable shots
- at least 7 and perhaps as many as 9 singing Reed Warblers today. Again at least 3 of these along the N side, with 2 singing the scrub behind the reeds. One of the birds in the NW area was also singing from the surrounding bushes - perhaps all the reeds have territories and these are birds forced to use other habitat?
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly from the W side hedge while another called. But later all was quiet
- a Common Whitethroat was feeding silently in the small wood beside the yacht club hut - it is about 3 weeks since I saw one there so I guess it has been present all along?
- 1 Garden Warbler only today - the bird adjacent to M54
- a second party of Long-tailed Tits with juveniles noted today
- corvids were in larger groups again this morning with 33 Jackdaws and 19 Rooks noted.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:
4 Great Crested Grebes (1 flying overhead only); 1 Heron; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; 3 Canada Geese flew over; 21 adult Mallard (19 drakes) and 3 ducklings; no Tufted Ducks; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 1 male Kestrel; no other raptors; no Pheasants; 5 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 23 adult Coots with 5 juveniles from 2 new broods; 1 Common Sandpipers; 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Feral Pigeon; 1 Stock Dove; just 10 Wood Pigeons; 1 Cuckoo calling; up to 18 Swifts; no Kingfisher; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight to the N; no Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 5 Swallows; no House Martins; no pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 26 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 25 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 7 (9?) Reed Warblers; 2 Lesser Whitethroats; 1 Common
Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 7 Blackcaps (all singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); 1 Goldcrest; 3 party of Long-tailed Tits, 2 with juveniles; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 9 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Jays; 10 Magpies; 33 Jackdaws; 19 Rooks; 15 Crows; no Starlings; no House Sparrows; 9 Chaffinches; 7 Greenfinches; 5 Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch; 5 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard.

Mammals:
1 Grey Squirrel and some new molehills

Insects:
Green-veined White the only butterfly seen this morning

(Ed Wilson)

15th May, Monday (05:00 - 06:20 // 07:35 - 08:00) - After a few spots of rain on the journey from Newport the scattered low
level cloud at Priorslee soon filled in and light rain started and was present throughout, increasing in intensity to send me away early but after a walk all the way around the lake and The Flash.

Highlights at the lake today were
- 1 Great Crested Grebe seen circling overhead - not from here?
- all 9 cygnets present and correct with mum & dad
- 3 ducklings seen with one of the 3 Mallard Ducks - also 13 drakes
- 3 Tufted Ducks today, but only present after I got back from The Flash
- male Kestrel seen hovering over W end - first for several days
- no 'cootlings' seen or heard
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- no gulls
- very few hirundines despite the poor weather - just 4 Swallows came from the W but disappeared
- 1 Sedge Warbler singing continually near the concrete ramp throughout
- 7 Reed Warblers today with 3 of these along the N side, one of which was in the scrub behind the reeds - the area occupied by the 'other' Sedge for a while. Took me a while to sort this out as in addition to the intermittent song of this Reed Warbler there were 2 competing Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, a Song Thrush and a Blackbird all making loud noises to say nothing of both Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Reed Buntings and the 2 more normal Reed Warblers behind me in the reeds!
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat calling from the W side hedge when I arrived, but thereafter intermittent Sylvia warbler call notes were all I heard - I presume this species, but all I can be sure of was that they did not sound like a Blackcap
- no Common Whitethroat noted today
- 3 Garden Warblers today: 1 adjacent to M54; and the 2 with the N-side Reed Warbler
- 3 Jays in the NW area with carrying food (not, I think, nesting material)
- in the poor conditions just 6 Jackdaws and 3 Rooks were the only overflying corvids.

Also

Mammals - 1 Rabbit seen at W end

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below 4 Great Crested Grebes (1 flying overhead only); no Heron; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese flew over; 13 adult Mallard (10 drakes) and 3 ducklings; 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes) flew in; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 1 male Kestrel; no other raptors; no Pheasants; 2 adult Moorhens with no juveniles; 24 adult Coots with no juveniles; 1 Common Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 4 Swallows; no House Martins; no pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 28 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, 6 of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 7 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; no Common Whitethroats; 3 Garden Warblers; 7 Blackcaps (all singing males); 6 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; 3 Jays; 12 Magpies; 6 Jackdaws; 3 Rooks; 4 Crows; no Starlings; no House Sparrows; 9 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 2 Bullfinches; 7 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard.

(Ed Wilson)

14th May, Sunday (05:20 - 06:20 // 07:45 - 09:15) - A promising-looking start at Priorslee but the cloud, far from breaking, soon filled in and lowered and it was a grey and almost chill morning.

Highlights at the lake today were:
- all 9 cygnets present and correct, though frequently being brooded back on the nest
- no ducklings seen but means rather little in the poor visibility - 3 Tufted Ducks today
- no 'cootlings' seen. Observation not helped by the mist. At least 1 heard, but all the fighting seems to have cleared many of the parents and perhaps many / most of juveniles killed?
- no Common Sandpipers
- no gulls
- a few hirundines eventually arrived to feed over the lake with 14 Swallows and 2 House Martins
- 1 Sedge Warbler only heard today and that very briefly
- only 5 Reed Warblers today with none heard along N side
- no Lesser Whitethroat again, but
- 1 Common Whitethroat adjacent to the M54 using unusually large trees as song post
- 1 Garden Warbler also adjacent to M54 as well, but now moved in to the SW area
- in the poor conditions just 1 Jackdaw was the only overflying corvid - the first Starlings for some while seen flying over
- House Sparrows seen flying over with food and then noted in the W side hedge - only my 2nd record from here this year
- there seems to be a (very small) roost of Greenfinches already (still?) in the SW bushes
Also
- 2 more species of umbellifer in flower will keep me amused with the identification challenge, though the pink one should be easy.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:
4 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans and 9 cygnets; no Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese flew over; 12 adult Mallard (11 drakes) and no ducklings; 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 2 adult Moorhens and no juvenile; 22 adult Coots with just 1 juvenile heard; no Common Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 19 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Larks heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 14 Swallows; 2 House Martins; no pipits; 1 male Grey Wagtail carrying food; no Pied Wagtails; 27 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 25 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song again; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 5 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroats; 1 Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 7 Blackcaps (all singing males); 5 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2
Willow Warblers (both singing males); no Goldcrest; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Jays; 5 Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; no Rooks; 5 Crows; 2 Starlings; 3 House Sparrows; 8 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 Bullfinch heard; 5 Reed Buntings; and no Yellowhammer heard.

Mammals: No mammals again today. (Ed Wilson)

13th May, Saturday (05:00 - 06:10 // 07:45 - 08:45) - A promising-looking start at Priorslee but the cloud, far from breaking, soon filled in and lowered and it was a grey and almost chill morning.

Highlights at the lake today were
- well not 5 cygnets but 9! Never known this happen before but I have the photographic evidence that the adults were with just 5 cygnets Friday. But they had 9 this morning - did the others hatch later?
- another party of 8 Mallard ducklings this morning - will they fare any better?
- 2 Tufted Ducks only today
- pair of Ruddy Duck again with the duck sitting at the bottom of the concrete ramp
- of yesterday's three parties of 'cootlings' I saw just 1 juvenile - I wonder whether the battling adults have taken their toll of them or whether the rather chill weather meant they were still being brooded. There did seem to be another family in the NE reeds, with an adult ferrying food towards another adult lurking around a nest - all rather hidden though
- no Common Sandpipers again
- 1 first summer Black-headed Gull visited; and a party of 5 immature large gulls flew over - 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 Herring Gull - 1 Sand Martin flew through and just 3 of the local Swallows despite the cloudy, chilly weather
- a Stock Dove calling from the NW trees again - must be breeding here
- 2 Sedge Warblers heard again: the bird on the N side in the scrub behind the reeds; the bird in the sedges alongside the concrete ramp was displaying and giving great views again
- 6 Reed Warblers in song today: 4 in NW reeds; 1 in the N side reeds; and 1 in W end reeds today
- no Lesser Whitethroats or Garden Warblers heard anywhere today
- after yesterday's good count of Jackdaws and Rooks, the latter, especially, were scarce today - why? After the rain were they able to feed closer to the rookery?
- unusually, perhaps with the light Saturday traffic, a Yellowhammer could be heard to the east
Also
- the Hedge Garlic is appearing all around the lake
- in fact the last 3 days of warm weather had seen an amazing transformation: the path that used to be a rather bare area through a field with some dandelions is now a grassy line through knee-high cow parsley, nettles and thistles!

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:
5 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans now with 9 cygnets; 2 Greylag Geese flew over; 3 Canada Geese flew over; 17 adult Mallard (14 drakes) and 8 new ducklings; 2 Tufted Ducks (1 drake); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 4 adult Moorhens but no juvenile; 23 adult Coots with just 1 juvenile; no Common Sandpipers; 1 1st summer
Black-headed Gull; 4 immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; 1 immature Herring Gull over; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove heard; 18 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 1 Sky Lark heard to NE; 1 Sand Martin flew through; 3 Swallows; no House Martins; no pipits; 1 male Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtail; 24 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 21 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song again; no Mistle Thrush; 2 Sedge Warblers; 6 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroat; no Common Whitethroats; no Garden Warblers; 8 Blackcaps (7 singing males) again; 3 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 3 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 7 Magpies; 17 Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; 6 Crows; no Starlings; 5 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 1 male Bullfinch; 5 Reed Buntings; and 1 Yellowhammer heard to the E.

Mammals: No mammals today

( Ed Wilson)

12th May, Friday (05:00 - 07:05 // 08:30 - 09:55) - Another great morning to be abroad around the lake and The Flash today, with some early high cloud producing an interesting sunrise with misty wreathes over the lake. Later mainly cloudless though hazy at times.

Highlights at the lake today were:

- not sure what is happening with the Great Crested Grebes here: one of the long-standing pair in the NW area was carrying sticks back to the reeds today
- as I thought yesterday there are cygnets - 5 white (well grey really) balls of fluff. The cob had a Swan to see off, but was surprised that a drop-in Canada Goose was left alone
- no Mallard ducklings today either
- 10 Tufted Ducks now - thought they had all gone!
- unable to decide whether there were any Ruddy Ducks present: I heard the distinctive sound of the male displaying from the NW reeds, but it is possible that one of the Reed Warblers was making the noise
- one of the nesting Moorhens herded at least one 'moorhenling' to the reeds at my approach
- now 3 parties of 'cootlings': the families of 2 & 4 reported before; and another party of 2 that seems to have been hidden for a while as they are larger than the party of 4. All these nests are close together and there is much noisy fighting by the adults
- no Common Sandpipers
- 2 different immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over
- just 5 Swallows in the fine clear weather
- 2 Sedge Warblers heard again today and confirmed as 2 different birds: the bird in N side reeds was moving about all the time and spent a while in the scrub behind the reeds as well; the bird in the sedges alongside the concrete ramp was displaying and giving great views. It was also doing a great imitation of a Chaffinch call
- 6 Reed Warblers in song today: 4 in NW reeds; and 2 in the N side reeds; none in W end reeds today
- no Lesser Whitethroat heard anywhere today
- Common Whitethroat alongside Castle Farm Way again today
- 1 Garden Warbler and this bird, alongside the M54, singing very intermittently
- one of the Chiffchaffs was making the most unusual noise: I am used to hearing the 'creaky' notes between the bursts of song, but this bird was making these continually, interspersed with very quiet 'chip' notes that had the Chiffchaff timbre to them but were barely audible even at close-range. All the while it was fluttering its wings and moving round
and round a bush top. Try as I might I could see no 'partner' and after c. 2 minutes the bird flew off and started singing. But why did it have red legs?
- the Long-tailed Tits at the W end were shepherding around juveniles - at least 2, but they were well hidden in the hedge
- more Jackdaws and Rooks today: especially the latter are flying, mostly singly, both to & fro wherever they fly to and from, with full crops - in both directions! One was so ragged I was amazed it could still fly

Also
- the first Hawthorn is now in flower
- and there are a few bluebells
- the Council contractors have mown down most of the carpet of dandelions, but enough clocks remain to ensure we have a big display in future years!

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:

4 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans now with 5 cygnets with one adult flying over and another briefly at the lake; 4 Greylag Geese flew over; 1 Canada Geese stopped for a while; 15 adult Mallard (14 drakes) and no ducklings; 10 Tufted Ducks (7 drakes); no confirmed Ruddy Ducks; no raptors; no Pheasants; 6 adult Moorhens with 1 juvenile; 28 adult Coots with 8 juveniles; no Common Sandpipers; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard; no Sand Martins; 5 Swallow; no House Martins; no pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtail; 25 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 20 Blackbirds again; 5 Song Thrushes, 4 of which were in song again; 1 Mistle Thrush heard in song; 2 Sedge Warblers; 6 Reed Warblers; no Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Common Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 8 Blackcaps (7 singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits, one with juveniles; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 8 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Jays; only 5 Magpies; 29 Jackdaws; 49 Rooks; 7 Crows; no Starlings; 6 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches again; 1 Goldfinch; 2 male Bullfinches; and 7 Reed Buntings.

Mammals:
- The only mammals today was a medium / large-sized bat that was glimpsed as I arrived - it is quite light these days!

Insects:
- 2 Small White; 2 Green-veined White; at least 8 male Orange-tips; a Holly Blue and 3 Speckled Wood butterflies seen today
- a damselfly again, but only an immature / female in flight so no chance of identification
(Ed Wilson)

11th May, Thursday - Today the female was on the water with the 6 cygnets and the male on the nest with another 3 cygnets. Interestingly the male is a son of its mate from 2000. They have been paired together since 2004 when they raised 5 cygnets from 6 hatched and last year raised 8 cygnets from 9 hatched. (Martin Grant)

11th May, Thursday (05:00 - 06:35 // 08:15 - 10:35) - Another long visit to the Priorslee area on a beautiful calm and mild sunny morning. Walked all around the lake; [then walked to and around The Flash and back]. And another lap of the lake interrupted by a visit to the lanes to the E / SE! When I say walked, I really mean wandered / loitered as it was far too nice a day to hurry. Not too much in the way of exciting birding, but a smashing morning to be out and about before the streets are aired (polluted?).

Highlights at the lake today were
- the pen Swan was off the nest for a short while this morning and the cob looked anxious - cygnets soon?
- no Mallard ducklings today
- 7 Tufted Ducks today, though 3 flew out
- parties of 2 & 4 'cootlings' present
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- a Stock Dove flew in to the NW trees but eluded subsequent attempts to locate it - I suspect it is nesting in a hole here
- just 2 Swifts and 1 Swallow in the fine clear weather
- after the first fly-over Pied Wagtail yesterday there was a male on the grass today
- 2 Sedge Warblers heard today: 1 in N side reeds; the other (some 2 hours later so I suppose it could be the same bird?) in the sedges alongside the W end reeds
- 6 Reed Warblers in song today: 4 in NW reeds; 1 in W end reeds; 1 in the N side reeds. 2 more birds seen
- no Lesser Whitethroat in the Ricoh hedge today, but one heard along the N side today
- Common Whitethroat alongside Castle Farm Way today
- 1 Garden Warbler only again
- 1 Jay seen and others heard - beware Starlings with newly-fledged youngsters making Jay-like noises
Also
- Green-veined White; Orange-tip; and Speckled Wood butterflies all seen again today
- even more St Mark's Flies
- what I have provisionally identified as a female Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyanthigerum) - females and immatures are hard, but the single stripe on the side of the thorax is diagnostic I read - good job I managed a digital picture!

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:

4 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron flew over; the 2 resident Swans; 2 Greylag Geese flew over; no Canada Geese; 18 adult Mallard but no ducklings; 7 Tufted Ducks (5 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 9 Moorhen; 22 adult Coots with at least 6 'cootlings' seen; 1 Common Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Doves; 26 Wood Pigeons; 2 Swift; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 1 Swallow; no House Martins; no pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail seen carrying food; 1 Pied Wagtail; 28 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 5 Song Thrushes, 4 of which were in song again; no Mistle Thrush; 2 Sedge Warblers; 7 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 7 Blackcaps (all singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs (all singing males); 2 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 12 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 1 Jay; only 4 Magpies; 33 Jackdaws; 13 Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 11 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Linnets; 1 Bullfinch; and 6 Reed Buntings

Mammals: No mammals today

Lanes: The walk around the lanes to the E / SE well after sun-up produced little of note
- the Garden Warbler is still singing from the top of the bushes

The full log of additional birds seen or heard to the E / SE was (note only the lanes and not the stream-side area): no Mallard; no raptors; 2 Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; 5 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Dove; no woodpeckers; 5 Sky Larks; 1 Swallow over the fields; no wagtails; 8 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 8 Robin; 4 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Lesser Whitethroats; 6 Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 1 Blackcap; 1 Chiffchaff; no Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 6 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; 2 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 1 Crow; no Starlings; 13 Chaffinches; 1 Greenfinch; 3 Goldfinches; 4 Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; and 4 Yellowhammers.

My Newport garden was full of recently fledged Starlings today. Otherwise quiet

Ed Wilson

10th May, Wednesday (Midday) - The female Mute Swan was on the nest with 6 cygnets hatched. (Martin Grant)

10th May, Wednesday
05:00 - 05:15
05:15 - 06:15 around the lanes to the E / SE
06:15 - 07:00
09:20 - 10:50

A long, long visit to Priorslee Lake this fine and sunny morning, though interrupted by a walk around the lanes to the E / SE while the early mist burned away.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below:

6 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout and 2 single adults flying over; no Greylag Geese; 3 Canada Geese flew over; no Barnacle Geese flew; 21 adult Mallard (one dead drake) with just 1 duckling; 5 Tufted Ducks (4 drakes, 3 of which left); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 3 Moorhen; 26 adult Coots with at least 6 'cootlings' seen; no Common Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 23 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 4 Swallows; no House Martins; no pipits; no Grey Wagtails; 1 Pied Wagtail - the first for several weeks; 24 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 5 Song Thrushes, 4 of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Sedge Warbler; 6 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 8
Blackcaps (7 singing males); 6 Chiffchaffs (5 singing males); 2 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 20 Magpies; no Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 7 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings.

Mammals: No mammals today.

Lanes: The walk around the lanes to the E / SE, early while the mist burned off the lake, produced little to highlight but all the expected species - the Garden Warbler singing from the top of the bushes again.

The full log of additional birds seen or heard to the E / SE was (not only the lanes and not the stream-side area): 3 Mallard; no raptors; 6 Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 7 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Dove; no woodpeckers; 5 Sky Larks; no hirundines; no wagtails; 12 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 6 Robin; 8 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 8 Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaffs; 1 Willow Warbler; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 7 Blue Tits; 3 Great Tits; 3 Magpies; 5 Jackdaws; 5 Rooks; 2 Crows; no Starlings; 14 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; 6 Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; 1 Reed Bunting; 6 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

9th May, Tuesday (05:00 - 06:00 // 07:25 - 09:15) -Highlights at the lake today were:

- Barnacle Goose - I assume the bird from The Flash - flew over with 5 Canada Geese. A site-tick for me!
- 8 ducklings with a duck Mallard, though when the taxi-driver arrived with his bags of bread she abandoned them for the take-away
- 7 Tufted Duck new in
- Kestrel seen to the east
- the older 'cootlings' both present; the other brood was hustled in to the reeds and I only noted 2 before they disappeared
- 2 Common Sandpipers again with one calling and displaying
- eventually about 70 'hirundines: 10 Swifts; 2 Sand Martins; c.15 Swallows; c.40 House Martins
- 1 Mistle Thrush in the NW area
- no Sedge Warblers noted again
- 4 Reed Warblers in song: 2 in NW reeds; 1 in W end reeds; 1 in N side reeds
- the Lesser Whitethroat in the Ricoh hedge called once - confusing as there was a Blackcap here too
- 2 Garden Warblers, but neither in full song
Also
- another broken egg - a white egg, larger than the Starlings egg, with some yellow blurred spots: this had been broken and the 'nestling' was lying in a bloody morass of albumen alongside: thoughts?

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below. The counts were again affected by the rather misty conditions:

5 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron flew over; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout; no Greylag Geese; 5 Canada Geese flew over; 1 Barnacle Goose flew over; 17 adult Mallard with 8 ducklings; 7 Tufted Ducks (5 drakes); 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 7 Moorhen; 20 adult Coots with 4 'cootlings' seen; 2 Common
Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; 10 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; 2 Sand Martins; c.15 Swallows; c.40 House Martins; no pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 28 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 19 Blackbirds; 8 Song Thrushes, 6 of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Sedge Warbler; 4 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; no Common Whitethroats; 2 Garden Warblers; 8 Blackcaps (7 singing males); 7 Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; 3 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Jays; 5 Magpies; 6 Jackdaws; no Rooks; 1 Crow; no Starlings; 10 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Linnets; no Bullfinches; and 6 Reed Buntings.

Mammals: No mammals today

(Ed Wilson)

8th May, Monday (05:00 - 06:25 // 07:45 - 08:00) - A dull and misty start at Priorslee Lake. Later heavy rain drove me away

Highlights at the lake today were
- 11ducklings were with a duck Mallard
- a drake Mallard road casualty was rescued from the road but seemed unable to swim properly
- no Tufted Duck again
- Kestrel seen to the east
- unable to determine how the 'cootlings' are doing: on my first lap of the lake the parents seemed to be still brooding the juveniles; by the second lap it was too misty to see!
- 2 Common Sandpiper
- 2 immature large gulls circled for some 30 minutes without landing: one a Herring Gull; the other a Lesser Black-backed Gull which later left to be replaced by a 2nd, younger, immature Herring Gull
- no hirundines (or Black Terns!) despite the misty conditions
- 1 Mistle Thrush calling in the NW area
- no Sedge Warblers noted
- just 3 Reed Warblers in song all in the NW reeds
- just 1 Lesser Whitethroat - today the bird alongside Castle Farm Way
- 1 Common Whitethroat alongside Castle Farm Way
- 1 Garden Warblers completing the trio alongside Castle Farm Way
- more Blackcaps in general this morning, but here as well with 7 singing males

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today is set out below. The counts, especially the water-birds, when it was too dark to count them on the first lap and too misty to see them later, all needed to be treated with caution:

2 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout; 4 Greylag Geese over; 6 Canada Geese seen over; 19 adult Mallard with 11 ducklings; no Tufted Ducks; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 1 Kestrel; no Pheasants; 5 Moorhen; 21 adult Coots with no 'cootlings' seen; 2 Common Sandpipers; no Black-headed Gull; 1 immature Lesser Black-backed Gull; 2 different immature Herring Gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 18 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; no hirundines; no pipits; 3 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 33 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 22 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Sedge Warbler; 3 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Common Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warbler; 7 Blackcaps (7 singing males); 6 Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers;
2 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; no Jays; 6 Magpies; 33 Jackdaws; 3 Rooks; 11 Crows; no Starlings; 10 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Linnets; 4 Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings.

Mammals: No mammals today

(Ed Wilson)

7th May, Sunday (07:45 - 09:45) - After Dawn Chorus at Granville Country Park I moved on to the Lake, but did not take a full log as much of the song was long over: these are the
highlights:
- a pair of Ruddy Ducks seen
- 2 Coot families still with 2 & 5 'cootlings' respectively
- at least 8 Swifts high over
- at least 5 Swallows low over the water
- nothing heard from Sedge Warbler
- at least 7 Reed Warblers this morning: 4 seen and 2 at least 2 more in song in the NW area; and then one in song along the N side again
- the Lesser Whitethroat still in the W end 'Ricoh' hedge
- a Garden Warbler heard, mainly sub-singing, in the NW area
- 7 Blackcaps along the N & W sides alone, with 2 females seen
(Ed Wilson)

6th May, Saturday. Evening update - With so many hirundine and a dozen or so Swift at the lake this evening, it was no surprise when a Hobby came through at 7:00pm. It made one pass without taking anything, before it headed west. (Martin Adlam)

6th May, Saturday ( 05:00 - 05:25 // 06:40 - 07:20 // 08:50 - 09:35) - A clear morning at Priorslee Lake

Highlights at the lake today were:
- no ducklings seen
- no Tufted Ducks
- a female Sparrowhawk was perched in the trees in the NW area and took little notice of me until I put the scope on her!
- both Coot families with their 'cootlings': 2 different-sized juveniles from the earlier brood and 5 with the new brood
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- no gulls noted
- 1 Cuckoo heard singing in the NW area briefly
- no 'hirundines' until after 09:00 when 4 Swifts; 1 Swallow and 2 House Martins noted
- 1 singing Sky Lark was audible from the Teece Drive area but exactly where this bird was is hard to say; later one heard calling as it flew E over the same area
- 1 Mistle Thrush seen collecting and carrying away food in the NW area with another in song
- 1 Sedge Warbler again at the extreme W end
- at least 3 Reed Warblers in song all in the NW reeds
- the Lesser Whitethroat in the W-side hedge again
- only 1 Garden Warbler today and this only sub-singing
- the Chiffchaffs with the 'double-note' song was back

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today: 5 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout and the cob chasing off an adult interloper; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; 15 adult Mallard with 0 ducklings; no Tufted Ducks; at least 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 duck); 1 female Sparrowhawk; no Pheasants; 5 Moorhens; 21 adult Coots with 7 'cootlings' from 2 broods; 1 Common Sandpiper; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 14 Wood Pigeons; 4 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 2 Sky Larks; 1 Swallow; 2 House Martins; no pipits; 3 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 26 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes, all of which were in song; 2 Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 3 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 Garden Warblers; 6 Blackcaps (all singing males); 5 Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; 3 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Jays; 8 Magpies; 9 Jackdaws; 3 Rooks; 4 Crows; no Starlings; 3 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; no Linnets; no Bullfinches; and 6 Reed Buntings

Mammals: 1 Rabbit the only mammal seen today

(Ed Wilson)

5th May, Friday (05:00 - 05:45 and  07:50 - 10:00 In lanes to E 05:45 - 07:50)

A great clear morning at Priorslee that kept me occupied for hours - though a lot of it was along the lanes to the E, overlooking a great sunrise.

Highlights at the lake today were:
- the only duckling was with a pair of Mallard
- no Gadwall
- 1 drake Tufted Duck though it seemed to leave
- Another Coot family with 5 'cootlings'; still at least 2 with the previous family, with the female(?) assiduously piling sticks on the nest still
- no Common Sandpiper
- just Black-headed Gull heard at the lake - 1 was buried in the trees with the camera at the time
- no hirundines - as is often the case in fine weather
- 1 Mistle Thrush calling in the NW area
- 1 Sedge Warbler, but today a bird in the small clump of reeds at the extreme W end
- at least 4 Reed Warblers in song and 2 more seen, all in the NW reeds.

Had forgotten how contrastingly black the alula looks on this species - just 1 Lesser Whitethroat - in W-side hedge again and again singing by 05:05 and still going strong at 10:00
- 2 Garden Warblers only today (but one in the hedge the other side of Castle Farm Way may have been the 'lost' third bird)
- did not hear the Chiffchaffs with the 'double-note' song - but it or one like it alongside the Wesley Brook to the SE.

My complete log of the birds at and around the lake today: 3 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout; no Greylag Geese; 6 Canada Geese; 20 adult Mallard with 1 duckling; 1 Tufted Ducks; just 1 drake Ruddy Duck; no raptors; no Pheasants; only 1 Moorhen logged! 23 adult Coots with 7 'cootlings' from 2 broods; no Common Sandpipers; 1 Black-headed Gull heard; no other gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 16 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; no hirundines; no pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 29 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes, all of which were in song; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Sedge Warbler; 6 Reed Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 2 Garden Warblers; 6 Blackcaps (4 singing males); 4 Chiffchaffs; 4 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 8 Magpies; 46 Jackdaws; 9 Rooks; 10 Crows; no Starlings; 5 Chaffinches; 2 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Linnets; no Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings

Mammals:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- found a dead Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) with no obvious signs of injury

Insects - several male Orange-tip butterflies, some seen perched with wings open again
- a Small Tortoiseshell and Comma butterfly also seen this morning.

Lanes: I spent a long while walking the lanes and some of the stream-side to the E / SE: notes from the walk
- 1 Lapwing only over the fields
- 2 Swifts seen to far SE may well have been around their nest-site in an old house there
- 4 Swallows flew low W across the fields were probably migrants
- Dunnock seen carrying food back to the nest
- a Garden Warbler amazingly singing in open right on top of a large bush
- perhaps my best-ever view of this often skulking species
- 1 Jay heard in the far distance

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk is set out below. Varies from earlier logs reflecting both an earlier start in the area; and more time wandering about:

The totals were: 3 Mallards no raptors; 2 Pheasants; 1 Lapwing; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 13 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; 2 Swifts; no woodpeckers; 7 Sky Larks; 4 Swallows; no wagtails; 17 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 4 Robins; 4 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Lesser Whitethroat; 9 Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 3 Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaffs; 1 Willow Warbler; no Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 3 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; 1 Jay; 1 Magpie; 5 Jackdaw; 15 Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 15 Chaffinches; 3 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; 6 Linnets; no Bullfinches; 1 Reed Bunting; and 9 Yellowhammers

(Ed Wilson)

4th May, Thursday (05:00 - 06:00; 07:30 - 09:35) -

Two circuits of Priorslee Lake with a walk to and around The Flash in between

Highlights at the lake today were:
- no unattended new ducklings seen
- 1 pair of Gadwall new in
- hard to say how many Tufted Duck: 3 birds (2 drakes) seen early but seemed to leave. Later 5 birds (4 drakes) in flight over the water - perhaps birds from The Flash? All gone by 09:00
- 2 pairs of Ruddy Ducks
- 1 Kestrel at the W end again
- I could only see 2 'cootlings' with the Coot family but they were being brooded on the first lap; and then not well-positioned later
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- a few gulls: a first summer Black-headed Gull at the lake; and 2 first-summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
- just 2 passing Swallows were the only hirundines
- 2 Mistle Thrushes at the W end for a while
- 1 Sedge Warblers again along the N side
- 3 Reed Warblers in song: all 3 in NW reeds; the N-side reeds bird could not be roused
- 2 Lesser Whitethroats: one in W-side hedge again had started up by 05:05 and was still going strong at 09:15! The other along the Teece Drive approach somewhat less vocal
- 3 Garden Warblers today: one in trees between the lake and the M54; two others in the scrub in the N / NE area
- one of the Chiffchaffs has an amazing 'double-note' call and sounds just like 2 birds singing in unison

My complete log of the birds today: 3 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout; no Greylag Geese; no Canada Geese; no ducklings; 2 Gadwall (1 drake); 19 Mallard 6 of which flew in from Town park area; up to 8 Tufted Ducks; 4 Ruddy Ducks (2 drakes); 1 Kestrel; no Pheasants; 5 Moorhens; 29 adult Coots and 2 'cootlings'; 1 Common Sandpiper; 1 first summer Black-headed Gull; 2 first-summer Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 28 Wood Pigeons; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; no Sky Lark heard to NE; no Sand Martins; 2 Swallows; no House Martins; no Meadow Pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 32 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 21 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were in song; 2 Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 3 Reed Warblers; 2 Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 3 Garden Warblers; 7 Blackcaps (5 singing males); 6 Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; 3 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 12 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; no Jays; 12 Magpies; 11 Jackdaws; 6 Rooks; 6 Crows; no Starlings; 6 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; no Linnets; no Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings.

Mammals:
- 1 Rabbit today as well as the bats
- 3 medium / large bats (larger than Starlings?), all of the same species

Insects:
- male Orange-tip butterfly seen perched today - unusual for them to perch wings open?

Plants:
- Amazing what a warm day can do: the grass and the wild-flowers, especially the dandelions and the cow-parsley(?) have really shot up and Wellington boots are essential for exploring! Great patches of Lady's smock (Cuckoo plant) as well

(Ed Wilson)

3rd May, Wednesday (05:00 - 07:05 and 08:55 - 10:10 in between around the lanes to the E / SE) -

Highlights at the lake today were:
- 4 interloping swans needed chasing: the 3 1st summer birds left quickly, but the adult that had arrived with them was harder for the resident cob to shift
- Only 3 unattended very new ducklings in a tight group reported but John Isherwood (I did not see them): he too wondered whether they might be Ruddy Ducklings as he thought they were too small and not yellow-enough for Mallard.
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- more gulls today with 2 adult Black-headed Gulls and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
- almost no hirundines in the fine weather: 2 early Sand Martins flew high W; then 4 single Swallows did the same, but low-down
- 2 Sedge Warblers again: the one in the NW area now in the factory grounds; the other in the NE area
- 4 Reed Warblers: 2 in song in NW reeds with another seen in flight; the bird in N-side reeds singing very quietly again and had to be 'persuaded' to sing by pishing
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat in W-side hedge the only bird notes
- 2 Garden Warblers: as before
- 2 Reed Buntings - a pair - flew from the N shore off a long way SE: odd that they should be roosting here still?

The complete log is set out below, but note that this is not strictly comparable with other totals. During the first 45 minutes I was occupied with the camera and the sunrise. Then I spent over 90 minutes around the lanes to the east. And by the time I got back all the 'song' had died down.

My complete log of the birds today: 2 Great Crested Grebes only; 2 Herons; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout while the cob chased 4 interlopers; no Greylag Geese; 4 Canada Geese flew over; 3 unidentified ducklings reported; 15 Mallard; no Tufted Ducks; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); no raptors; no Pheasants; 7 Moorhens again; 27 adult Coots again - did not see the 'cootlings'; 2 Common Sandpipers; 2 adult Black-headed Gull over; 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 23 Wood Pigeons again; no Cuckoos; no Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 1 Sky Lark heard to NE; 2 Sand Martins; 4 Swallows; no House Martins; no Meadow Pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 20 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 4 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes, all of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Sedge Warblers; 4 Reed
Warblers; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; no Common Whitethroats; 2 Garden Warblers; 8 Blackcaps (7 singing males); 7 Chiffchaffs; 3 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 8 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; no Jays; 7 Magpies; 20 Jackdaws; 1 Rook; 3 Crows; 1 Starling; 4 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; 7 Goldfinches; no Linnets; 2 Bullfinches; 6 Reed Buntings and no Yellowhammers.

Mammals:
- 1 medium-large bat over the N side just after 05:00
- 1 rabbit at the W end

Fish:
- 1 large Pike floundering in the NW area

Insects:
- 1 male Orange-tip butterfly
- 1 splendid Peacock butterfly
- the world's smallest 'looper' geometer moth caterpillar

Lanes: I walked the lanes and some of the stream-side to the E / SE again: notes from the walk:
- 4 Lapwings rolling and tumbling over the fields
- 1 Stock Dove in the area again
- 1 Jay seen in the far distance

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk was: no Mallards 2 Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; 1 Stock Dove; just 5 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no woodpeckers; 4 Sky Larks; no wagtails; 11 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 4 Robins; 4 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Mistle Thrushes; no Lesser Whitethroat; 6 Common Whitethroats; 2 Blackcaps; 1 Chiffchaff; 2 Willow Warblers; 1 Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 3 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; no Magpies; 1 Jackdaw; 6 Rooks; 3 Crows; no Starlings; 13 Chaffinches; no Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 2 Linnets; no Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; 7 Yellowhammers.

(Ed Wilson)

2nd May, Tuesday (05:00 - 06:35 and 07:55 - 09:15) -

Highlights at the lake today were:
- 4 unattended very new ducklings in a tight group along the N shore - I assume Mallard, but with no duck in the area I did wonder about Ruddy Duck: these seem to be left to fend for themselves as a matter of course, though it would be early for this species
- 1 Kestrel in the trees at the W end again
- 1 Buzzard attracting attention from the Crows over the E end
- 3 Common Sandpipers
- the first gulls for a week: a first summer Black-headed Gull at the lake; and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull over
- eventually a good count of at least 350 hirundines feeding low over the lake - too many to count, but I would estimate c.150 Sand Martins; c.120 Swallows; c.75 House Martins. The few (up to 6) Swifts seemed to 'come and go'
- 2 Stock Doves seen flying S may well have been flushed out of the trees in the NW area by a dog-walker
- 2 Sedge Warblers again but only on the second loop: one in the NW area; the other in the NE area
- 3 Reed Warblers: 2 in NW reeds; 1 in N-side reeds singing very quietly
- 2, perhaps 3, Lesser Whitethroats: one in W-side hedge again; one in the SW bushes perhaps the same mobile bird; and one at E end alongside Castle Farm Way again
- 2 Garden Warblers: as before - one in trees between the lake and the M54; the other in the scrub in the NE area
- 1 Yellowhammer seen on the wires to the NE also
- some as yet unidentified brown and white feathers on the ground - will try and look these up later.

My complete log of the birds today: 4 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout; no Greylag Geese; 6 Canada Geese with 1 at least temporarily landing; 4 unidentified ducklings; 19 Mallard with 17 at the lake (though 4 flew off) and 2 flying to the E; no Tufted Ducks; 2 Ruddy Ducks (1 drake); 1 Buzzard; 1 Kestrel; no Pheasants; 7 Moorhens; 27 adult Coots and 4 'cootlings'; 3 Common Sandpipers; 1 first summer Black-headed Gull; 1 immature Lesser Black-backed Gull over; no Feral Pigeons; 2 Stock Doves; 51 Wood Pigeons again; no Cuckoos; 6 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 1 Sky Lark heard to NE; c.150 Sand Martins; c.120 Swallows; c.75 House Martins; no Meadow Pipits; 1 Grey Wagtail; no Pied Wagtails; 21 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes, all of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Sedge Warblers; 3 Reed Warblers; 2 or 3 Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 2 Garden Warblers; 6 Blackcaps (all singing males); 6 Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; 2 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Jays; 9 Magpies; 21 Jackdaws; 4 Rooks; 13 Crows; 2 Starlings; 8 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; no Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; 4 Reed Buntings and 1 Yellowhammer to the NE.

Mammals: 1 Rabbit today

(Ed Wilson)

1st May, Monday (06:00 - 09:00) -

Highlights at the lake today were:
- just 1 Tufted Duck but 2 drake Ruddy Ducks
- 1 Moorhen road casualty in Castle Farm Way
- the brood of Coots in NW corner comprises 4 'cootlings'
- 1 Dunlin flew through / flushed off dam: see below
- 1 Whimbrel heard overhead
- 5 Common Sandpipers this morning
- at least 8 Swifts
- numbers of hirundines hard to confirm as birds may have returned, but up to 97 Sand Martins; 31 Swallows and 3 House Martins
- 1 Sedge Warbler only in N side reeds
- Only 2 Reed Warblers heard, both in NW reeds
- 2 Lesser Whitethroats again: one in W-side hedge again; the other in the NE scrub today
- Only 1 Garden Warbler heard: in the scrub in the NE area
- 1 Linnet
also
- a juicy black slug feeding on a dandelion flower - if you like that sort
of thing!

A note about the Swifts, hirundines and the Dunlin. There were some 50 birds feeding over the lake at c.08:20 with birds calling as usual. Suddenly they all fell quiet and lifted off the water and higher and higher in the air until they disappeared from sight. At the same time I heard a call which sounded like the flight call of Dunlin and in amongst the departing hirundine flock I could pick out a summer-plumaged bird twisting and turning. Whether this had come off the dam or was just flying by is hard to say. And what caused the panic is also hard to say - I looked hard for Hobby without success, though the Swallows did not alarm-call. The Common Sandpipers did and all flew about but did not leave. It was over 10 minutes before hirundines were over the water again
- returning birds? or fresh arrivals? Hard to say, but the composition was different with more Swallows and House Martins; and fewer Swifts and Sand Martins.

With the later start I missed the 'dawn chorus' and the numbers of some species - especially Robins and Thrushes - are affected

My complete log of the birds today: 4 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; the 2 resident Swans with the pen still in the nest throughout and an adult interloper for the cob to chase off; no Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese took some effort by the swan to dislodge while another flew over; 14 Mallard; 1 Tufted Duck (1 drake); 2 Ruddy Ducks (2 drakes); no Kestrel; no Pheasants;
8 Moorhens (1 road casualty); 28 adult Coots and 4 'cootlings'; 1 Dunlin; 1 Whimbrel over; 5 Common Sandpipers; no gulls; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 25 Wood Pigeons; no Cuckoos; 8 Swifts; no Kingfisher; no woodpeckers; 1 Sky Lark heard to NE; up to 97 Sand Martins; up to 31 Swallows; 3 House Martins; no pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; no Pied Wagtails; 20 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 12 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes, both of which were in song; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Sedge Warbler; 1 Reed Warbler; 2 Lesser Whitethroats; no Common Whitethroats; 1 Garden Warbler; 10 Blackcaps again (7 males; 3 other calling birds); 6 Chiffchaffs; 2 Willow Warblers; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Jays; 15 Magpies; 11 Jackdaws; 4 Rooks; just 3 Crows; no Starlings; 4 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; 2
Goldfinches; 1 Linnet over; 2 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings.

Mammals: 2 Rabbits at the W end today

Lanes: I walked the lanes and some of the stream-side to the E / SE again: notes from the walk:
- 3 Mallards sitting alongside the sluice exit
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat alongside Castle Farm Way (perhaps one of the birds heard at the lake later)
- 5 singing Whitethroats is a better count than in recent years
- 3 Jays seen flying over
and
- a Fox flushed out of the long grass

The log of additional birds seen or heard during the walk was: 3 Mallards 2 Pheasants; no Feral Pigeons; no Stock Doves; 8 Wood Pigeons; no Collared Doves; no woodpeckers; 3 Sky Larks; no wagtails; 12 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 6 Robins; 5 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 5 Common Whitethroats; 2 Blackcaps; 2 Chiffchaffs; 1 Willow Warbler; no Goldcrest; no Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 6 Blue Tits; 2 Great Tits; 1 Magpies; 4 Jackdaws; 2 Rooks; 2 Crows; no Starlings; 7 Chaffinches; 4 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 3 Linnets; 4 Bullfinches; no Reed Buntings; 8 Yellowhammers.
(Ed Wilson)