Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:25
Telford sunrise: 07:03
c.2.0°C. Bank of cloud to the NE moving away, otherwise watery sunshine through high overcast. Light ESE wind. Very good visibility but rather hazy
(27th visit of the year)
A very quiet morning but there is always something. The star of the morning was the Hare flushed – not saying where as I know there is illegal hare coursing in the area
My first Raven here this year flew over
Also my first record here this year of a singing Yellowhammer – from the fields the other side of Castle Farm Way. I had my suspicion on Tuesday but the traffic noise drowned any repeat performance. Later when I went across the road I found at least two singing birds but they were very mobile so would have been only occasionally audible from the lake area
Notes
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming away again
- just 2 singing Song Thrushes this morning
- in addition to the Redwings overhead there were 3 seen in the trees
- confirmed that there are 3 different singing Mistle Thrushes in the area: one of these was seen to carry on singing even as it flew
- the 2 Reed Buntings that have been singing recently were singing again; another bird flew high W over the lake
also
- my first March Moth for three years on one of the lamps
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 4 Canada Geese (1 group)
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull yet again
- 11 Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 1 Starling
- 3 Redwings
- 12 Greenfinches
- 6 Goldfinches
- 1 Siskin
- 1 Reed Bunting
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 10 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 18 Moorhens
- 68 Coots again
- 28 Black-headed Gulls again
- 5 Herring Gulls
this morning’s rather watery sunrise.
The best I could do capturing the rather strange propulsion of Great Crested Grebes. Because their legs are positioned so far back it is a furious paddle with wings, and surprisingly white wings, flailing. Look like hard work.
This Robin is another poser.
A March Moth.
(Ed Wilson)
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Woodhouse Lane: 08:15 – 08:40
Equally quiet but notable
- no parties of Wood Pigeons seen over the area while at the lake and very few in fields / trees when I ventured here
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming here as well as at the lake
- 1 Song Thrush only singing here – I would have expected at least 3
- 1 Sky Lark eventually burst in to song (and was later audible from the lake)
- 2 different Yellowhammers in song, but as noted above, very mobile and singing from many different song-posts
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
8 Pochard
4 Tufted Duck
164 Black-headed Gulls
78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>250 Rooks
20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
185 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Caspian Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
33 Wigeon
1 Common Teal
4 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
89 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
9 Pochard
89 Tufted Duck
1 Greater Scaup
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
8 Pochard
4 Tufted Duck
164 Black-headed Gulls
78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>250 Rooks
20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
185 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Caspian Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
33 Wigeon
1 Common Teal
4 Gadwall
33 Tufted Ducks
89 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
9 Pochard
89 Tufted Duck
1 Greater Scaup
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
18 Swans
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
96 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
1 other 'strange gull'!
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
2 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)
6 Great Crested Grebes
18 Swans
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
96 Coots
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gulls
1 other 'strange gull'!
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
2 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Sky Larks
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Cormorant
2 Gadwall
6 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
96 Coots
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
274 Wood Pigeon
135 Jackdaws
111 Rooks
78 Starlings
45 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
17 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
20 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)