7 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 7.0°C: Scattered cloud below medium-level overcast. Almost calm with a light south-easterly breeze developing. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:43 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 08:45

(51st visit of the year)

New bird species:
A noteworthy addition to my bird year list from here was a drake Common Scoter first noted on the water at 07:50. It then went to sleep and was still present an hour later. Bird species #66 for me here this year and "species of the year" (so far!). Checking my records I find this my fifth record of this species here with a fly-through on 7 May 2024 my most recent.

Bird notes:
- the two Mute Swans went for an extended flight before returning. The pen has the blue Darvic ring 7JUE.
- *four Eurasian Wigeon flew high over going East at 07:20.
- four brownhead Goosander noted.
- *I was part-way counting the Coot when I noted one without the white shield, quickly realising it was the drake Common Scoter. I forgot about counting the Coots!
- my second Sand Martin of the year seen briefly at 08:10.
- three singing Chiffchaffs.
- pre-dawn there were as many Blackbird singing as Song Thrushes: nine of each species.
- a Reed Bunting was singing on the South side.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West
- *4 Eurasian Wigeon
- no gulls
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 74 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- two groups of Siskins again with one of at least 15 birds

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- *2 Mute Swans
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 18 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- *1 (1♂) Common Scoter
- 5 Moorhens
- ? Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- frustrating: one seen in flight only.

Flies:
- *1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis
- *1 winter cranefly Trichocera regelationis
- 3 small plumed midges

Springtails:
- at least six springtails.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 money spiders Erigone sp.
- *1 possible Mothercare Spider Phylloneta sisyphia.

Later:

Nothing of note

I thought the recently seen pair of Mute Swans was leaving...

...after about five minutes they returned and came to say hello.

One was wearing this blue Darvic ring. It confirms this is the pen, born here in 2020. She was paired with an unringed cob last year but apparently failed to produce any cygnets. Whether this was because they were late setting up a territory after the previous resident cob died in mysterious circumstances; or whether it was just inexperience on what was likely her first breeding attempt is unclear.

The colour of her bill suggests she is in good breeding condition.

Three of the four Eurasian Wigeon that flew very high East at 07:30. They can be identified by the pointed wings, often angled; and short-pointed tails. They can be further identified as two drakes and a duck. The drakes have a black rear-end.

My first sighting of the drake Common Scoter. At first glance Coot-sized without the white-shield.

The drake has a strange swelling at the base of his bill with, usually, a yellow mark ahead of the swelling. Quite why it appears orange on this bird is unclear.

A good view of the bill as he turns his head. The duck (female) would show pale cheeks and have no swelling on her bill.

The outer wings of both species are pale.

He seemed quite content and appeared to be sleeping though one eye at least remains open. This species is usually seen around coasts in the UK though it breeds in Iceland or Northern Europe on moorland, close to inland lakes. It occurs in small numbers on UK inland waters during both Spring and Autumn passage. It usually favours larger water bodies.

A Grey Heron landing very carefully on a branch that does not look strong-enough to support its weight.

The shadows from the camera flash and my torch have combined to make this image confusing. I am almost certain that the well-marked wings mean this is the wood gnat Sylvicola fenestralis.

The dark mark in the wings suggests that this winter cranefly can safely be identified as Trichocera regelationis.

Not 100% certain about any of the spiders this morning. Two were clearly one of the many Erigone species of money spider. The suggestion by Obsidentify for this one relates to a heathland-loving species and therefore unlikely. That suggestion belongs to the comb-footed group and therefore this just might be a Mothercare Spider Phylloneta sisyphia.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:50 – 10:15

(49th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the two drake Pochard remain.
- five Chiffchaffs: four heard singing and *another seen.
- a Mistle Thrush was singing in tree-tops around the Hickory's lower car parks before flying off East.
- the feeding station was very quiet: I noted just two Blue Tits. I did not stay long.
- Siskins were again in Alders along the West side.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 26 (18♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 27 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls again
- 1 Herring Gull: immature

Around the area:

Nothing else of note

A non-singing Chiffchaff at point-black range in vegetation bordering the water.

When birds are not singing or calling this species can often be identified as it habitually dips its tail as it moves through the vegetation.

One day.... A Goldcrest was high up in the trees alongside squirrel alley...

...and not at all easy to photograph.

I am fairly certain this Long-tailed Tit is leaving its nest site.

I cannot identify what it has in its bill...

...as it takes...

...the wing.

Seems to be "one in, one out". The upper bird is arriving with moss to line the nest. The mostly-hidden lower bird is leaving.

For once a male Chaffinch away from the feeders. Perhaps it is the angle but this bird seems larger.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged gull
(Gary Crowder)

Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
(Ian Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
5 Teal
8 Goosander
15 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
6 Gadwall
26 Pochard
5 Goosanders
62 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
76 Coots
62 Magpies
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
16 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Woodcock
425 Wood Pigeon
2 Grey Wagtail
37 Robin
26 Blackbird
7 Song Thrush
6 Redwing
47 Magpie
146 Jackdaw
10 Greenfinch
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
4 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
106 Coots
1 Water Rail
1 Curlew
23 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

6 Mar 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 5.0°C: Early rain: then leaden skies, Brisk north-westerly wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:46 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:05

(50th visit of the year)

Poor weather during migration time can bring unusual sightings. Not today.

Bird notes:
- a pair of Canada Geese on the dam-top throughout. A lone bird at the West end aggressively chased off a singleton visitor. Could this one have a partner on a nest somewhere?
- six Goosander noted: two of these flew off West at 06:50. Only brownheads remained.
- at most 42 Black-headed Gulls. This assumes that the 28 that arrived after 07:30 were all different from the 14 that came and went earlier.
- the usual Great (White Egret) was seen to fly in at 06:41.
- on a day like today I miss the old sailing club shelter. Trying to shelter keep me dry and, more importantly, the optics dry made seeing the passing Jackdaws and Rooks a challenge. I saw but one Jackdaw! However I did not hear any either.
- just two Chiffchaffs again, both singing.
- no Reed Buntings seen or heard.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
- two small groups of Siskins (*also on the trees)

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 16 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (?♂) Goosander: two of these departed
- 7 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull only
- 4 Cormorants yet again
- 1 Grey Herons
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- none

Flies:
- 1 male and 1 female plumed midge

Springtails:
- at least two small springtails.

Later:

Nothing of note

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

As it was raining I decided to see what might be sheltering pre-dawn: very little.

Flies:
- *2 midges of different species

Spiders
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

The larger of the two midges I found on the wall of the tunnel. The wing markings recall those of wood gnats (Sylvicola sp.) but that group has a well-separated head like the craneflies. So unidentified.

The smaller one. Unidentified – again!

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:10 – 10:15

(48th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *two drake Pochard remain.
- two Great Crested Grebe both full-plumed adults. Only very loosely together on occasions.
- as at the Balancing Lake a reduction in gull numbers.
- two Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew North together and later on (of these?) was calling from the island.
- three Chiffchaffs: two heard singing and another seen.
- the feeding station was quiet with only *Blue and Great Tits using it.
- *Siskins were again in Alders at both ends of the water.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Pochard
- 33 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: of these three flew off
- 1 Herring Gull: immature, flew off.

Around the area:

Nothing else of note

No doubt because it was (pretending to be?) asleep one of the two drake Pochard has drifted close-enough for a half-decent photo.

One of many Blue Tits around the feeders.

A different male Chaffinch looking for spillage. This one with leg lesions. His eye look alert-enough so probably not badly impacted

 More Siskins I am afraid – there was not much else around. A male at the top-end.

 And a female.

Another male.

This female was looking longingly at the tit-infested feeders before flying off.

And a male sitting in a tree at the bottom end.

(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)

5 Mar 26

The Flash only

7.0°C > 10.0°C: A cloudy period most of the time. Some sun but hazy / misty. Light easterly breeze. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:48 GMT]

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

A slight domestic crisis meant I was unable to make an early start. Later commitments meant I only had time to visit The Flash.

The Flash:  09:10 – 10:35

(47th visit of the year)

Notice
The Flash has been designated a Nature Reserve by Telford & Wrekin Council. When I find out a bit more about what that means in practice I will relay the information here.

Bird notes:
- When I get an increase in Mallard numbers is this real or some birds are flying about and I count them twice.
- now two drake Pochard.
- a noticeable reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- no Great Crested Grebe seen or heard
- three Chiffchaffs: all heard singing.
- a Blackcap was heard in song near the feeding station.
- the feeding station remains quiet with up to six *Siskins on the feeders and four *Chaffinches taking spill from the ground.
- *Siskins were also again in Alders along the West side.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Wood Pigeons flew high North in a loose group. I do not count the local movements

Noted on / around the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: one at the nest site throughout
- *34 (23♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Pochard
- *25 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- *53 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Herring Gull: first? year

Around the area:

Nothing else of note

The Ivy was in full sun but exposed to the easterly breeze. I noted one unidentified fly!

This notice announcing the Local Nature Reserve has appeared on several lamp posts around the water.

The map delineating the area was on the back of the notice but could only be viewed upside down. So I have inverted it. I will attempt to find out what the designation means in practice.

Good light on a flying drake Mallard: the under...

....and upper-wing showing.

The Pochard are being very difficult. They seemed to have worked out where they can be equidistant from three sides at the top end.

A Mrs. Tufted Duck. I am not sure whether I have caught her mid-blink or whether she has something in her eye.

"Where are the girls?" ask these four drake Tufties.

Yesterday I noted the Black-headed Gulls picking some things off the surface of the water. I had another attempt to find out what.

I struck lucky with this bird about to pluck....

...a tiny fly, perhaps because the legs are concave to allow it to use the surface tension of the water to remain afloat it is a type of water-boatman.

 Gone!

What I believe to be a first year Herring Gull coming in to first summer plumage.

A female Blackbird that visited the feeding area briefly.

A distant Nuthatch shinning up a tree. Unlike Treecreepers that can only go "up" Nuthatches are as adept as going down as well as up trees. Note the short tail which gives them a very recognisable shape in flight.

A male Chaffinch eating the spillage. A less-brightly coloured individual than some.

And a female, this one with viral infection on, especially, her left leg.

Mr. Sad Chaffinch.

"Shall I get my nails painted?" ponders a female Chaffinch.

Perhaps not. They look as if they could do with a trim!

More Siskins on the West side Alders. A female.

And a male.

While I was busy photographing the Siskins this Robin appeared.

Whether it thought I might have food or was just wanting to know what I was doing is a mystery.

A female Siskin awaiting for space on the feeders.

And a male Siskin keen to get to the feeders. Note the bill and compare...

...with the bill on this male. Not easy to see: is the upper mandible not fully developed?

Plane of the day. Not very exciting. It is a 4-seat Piper PA-28 Archer operated by the Shropshire Aero Club out of Sleap Airfield near Wem. This aircraft has had the same identity and six owners during the 30 years it has been in the UK. I can see no reason why it was given the letters "LORR".

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Horsehay Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
20 Goosander
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Paul King)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
21 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
4 Great Crested Grebes
8 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
6 Gadwall
28 Pochard
57 Tufted Duck
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
55 Magpies
1 Linnet
2 Siskin
12 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.10 Herring Gulls
2 Common Gulls
9 Mute Swans
12 Tufted Duck
8 Great Crested Grebe
(Mike Cooper)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
11 Pochard
90 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
607 Wood Pigeon
11 Greenfinches
23 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)