17 Feb 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

1.0°C > 3.0°C: Clear sky to start. Thin high cloud spreading from the south-west making the sun increasingly hazy. Moderate north-westerly breeze dropping light. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:23 GMT

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:00

(36th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a trio of Canada Goose flew in to join the semi-resident pair that may well nest here – as this species has done the last three years. There was much noise and chasing initially but eventually all five stayed. A single flew East much later.
- today the single Greylag Goose flew from the West and stayed for a while. I did not see it depart.
- a single Mute Swan was by the dam before flying off West at 07:25
- three Goosanders today: an immature drake and two ducks
- *just one pair of Great Crested Grebes noted, these sporadically displaying as they toured the entire water.
- the first four Lesser Black-backed Gulls appeared overhead 06:55 but, as yesterday, with no gulls on the water after circling high over they departed. Fewer gulls of all species today.
- a Cormorant arrived at 06:50 and departed by 07:30; *another arrived at 08:45. Meanwhile a duo, one of which was in full breeding plumage, flew North; and an immature flew East.
- the Great (White) Egret arrived from the West at 07:00.
- four large, tight and distant groups of Jackdaws were noted over a 15 minute period. I estimated they contained about 50, 100, 300 and 100 individuals though quite probably underestimated. A number of smaller groups passed.
- in contrast I noted only 13 Rooks all flying very high.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Geese: flew West
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants
- >600 Jackdaws: see notes
- 13 Rooks only
- 1 Redwing
- 2 Pied Wagtails

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: a trio arrived
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived and soon departed
- 1 Mute Swan: departed West
- 13 (7♂) Mallard
- 30 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *2 Cormorants
- *1 Great (White) Egret
- 1 Grey Heron

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Nothing noted

Seen later:

Nothing of note

A half-hearted display by the only pair of Great Crested Grebes seen here today.

An immature Cormorant arrives.

A favourite: the Great (White) Egret.

And again. It had been chased by the Grey Heron and was repositioning when it saw me and veered away.

A cheerful song from a Dunnock. The song of this species is more like a "warble" than most species of warbler though it is in no way related.

There were at least 30 Siskins in the tree-tops near the Teece Drive gate: and I do mean tree-tops. My best-efforts in the next few photos. A female searching for food.

What might or might not be a female: hard to tell at this angle.

Peek-a-boo.

This male perhaps the pick of the bunch.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:05 – 10:15

(33rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only one unringed cob (?) Mute Swan
- the dead Canada Goose was still floating in the water at the top end.
- a drake Pochard was a new arrival. Meanwhile many of yesterday's Tufted Ducks had gone.
- none of the species seen yesterday but not for several previous days was present today: i.e. Greylag Geese, Goosander, Cormorant or Grey Heron.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Noted on / around the water:
- 27 Canada Geese; also one dead in the water
- no Greylag Geese
- *1 Mute Swan
- 25 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 20 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- no Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- *38 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: three adults departed; *one second-winter
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Cormorants
- no Grey Heron

Around the area:

Nothing of note

The only Mute Swan here today, mowing the grass. Perhaps it was on the grass because there is a shortage of food in the water? I think, from the size of the swelling at the base of the bill, this is a cob (male).

More work by the Coot on its nest. I only ever see one bird around the site. One internet site suggests that while both sexes build the nest it is the male that collects most of the material.

With extensive black on its bill and significant brown in the folded wings this has to be a second-winter Herring Gull.

Here in flight showing a real mix of old and new feathers.

This view highlighting the new inner primary feathers.

A smart adult Lesser Black-backed Gull now in breeding plumage having moulted out the winter head-streaking. The merest black mark on the upper mandible is not significant at this date.

Yesterday a male Blackbird: today what seems to be a female. It is not an adult as the bill, underneath the mud, is not all-yellow as yet. It has a more prominent yellow eye-wing than I expected. Many bird around The Flash are more habituated to humans, even those with cameras, and are often easier to photograph.

Perhaps the same Song Thrush that I photographed yesterday. It had been singing but seems to have decided it was time for a snack.

The jury is out as to whether this pose is adopted for seeing prey or listening for movement. I favour the former explanation due to the eyes being on the side of the head.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Scaup
1 Grey Wagtail
8 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
3 Great Crested Grebe
(Gary Crowder)

Telford Crematorium
2 Caspian Gull
c.500 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c.40 Herring Gull
(Gary Crowder)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Jim Almond)

2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
5 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
18 Tufted Ducks
121 Coots
741 Wood Pigeon
289 Jackdaws
108 Rooks
290 Starlings
1 Skylark
18 Robins
19 Blackbirds again
11 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
23 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

16 Feb 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 6.0°C > 4.0°C: Clear sky to the East with increasing cloud from the West resulting in sleety / rain after 09:50. Moderate westerly breeze gusting fresh at times. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:25 GMT

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:05 – 09:05

(35th visit of the year)

New Bird Species:
At last: a bird species to add to my 2026 log from here. A group of 15 Lapwings flushed off the dam-face c.07:30. In days of yore flocks on the dam-face in Winter were not uncommon, sometimes in to three figures. No longer. Bird species #59 for me here this year.

Bird notes:
- a Canada Goose flew in and soon departed. A pair arrived later. Also two pairs flew East.
- meanwhile a single Greylag Goose flew from the West and then changed its mind and headed back West.
- two Mute Swans (a pair) were present at first light, flying off East at 07:20
- no Goosanders today.
- even fewer Coots counted. No idea why.
- as on Saturday two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were mostly keeping well apart with both pairs seen displaying. However there was a brief scrap.
- the first ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls appeared overhead 06:50 but with no gulls on the water after circling high over they departed. Only after the first Black-headed Gulls arrived after 07:15 did any of the (very few) large gulls visit.
- at 06:35 three Grey Herons were disputing territory. I was sure I saw all three depart so was it a fourth I saw later or did one return?
- the Great (White) Egret arrived from the North at 06:50.
- the first Jackdaws noted was a group of 22 birds "going the wrong way" i.e. northbound. Later two large groups, each of at least 125 birds, flew on the usual line, these groups separated by at least 15 minutes (and several smaller groups).

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs flew West
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 30 Wood Pigeons
- 8 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.350 Jackdaws
- 91 Rooks
- 1 Redwing

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: all arrived; one also departed
- 18 (11♂) Mallard
- 21 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- no Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- 21 Coots only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Lapwings: departed
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great (White) Egret
- 3? Grey Herons: see notes

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Woodlice:
- 1 (Common) Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum

Seen later:

Nothing of note

A clear start, especially looking East. No colour to the sunrise though.

The early sun illuminating the trees against the incoming cloud.

One of the two Mute Swans departing. Based on the size of the bulge at the base of its bill I am tempted to suggest this is a cob (male).

The 15 Lapwings depart. I find flocks of very hard to count as they are forever changing orientation. Until I checked the photos I thought there were 14.

I think 16 Black-headed Gulls here, apparently all adults. Three of them have at least partly-developed dark hood of breeding condition birds.

The only occupant of the street lamp poles pre-dawn was this (Common) Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum. It does not looked very "striped". I think the identity, courtesy of Obsidentify, is based on the "step" towards the tail. The other common species have a more tapered look.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:10 – 10:10

(32nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still three Mute Swans. The pair was confirmed to contain Blue 7JSS.
- one Canada Goose was noted floating dead in the water.
- species not seen here for several days included a trio of Greylag Geese, a drake Goosander, two Cormorants and a Grey Heron.
- I do not normally log the Wood Pigeons flying over as these are usually just moving between the local wooded area. Today a group of 18 flew very high north-east.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 18 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 25 Canada Geese; also one dead in the water
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 29 (21♂) Mallard
- 35 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, briefly
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Around the area:

Nothing of note

Greylag Geese have been uncommon so far this year. Here is one of today's trio.

I know how this Grey Heron feels: yet more rain. This species will be nesting by the end of the month so this one has all it breeding plumes.

"Like water off a duck's back" - or in this case that of a male Blackbird.

One of four Song Thrushes I noted. This was a non-singing bird.

Plane of the day skimming under the low cloud. It is a Cirrus Design Cirrus SR22T flying from it base at Wolverhampton's Halfpenny Green to Tatenhill Airfield near Uttoxeter. The aircraft is registered in the USA and as such is not required to display its identity – what American's call the "tail number" – under its wings. The pale blue on grey identity painted on the fuselage does not show well in this light! N617KH. As with most UK-based but US-registered aircraft it is registered to a trustee company from the state of Delaware where advantageous rules apply. The chosen name for this aircraft's ownership is "Piscosos": apparently Latin for "full of fish". I live and learn (I was not permitted to take Latin at my school).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
(Tony Beckett)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
44 Pochard
55 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
151 Coots
12 Siskins
2 Redpoll
23 Linnets
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
3rd winter Glaucous Gull
1st winter Glaucous Gull
(Paul King)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
118 Coots
2 Lapwing
c.1200 Black-backed Gulls
c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
55 Herring Gulls
c.574 Wood Pigeons
220 Jackdaws
199 Rooks
1 Skylark
11 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
2 Redwings
1 House Sparrow
10 Greenfinches
7 Siskins
16 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

15 Feb 26

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Scaup
1 Yellow legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
8 Gadwall
30 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
7 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
50 Tufted Duck
23 Pochard
1 Caspian Gull
575 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
80 Herring Gulls
650 Black-headed Gulls
(Mike Shurmer, Martin Grant)

Holmer Lake
39 Goosander
(Martin Grant)

2010
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
33 Pochard
71 Tufted Ducks
164 Coots
243 Jackdaws
9 Redwings
3 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
4 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
129 Coots
c.660 Wood Pigeons
310 Starlings
20 Robins
25 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
11 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
4 Redpolls
2 Reed Buntings again
(Ed Wilson)

14 Feb 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

-1.0°C > 3.0°C: Clear skies!! Light northerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:29 GMT

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:35 – 09:15

(34thd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Canada Goose flew in to join what seems to be a resident pair. Today after a brief dispute it seemed to be allowed to stay.
- fewer Coots counted probably because all the grass was frosted and some were probably still inside the reeds.
- early on four Great Crested Grebes were together, two of them having a real scrap with bills locked. Later a pair were displaying and only one other was seen.
- a mixed arrival of gulls at 07:05 – two Black-headed Gulls, one Herring Gull and one Lesser Black-backed Gull together. There after arrivals were sparse and I was able to count them all in.
- I have no idea where the Jackdaws and Rooks were on roost dispersal. Perhaps with the clear and bright morning they had already passed though I did not hear and as I was making my way to one of my usual vantage points. I saw just six Jackdaws and two of those were "going the wrong way".

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: flew West together
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 8 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Jackdaws only

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: of these one arrived
- 14 (8♂) Mallard
- 19 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 (4♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes
- 107 Black-headed Gulls
- 16 Herring Gulls
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *4 Cormorants
- 1 Great (White) Egret
- 2 Grey Herons: one of these chased away

On the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Nothing noted. Too cold and frosted

Seen later:

Nothing of note

Well that makes a change even if the forecast suggests it will be back to cloudy weather from tomorrow.

Not a good photo: it was still too dark and the Great Crested Grebes were some way away. I am tempted to suggest that it is two males having a fight while the two ladies look on from a safe distance. But who knows? I cannot sex this species.

An immature Cormorant dries its wings (or, according to some sources, aids food digestion).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:20 – 10:35

(31st visit of the year)

No ice on the water (only on the paths!)

Bird notes:
- now three Mute Swans. *One, an unringed immature with a small amount of discolouration in its wings, seemed to have been forced out of the water by the pair(?). It was often in the roadway. I was never in a position to read any rings on the other two.
- there were more Canada Geese than I have seen all year apart from when the water was almost frozen over.
- only one Great Crested Grebe noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Common Buzzards

Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese
- still no Greylag Geese
- *3 Mute Swans: see notes
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- *22 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebes
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Herring Gull: third-winter, departed

Around the area:
Nothing of note. The Ivy bank was in full sun: the ambient temperature was too low too tempt any insects out.

The "extra" Mute Swan. The bill colour suggests an immature. The thickness of the neck suggest a cob (male). Looking closely at the discoloured plumage I am not sure this is brown immature plumage but could well be mud stains from fighting.

A pleasing study of a duck Tufted Duck. She almost seems to be smiling.

It look to the naked eye to be an adult Herring Gull. It is a third-winter showing significant black on both mandibles and with faint brown markings in the folded wing feathers.

A male Blackbird. I think it is the strong lighting that gives some of the feathers, especially those in the tail, a grey appearance.

That's not very friendly. A Wren turns its back on the camera.

A female Chaffinch warming in the sun.

Yes you! Unusually approachable.

A small group of Siskins were sometimes showing well in the sun. Here a male.

Another male about to jump off.

Yet another male tucks in to an Alder cone...

...delicious!

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
5 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Tundra Bean Goose
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
3 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
80 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
177 Coots
185 Jackdaws
42 Magpies
2 Siskins
39 Linnets
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2008
Priorslee Lake
7 Gadwall
1 Iceland Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
(Rich, Vernon, Andy, Ed Wilson and Jason)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
7 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
140 Coots
880 Wood Pigeons
249 Jackdaws
155 Rooks
24 Robins
20 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

13 Feb 26

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Candles landfill / Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
3 Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gull
Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1000+ large gulls
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
39 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
173 Coots
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Geoff Holmes)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Pink-footed Geese
c.70 Golden Plover
80 Fieldfares
10 Great Crested Grebes
10 Pink-footed Geese
10 Pochard
38 Tufted Ducks
151 Coots
1 Water Rail
1065 Wood Pigeons
273 Jackdaws
186 Rooks
400 Starling
27 Robins
23 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
11 Greenfinches
48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
10 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

12 Feb 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 7.0°C: Cloudy. More spells of drizzle and light rain. Light and variable, mainly northerly breeze. Good visibility but moderate, even poor at times, in drizzle.

Sunrise: 07:33 GMT

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:35 – 09:10

(33rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Canada Goose flew in to join what seems to be a resident pair. It was made unwelcome and soon departed.
- yesterday's pair of Pochard gone.
- my first view over the water revealed just a pair of Goosander. A trio (one drake) was seen to splash down a few minutes later. I did not see from where they originated. Eventually there seemed to be nine birds (five drakes) but they were all very mobile and hard to keep track of.
- 11 of the Coots were noted on the south-west grass: this is the first time I have seen any there for many days. Perhaps coincidentally people in Hi-viz jackets were working on the grass yesterday. I assumed they were from the sailing club but exactly what they were doing I could not see.
- only one Great Crested Grebe seen for sure. I suspected a second but could never find two at the same time.
- the first three of eventually 44 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:20. At this time two immature Herring Gulls circled high over before carrying on. At least 29 Black-headed Gulls flew straight over. Only single Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited. Very few were seen overhead in the drizzle and low cloud.
- a Stock Dove was calling from trees along the North side: the first I have heard here this year.
- of the 44 Wood Pigeons seen flying over a party of 16 flew North and a group of eight flew East.
- the Great (White) Egret flew in (from where?) at 07:15.
- a Grey Heron flew high from the East at 08:15, circled around for a while and flew off high West.
- the Cetti's Warbler was singing along the North side this morning after its South side excursion yesterday. Not seen of course.
- 13 Song Thrushes were heard in good voice with another seen. Two Blackbirds were also singing early. A Mistle Thrush was calling from trees alongside Castle Farm Way. Later two were calling in flight over the academy.
- a tight group of c.175 Jackdaws flew over at 07:14. Thereafter only a few more and only a handful of Rooks. Had others flown over unseen earlier?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: flew East together
- 44 Wood Pigeons: see notes
- 29 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- c.190 Jackdaws: see notes
- 10 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: of these one arrived and soon departed
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 20 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 (5♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- *1? Great Crested Grebe
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Great (White) Egret

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

Moths:
- *4 male Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria
- *1 $ Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana

Flies:
- *1 winter cranefly Trichocera regelationis
- *4 small plumed midges (males and females)

Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi-type
- *1 springtail possibly Tomocerus vulgaris

Beetles:
- *1 possible Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis

Seen later:

Nothing of note

A Great Crested Grebe has breakfast by the tail.

But swallowing it tail-first is not an option – note how the gills would preclude that and the unseen spines on the back would present a greater problem.

What seems to be happening here is that the grebe puts the stunned(?) fish back in the water so that it can pick up what I believe to be a Perch Perca fluviatilis...

...head-first!

All gone apart from the tail-end. Not the clearest set of photos. Another grey day!

A Robin brightening the day.

The clearest of four male Dotted Border moths Agriopis marginaria. The outer cross-line suggests Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria though it lacks the dark spot on the inside the hook in the cross line. In particular this species has an obvious horizontal median cross-line. The "dotted border" that gives the species its common name is not especially obvious, can be very faint.

Another.

This a new species of moth for me. It is an Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana. It over-winters as an adult but rarely comes to light so a good sighting. The West Midlands Moths web site has a "Flying Tonight" tab which shows five records for this species over the last few (how many?) years: the Dotted Border has 512 records over the same period.

A winter cranefly Trichocera regelationis.

One of four small plumed midges this one of the males.

This springtail is possibly Tomocerus vulgaris.

A typically poor photo of a possible Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

A smart Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:15 – 10:30

(30th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- what seemed to be the same two Mute Swans as yesterday. The cob was chasing the pen around, whether in threat or because of the approaching Valentine's Day is hard to say. A Mute Swan was seen in flight briefly while I was not in a position to confirm it was one of these.
- no Pochard found
- all three Great Crested Grebes, two with obvious head plumes, seen.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese: of these eight arrived as four pairs
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 30 (22♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 17 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 Moorhens
- *38 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Black-headed Gull: flew off separately

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- *1 male Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria

Woodlice:
- *1 unidentified woodlouse

Plants:
- *emergent Cleavers Galium aparine
- *flowering Daffodil Narcissus sp.

Fungus:
- *possible Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes
- *possible Turkeytail Trametes versicolor

A soggy-looking Great Crested Grebe. The all dark bill supports the idea that this is a first-winter bird yet to grow its head plumes.

One more stick! Coots are inveterate nest-builders and will continue adding material even when their partner is sitting on eggs or brooding young.

The plumage of Carrion Crows is somewhat more interesting that it appears at first sight.

This Dunnock had just been doing its wing-raising display.

Yes you!

It jumped on the ground and started feeding alongside what was perhaps the object of its display. At that point a third Dunnock arrived and they all flew off.

An even better specimen of a male Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria with the outer cross-line showing as a band and the inner cross-line almost complete. In contrast there are very few dots on the border. This I found on one of the paling on the fence around the academy and close to one of the street lamps.

Research on this woodlouse got me nowhere other than now knowing there are over 30 species in the UK and most of them are not illustrated on the web. Quite why Obsidentify thought it was possibly a Harvest Mouse is unclear.

A mass of emergent Cleavers Galium aparine.

Flowering Daffodils Narcissus sp. I am not sure how "natural" these are. very welcome on a gloomy morning.

I could not get positive identification of either species of fungus I noted today. This is possibly Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes.

Obsidentify was not sure whether this fungus is Turkeytail Trametes versicolor or not. Neither am I.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
1 Mediterranean Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2013
St Georges
5 Waxwings
(Observer Unknown)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Iceland Gulls
(Pete Jordan)