28 Oct 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  05:40 – 08:55
The Flash:  09:00 – 10:30

11.0°C > 15.0°C:  Mostly cloudy at medium level. A few blue patches but also some light showery rain c.08:45. Light south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise:  07:00 GMT

* = a photo to be uploaded later: watch the blog for information,

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(230th visit of the year)

Highlight this morning was only my second Peregrine of the year here (the previous one was on 14 June). It cruised over c.06:45. Remarkably none of the many gulls on the water paid it any heed with a single passing Jackdaw attempting to chase it away.

Other bird notes:
- only small groups of migrant Wood Pigeons noted and these did not all seem clear as to where to go. One group was flying West; two south-west and one south-east with other three groups heading South.
- after the now usual arrival of at least 450 Black-headed Gulls, skimming in low over the M54 at 06:35. I was then surprised to see two more large groups (c.100 and c.150) arrive a few minutes later.
- in contrast there were very few large gulls, especially early. The first three appeared overhead at 06:30 but deigned to stop and these, along with 18 others, flew on. Eventually just seven Lesser Black-backs arrived before almost all the gulls departed.
- much later 49 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew in from the North, followed ten minutes later by 11 Herring Gulls. Most odd.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 11 Canada Geese: four outbound together; seven inbound in two groups
- 2 Greylag Geese: outbound together
- 4 Stock Doves: together
- 127 Wood Pigeons: of these 96 were noted in seven migrant parties: see also notes
- *1 Peregrine
- 1 Herring Gull
- 29 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 194 Jackdaws
- 167 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 14 Starlings: two groups
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin

Birds seen leaving roost around the lake:
- 8 Starlings

Counts from the lake area:
- 38 Canada Geese: 34 present pre-dawn all departed; two duos arrived
- 19 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 12 (9♂) Mallard
- 5 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 203 Coots
- *5 Great Crested Grebes
- >700 Black-headed Gulls
- 11 Herring Gulls
- 56 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
-        6 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
Bees, wasps etc.:
-        *2 small ichneumon wasps
Flies:
-        1 female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
-        1 Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
-        2 wood gnats Sylvicola sp.
-        1 cranefly Tipula confusa
-        1 cranefly Tipula fulvipennis
Psylliodes:
-        *1 possible jumping plant louse, species not identified
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
-        1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
Flies:
-        4 craneflies, not all specifically identified: one could be *Nigrotipula nigra
-        9 other midges/gnats, also not specifically identified
Beetles:
-        1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        23 spiders of several species, not specifically identified
-        1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum

Noted later:
Bees, wasps etc.:
-        1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Plants:
-        *Nipplewort Lapsana communis: seem unusually late for this to still be flowering


In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
I did not check here today


The Flash:
(233rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Little Grebe again. Is it the same one? Has it been lurking by the island all the while? It was today. I heard it call once – unusual outside the breeding season I would have thought.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws
- 23 Redwings: two groups

Noted on / around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 36 (24♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Mallard-hybrid
- 131 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- *136 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant

Noted around The Flash:
Moths:
-        *1 Pale Birch Tortrix Acleris logiana.: almost the same place as yesterday
Bees, wasps etc.:
-        >5 Common Wasps Paravespula vulgaris
Flies:
-        *1 possible Nettle Aphid Microlophium carnosum
-        at least five species seen
Leafhoppers:
-        *1 unidentified leafhopper
Bugs:
-        *1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
Beetles:
-        1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        none


(Ed Wilson)

Note:
As you can see, Ed's sightings are still unformatted and without photos. Hopefully it won't be that long before I can get things back to normal. (Martin Adlam)

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Sightings from previous years

2010
Priorslee Lake
c.75 Starlings left roost at W end
118 Wood Pigeons
2 Skylarks
7 Meadow Pipits
478 Fieldfare
76 Redwings
9 Siskins
13 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorants
26 Pochard
47 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
64 Coots
35 Fieldfares
3 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
4 Mistle Thrushes
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
Wigeon
Cormorant
300 Black-headed Gulls
40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.75 Lapwings
2 Fieldfares
1 duck Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
200 Coot
(Ed Wilson)

27 Oct 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  05:30 – 08:50
The Flash:  08:55 – 10:15

6.0°C > 10.0°C:  Clear skies! Light south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise:  06:58 GMT – all times now GMT for the rest of the year

* = a photo to be uploaded later: watch the blog for information,


Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(229th visit of the year)

Three highlights today:
- a Red-legged Partridge flushed from the south-west at c.08:20. This makes I have recorded 101 bird species while at the lake. My previous record here was when one ran unscathed across Castle Farm Way on 15 July 2021.
- a Water Rail was heard calling from the north-west area c.06:30. What was presumably a different bird was heard in the north-east area at c.08:10.
- I saw my first Fieldfare of the Winter when a group of c.120 flew over

Bird notes:
- a number of Wood Pigeons in 1s, 2s and very small groups were seen heading off South. Frequently these are local birds setting off chasing to catch-up with large groups already passed over. Today that seemed not true: I could not usually find and relevant large groups.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 10 Greylag Geese: an octet flew North; a duo flew South
- c.1040 Wood Pigeons: of these c.1015 were noted flying South in 16 migrant parties: see also notes
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 45 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 354 Jackdaws
- 115 Rooks
- 2 Sky Larks: together
- 15 Starlings: together
- c.120 Fieldfare: together
- 10 Redwings: singles / small groups
- 2 Siskins

No birds seen leaving roost around the lake but several Redwings heard calling from trees pre-dawn:

Counts from the lake area:
- 22 Canada Geese: throughout
- 19 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Gadwall
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 5 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 198 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *>425 Black-headed Gulls
- 19 Herring Gulls
- c.175 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
-        2 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
Flies:
-        *1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
-        2 Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
-        2 wood gnats Sylvicola sp.
-        *1 cranefly Tipula confusa
-        2 craneflies, male and *female Tipula pagana.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        *2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
-        1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
I did not check here today

Nothing noted later:


In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
-        11 midges/gnats, not specifically identified
Woodlice:
-        2 Common Shiny Woodlice Oniscus asellus
Arthropods:
-        2 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        4 spiders of several species, not specifically identified


The Flash:
(232nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *1 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 9 Canada Geese
- 37 Greylag Geese: all of these arrived
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 45 (29♂) Mallard
- 106 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 16 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- *1 Cormorant: departed

Noted around The Flash:
Amazing what a little sun can do. There was a distinct hum around the Ivy bank this morning. All totals minima.
Moths:
-        1 Pale Birch Tortrix Acleris logiana.: same place as yesterday
Bees, wasps etc.:
-        *2 Honey Bees Apis mellifera
-        >25 Common Wasps Paravespula vulgaris
-        *1 German Wasp Vespula germanica
Hoverflies:
-        *1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
-        *>5 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax [Tapered Drone Fly]
-        *>10 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax [Common Drone Fly]
-        2 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
-        *2 Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii
Bugs:
-        >5 Nettle Groundbugs Heterogaster urticae
-        1 adult Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
-        1 harvestman Leiobunum rotundum


(Ed Wilson)

Note:
As you can see, Ed's sightings are still unformatted and without photos. Hopefully it won't be that long before I can get things back to normal. (Martin Adlam)

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Sightings from previous years

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Adult Great Black-backed Gull
1000+ large gulls
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Great Black-backed Gull
11 Golden Plover
2 Kingfishers
16 Reed Buntings
5 Skylarks
8 Meadow Pipits
71 Redwings
457 Fieldfare
31 Siskins
1 Linnet
4 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
40 Tufted Duck
16 Pochard
2 Ruddy Duck
Common Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
c.2500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Kingfisher
2 Goldcrest
42 Fieldfare
Willow Tit
14 Long-tailed Tits
(Martin Adlam)

26 Oct 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  06:10 – 09:25
The Flash:  09:30 – 10:40

8.0°C > 11.0°C:  Yet another morning when it was often overcast at medium / low level. Some clear, even sunny, spells did not last. Almost calm. Good visibility.
Sunrise:  07:56 BST

* = a photo to be uploaded later: watch the blog for information,

A better day for birds on the move. A range of species but no outstanding numbers.

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(228th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a quartet of Gadwall were new arrivals. My first here this Autumn: better late than never.
- I have no idea why there seemed to be 50 fewer Coots today than recently. I counted twice with very similar results.
- the four Lapwings that flew over were only my third sighting here this year. Long gone are the days when up to 70 would roost on the dam-face and 150 could be seen some days on the south-west grass.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 8 Greylag Geese: a trio outbound; a quintet inbound
- c.1600 Wood Pigeons: of these c.1560 were noted flying South in 17 migrant parties
- 4 Lapwings: together
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants: a single and a duo
- c.200 Jackdaws
- 17 Starlings: two groups
- 24 Redwings: together
- 152 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Siskins

No birds seen leaving roost around the lake:

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Goose: of these a trio arrived
- 1 Greylag Goose: departed
- 19 Mute Swans
- *4 (3♂) Gadwall
- 9 (7♂) Mallard
- 7 Moorhens
- 161 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- >450 Black-headed Gulls
- c.35 Herring Gulls
- c.135 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
-        8 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
Flies:
-        1 wood gnat Sylvicola sp.
-        2 craneflies, both male Tipula pagana.
-        *4 other midges/gnats not specifically identified
Springtails:
-        *1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum/blackwalli
-        *1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
Flies:
-        7 craneflies, not specifically identified
-        8 other midges/gnats, also not specifically identified
Lacewing:
-        1 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea
Slugs, Snails etc.:
-        *2 Greenhouse Slugs Ambigolimax valentianus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        20 spiders of several species, not specifically identified

Nothing noted later:


In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Woodlice:
-        5 Common Shiny Woodlice Oniscus asellus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        13 spiders of several species, not specifically identified


The Flash:
(231st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- another Pied Wagtail sighting. Again the bird stayed only briefly.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 11 brownhead Goosanders: together
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 11 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 39 (26♂) Mallard
- *108 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- *17 Moorhens
- *140 Coots
- *1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- *2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted around The Flash:

Moths:
- *1 Pale Birch Tortrix Acleris logiana.
- 2 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg."
Bees, wasps etc.:
-        1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Flower
-        *1 Dog Rose (Rosa canina agg.)

(Ed Wilson)

Note:
As you can see, Ed's sightings are still unformatted and without photos. Hopefully it won't be that long before I can get things back to normal. (Martin Adlam)

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Sightings from previous years

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Ducks
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2005
Priorslee Lake
16 Pochard
41 Tufted Duck
212 Coot
778 Fieldfare
199 Redwings
800 Wood Pigeons
Chiffchaff
Possible Firecrest
3 Siskin
18 Redpoll
275 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)

25 Oct 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  06:15 – 09:20
The Flash:  09:25 – 10:30

11.0°C > 13.0°C:  Another murky morning, overcast at low level. Moderate south-easterly wind. Moderate visibility.
Sunrise:  07:55 BST

* = a photo to be uploaded later: watch the blog for information,

Not much wanting to move in the gloomy conditions

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(227th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- There was no early arrival of Black-headed Gulls. The first gull arrivals were c.40 Lesser Black-backs at 07:15. The first 15 Black-heads arrived c.07:25 though eventually there were at least 400 present after large groups arrived from both the South and West. Among the first Lesser Black-backs were a few Herring Gulls - these have typically arrived later in recent days. Two immature Yellow-legged Gulls were noted later. There was much swirling around of departing gulls. I could not convince myself there were any true fly-overs.
- Again I saw no large groups of Jackdaws. Unusually it was Rooks that predominated in the mixed parties passing over.
- A tight group of c.60 Starlings flew West over me while I was along the South side. I could not be sure whether these emanated from the south-east vegetation or from just across Castle Farm Way. Immediately after c.125 more left reeds at the West end in three groups.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 2 Greylag Geese: outbound
- 45 Wood Pigeons: of these just 17 were noted flying South as a migrant party
- 84 Jackdaws
- 133 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Birds seen leaving roost around the lake:
- c.185 Starlings: see notes

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Goose: of these a duo arrived
- 19 Mute Swans
- 12 (9♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 212 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.400 Black-headed Gulls
- c.30 Herring Gulls
- 2 Yellow-legged Gull
- c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
-        1 November Moth-type Epirrita dilutata agg.
Flies:
-        *1 Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
-        *1 Muscid fly of the Hebecnema group
-        *1 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
-        *1 wood gnat Sylvicola sp.
-        *1 female cranefly Tipula pagana
Lacewing:
-        *1 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea
Springtails:
-        *1 unidentified springtail sp.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        *3 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
-        1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
Flies:
-        *1 male plumed midge, probably Chironomus plumosus
-        7 craneflies, not specifically identified apart from...
-                *1 female Tipula pagana
-        7 other midges/gnats, also not specifically identified
Lacewing:
-        *3 Common Green Lacewings Chrysoperia carnea
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        20 spiders of several species, not specifically identified

Noted later:
Beetles:
-        1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni


In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Woodlice:
-        2 Common Shiny Woodlice Oniscus asellus
Arthropods:
-        1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
-        4 spiders of several species


The Flash:
(230th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Chaffinch was heard calling from the island. It is several weeks since I recorded one here.
- the group of c.40 Goldfinches were over and in trees on the island again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 36 Canada Geese: of these 29 arrived together
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 44 (27♂) Mallard
- 107 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 15 Moorhens
- 135 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Black-headed Gulls

Noted around The Flash:
Flies:
-        *1 wood gnat, almost certainly Sylvicola fenestralis
-        1 cranefly Tipula pagana

(Ed Wilson)

Note:
As you can see, Ed's sightings are unformatted and without photos. Hopefully this will only be for a short period of time, and will be rectified after I return from a short break. (Martin Adlam)

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Sightings from previous years

2010
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebe
5 Lapwings
1487 Fieldfare logged, mostly flying W. 7 of the flocks estimated at between 110 and 130 birds
25 Redwings
Raven
56 Goldfinch
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
62 Swans
5 Wigeon
14 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
231 Coots
Great Black-backed Gull
3 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
27 Redwings
Chiffchaff
c.250 Starlings
8 Siskins
c.15 Goldfinches
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
25 Pochard
72 Tufted Ducks
1 Kestrel
1 Kingfisher
20 Robins
17 Blackbirds
15 Song Thrushes
59 Redwing
3 Mistle Thrushes
1 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
5 Goldcrests
(Martin Adlam)