Archived News -May 2009

Priorslee Lake

Archive News - May 2009

Friday, 29th

Two laps of the lake with the usual walk to The Flash between; and then diverted on the 2nd lap to the Woodhouse Lane area to the E

Best was the 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks that flew towards the lake from the W at 05:17, made 2 circuits and left the way they came - not obviously from& to The Flash as there was only 1 pair there

Otherwise
at the lake
- both Great Crested Grebe pairs confounded yesterday's note by showing at least 1 striped-head poking out the parents' fluffed-up back! And there was at least a 5th adult present
- juvenile Pied Wagtail on the dam
- Dunnocks seem rather scarce at the moment: am recording 1 - 4, whereas usually 6 - 8: often start singing later too - they are usually early to sing
- family party of Bullfinches at the W end: male and female seen, but presumed juveniles kept well out of site
- several Painted Lady butterflies: no doubt part of the invasion of 1000s of this species that has been tracked across Europe when first noted in NE Italy and then in Iberia
- found at least 5 more orchid spikes along the S side

in Woodhouse Lane area etc
- a very distant Sky Lark in song: odd as I was able to hear one from the lake earlier
- Jackdaws must be nesting in the trees along the lane as they are always 'hanging about': but not seen any proof

Ed Wilson

Thursday, 28th

Best were probably the 4 Sand Martins that flew through fast W at 05:12. As far as I know there are no breeding sites locally and it would seem these may have roosted somewhere nearby and then resumes migration: late? That said several Swallows also went through early and may also have been late migrants - the 6 Swifts that did likewise would be more expected to be still on the move

After yesterday's dearth of finches these were back to normal this morning and the warblers in lower numbers

Many tit parties now with noisy and begging juveniles: Coal Tits at The Flash and Willow Tits at the lake and Long-tailed Tits everywhere 3 parties at the lake (one of >16 birds); 2 between the lake and The Flash; and 3 more around The Flash. Blue & Great Tits as well of course

Otherwise
at the lake
- wonder what is going on with the Great Crested Grebes: still no sign of juveniles and the adults' backs are no longer 'fluffed up'
- prolonged song of Lesser Whitethroat seemed to coming from a different location in the SW but I was at the other end of the lake and by the time I got to a place where I could pin-point the song all I could hear was quiet song from the usual location in the W-end hedge
- the errant Common Whitethroat still singing away and imitating new things: added calls of House Martin (I suspect the real source of several recent pre-dawn 'heard' records for this species!) and now Long-tailed Tit
- Jays still regularly flying across the lake from the N side copse - the early corvid passage not particularly evident most mornings at the moment and probably before I arrive at 04:30! But over 50 Jackdaws noted before 05:00 and c.50 Rooks at the perplexingly late time around 08:00 (accompanied by 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls!)
- not seen many moths on the lights recently: perhaps I found out why this morning - a pair of wings from a Common Marbled Carpet fluttering from a spider-web!
- yesterday the Hawthorn blossom looked to be just about past its best: today many bushes had lost all the blossom and only the young haws evident
- carp spawning

(Ed Wilson)

Wednesday, 27th

The good run at the lake continues: 3 Little Egrets flew low NW over the dam at 05:15! And the / an Oystercatcher still around - flying around calling at The Flash (my first here) at 06:05; and then at the lake after 07:35 until 08:45 at least

Another chilly morning though rather less windy. All the warblers back singing again
- 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler , 10(!) Blackcaps and 1 Chiffchaff at the lake

But conversely the finches seemed to have quietened: just 1 Chaffinch (usually 5 - 6) at the lake; and only 1 at The Flash (not usually counted, but there are more!)

Good numbers of hirundines etc., especially, House Martins as it clouded

Otherwise
At the lake
- an 'extra' pair of Great Crested Grebe flew in from the W at 05:12 but did not seem to stay
- yet another immature Cormorant visited between 07:25 and 08:00
- 2 Canada Geese arrived at 05:35 and seen to be left alone by the Swan (18 more over, and a Greylag)
- just 4 juvenile Coots noted here with a single brood seen
- 2 Pied Wagtails on the lake were my first here for a while

In the lanes to the E
- no Sky Lark heard
- only 2 Whitethroats noted: one of these dived in to the oil-seed but whether it is nesting or feeding there is hard to say
- 3 Yellowhammers - 1 in song and 2 calling, at least 1 of which was also a male
- 3 small finches flew off - probably Linnets

(Ed Wilson)

Tuesday, 26th

Highlights at the lake were single Oystercatchers and late Common Sandpiper; and 2 Common Terns

Usual 2 laps of the lake with the walk to and around The Flash in between

A rather chilly and breezy morning and this or, perhaps, the passage of Spring, meant much less song this morning with no Common Whitethroats at the lake; very intermittent Garden Warbler there; single Chiffchaffs at the lake and The Flash; and NO Willow Warblers at all!

Otherwise at the lake
- neither pair of Great Crested Grebes has yet put the juveniles in the water, so no idea how many
- immature Cormorant arrived from the S at 07:30
- 5 Mallard ducklings still OK
- pair of Tufted Ducks by 05:50 but flew off W 05:53 (and probably the pair at The Flash)
- despite the wind more juvenile Coots evident with 9 juveniles from 3 broods (4, 3 and 2)
- Oystercatcher flushed off the dam at 05:00 but only flew to the SW area and stayed there until 07:45 at least
- Common Sandpiper the SW 'pier' at 04:45 but only glimpsed thereafter
- 2 Common Terns on buoys at 04:45 and still present at 05:45; gone by 07:00
- Kestrel seen twice, including hovering over SW grass: so they are still around
- late Sand Martin with 3 Swifts, 2 Swallows and 7 House Martins by 07:45
- been making suitable noises for several days but first sighting of juvenile Magpies with short tails and at least 2 orchid spike escaped the cull by the contractors yesterday. The splendid May blossom has now just passed its best

(Ed Wilson)

Monday, 25th

This morning I was in Woodhouse Lane to the E of Priorslee Lake at c.08:30 trying to decide whether I needed another photo of the yellow fields of oil-seed rape when the harsh alarm call of a Heron made me look up: there was the Heron several 100' up, circling and attempting to harass a Red Kite that was able to out-manoeuvre it without even trying

Managed a few record shots as they headed off W over the lake and away Shropshire tick for me - and sites ticks obviously!

After the Red Kite no real highlights: otherwise

Two laps of the lake with the usual walk to The Flash and back; and with the second lap interrupted by the visit to the lanes to the E. Then to Trench and a walk along the W side only

At the lake the Severn-Trent contractors appeared to cut the grass (on a Bank Holiday!). This included the once-a-year cut of a path all around the lake. Unfortunately the contractors were rather enthusiastic and have cut a rather wide swathe along the N side and whether the orchids will survive remains an open question

- a drake Tufted Duck appeared at 05:15 but then disappeared again
- several Black-headed Gulls heard over but not seen, though an adult flew low W much later
- 7 Reed Warblers in song, but now 5 along the N shore (1 further E than the main reed clump); and just 2 in the W / NW area
- Lesser Whitethroat seen carrying food and later heard singing: always though singing and nest duties mutually exclusive
- the errant Common Whitethroat has moved from the atypical sedges and is now singing from the almost equally unlikely large bushes forming the M-way boundary - the province of Blackcap and (historically) Garden Warbler
- Willow Warbler back in the NW area, but singing intermittent

Also interesting interaction between a cat, Magpies and Mistle Thrushes: I was attracted to the noise of Magpies scolding and 2 were bouncing around a cat. When the cat saw me it froze which was the signal for the Magpies to jump on it and peck it! It shot off! 1 up to the Magpies!
But these then flew in to the bushes where at least 2 and probably 4 Mistle Thrushes started a fearful row before repeatedly flying out and then diving at the Magpies. Not sure who won that round

in the lanes
- Jackdaw seen carrying food around the trees
- 3 Yellowhammers in song after several days with just the odd call: 2 heard calling but these likely the same birds

(Ed Wilson)

Sunday, 24th

Two laps of the lake with a walk to & from and an extended stay at The Flash this morning

Now confirmed the mystery warbler at the lake as Common Whitethroat when it sang from the top of a small bush for a while, adding Swallow and House Martin to its repertoire of calls

Otherwise too clear for much

Around the lake
- the interloping Swans arrived back; one was chased off again, but the resident seemed happy to leave the other (the pen?) provided it was at the other end
- 5 duckling Mallard seem to be doing well
- 3 juvenile Coots only from what I believe was the second of 4 broods I have noted so far: usual high attrition rate
- 2 Black-headed Gulls unseasonal fly-overs: 6 Lesser Black-backs as well
- Great Spotted Woodpecker busy up & down the line of Teece Drive throughout: female seen; others? heard
- no Willow Warbler again; and only 1 Chiffchaff
- the 'electric' Blue Tits here again - using the man-made hole of an ill-fitting cover at the base of one lamps in Teece Drive)
- Greenfinches seem remarkably absent here (and they were in much lower numbers all winter in my Newport garden)

(Ed Wilson)

Saturday, 23rd

Shorter report: stayed at the lake and only walked Woodhouse Lane area first thing

The 'un-id' warbler at the W end seems to be Common Whitethroat. It sang several times this morning, adding Pied Wagtail to its repertoire. Several times it made the characteristic Whitethroat scold (Sedge can do this) and song-notes; and one brief dancing song flight (Sedge can do this too!); and one brief flight when it seemed to be a Common Whitethroat. Does not really explain the mimicry and why it skulks in the sedges and scrub and does not sing in the open

The ones that got away today were 3 medium-sized waders on the SW grass at 06:45 while I was on the dam without a scope. Seemed bigger than Dunlin and certainly lacked summer plumage of that species. Had gone - dog walkers - by the time I could get close. Would have suggested Whimbrel but they always(?) are very noisy

Otherwise at the lake
- the additional pair of Swans got fed up with being chased and left at 05:30
- Sky Lark in song audible from the lake - the lack of traffic on a Saturday I expect!
- Mistle Thrush singing again after a quiet spell: another brood to come?
- Willow Warbler not heard or seen today
- Jay seen carrying food to the N-side copse and seem to be breeding there

In the small part of the stream-side copse to the SE
- despite what I wrote yesterday a Common Whitethroat singing!
- single Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff

In the lane to the E
- 2 Sky Larks
- 3 Common Whitethroats in song
- 1 male Linnet flushed from hedge - nesting here?
- 2 Yellowhammers: but both only calling

Ed Wilson

Friday, 22nd : The Lake, To and from The Flash and Woodhouse Lane & Copse to east

A day of confusing warbler song, but we'll come to that: if you visit listen at the W end!

First the confirmed highlights
- Sedge Warbler in song by the lower pool between the lake and The Flash, just by the Priorslee Avenue bridge
- Reed Bunting in song at S end of The Flash: most years birds sing intermittently at one end or the other - even both one year - but never seem to stay

Otherwise
At the lake
- both pairs of Great Crested Grebes now visible and one of each pair with fluffed-up back: still can't seen any juveniles
- the resident Swans and 3 cygnets all periodically chasing the others (blue 7DSC and unringed bird) - the cygnets struggling to keep up!
- Lapwing overhead: put up by passing helicopter?
- Pheasant heard: my first of the year from around the lake!
- 3 immature large gulls over: 1 a Herring; others not id-ed
- Collared Doves unusually evident flying about: at least 2 on the cleared Celestica site
- the Willow Warbler still singing but ranging all along the N side this morning

Between the lake and The Flash, in addition to the Sedge Warbler
- adult Moorhen on the lower pool venturing on to the grass with a juvenile

Walked the Woodhouse Lane area again
- male and female Sparrowhawk sparring, with the larger bird chasing away the smaller: age of these birds?
but
- no Linnets noted
- no Yellowhammers either

Then did the Copse below the sluice and along the streamside
- 2 Garden Warblers
- 3 Blackcaps
- 3 Chiffchaffs
but no Whitethroats. Over the winter the farmer cut some ditches from the field to the river and 'tidied' the edges of the field, removing much of the scrub

but absent this week so far
- Kestrel
- Goldcrests

Now the confusing warblers
- in the W end Ricoh hedge at the lake a bird in full song at 04:45 seems likely to have been the Lesser Whitethroat, but singing unusually fluently and without any of the usual 'single note' runs so typical of the species - from deep within the grass, sedges and umbellifers at the W end of the lake at the same tie another apparent Sylvia warbler sang: it had the tone
and rhythm of this genus but without matching any directly: it did good imitations of Swallow and Reed Buntings and at times Whitethroat, though it sounded nothing like the other Whitethroat in song at the same time (as were the local Garden Warbler and Blackcap). Song phrases were unusually long - even considered Acrocephalus, but which? Unable to see it and after some 5 minutes it shut up and I heard nothing similar again

(Ed Wilson)

Thursday, 21st

A few notables this morning: 2 laps of Priorslee lake with the walk to & around The Flash in between: then Nedge Hill and finishing at Trench Lock

Best were
- a Redshank flushed from the dam at the lake c.05:30
- a Common Tern on one of the buoys at the lake: first noted 05:05 and gone by 05:40
- a Redpoll (unseasonable for here) flew W over the lake at 05:55

Otherwise
At the lake where there is some low-level activity on the Celestica site again - 8 weeks of drainage work I was told
- one of the pairs of Great Crested Grebes certainly has at least 2 juveniles on one parent's back
- cob Swan is not as aggressive this year: not only is he almost ignoring the other pair of Swans if they keep to the NE area, but he ignored the Canada Geese and Graylag that arrived. Only 2 cygnets seen today, but they were riding on the pen's back and hard to see
- 5 ducklings with a very pale duck Mallard
- 4 large gulls seen: an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull seemed to be leaving the lake at 04:50 - a gull I may well have seen in two previous years as damage to left wing leaves it flying like a Cuckoo, never raising either wing above the horizontal, with the left wing badly crooked
- 2, perhaps 3, Common Whitethroats singing today: all 'normal' song
- 2 Garden Warblers in song today
- Willow Warbler still singing

Ed Wilson

Wednesday, 20th

After another 2 weeks away a full exploration of the area today with 2 laps of the lake; a walk to & from and around The Flash; and a visit to the Woodhouse Lane area to the E of the lake

Nothing of special note but an update on, mainly, the 'residents'

- 3 Great Crested Grebes at the lake - 4th probably on nest in the NW reeds. Pair along N side seemed to have juveniles with one of the adults always on the surface and with back-feathers fluffed out.
- Cormorant leaving the lake: unusual in summer
- 2 Swans with just 3 small cygnets at the lake; another pair in NE area being tolerated; another 2 arrived and both cobs saw them off
- Canada Goose just 6 over the lake
- small numbers of Mallard with no ducklings located
- juvenile Coots at lake
- 1 gull only: unidentified (pale inner-primaries suggested Herring, narrow wings suggested Lesser Black-back: but probably moult-affected)
- Lapwing still displaying over fields to far NE of the lake
- 1 Common Sandpiper at the lake
- my first Swifts of the year here (because I have been away): up to 10 screaming over the lake with a pair(how do you tell?) seen mating;
- 2 late Sand Martins over the lake
- 8 Swallows logged at the lake; none doing their usual commute to & from nest-sites near The Flash; 2 over the lanes to the E likely from the farms
- House Martins on territory in Priorslee and seen from both lake and The Flash; others at the lake
- 7 or 8 singing Reed Warblers at the lake
- Lesser Whitethroat seen carrying food in Ricoh hedge at W end of the lake - bred here for at least 6 years. Not singing at the moment
- Whitethroat with aberrant song in W / SW area of the lake - in addition to the short scratchy song it was giving longer more melodic phrases with hints of Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Blackcap!
- 3 more Whitethroats singing in lanes to the E
- Garden Warbler in song at E end of N side of the lake - also a traditional breeding site
- Blackcaps in song: 3 at the lake and 1 to the E
- Chiffchaffs in song: 2 at the lake; and 3 to the E. Another seen
- Willow Warbler in song at the lake - not stayed to breed for several years now, so rather a surprise.
- juvenile Long-tailed Tits noted at the lake
- 2 Linnets at least in lanes to the E
- no Yellowhammers seen or heard: unusual and worrying

Otherwise
- a rat at the lake swimming just off the dam: but was it a Water Rat?
- a Tench caught by otherwise unsuccessful fishermen

(Ed Wilson)

Friday, 15th - (midday)

Lesser Whitethroat - 1

Common Sandpiper - 2

(John Isherwood)

Thursday, 14th (evening)

Common Tern - 1 (first I have seen here for > 2 years - lot less frequent than formerly)

Common Sandpiper - 5 (highest total this spring)

(John Isherwood)

Wednesday, 13th (evening)

Wheatear - 1 female on the dam wall

(John Isherwood)

Saturday, 9th

Common Sandpiper - 2 on dam wall
Sedge Warbler - 1 on North shore

(John Isherwood)

Friday, 1st

A 'Warbler' morning for variety if not numbers

- Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler were new in
- the Sedge, one of 9 singing Reed Warblers and the Common Whitethroat had a dispute in a small tree in the W end marsh
- a Lesser Whitethroat called from the W end hedge this morning

In the lanes to the E / SE of the lake
- 2 Lesser Whitethroats: one by the sluice from the lake; the other at the M-way bridge
- 3 singing Whitethroats in the lane

Also

At the lake
- 7 Swans during the course of the visit, but only the resident pair throughout
- 3 Common Sandpipers

In the lanes to the E / SE of the lake
- just 1 sighting of very distant displaying Lapwing
- single Sky Lark in song
- Jackdaws again at nest in tree along Woodhouse Lane
- Jay seen carrying food
- several Linnets again

(Ed Wilson)