29 Feb 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:10
Location

Telford sunrise: 06:54

c.-2.0°C. Frosty. Broken low stratus gave way to high overcast. Calm. Good visibility

Highlights today
- my first Cormorant of the year at The Flash
- a Reed Bunting in song alongside the lower pool between the lake and The Flash – a new location
(29th visit of the year)

Notes
- in addition to the Redwing over at least 4 more in the trees
- a Pied Wagtail in the car park of the new Academy this morning
- Willow Tit in song again: he seems to be on his own
also
- another Dotted Border moth on one of the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Canada Geese (1 group)
- 8 Black-headed Gulls
- 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
- 3 Starlings
- 1 Redwing
- 7 Greenfinches
- 2 Goldfinches
- 1 Siskin

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall remain
- 9 (5♂) Mallard
- [Pochard gone]
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 15 Great Crested Grebes remain
- 17 Moorhens
- 66 Coots
- 26 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls

This morning’s sunrise with the high cloud ahead of late afternoon rain, already spreading across.

Did another sneaking job: got this Jay with good detail of the blue and black feathers. He(?) seems to be keeping a close eye on me.

He allowed me to get slightly closer but began to look rather anxious so I retreated.

A repeat of a Dotted Border moth – this specimen at rest with, unusually, the very pale under-wing exposed.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 09:20 – 09:35
Location

(19th visit of the year)

Again rather pushed for time to catch the bus home so another possibly incomplete count.

Birds noted flying over
- none

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 13 (11♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 25 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 2 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2008 and 2012
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
4 Pochard
32 Tufted Duck
Iceland Gull
11 Song Thrushes
c.33 Redwing
(Ed Wilson, Ian Grant)

 Priorslee Flash
4 Great Crested Grebes
10 Pochard
45 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
700+ Lesser Black-backed Gull
12 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Martin Adlam)

 Nedge Hill
A pair of Wheatear
6 Sky Larks
1 Fieldfare
3 Redwings
Lapwing
Green Woodpecker
14 Linnets.
(Ed Wilson)