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)

4 Feb 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

2.0°C > 4.0°C: Another day of mist / low overcast with some light drizzle in the air. Light easterly wind. Poor visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:47 GMT]

Yet another day when I waited until it was light before venturing out to peer in to the mist.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:35 – 11:20

(30th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the dam-top area.

Bird notes:
- a significant number of Tufted Ducks seemed to have decamped to here from The Flash. I am not sure why as very few of them were diving for food: just loafing on the water.
- two immature Herring Gulls were the only gulls seen. While the Model Boat Club were at the West end of the area this would not normally significantly impact the number of gulls prepared to use the middle of the water. There just seem to be very few gulls around at the moment.

Birds noted flying over:
- 1 Wood Pigeon

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 11 (6♂) Mallard
- 49 (27♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 13 (7♂) Goosander again
- 4 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25

(27th visit of the year)

A small amount of slushy snow was lying on the residents' cars and on the footbridges.

Bird notes:
- two Mute Swans still. One of them Blue 7JSS. They spent some time well apart
- many of yesterday's Tufted Duck seemed to have gone to the Balancing Lake.
- today was my first visit here this year without seeing any Goosander.
- back to two Great Crested Grebes, both with head plumes.
- no Cormorants seen in the murk.
- a Great White Egret was seen flying on to the island. I am not sure where from.
- at least 20 Siskins were in Alders along the East side and a few were seen using the feeders adjacent to Wordsworth Way.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 13 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: including Blue 7JSS
- 33 (23♂) Mallard
- 8 (7♂) Pochard
- 16 (8♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- no Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- no Cormorants
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Around the area:

Nothing else of note

Some photos mainly from around the Westcroft Walk feeding station. Many of the photo are grainy in the poor light and won't win prizes. But you have to try. Here a Blue Tit is looking for inspiration perhaps.

A Nuthatch on a "grab and go" mission.

A pensive-looking Robin.

"Are you taking a photo of me?" enquires a female Chaffinch.

This male Chaffinch is a messy eater with food dropping out of his mouth.

A smart Goldfinch waits a turn at the feeders.

Also with the "grab and go" approach, munching the seed away from the feeder action.

A female Greenfinch waiting her turn.

A slightly scruffy individual. At the very top left is the tail of an uncooperative Long-tailed Tit.

A male Siskin tucks in to the Alder cones.

Another...

..taking a moment to look around as he digests the food.

And a female Siskin.

A male Siskin contemplating the feeding station.

A second joins in.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
8 Pochard
(Gary Crowder)

2013
Priorslee Lake
8 Gadwall
26 Wigeon
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
(Roger Clay / Tom Lowe)

2011
Priorslee Lake
10 Pochard
16 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
<10 Pochard
c.50 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Lapwing
1 Common Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
c.35 Herring Gulls
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
c.25 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Jim and Jason)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
23 Herring Gulls
65 Black-headed Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
21 Robins
21 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
19 Pochard
89 Tufted Ducks
183 Coots
c.580 Black-headed Gulls
116 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
540 Wood Pigeon
169 Jackdaws
16 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
34 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
13 Greenfinches
40 Goldfinches
127 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

3 Feb 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

3.0°C: Still dull and overcast with occasional light rain / sleet. Moderate / fresh easterly wind. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:49 GMT]

Photos:

None taken today.

Another day when I waited until it was light(?) before venturing out.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:30 – 11:15

(29th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the dam-top area.

Bird notes:
- the two Canada Geese flew in together.
- only two Great Crested Grebes seen displaying seen.

Birds noted flying over:
- 2 Wood Pigeon

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 (7♂) Goosander
- 3 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Black-headed Gull
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants
- no Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20

(26th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- two Mute Swans again: presumed the same as yesterday though I was not able to read any ring.
- back to three Great Crested Grebes; two with head plumes.
- two Cormorants were fishing together. A third arrived.
- mixed parties of Goldfinches and Siskins were noted flying around with some also in Alders. Whether these were different groups or not is hard to say. At least 25 birds involved.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese again
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 9 (8♂) Pochard
- 48 (29♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 9 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 31 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls both immatures
- 3 Cormorants

Of note around the area:

Nothing else

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Viking, or possibly a dark Iceland
(J Reeves)

Telford Crematorium
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
3 Pochard
32 Tufted Duck
2 Reed Bunting
(Tony Beckett)

The Flash
15 Pochard
53 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander
(Tony Beckett)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Glaucous x Great Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe / Andy Latham)

2012
Priorslee Lake
26 Pochard
29 Tufted Duck
>5000 gulls
Ring-billed Gull hybrid
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Roger Clay / Ed Wilson / John Isherwood / Martin Grant)

Trench Pool
Snipe
(Dave Tromans)

2011
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
77 Herring Gull
5 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Merlin
(Observer Unknown)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Skylarks
4 Fieldfare
c.55 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
17 Pochard
37 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
3 Lapwings
30 Robins
14 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
11 Song Thrushes
3 Redwing
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
2 Wigeon
19 Pochard
77 Tufted Ducks
151 Coots
1 Water Rail
15 Robins
13 Blackbirds
90 Siskin
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
5 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson)

2 Feb 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

6.0°C > 7.0°C: Another dull and overcast morning. Moderate easterly wind. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:51 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

Once again a day when it seemed prudent to wait until it was (sort of) light before venturing out.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:35 – 11:45

(28th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the dam-top area.

Bird notes:
- now four Great Crested Grebes, keeping together as if two pairs. No display seen.
- all the large gulls – Herrings and Lesser Black-backs – dropped in for a bathe and drink only. The Black-headed Gulls were present throughout.
- no Great (White) Egret seen.
- a Mistle Thrush was calling from a tree-top alongside Castle Farm Way.

Birds noted flying over:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- *2 Cormorants
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Wood Pigeon

Counts from the lake area:
- *2 Canada Geese
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 10 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 (5♂) Goosander
- 4 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- *54 Black-headed Gull
- 11 Herring Gulls: of these ten were immatures
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: of these two were obvious immatures
- *6 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
- no Great (White) Egret

An adult Canada Goose with smart pale fringes to it back feathers.

Coming in for the attack(?) is an adult-winter Black-headed Gull. Note how the head is held to keep the eyes (almost) level as it banks its body.

Phew: it veered away.

A typical adult-winter Black-headed Gull. Note the bill colour and...

...compare with this individual apparently with an all-black bill. That might indicate a rare visitor from the New World, Bonaparte's Gull (though what Bonaparte was doing in the New World to name the gull species is unclear). However that species is smaller, has a longer and thinner bill and less black on the underwing. So I have no idea why the bill looks all-black.

Three adult-winter Black-headed Gulls squabbling over food.

With a drake Goosander in the background an immature Cormorant flies in...

 ...to do some water-skiing!

Another immature Cormorant flying over and showing a sleek body shape.

A Common Buzzard showing its very different flight profile.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25

(25th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *a pair of Mute Swans arrived c.09:30. One of these was wearing ring Blue 7JSS. This bird was originally ringed in Worcestershire but was given a blue Shropshire ring in 2016. She was the pen breeding at the Balancing Lake for several years until her partner met an untimely and mysterious end in April 2025. She was seen here for some weeks from September 2025 often with Blue 7JXV, though not today. I last noted her here on 07 November 2025 though of course it is not always possible to see and read any rings.
- duck numbers had recovered somewhat from yesterday. Although the Pochard numbers were back to ten only seven of these seemed to be full-plumaged drakes so the composition of those present seems fluid. From where do they come and go?
- only the two Great Crested Grebes with head plumes were noted.
- a lone Long-tailed Tit was noted with a small group of Blue Tits. Long-tailed Tits are almost always in a gang.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese
- *2 Mute Swans: arrived together
- 25 (16♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Pochard
- 37 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (1♂) Goosander
- 10 Moorhens
- 37 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls both immatures seen briefly only

Noted around the area:
- *flowering Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis

Today's two Mute Swans with Blue 7JSS on the left along with the seemingly inevitable litter. As noted in the rubric this is a pen (female). I am not sure her companion is a cob (male) as the swelling on the base of the bill looks no larger than hers.

The usual clump of flowering Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup

2012
Priorslee Lake
Dunlin
6 Great Crested Grebes
14 Pochard
58 Tufted Duck
1 Dunlin
>5000 gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Gull
20 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)

Trench Pool
11 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
94 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks
2 Sparrowhawk
16 Linnets
Siskin in song
4 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Golden Plover
Willow Tit
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
19 Pochard
32 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
>700 Black-headed Gulls
>432 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
34 Robins
17 Blackbirds
3 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
34 Magpies
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
2 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
16 Pochard
101 Tufted Ducks
159 Coots
1 Water Rail
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
14 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls.
1 Willow Tit
2 Siskins
13 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

1 Feb 26

The Flash only

5.0°C > 6.0°C: The Telford microclimate wins again. Mist and VERY low cloud alternating. Almost calm. Poor or very poor visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:53 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

After the usual late start on another gloomy day I decide not to visit the Balancing Lake and see only part of the water.

The Flash: 09:10 – 10:35

(24th visit of the year)

New bird species
New for the bird year list here was a Sparrowhawk seen powering down squirrel alley over my head. Species #51 for 2026

Bird notes:
- no Mute Swan again.
- all ducks were in smaller numbers than yesterday and I am not sure why. The visibility was "good enough" to see things on the water.
- at one point I noted 11 Coots on the grass. Why might they be doing this? I wonder whether there is a food shortage in the lake. The Tufted Duck seem able to cope though they can probably dive deeper than Coots: and they are in smaller numbers than usual. Even the Mute Swan was on the grass last Friday rather than using its long neck to reach food. What might have caused a food shortage? Has all the rain washed mud in to the water and covered the bottom growth? But then last Winter was very wet. Is it a legacy of the hot, dry Summer? Whatever it is affecting bird numbers at the Balancing Lake.
- all three Great Crested Grebes seen.
- a Redwing flew out of trees near the medical practice.
- Siskins were in the East side Alders again. There did not seem to be any Lesser Redpolls with them.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese: of these six flew off together
- no Greylag Geese
- no Mute Swan
- 18 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard only
- 25 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosander: of these a pair departed together
- 12 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 43 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: one first- and one third-winter
- no Cormorant
- no Grey Heron
- no Great (White) Egret

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 1 male Early Moth Theria primaria

A perky drake Tufted Duck with a hint of the green gloss on the head.

Here in close-up. A big "tuft" on this individual.

"It's behind you!". Or is panto-season over?

Another surprised-looking female/brownhead Goosander.

Here is the presumed first-winter Great Crested Grebe with just a trace of the head plumed beginning to show.

From a different angle.

Contrast with this full adult, one of two in breeding plumage.

As previously noted I am not keen on photos taken at feeders. It is not easy to photograph Nuthatches "in the wild" so here is one, typically upside-down.

A first-winter male Blackbird.

The head in close-up. A female would be more brown-toned.

A long way up a street lamp pole I found this male Early Moth Theria primaria.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup still showing well off dam
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
21 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood and Rob Stokes)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl heard - 2nd ever record
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
About 30% ice.
Best bird remains the Black-necked Grebe.
Big gull roost:
c.3000 Black-headed Gulls
c.1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
1 3rd winter Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson and John Isherwood)