11 Feb 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Started dry with medium-high overcast; then low cloud and drizzle; a short spell of blue patches did not last before more drizzle and rain. Very light westerly wind increasing moderate. Good visibility, though poor in drizzle.

[Sunrise: 07:35 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

Early rain put me off my normal start time.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:40 – 12:40

(32nd visit of the year)

Viewing mainly from the dam-top area.

Bird notes:
- *a pair of Pochard noted.
- the Goosanders behaving as three pairs. One of the drakes is not in breeding plumage as yet.
- only three Great Crested Grebes located. *A pair just about displaying.
- most of the Black-headed Gulls arrived more or less together, dropping down from an invisible height.
- *the Great (White) Egret later flew away.
- a noisy Cetti's Warbler along the South side failed to show from dense brambles.

Birds noted flying over:
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 5 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Mallard
- *2 (1♂) Pochard
- *24 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- *6 (3♂) Goosander
- 6 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- *c.80 Black-headed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 6 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret

Noted around the area:
- *1 possible Walnut Orb Weaver spider Nuctenea umbratica

A drake Tufted Duck. It is unusual for this species to be this approachable here.

Probably his partner.

At the back in front of the reeds are the six Goosander present today. From the left a duck, a drake, another drake, a duck, another duck and what I believe to be an immature drake. In the foreground is a duck Pochard.

A closer view of the duck and presumed immature drake this time with a drake Pochard in the foreground.

And here is the presumed immature drake. The head is not really "brown" yet is most certainly isn't the bottle-green of adult drakes.

About as close as this pair of Great Crested Grebes got to displaying.

Among the eighty or so Black-headed Gulls this adult bird showed just about the most markings on the head.

A first-winter bird. This individual is starting to moult in to first-summer plumage....

...some of the tail-feathers have been replaced, losing the black-tips and the diagonal black wing band is looking decidedly patchy.

Crowded airspace! Two first-winters in the foreground and an adult-winter flying away. All Black-headed Gulls.

The Great (White) Egret flies off to pastures(?) new.

Not what I hoped for. I was close to where the Cetti's Warbler was singing from a dense bramble thicket when this Dunnock popped out. I should have known it could not be the Cetti's as it stayed still long-enough for me to get the camera on it.

A male Pied Wagtail on the boxing ring. Bill slightly open – he was calling more or less continually.

And on the rocks. There are several grey feathers among the black areas which may – or may not – suggest this is a first-year bird. Still calling.

I found this possible Walnut Orb Weaver spider Nuctenea umbratica staggering through the rain drops on the boxing ring handrail. It is very small and at the time I assumed it would be a Money Spider Erigone species. The banded legs and general patterning rule the money spider group out.

It seems very small for a Walnut Orb Weaver but I guess as all spiders emerge from small eggs it could be a newly-hatched individual.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:30

(29th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *a pair of Mute Swans again: neither of them ringed.
- most of the Pochard seem to have departed. The only drake seen was tucked up under overhanging vegetation might suggest that others could have been in hiding.
- *a male Blackcap at the feeding station along with some of the c.25 Siskins seen.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: the only gull seen here
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese
- *2 Mute Swans
- 25 (16♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Pochard
- 19 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- no Goosander
- 15 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- no Black-headed Gulls

Noted around the area:
- *1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- *1 tiny unidentified insect

The two Mute Swans present today, neither ringed. The closest bird is I suspect a pen, the paler bill suggesting she is not fully mature. Notwithstanding she was plucking at vegetation and placing it on the ground as if practising nest building. I hope she will not choose this area to build her nest – right alongside a fishing peg.

A Coot (or a pair) are well advanced with nest building. Not sure what will happen when (if?) the tide goes out and leaves it high and dry. It is a very exposed location anyway.

I noted three Great Crested Grebes today. Two with head plumes like this one; and one still to grow its plumes. They were all behaving independently today.

A male Blackcap checking whether the coast is clear.

I did not expect it to be using one of the vertical feeders. Unusually they seem to prefer feeding from flat surfaces but I guess in real life during the breeding season they fins insects at all angles.

A Blue Tit awaits its turn at the feeders.

A male Siskin at one of the feeders.

Often they will "grab and go" and munch away from the hubbub at the feeders.

 I was trying to get a decent photo of the springtail Orchesella cincta on the right of the view when the even smaller insect on the left started to run up the moss and lichen-covered street lamp pole. I suspect another springtail. Obsidentify suggested Nursery Web Spider which I am sure is way off beam. Google Lens thought a mite – it might (groan) not be correct.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
7 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
(Gary Crowder)

2013
St Georges
5 Waxwings
(Observer Unknown)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
15+ Redwing
33 Fieldfare
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Great Crested Grebes
12 Cormorants
24 Pochard
102 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
2 Water Rails
1 Kingfisher
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
56 Herring Gulls.
598 Wood Pigeons
210 Starling roost
16 Robins
1 Willow Tit
13 Greenfinches
19 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

10 Feb 26

No sightings in today

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
(Kris Webb)

Trench Lock Pool
Yellow-legged Gull
(Kris Webb)

Horsehay Pool
Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid
Glaucous x Great Black-backed Gull hybrid
1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
20+ Greater Black-backed Gulls
400 Herring Gulls
Yellow-legged Gull
(Kris Webb)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
5 Great Crested Grebes
14 Pochard
24 Tufted Duck
c.1200 Black-headed Gulls
c.900 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.300 Herring Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
44 Great Black-backed Gulls
5 Song Thrushes
18 Redwings
Tawny Owl
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Pool
204 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
83 Tufted Duck
104 Coot
110 Black-headed Gulls
34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
17 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
33 Swans
4 Gadwall
6 Wigeon
15 Pochard
70 Tufted Duck
2 Water Rail
2 Snipe
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow legged Gull
3 Adult Great Black-backed Gulls
2 Willow Tits
13 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Jim Almond, John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
18 Greylag Geese
12 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
6 Goosanders
c.80 Golden Plover
>1000 Black-headed Gulls
c.250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
Caspian Gull
9 Herring Gulls
22 Robins
14 Blackbirds
41 Redwings
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson, Jason)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
13 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
227 Coots
Glaucous Gull
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
c.170 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.120 Herring Gulls
302 Jackdaws
385 Rooks
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

9 Feb 26

No sightings in today

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2012
Priorslee Lake
A juvenile Iceland Gull
2nd winter Iceland Gull
A juvenile Glaucous Gull
1st winter Greater Black-backed Gull
An adult Common Gull
(Ian Grant / Roger Clay / Martin Grant / Jim Almond / Paul King)

Ringed Birds
Today Roger Clay found 75 ringed birds. Only 12 of these had he seen on previous days before. There were:
- 3 from Iceland
- 3 from Netherlands
- 3 Still to be checked and the remaining ringed birds were all from the UK
(Roger Clay)

2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
11 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
144 Coots
2 Water Rails
88 Lapwing
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
63 Lesser Black-backed Gull
27 Herring Gulls.
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
c.45 Fieldfares and Redwing
450 Jackdaws
259 Rooks
250 Starling
19 Robins
16 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
12 Greenfinches
33 Siskin
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

8 Feb 26

No sightings in today.

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2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
131 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
35 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
2 Gadwall
14 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
162 Coots
1 Water Rail
293 Jackdaw
105 Rook
c.120 Starling
27 Robins
18 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
28 Siskins
2 Redpolls
19 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

7 Feb 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 7.0°C: Cloudy. Early spells of drizzle; later moderate rain. I did briefly see two small blue patches which did not last. Light / moderate south-easterly wind. Very good visibility, moderate in drizzle.

Sunrise: 07:42 GMT

* = a species photographed today

The forecast was marginally better for this morning so I thought I ought to "give it ago" as I was already planning to be away for the next few days. Not very rewarding!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:55 – 09:20

(31st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- very few of Wednesday's high number of Tufted Duck remain. Only some seem to have boosted the modest count at The Flash.
- I am not certain the Goosander count is 100% correct. It seems to be "that time of the year" when they were more interested in chasing around than being counted. At least one pair flew off West. It is still a puzzle where they spend the night as none is ever visible when I first check. I do not see any fly in. They must be tucked up inside the reeds at night I guess.
- four Great Crested Grebes located today as two pairs. No display seen.
- the Cetti's Warbler was in good voice.
- a small group (19) Starlings noted flying over today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 15 Herring Gulls
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 125 Jackdaws
- 161 Rooks
- 19 Starlings: together

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 10 (6♂) Mallard
- 12 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- *10 (5♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- *14 Herring Gulls
- 38 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *7 Cormorants
- *1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
In light rain / drizzle after overnight rain

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
That's all

Seen later:
Nothing of note

Another day of poor light with some of the photos not as "crisp" as I like. Here a drake Goosander flies away. Note how the white extends across the width of the wing. On ducks it is confined to the trailing half.

There were two pairs of Great Crested Grebes today. This was one of the new ones with the neck plume feathering still at the stubble stage.

A first-winter Herring Gull. Note the all dark bill and the pale (see-through) inner primaries.

This Herring Gull has been watching films of US Air Force stealth fighters and bombers and decided a tail in unnecessary! Presumably it only flies in straight lines?

There were seven Cormorants seen today. Here is one.

And another (don't worry: I didn't photograph all seven). There is little sign of juvenile plumage – pale breast and belly. Conversely there is little sign of it being an adult which should be showing white on the thigh and white head plumes. Note how its feet are holding the boating platform.

The Grey Heron was showing missing feathers in its left wing...

...though strangely not visible in this view...

 ...yet obvious again here.

The Grey Heron was being chased by several Black-headed Gull – a first-winter bird here. I am not sure why they would chase it as the heron is not a threat to them. Probably for something to do.

The gull making a lot of noise as the heron takes evasive action.

A Great White Egret is still here.

 The right side of a smart adult male Blackbird.

And its left side. As with many Blackbirds a few feathers are not jet-black. This species seems more prone to partial leucism.

The only creature of the West end street lamp poles this morning was this Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:30

(28th visit of the year)

Note:
A clarification about the "feeding station" here. On Wednesday I noted it as situated between Westlake Walk and the lake. I meant to type Westcroft Walk but that is probably not right either. The block of houses that overlook the water here are accessed by either Westcroft Walk or, in this instance, from Collett Way. My excuse is that Google Maps is rather vague until you zoom right in. Whoever operates the feeding station: thank you.

Bird notes:
- no Mute Swan seen today.
- just the two Great Crested Grebes with obvious head plumes seen.
- where were all the gulls?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- no Mute Swan
- 26 (18♂) Mallard
- 9 (8♂) Pochard
- 31 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- no Goosander
- 13 Moorhens
- 39 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull: flew off
- no other gulls
- no Cormorant
- no Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

Around the area:
Nothing else of note

A Blue Tit caught in the moment of eagerly jumping off to access the bird feeder!

"I really must get around to cutting my toe-nails".

This Dunnock was shuffling about – as they do – seemingly unconcerned about my presence.

There were many more spots of rain on me than on the Dunnock's feathers. Where can I buy some?

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
9 Pochard
9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c80 Black-headed Gulls
(Gary Crowder)

Telford Central Railway Station
35 Redwing
(Gary Crowder)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site:
2 Glaucous Gulls
1 Caspian Gull
(Kris Webb)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
15 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
c.1200 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
c.420 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
10 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock
2 Little Grebes
30 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
3 Pochard
6 Goosanders
4 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
34 Greylag Geese
9 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
775 Black-headed Gulls
488 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
19 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
1 Redwing
1 Willow Tit
41 Magpies
250 Jackdaws
100 Rooks
4 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
22 Pochard
63 Tufted Ducks
164 Coots
600 Wood Pigeons
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
21 Robins
24 Blackbirds
9 Song Thrushes
3 Willow Tits
11 Greenfinches
15 Siskins
17 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

6 Feb 26

No sightings in today

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2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Scaup
5 Great Black-backed Gulls - 4 adult and a 1st winter
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1st winter Caspian Gull
6 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 adult Caspian Gulls
10+ Yellow-legged gulls (most adults and 3rd-winters, at least 1 1st-winter)
10 Great Black-backed Gulls
(J W Reeves)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Adult Mediterranean Gull
Pair of Brambling
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Evening Report
An adult winter Ring-billed Gull at about 3:15pm
3 adult Common Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Daytime Report
4 Common Gull
2 adult Yellow-legged Gull
1 adult Great Black-backed Gull
Black-necked Grebe
1 Snipe
(Jason, Pete Jordan and Ian & Jim)

5 Feb 26

No sightings today

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2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Priorslee Lake
10 Gadwall
29 Wigeon
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood, Kris Webb)

The Flash
2 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
13 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Pochard
65 Tufted Duck
c.50 Lapwings
Dunlin
c.300 Black-headed Gulls
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.50 Herring Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Common Gull
(Ed Wilson / Jim Almond)

2011
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
>1000 Black-headed Gulls
82 Herring Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
>500 Wood Pigeons
248 Jackdaws
211 Rooks logged
1 Redpoll
(JW Reeves, Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
102 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
9 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
32 Robins
26 Blackbirds
13 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
11 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.850 Black-headed Gulls
8 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
20 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
163 Coots
20 Robins
22 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
1 Willow Tit
13 Greenfinches
10 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)