Priorslee Lake: 07:11 – 09:27
Location
Telford sunrise: 08:14
0.0°C > 1.0°C. Mainly fine with a few light sleet / snow showers after overnight snow; moderate NNW wind; very good visibility; some ice at edges of lake; water at the highest level I can recall
(4th visit of the year)
One of those visits that makes getting up early for little reward more acceptable
- the Cetti’s Warbler gave a burst of full song pre-dawn (thereafter only occasional calls)
- a Water Rail called in the NW area (and later I saw one in the NE area)
- a drake Goldeneye appeared – my first here for several years
- a male Peregrine flew over
- a Great White Egret flew over: only my second-ever here
Other new birds for the site year list were Pied Wagtail, Jay and Goldcrest
Other notes
- at least 15 Great Crested Grebes present
- all duck numbers are ‘best effort’ from 'bitsa' counts all around the lake – rather to ‘fresh’ to stand on the dam and do sweep counts of the birds!
- dire number of Black-headed Gulls: just 7 on the water. Another 12 flew over high S
- big count of Jackdaws this morning: after c.200 flew S over the Ricoh grounds most of the other birds were flying high and well to the E
- most of the 68 Starlings seen leaving roosts did so from the ‘other’ E end with just a single bird in a roost in the NW area
- many Siskins over with just 4 noted in the alders in the NE area
and
- Rabbit prints seen in the snow. This species was once common here but it was October 2014 when I saw my last one here
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 1 Greylag Goose again
- 30 Canada Geese
- 2 (1?) Mallard again
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- >840 Jackdaws
- 36 Starlings
- 38 Rooks
- 3 Greenfinches
- >10 Siskin
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 67 Magpies
- 68 Starlings (3 groups)
- 8 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (6?) Gadwall
- 10 (5?) Mallard
- 17 (15?) Pochard
- 60 (28?) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1?) Goldeneye
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great White Egret
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 20 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
(Ed Wilson)
It was supposed to be a fine morning but here we see the snow showers in the distance.
One of the morning highlights: a drake Goldeneye, readily identifiable by the oval white spot on the cheek. But the head-shape is also distinctive.
Another view: while the light was somewhat better the contrast was greater and the overall result is hardly better! Shows why it is called ‘Golden’eye though.
Another highlight: rather a ‘grab shot’ as it flew over between trees but enough to identify as a Great White Egret. Apart from size note the yellow bill, the long neck held in a curve, the large feet and in particular the feet are not yellow as they would be in a Little Egret.
This drake Pochard was having a good preen. Perhaps, following on from Goldeneye, it out to be ‘Fire-eye’! Note the fine vermiculations on the back feathers.
The Flash: 09:29 – 10:14
(3rd visit of the year)
Notes
- Kingfisher, Carrion Crow, Raven and House Sparrow were all new at this site this year for me
Counts of birds flying over the water
- 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 38 (26?) Mallard
- 1 (1) Pochard
- 52 (34?) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
Location
Telford sunrise: 08:14
0.0°C > 1.0°C. Mainly fine with a few light sleet / snow showers after overnight snow; moderate NNW wind; very good visibility; some ice at edges of lake; water at the highest level I can recall
(4th visit of the year)
One of those visits that makes getting up early for little reward more acceptable
- the Cetti’s Warbler gave a burst of full song pre-dawn (thereafter only occasional calls)
- a Water Rail called in the NW area (and later I saw one in the NE area)
- a drake Goldeneye appeared – my first here for several years
- a male Peregrine flew over
- a Great White Egret flew over: only my second-ever here
Other new birds for the site year list were Pied Wagtail, Jay and Goldcrest
Other notes
- at least 15 Great Crested Grebes present
- all duck numbers are ‘best effort’ from 'bitsa' counts all around the lake – rather to ‘fresh’ to stand on the dam and do sweep counts of the birds!
- dire number of Black-headed Gulls: just 7 on the water. Another 12 flew over high S
- big count of Jackdaws this morning: after c.200 flew S over the Ricoh grounds most of the other birds were flying high and well to the E
- most of the 68 Starlings seen leaving roosts did so from the ‘other’ E end with just a single bird in a roost in the NW area
- many Siskins over with just 4 noted in the alders in the NE area
and
- Rabbit prints seen in the snow. This species was once common here but it was October 2014 when I saw my last one here
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 1 Greylag Goose again
- 30 Canada Geese
- 2 (1?) Mallard again
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- >840 Jackdaws
- 36 Starlings
- 38 Rooks
- 3 Greenfinches
- >10 Siskin
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 67 Magpies
- 68 Starlings (3 groups)
- 8 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (6?) Gadwall
- 10 (5?) Mallard
- 17 (15?) Pochard
- 60 (28?) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1?) Goldeneye
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great White Egret
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 20 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
(Ed Wilson)
A light dusting of snow this morning.
A snowy corner: the whole area is so wet that much of the snow melted on contact.
Not often we get one these days so no apologies for another snowy view
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:29 – 10:14
(3rd visit of the year)
Notes
- Kingfisher, Carrion Crow, Raven and House Sparrow were all new at this site this year for me
Counts of birds flying over the water
- 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 38 (26?) Mallard
- 1 (1) Pochard
- 52 (34?) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
10 Pochard
87 Tufted Duck
2 Goosander
121 Coot
23 Herring Gull
4 Great Black-backed Gull
181 Lesser Black-backed Gull
157 Black-headed Gull
Kingfisher
(Gary Crowder, Chris Cameron)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Greater Scaup
4 Gadwall
1 Goldeneye
82 Tufted Ducks
15 Pochard
143 Coots
1 Dunlin
1 Great Black-backed Gull
3 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
184 Jackdaws
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper, John Isherwood)
The Flash
29 Tufted Duck
8 Goosanders
14 Goldfinches
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull.
(Observer Unknown)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
19 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
2 Goosanders
14 Magpie
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Mediterranean Gull
2 Yellow legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
20 Herring Gull
100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
80 Black-headed Gulls
c. 60 Tufted Duck
9 Pochard
(Mike Cooper, Andy Latham)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Geoff Holmes)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
10 Pochard
87 Tufted Duck
2 Goosander
121 Coot
23 Herring Gull
4 Great Black-backed Gull
181 Lesser Black-backed Gull
157 Black-headed Gull
Kingfisher
(Gary Crowder, Chris Cameron)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Greater Scaup
4 Gadwall
1 Goldeneye
82 Tufted Ducks
15 Pochard
143 Coots
1 Dunlin
1 Great Black-backed Gull
3 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
184 Jackdaws
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper, John Isherwood)
The Flash
29 Tufted Duck
8 Goosanders
14 Goldfinches
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull.
(Observer Unknown)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
19 Pochard
22 Tufted Duck
2 Goosanders
14 Magpie
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Mediterranean Gull
2 Yellow legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
20 Herring Gull
100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
80 Black-headed Gulls
c. 60 Tufted Duck
9 Pochard
(Mike Cooper, Andy Latham)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Geoff Holmes)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
8 Cormorants
11 Pochard
29 Tufted Ducks
>252 Black-headed Gulls
>66 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
23 Herring Gulls
200 Wood Pigeons
35 Robins
15 Blackbirds
76 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
39 Magpies
217 Jackdaws
175 Rooks
11 Greenfinches
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
1 Little Grebe
8 Cormorants
11 Pochard
29 Tufted Ducks
>252 Black-headed Gulls
>66 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
23 Herring Gulls
200 Wood Pigeons
35 Robins
15 Blackbirds
76 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
39 Magpies
217 Jackdaws
175 Rooks
11 Greenfinches
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Cormorants
200 Wood Pigeons
11 Great Crested Grebes
11 Pochard
24 Tufted Duck
243 Coot
1 Water Rail
236 Jackdaws
216 Rooks
33 Siskins
15 Pied Wagtails
24 Robins
19 Blackbirds
8 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)