Thursday, 31st (2:35pm)
On my way up to the Wrekin I dropped in quickly to see how the Swans were getting on. I'm pleased to say they and their 5 cygnets are still doing well. Overhead a pair of Lapwing came down to the dam, before rising up and heading east. Click here to see the Wrekin report..............
(Martin Adlam)
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Tuesday, 29th (9:00pm - 10:00pm) Evening
Stood by the dam watching the Swifts feeding over the lake. By about 9:30pm they were replaced by bats presumably Greater Horseshoes judging by their size. Also about was a Kestrel that flew north across the lake (9:35pm) and a Great Black-backed Gull ( 9:50pm). Ten Jackdaws flew north (9:55pm) and a few of the Mallard on the water came up onto the dam path just as I left at 10:00pm.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Monday, 28th (11:00am - 11:55am) Late Morning Log
Narrative:
Today was all about getting a few photographs of the Flora and Fauna around the Lake. It's amazing what you find when you really look into the undergrowth. This evening and tomorrow I shall endeavor to put a few images on the website, of the creepy crawlies I found today.
Highlights
No real highlights, main interest were the hundred plus hirundines feeding over the Lake.
Notes of Interest :
Great Crested Grebe 3 - Two by Wesley Reedbeds and a single bird just off the northbank
Mute Swan 7 - Mum, Dad and 5 cygnets still in the NE Bay.
 Both adults taking the remaining 5 cygnets out and about on the lake (Click on image to enlarge)
Canada Geese 20 - Flew over the lake towards the Flash
Mallard Present
Ruddy Duck 2 - Two drakes seen
Coot Present
Buzzard 1 - Drifted over the northbank
Kestrel 1 - Hovering over the southbank
Wood Pigeon present
Swift 2
House Martins 100+
Sand Martin2 - First seen here for quite awhile
Magpie present
Jay 1 - In Wesley wood
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 - A single bird calling from Wesley Wood
Wren present
Dunnock present
Reed Warbler present
Blackcap 3 - Wesley Wood
Common Whitethroat 2 - 1 on the southern edge of Wesley Reedbeds and the other singing from within the old Celestica grounds.
Willow Warbler 1 - In Wesley Woods
Chiffchaff 2 - In Wesley Woods
Robin Present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Long-tailed Tit present
Chaffinch present
Goldfinch 2
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds, Northbank Reedbeds and Pond Wood on the South Bank
Insects:
See Insect page.................................
Plants:
See Flora index for a few of the plants photographed today....................
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Saturday, 26th (12:00pm - 12:55pm) Midday Log
Narrative:
Visited the nest boxes (Click here for update) this lunchtime around Wesley Wood and then had a walk around the Lake. It was a bit cooler than of late but at least the sun was out.
Highlights
Common Tern and Common Whitethroat both firsts for me at the Lake this year.
Great Crested Grebe 6 - 3 pairs Wesley Reedbeds, Northbank and a pair just off the Southbank
Mute Swan 7 - It was a relief to see that the 5 remaining cygnets have survived another week. They were all up on the bank in the NE bay and as I approached the Cygnets followed Mum and Dad onto the Lake.
Click here to see the Cygnets at the lake today....................
Mallard 29 - 27 drakes and 2 ducks
Tufted Duck 1 - A single drake
Ruddy Duck 4 - All drakes by the Northbank Reedbeds
Coot 20 - One pair by Wesley Reedbeds with their two chicks still going strong.
Common Tern 1 - A lone tern drifted across the lake and disappeared over Wesley Wood towards the Flash at 12:19pm
Wood Pigeon present
Swift 16 - two or three small parties gathered over the dam as an approaching weather front moved in.
House Martins 26 - Small parties gathered over the Reedbeds to the west of the Lake.
Pied Wagtail 1 - heard calling overhead.
Magpie present
Jackdaws 2 - Flew north
Carrion Crow 2 - Around Wesley Woods
Wren present
Dunnock present
Reed Warbler 6 - 5 singing from Wesley Reedbeds and 1 in the Northbank Reedbeds.
Garden Warbler 1 - In the hedgerow on the southbank.
Blackcap 7 - all round the lake.
Common Whitethroat 2 - 1 on the southern edge of Wesley Reedbeds and the other singing from within the old Celestica grounds.
Willow Warbler 2 - Both in Wesley Woods
Chiffchaff 6 - all round the lake.
Robin 8 - All adults plus several young birds calling.
Blackbird present
Blue Tit present
Coal Tit 5 - 2 Adults feeding 3 juveniles in the NE wood
Great Tit present
Long-tailed Tit present
Chaffinch present
Bullfinch 3 - A pair by the Water Sports Gate and another in the NE Wood
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds, Northbank Reedbeds and Pond Wood on the South Bank Insects:
Caddis Fly - A big hatch this lunchtime along the northbank.
Speckled Wood Butterfly - A single butterfly in the NE Wood
Froghopper Larvae - "Cuckoo Spit" on the nettles around the lake especially by Wesley Brook Bridge
Plants:
Red Campion - now in flower
Dog Rose - in flower
Woody Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) - In flower in Wesley Wood
(Martin Adlam)
Top Thursday, 24th
- Cuckoo this morning over the lake
(Ed Wilson)
Top
Sunday, 20th (5:30pm)
Mute Swans - The 5 cygnets are still going strong this evening.
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Saturday, 19th (10:45 - 11:30)
Visited the nest boxes (Click here for update) this morning around Wesley Wood, didn't do a walk around the Lake but the following species were noted:
Mute Swan 7 - Since last weekend two cygnets have disappeared and we are now down to 5
Mallard present
Coot 5 - One pair by Wesley Reedbeds with two chicks in tow.
Wood Pigeon present
Wren present
Dunnock present
Robin present
Blackbird present
Reed Warbler 2 singing from Wesley Reedbeds
Blackcap 4 in Wesley Wood
Chiffchaff 2
Long-tailed Tit present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Magpie present
Chaffinch present
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds
(Martin Adlam)
Top Friday, 18th (10:45 - 11:30)
Weather
11.5C > 16.0C Well broken areas of both low and medium-level cloud gave way to mostly clear weather over the area but with threatening-looking cloud to the N most of the time. The light SW winds increased to moderate and even fresh at times. Excellent visibility
Narrative
Another double anti-clockwise loop around the lake interspersed with a walk up the lanes to the E; and then with a walk to The Flash and back in between the laps. Then a quick check of Nedge Hill with a final double-check of the lake
Overall Highlights
The best was a Shropshire year-tick at the lake of Whimbrel heard over at 05:18 but not located: my 92nd species of the year at the lake
The visit to the lanes was to check that the Whitethroats had arrived; and that the Linnets were breeding - both confirmed. The long wet grass prevented the usual stream-side return - thigh waders needed!
Otherwise it was a case of checking carefully for the progress of the juveniles: the water-birds are being joined by passerine juveniles with Starlings in flight and both Blue and Great Tits heard calling from nest-sites and clearly about to fledge
Priorslee Lake Other notes of interest
- 3 Great Crested Grebes on the lake today - all 'singles', so perhaps there are nests somewhere
- 1 juvenile Cormorant arrived at the lake from the E at 06:08 and flew straight to the pier. Did not see it enter the water and was gone by 08:20
- a party of c.6 Canada Geese seen far to the N at 04:59 - leaving The Flash?
- the Swans with 5 small cygnets emerged from the nest site at 05:00 again
- Mallard numbers were 20 drakes and 8 ducks with just 1 apparently new duckling noted. Lots of flying about mean that numbers are a bit unreliable
- 2 drake Ruddy Ducks seen together several times, both at the W end and in the NE area
- 2 Sparrowhawk's seen: a female (on size) flew SE at 04:50; and then a male was seen circling over the NE area at 05:05
- the Kestrel flew S at 04:47 this morning
- as noted above a Whimbrel flew W, calling, at 05:18 but eluded my gaze
- just 2 Moorhens
- 2 juvenile Coots in the NW area again appeared only after 08:45: just 18 adults logged, but I guess some are hidden and sitting on nests
- no gulls recorded again
- party of 5 Feral (racing?) pigeons shot over going SW: a patchwork of coloured morphs, but all basically 'blue'
- the usual westbound early Stock Dove at 05:01; 2 later on the wires to the E; and then 1 flying W at 06:25 seemed to be flaring to land in the NW trees
- more Wood Pigeons in flight - 12. But only 11 birds logged around the lake with the first heard calling at 04:55 and the first bird noted in flight at 05:05
- 4 Swifts rushed in from the E at 04:50 and seemed likely to pass through, but were presumably part of the group of 14 birds feeding over the N / NW areas from 04:55 until at least 05:15. None seen later
- 1 Grey Wagtail heard at 04:43 but not seen and not heard later
- 4 House Martins over the lake at 08:30 were the only hirundines logged this morning - I guess that despite the wind the clear skies allowed them to feed elsewhere
- many more Dunnocks today
- 2 Sedge Warblers again today: the bird at the W end was much less vocal this morning but it did perch-up several times. The other was singing from the sedges along the N shore at 06:10
- only 5 Reed Warblers in song in the reeds, perhaps wind-affected? (me or the birds?)
- once again searched in vain for the Lesser Whitethroat at the west end
- the same Common Whitethroat in song from the former Celestica grounds
- no Garden Warblers seen or heard today
- 9 singing Blackcaps logged today: the first was heard at the early time of 04:28
- Chiffchaff first heard at 04:28 , but today only 3 in song
- 1 Willow Warbler was singing more or less continually from the E end of the N-side today
- big party of Long-tailed Tits again though I did not see any juveniles today. At least 2 other noisy parties
- both Blue and Great Tits were rather quiet today
- I noted an obvious Magpie roost dispersal from the NE area this morning with 22 of the 26 birds logged emerging from here, including the / a tail-less bird first seen 6 weeks ago
- no Jay seen or heard
- the Jackdaw roost dispersal comprised smaller groups and was more spread-out. The main movement involved 56 birds and was from 04:40 to 05:05 with the largest group being 17 birds. A few singles later
- 10 Rooks were all singles
- the Crows also decided to flock today with 14 circling and calling overhead at 05:10!
- no Bullfinches logged today
Mammals:
- both of the larger species of bat this morning with at least 7 birds: the largest were trying to look like Jackdaws as pairs powered across the eastern sky!
- no Rabbits
Insects:
- no moths or other insects on the lights
- there was a Silver-ground Carpet moth flying around at c.08:45 in the NE area
- at least 4 Green-veined White butterflies
- my first damselfly of the year was a presumed newly-emerged and / or female that was just about colourless and feature-free - as well as staying out of the wind and well down amongst the vegetation. So will have to be identified at some other time!
- one of the 'No Swimming' signs had a handsome robber-fly sitting on it!
(Ed Wilson) Top
Thursday, 17th - Evening Sighting An adult male Wheatear on the dam at c. 7.00p.m.
(Malcolm Thompson)
Thursday, 17th (04:28 - 06:35 // 08:00 - 09:19) Morning Log
Weather
12.5C > 13.0C Cloudy at low level with mist / light rain / drizzle, though a few brighter bits. Started with little wind but a moderate NNW wind sprang up. Mild. Moderate / poor visibility
Narrative
Another double anti-clockwise loop around the lake with a walk to The Flash and back in between, all in light rain and drizzle
Overall Highlights
Cloudy, drizzly weather can be good for grounding migrants, depending upon where they encounter the bad weather. Not that much could be attributed to that today: there did seem to be a passage of hirundines, with good numbers of House Martins. 'Extra' Sedge Warblers at the lake and The Flash this morning and by the time of my second look at the lake there was a Common Sandpiper as well as another (the same?) Cormorant. Great Crested Grebes continue to confuse, as ever, with an extra 2 birds on the lake and most of the adults AWOL from the Flash! At the lake there was a big party of Long-tailed Tits - at least 13 birds and my first big party for almost two months, and contained at least 3 juveniles. And it sounded as if 1 or more Tree Creepers were moving through with it - but I could not find it / then
Probably ought to detail House Martins here rather than in the individual sectors: there had been none until I was walking back from The Flash when birds appeared calling over the Priorslee Avenue area. I assumed that these were breeding birds from the estate, but they seemed to 'keep coming' and moving through to the E and I logged a total of 51 birds at 07:55. When I got to the lake there were just 3 over the water but a party of 8 Swallows moving through along with a Sand Martin. By 08:20 the number of House Martins had increased to at least 36 but after feeding at varying heights and then over the poplar trees along the N shore these had gone by 08:30. By 08:50 there were 21 but again these did not stay. A party of 9 flew through NW at 09:05. As I was getting ready to leave from the Teece Drive gate area at 09:15 there were at least 42 high overhead and again these seemed to moving NE. Were there really 159 different birds?
Priorslee Lake - Other notes of interest
- now 5 Great Crested Grebes on the lake: 2 along the N side asleep again well away from any potential nest site; a lone bird near the dam throughout; and then 2 seen lurking under the overhanging trees in the SE corner though it seemed to be these that then paddled all the way across to the NW reeds and disappeared!
- 1 juvenile Cormorant in the lake when I got back at 08:00 and thereafter: did a bit of wing-hanging from the pier until dog-walkers arrived, but otherwise in the water throughout and again not apparently feeding
- no geese seen or heard today
- the Swans with 5 small cygnets emerged from the nest site at 05:00 and were present throughout, though they all hauled-out along the N shore for a while
- Mallard numbers were 18 drakes and 3 ducks but no ducklings noted
- drake Ruddy Duck seen several times, mainly at the W end today
- 1 Kestrel flew S high over the dam at 05:25
- as noted above a Common Sandpiper after 08:00 and apparently not before
- after yesterday's low count of a single Moorhen I managed 4 today, though no doubt there are other tucked away on nests
- 2 juvenile Coots in the NW area appeared only during one of the dryer spells though as they are old-enough to be diving themselves it seems rather unnecessary to keep them out of the rain
- no gulls recorded
- 2 Stock Doves flushed from the NW trees at 09:05 - I suspected they nested here last year
- very few Wood Pigeons in flight - 3! And 23 birds logged around the lake with the first heard calling at 04:32 and the first bird noted in flight at 05:02
- 1 Sand Martin, briefly
- 11 Swallows at least: singles high N at 05:28 and 06:10; then 10 over the lake at 08:05 moved through; single thereafter seemed likely to be local bird coming and going
- as noted above several apparently different parties of House Martins
- 1 Grey Wagtail heard at 04:55 and then seen several times on the pier in the SW area as well as in flight to the W and back
- again very few Dunnocks today - the first bird not logged until the very late time of 06:35
- 2 Sedge Warblers today: 1 still in song at the W end and giving great views both in song flight and singing from a small tree - pity the light was so poor! Another was singing from a small clump of bushes along the S shore at 05:02 but I did not record it on the 2nd lap
- only 6 Reed Warblers in song in the reeds: these too were giving unusually good view both in song and while moving around feeding
- again searched in vain for the Lesser Whitethroat at the west end
- the Common Whitethroat was in song from in the Celestica grounds again
- 2 Garden Warblers in song in the central area of the N side today and seemed to be singing at each other, one sparking the other. As yesterday they were late up and only heard on the second lap
- now 11 Blackcaps in song
- Chiffchaff first heard at 04:44 (perhaps pre-calls as early as 04:38?). Only 5 in song this morning
- no sound from the Willow Warbler today
- as noted a big party of Long-tailed Tits seen along the N side and presumed the same along the Teece Drive approach some 90 minutes later. Another sizeable party in the SE area
- no Jay seen or heard around the lake this morning
- the Jackdaw roost dispersal was preceded by a scatter of 10 Rooks this morning: 20 at 04:50 were followed over the lake by 2 parties of 36 and 22 birds at 05:54: very few others. And had there been passing to the E it would have been hard to see them in the mist
- checked for House Sparrows again: not located
Mammals:
- just 1 species of bat this morning with a single large bat over the SE trees / dam area at 04:48 but not later
- 1 Rabbit in the yacht compound looking rather wet - snap!
Insects:
- no moths or other insects on the lights, not helped by the apparent failure of the street lights in Teece Drive; Seems to have been (dis?)connected with the damaged Range Rover that had been abandoned in the Wesley Brook tunnel under Priorslee Avenue and which the contractors demolishing the Celestica factory suspect was used during the night to try and push the van stuck in the mud after ploughing through the fence and was presumed at some stage to have been loaded with a large roll of recovered wiring that had gone AWOL from the site during the night. Security Guard?
- it seemed to weather for gastropods: there were some nasty-looking almost transparent slugs on the external walls of the yacht-club hut; some even nastier large black slugs climbing one of the silver-birch trees; and then 2 very different species of snail inching up another nearby tree - what do they know? should I start building the ark?
(Ed Wilson) Top
Wednesday, 16th (04:28 - 06:05 // 07:35 - 08:46 // 09:18 - 09:23)
Weather
7.0C > 10.5C Mainly cloudy and mainly fine, though the areas of high cloud pre-dawn gradually thickened and lowered with some occasional and very light rain after 07:30. Light W wind. Excellent visibility
Narrative
My first visit to any of these locations for two weeks (and this month!) and quite a few changes - especially in the amount of the vegetation! Made 2 anti-clockwise laps of the lake and between times walked to, around and back from The Flash. Then went to check Nedge Hill. Juvenile Great Crested Grebes, Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Moorhens and Coots. There had clearly been a lot of rain recently
Overall Highlights
Apart from the juveniles as noted the usual few bits and pieces
- a sprinkling of hirundines passing through (there were Swallows coming in off the sea in Devon & Cornwall throughout my stay) but at the onset of the rain there was my best gathering of the year so far with over 60 birds of all the usual species, though rather late for Sand Martins to be seen here
- a new year-bird at the lake - a Common Whitethroat in song from the grounds of the old Celestica factory and easily audible from the NE area of the lake: my 92nd species this year
Other notes of interest
- just 3 Great Crested Grebes on the lake with 2 in the NW area asleep well away from any potential nest site; a lone bird near the dam throughout, possibly one of the pair previously seen in the N side reeds. At 05:30 what seemed to be a 4th bird was flying round and round overhead and appeared to leave to the S
- 1 Cormorant by 07:45 and thereafter this immature bird seen in the water throughout: did not seem to dive at all during this time. Gone by 09:20
- 1 Heron but only when I briefly paused in the lay-by on the way back from Nedge Hill at 09:20
- surprised there was any passage of Canada Geese today as I would expect them to be 'flightless' about now: but 3 birds going E at 04:49 and then 2 headed S to the Town Park later
- the Swans with 5 small cygnets [the regular bird-feeder told me there were 6 until this morning]
- Mallard numbers starting to build with 15 drakes and 3 ducks, one pair being with 3 small ducklings and clearly none of the birds I recorded last month
- no Tufted Ducks now
- drake Ruddy Duck fishing assiduously in the NE area
- 1 female Sparrowhawk powered over SE at 05:07
- 1 Buzzard chased off SW by Crow at 04:52
- no Kestrel seen
- no waders
- a rather strung-out groups of 7 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew W at 07:48
- single westbound early Stock Dove again - at 04:54
- few Wood Pigeons in flight - 8. And 30 birds again logged around the lake with the first heard calling at 04:45 and the first bird noted in flight at 05:05 again
- distant Sky Lark heard in song flight over fields to E
- 1 Grey Wagtail heard at the dam at 04:50 but neither seen nor heard later
- rather few Dunnocks today - the first lap logged just 1 bird. Strangely silent - they are not in my garden!
- 1 Sedge Warbler still in song at the W end: perhaps it might stay and breed?
- 8 Reed Warblers in song in the reeds: perhaps others seen in the reeds
- searched for the Lesser Whitethroat at the west end without success
- the heard Common Whitethroat as noted above
- a Garden Warbler in song at the E end of the N side - though it was only on the second lap that this bird sang as all
- 10 Blackcaps in song is a good number here
- Chiffchaff first heard rather late at 05:20 this morning. Still 6 in song
- 1 Willow Warbler still giving very intermittent song from along the N side
- 1 Coal Tit seen in the NW area
- 1 Jay flushed from the grass behind the N side wood on both circuits: must be breeding in the wood
- surprised that the Jackdaws are mainly still leaving the roost in parties - 56 birds far to the E and 44 over the lake at 04:52. Just 14 others
- very few Rooks
- the House Sparrows were not located in / around the bushes on the SW shore today
Mammals:
- 2 species of bat this morning with Pipistrelles at the W end and in the SW area; and the large bats over the SE trees / dam
- no Rabbits noted
- new molehills in the SW area; most of the other recent molehills had been flattened by the heavy weekend rain
Insects:
- no moths or other insects on the lights
Plants:
- many of the hawthorns are now laden with blossom: tradition has this foretells a hard winter, but as I recall they were laden last year as well. Seems highly improbable that nature predicts the weather and much more likely to reflect the past weather. If 'on average' the weather is 'average' then it might be that the weather that produces a lot of blossom is more often than by chance followed by a cold winter, but …
- the umbellifers have shot up since my last visit and there is cow parsley everywhere
Top Monday, 14th Morning - Swans -
All the cygnets seem OK when I was on the lake this morning. Both Parents were feeding and ignoring the sailing club open day.
There were also 2 Coot and 2 Grebes, couldn't tell exactly what type.
Also a number of Swifts as well.
(Hugh)
Top
Saturday, 12th (07:15 - 7:40)
Visited the nest boxes (Click here for update) this morning around Wesley Wood, didn't do a walk around the Lake but the following species were noted:
Mute Swan 9 - The eggs have hatched and there are 7 cygnets. Lets hope they have better luck than last years brood, when a Mink took 8 of the 9 youngsters.
 Both adults taking the 7 cygnets out and about on the lake. (Click on image to enlarge)
Mallard 18- 13 drake, 3 duck and the two oversized Mallard
Coot 20 - 18 adults with one pair with two chicks in tow.
Wood Pigeon present
Stock Dove - In Wesley Wood.
 Stock Dove in flight. (Click on image to enlarge)
Swift 30+ - Mainly over the NE wood
Wren present
Dunnock present
Robin present
Blackbird present
Reed Warbler present
Sedge Warbler present
Garden Warbler - present
Blackcap 5 in Wesley Wood
Chiffchaff 2
Long-tailed Tit present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Magpie present
Chaffinch present
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds
(Martin Adlam)
Top
Thursday, 9th (5:30pm)
Plenty of Hirundines and a few Swifts feeding over the lake in the wet conditions. Mostly House Martins and just a few Swallows. No Red-Rumps but there a few in the UK at the moment.
(Martin Adlam)
Top Saturday, 5th (10:15 - 10:45)
Visited the nest boxes (Click here for update) this morning around Wesley Wood, didn't do a walk around the Lake but the following species were noted:
Mute Swan 2 - The pen was on her nest and the cob was patrolling the lake.
Mallard present along with the two "oversized" Mallard
Coot present
Wood Pigeon present
Stock Dove - came out from the old Ash tree in Wesley Wood
Feral Pigeons Racing pigeons overhead
Swift 3 - Above the dam
Grey Wagtail present
Wren present
Dunnock present
Robin present
Mistle Thrush present
Song Thrush present
Blackbird present
Reed Warbler present
Sedge Warbler present
Garden Warbler - present
Blackcap 5 in Wesley Wood
Willow Warbler 2 present
Chiffchaff present
Long-tailed Tit present
Blue Tit present
Great Tit present
Magpie present
Carrion Crow 1
Chaffinch present
Greenfinch present
Bullfinch 2 - in Wesley wood
Reed Bunting Males singing from Wesley Reedbeds
(Martin Adlam)
Top Friday, 4th (2:00pm)
Male Gadwall
(John Isherwood)
Top Tuesday, 1st (04:58 - 08:58)
Weather
5.5C > 12.0C Fine and clear throughout. Some thin high cloud to the far E; and some to the far W as well. Light / moderate ESE wind. Good visibility.
Narrative
Ahead of a drive to the SW later in the day I only visited the lake and made two complete anti-clockwise circuits with a diversion for a fruitless inspection of the street lights along the W side and in the Teece Drive approach
Overall Highlights
As usual a few bits and pieces
- only two parties of Mallard ducklings seen today - of 2 and 4 ducklings (3, 4 and 5 yesterday)
- a Common Sandpiper
- [one of the fishermen described a bird that seemed likely to have been a Whimbrel, though I was present at the time and saw nothing and, unusually, heard nothing either]
- a day for warbler watching and listening: see the notes under Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler for more details, though the fact that one of the Chiffchaffs was wearing a shiny new ring on its right leg deserves special mention - I wonder where it got that? But no Common Whitethroat or Garden Warbler today
- whilst doing the sweep-count for water-birds from the dam top I was surprised how few birds there were on the SW grass - just Magpies and Crows. Then I saw why: a splendid fox walking in the fast-growing umbellifers
Other notes of interest
- the 'standard' 4 Great Crested Grebes again. Often these were strung out evenly-spaced around the lake rather than as pairs
- no Herons yet again
- usual early passage of Canada Geese today was just 4 birds going E with the first at 05:09
- 3 Tufted Ducks again: 2 drakes
- a Sparrowhawk again - and it seemed to be a female with a complete tail this morning
- the only sighting of a Kestrel was a bird hovering far to the NE
- 1 Common Sandpiper today: flushed from the dam at 06:15; with the presumably the same bird flushed again at 08:05 and then on the SW grass
- a first-summer Black-headed Gull again - perhaps the same bird as yesterday? Seen over the lake c.06:20
- an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew S at 07:28
- the westbound early Stock Doves again - 2 birds today at 07:41
- larger number of Wood Pigeons in flight - 21. And 30 birds logged around the lake with the first heard calling at 05:01 and the first bird noted in flight at 05:35 again
- whilst trying to turn a passing Rook whose bill was laden with food into a Raven, it flew past a high and distant Sky Lark in song flight
- at least 2 Grey Wagtails busy flying to & from the both the dam and the SW grass
- certainly 2 Sedge Warblers in song today: 1 in the NW reeds and another at the W end
- 4 Reed Warblers again singing away in the reeds
- searched for the Lesser Whitethroat at the west end with some success - one bird making very un-Sylvia-like calls as it worked through the hawthorns and avoided the hyperactive Wrens
- the Chiffchaff burst in to song at 05:00 this morning. These provided me with some entertainment this morning. First there seemed to be 2 birds in one of the still-bare Ash trees near the Teece Drive gate: one was singing and when the other flew off it gave a flight-call like a Chaffinch and I had to recheck that I had not misidentified it - I hadn't. Then I was trying to find the Lesser Whitethroat at the west end when the bird (male?) with the shiny ring appeared in the hawthorns and looked about while calling very softly. The object of its attention was another Chiffchaff (a female?) also lurking in the hawthorns and fluttering its wings while making slow 'creaky' calls - like the call often given between bouts of singing but much slower and quieter. The other odd thing about this was that the hawthorns are no more than 12' high and this seems rather low for this species to be nesting
- I also spent time trying to track the Willow Warbler today. Again it initially gave brief and distant bursts of song and always accompanied by a Chiffchaff song and I was beginning to think it was an aberrant bird making both calls when eventually I managed to locate from where the bird was singing. It was in fact much closer than I expected with the bird singing softly as it worked, unseen, along the N side bushes. Rather a relief after a week of is it? isn't it?
- the tail-less Magpie is still around - been like it for at least 2 weeks
- a Jay seen leaving the N side wood and flying off S: seems increasingly likely that these are breeding in the wood
- another good Jackdaw passage - 119 logged, the first at 05:07. Unusually 3 singles were seen flying north; and a party of 3 flew E
- more Rooks - 21
- at least 3 House Sparrows in the bushes on the SW shore, with birds calling from 05:42
Mammals:
- no bats again
- no Rabbits either - hiding from the fox?
Insects:
- no moths or other insects on the lights
- a few Speckled Wood butterflies were around before I left
(Ed Wilson) |
