8 May 14

Priorslee Lake: 3:32pm – 3:58pm
Map

13.5C > 14.5C  overcast with periods of soaking drizzle and rain. Moderate / poor visibility.

A combination of early rain, man ‘flu and delayed jet-lag meant a later tour around to see what the rain had brought down: rather little!

(52nd visit of the year)

Notes
Just 6 Mallard ducklings noted, but perhaps others hiding?
The Swifts and hirundines appeared during the heaviest rain

Counts of birds on / over the water only
2 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
2 (2) + 6 (2 broods) Mallard
3 Moorhens
21 Coots
2 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Herring Gulls over
and
10 Common Swifts
6 Sand Martins
3 Barn Swallows
5 House Martin

Did not leave E end lay-by area and no count of warblers made.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash:  3:03pm – 3:26pm
Map

(46th visit of the year)

Notes
2 broods of Coots this afternoon: 4 and 5 juveniles today. Not sure where all the other Coots were.
No Swifts / hirundines here.
1 spotty juvenile Robin seen.
1 male Blackbird decapitated and torn apart in same position as the dead Canada Goose 2 days ago.

Counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 + 1 Swans
1 Greylag Goose
41 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose not seen
19 (14) Mallard
Both the all-white and mainly dark feral Mallard-type ducks seen.
6 (3) Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhens
5 + 9 (2 broods) Coots
No gulls
and
1 (1) Blackcap
3 (3) Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 1:55pm – 2:05pm // 2:35pm – 2:40pm
Map

(22nd visit of the year)

Best was the female Peregrine which laboured past carrying substantial prey.

Notes
One of the pairs of Great Crested Grebes with 4 new juveniles.
2 broods of Canada Geese here.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull is the one with a damaged wing that has been present a month or so: it can fly, but presumably not far.

The counts
4 + 4 (1) Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
6 + 8 (2) Canada Geese
7 (1) Mallard
2 feral Mallard-type ducks
2 (1) Tufted Ducks
1 Moorhen
23 Coots
1 Black-headed Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
and
c.35 Common Swifts
6 House Martins
2 (2) Blackcaps
1 (0) Chiffchaff

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 2:10pm – 2:30pm
Map

 (11th visit of the year)

Other notes
The Great Crested Grebes with 3 now well-grown juveniles.
2 adult Swans: one ringed blue 7ETX
Greylag Geese have had a much better breeding season than the Canada Geese.

The counts
2 + 3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
12 + 19 (3 broods) Greylag Geese
37 + 3 (2 broods) Canada Geese
9 (6) Mallard
6 feral Mallard-type ducks
2 (1) Tufted Duck
1 Moorhen
2 Coots
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
and
2 (2) Blackcaps
2 (1) Chiffchaffs

(Ed Wilson)