31 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:05am - 9:12am
Map

14.5°C > 15.0°C:  Very mild again: some breaks in the low cloud also some drizzle. High overcast. Light / moderate SSE wind. Moderate visibility.

Best today was the first Goosander of the period overhead.

Plenty of over flights this morning despite the rather poor visibility: included the first decent passage of winter thrushes.

Today’s counts
- c.850 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Sky Larks
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 20 Pied Wagtails
- 193 Fieldfare
- 246 Redwings
- 372 Starlings (9 came out of two separate roosts in the reeds
- c.50 Goldfinches

Yet another large count of corvids and for the 3rd day a decline in the number of Rooks.

(121st visit of the year)

Other notes
2 Cormorants over together.
Yesterday’s Wigeon seemed to have left but as I was climbing in to the car to leave 3 arrived from the W.
Many fewer Tufted Duck this morning.
No idea where all the Moorhens were this morning.
A few of the Black-headed Gulls were seen repeatedly flying through the tops of the willows on the N shore. I assume they do this to glean insects. It happens once or twice most years, though I did not record it in 2013.
c.60 Wood Pigeons were seen flying in to the copse at Ward’s Rough to the NE but these seem to leave and join one of the parties heading S.
As usual the Fieldfares and Redwings mostly flew W, appearing to cone from the fields to the E.
Almost all the Starlings were also heading W.

Counts
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants over
2 Swans
26 Canada Geese outbound
3 (?) Wigeon
3 (2) Gadwall
21 (12) Mallard
4 (3) Pochard
52 (?) Tufted Duck
1 (0) Goosander over
2 Moorhen
165 Coots
c.275 Black-headed Gulls
c.725 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.600 of these stopped on the water.
5 Herring Gulls noted among the other large gulls on the water.
Corvid roost dispersal: c.980 Jackdaws and 48 Rooks.

This is why gulls are hard: the two Herring Gulls in the middle are somewhat different in size (male are typically larger than females but there is much variation), the mantle tones are slightly different (northern birds are darker – and larger), and the extent of the white ‘mirror’s in the black wing-tips is different – this often a key feature for separating Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls from ‘just’ a Herring Gull but here supports the ‘northern’ origin of this Herring Gull. Meanwhile the four adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls show very different amounts of dark streaking on the head and strength of marks on the bill. The bill of the bird on the right looks very long, probably because the feathers at the base are being moulted.
(Ed Wilson)

30 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:06am - 9:01am
Map

12.5°C > 15.5°C:  Very mild with low cloud, poor visibility and some light drizzle; started to lift a bit at 08:30 and then some blue patches after 9:00am.

Visibility only improved marginally. Light SE wind.

Best today were
More Wigeon, both at the lake and then Trench.
A 1st year Common Gull at Trench – my first of the year in Shropshire!

Few over flights this morning in poor visibility: most after the cloud lifted and broke.

Today’s over flight counts
- 10 Sky Larks: party of 9 W over The Flash; and one or more heard over Trench
- 1 Meadow Pipit over The Flash
- 5 Pied Wagtails over the lake
- 10 Redwings over the lake
- c.150 Starlings: 118 over the lake (c.40 may have come from a roost); and 36 over Trench (some local birds?)
- >40 Goldfinches but also many of these(?) in the trees around the lake

Another huge count of corvids though difficult to quantify in the poor visibility.

(120th visit of the year)

Other notes
1 Cormorant over
Wigeon seen in flight and surprised to see it wasn't a drake as I thought yesterday’s bird was. The explanation – it was a duck and the drake was elsewhere on the water.
Many more Tufted Duck this morning – somewhat fewer at The Flash would not entirely compensate.
The Coot count was a ‘best estimate’ in the mist and I likely missed many lurking at the edges.
Visited the usual Redwing roost-area pre-dawn: seemed to be unused at the moment.
4 Mistle Thrushes flew S – were these migrants?
Most of the Jackdaws came through in one swirling mass in the very misty conditions and my estimate of c.600 is possibly well understated.
The Rooks drifted through early in numerous small groups, many fewer than current typical numbers.

Counts
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Swans
2 (1) Wigeon
3 (2) Gadwall
13 (7) Mallard
3 (2) Pochard
95 (46?) Tufted Duck
9 Moorhen
137 Coots (weather affected)
c.175 Black-headed Gulls
215 Lesser Black-backed Gulls counted: 132 of these stopped on the water.
7 Herring Gulls noted: just 1 of these stopped on the water.
Corvid roost dispersal: >900 Jackdaws but ‘only’ 66 Rooks

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 9:07am - 9:48am
Map

(101st visit of the year)

Notes
5 Great Crested Grebes for certain today: 2 stayed close to the nest-site and were perhaps adults, though they looked just as much like juveniles as the others.
All the geese, apart from 6 Canada Geese and the feral goose flew in.
Yesterday’s Pochard gone.
Huge party of c.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew W to the N as the weather cleared
and
6 fruiting bodies of the Shaggy Ink-cap / Lawyer’s Wig (Coprinus comatus) fungus found at S end.

Counts
5 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
18 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling-type small Canada Goose
55 Canada Geese
1 all-white feral goose
41 (27) Mallard
1 all-white feral duck
28 (18) Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhen
14 Coots
66 Black-headed Gulls
c.360 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 2 of these on the water

Shaggy Ink-cap / Lawyer’s Wig (Coprinus comatus) fungus: looks great when, as here, fresh: soon forms as bell-shaped cap that quickly autodigests to an inky black liquid which has indeed been used as ink. The scientific name component ‘comatus’ does not seem to indicate it has any adverse effect (comatose?) – it is classed as ‘edible’ at this stage and apparently cultivated in China. Try at your own risk, especially as the similar Magpie fungus is poisonous.

And here are two more fruiting bodies of the Shaggy Ink-cap. At this stage they grow very rapidly and you can see the smaller one still has earth on top from its very recent emergence.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 9:56am - 10:26am
Map

(44th visit of the year)

Notes
Mute Swan cygnets both gone.
8 of the Canada Geese were passing over towards Middle Pool.
As highlighted 3 Wigeon new in: 2 drakes. My first of the year at this site.
The 1st winter Common Gull also as highlighted: did not stay long-enough for a photo.
and
A Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) found on roof of my car: wherever it came from it ended up here!

The counts
2 Little Grebes
4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
42 Canada Geese
3 (2) Wigeon
8 (5) Mallard
29 (12?) Tufted Ducks
9 Moorhens
164 Coots
7 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

This on my car roof as I prepared to leave Trench Lock Pool: it seems to be a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) of the form succinea, also known as the Multicoloured Asian Ladybird and the Halloween Ladybird – so it was a day early! This Asian species was introduced in to America and Europe to control aphids – all ladybird larvae eat aphids and the larvae of this species does so voraciously. As with all such introductions it has had unwanted side-effects, in this case out-competing with our smaller native species and even eating them, as well as frequently biting humans. In the USA it has been known to contaminate grapes with its pungent body fluids and alter the taste of the wine. It is very variable in colour and number of spots, but I make it 19 here which rules out almost all our native species and is very typical for this species.

I persuaded it to get up and walk about: and yes the brown legs are another ID feature. Here you can see from the white patches why it is also sometimes confused with the Eyed Ladybird.

(Ed Wilson)

29 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:02am - 9:35am
Map

Afternoon Update: 3:30pm

1 adult Yellow legged Gull
1 adult Great Black-backed Gull
3 Gadwall
3 Pochard

(John Isherwood)

Morning Report:
4.5°C > 8.0°C:  Another mainly clear start: bank of low cloud to NNE rolled in and then rather dull. Lightest of N breeze. Good visibility, moderate later.

Best today was the eclipse drake Wigeon at the lake.

Lots of over flights again this morning, all over the lake as the arrival of the low cloud more or less stopped movement.

Today’s over flight counts
- >1950 Wood Pigeons (as well as c.50 in trees / on local movements)
- 1 Sky Lark
- 2 Meadow Pipits
- 12 Pied Wagtails (in various directions: not all passage birds?)
- 1 Fieldfare (my first of the autumn)
- 23 Redwings (as well as 12 in trees around the lake)
- 52 Starlings (1 of these roosted in the reeds)
- 3 Chaffinches (as well as 2 in trees around the lake)
- 12 Goldfinches (as well as 15 in trees around the lake)

Another huge count of corvids.

(119th visit of the year)

Other notes
1 Little Grebe seen again: probably present throughout.
Now 5 Pochard included a duck this morning.
The flat light, despite the rather low level, made sexing the Tufted Ducks much easier.
Rather fewer Black-headed Gulls, perhaps because Ricoh workers started mowing the grass at c.6:05am!
In contrast a good passage of large gulls and after 8:30am many arrived to wash and loaf: these included an adult Yellow-legged Gull and several Herring Gulls.
Four different small groups of Feral Pigeons this morning.
Even larger passage of Wood Pigeons, all heading S and most to the far W: all but one group before 8:00am.
Green Woodpecker heard again.
2 Ravens over.
and
New flowers – probably Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus).

Counts
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
32 Canada Geese outbound
1 (1) Wigeon
3 (2) Gadwall
9 (5) Mallard
5 (4) Pochard
57 (32) Tufted Duck
12 Moorhen
172 Coots
c.140 Black-headed Gulls
689 Lesser Black-backed Gulls counted: 302 of these stopped on the water
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull on the water
10 Herring Gulls noted amongst the gulls on the water
Corvid roost dispersal: >1100 Jackdaws but ‘only’ 132 Rooks.

The bank of cloud rolling in from the NE and spoiling a fine start.

Part of one of the migrating parties of Wood Pigeons. An attempt to count them ‘on screen’ gave me 155 birds. At the time I estimated the whole flock at 150. So all my counts are probably underestimates – this is in fact quite normal.
 

This shot of about half of another group shows c.225 birds: I estimated the whole group as c.350 so at least I am consistently wrong.

This Wigeon appears to be a duck, but ...

As it preened the white on the upper forewing was revealed, so it is a drake. Since it is white and not grey-brown this suggests an eclipse-plumaged adult rather than an immature bird.

Not many flowers at this time of year so was surprised to find these. The date, the brightness of the flowers and the presence of many with 13 rays all suggest Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus), noted in Marjorie Blamey’s Illustrated Flora as flowering in to December. There were some scruffy remnant flowers of Common Ragwort nearby, these all on much taller plants.

The rather neat rows of spots on this bird identify it as a Mistle Thrush. Other clues, apart from its larger size, include the white fringes on the wing coverts and the rather small head.

While creeping up to get the shot of the Mistle Thrush a pair of unusually sedentary Jays failed to notice me and allowed some shots. Here is one ..

... and another ...

... with no apologies for a third picture of the Jay. Not often you can photograph these birds so well.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 9:38am - 10:31am
Map

(100th visit of the year)

Notes
At least 4 very mobile Great Crested Grebes: all seemed to be juveniles.
4 of the Canada Geese flew silently high overhead without appearing to even looking at the noisy throng below.
13 Goldfinches overhead seemed to be different birds to those recorded at and over the lake.

Counts
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
9 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling-type small Canada Goose
96 Canada Geese
1 all-white feral goose
32 (22) Mallard
1 all-white feral duck
1 (1) Pochard
42 (25) Tufted Ducks
7 Moorhen
16 Coots
56 Black-headed Gulls
13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 11 of them flying over.

(Ed Wilson)

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Devil's Dingle: 9:00am
Map
5 Teal
9 Snipe
2 Raven

Also Fallow Deer (5 - including stag bellowing - still in rut ?)

(John Isherwood)

28 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:01am - 9:01am
Map

11.0°C > 16.0°C:  Mainly clear to start with increasing medium/high cloud from W / NW; moderate S wind dropped somewhat; good visibility.

Best sighting was the Lapwing over the lake: only my 2nd record here this year of this depressingly, and increasingly, uncommon species.

Lots of over flights this morning with Wood Pigeon migration flocks logged. Also Starlings appeared to be on the move. Just a few Redwings and no Fieldfares.

Today’s over flight counts
- c.500 Wood Pigeons over the lake (at least 4 Stock Doves lurking in these groups).
- 4 Sky Larks: 3 over The Flash and 1 over Trench Lock.
- 3 Meadow Pipits: 2 over the lake and 1 over Middle Pool – my first recorded at this site.
- 9 Pied Wagtails over the lake.
- 44 Redwings: 43 over the lake and 1 over The Flash.
- 204 Starlings: 177 over the lake and 25 over Trench Lock.

Also a huge count of corvids over the lake that were still passing in small numbers some 2 hours after the first few.

(118th visit of the year)

Other notes
6 Great Crested Grebes this morning.
3 Gadwall were new: a pair and a single male elsewhere on the lake.
3 drake Pochard were my first of the Autumn here.
Coot numbers continue to build.
c.225 Black-headed Gulls arrived pre-dawn from the Ricoh area: most left and then the presumed same birds commuted to and fro thereafter, also visiting the fields to the E.
Five different small groups of Feral Pigeons, the first group of 2 birds in the pale light at 6:25am.
1 of the Song Thrushes still singing soon after dawn
7 Reed Buntings my largest count of the year: 6 of these seen flying off soon after dawn.
and
Still a few insects about with wasp sp., bumble bee sp. and several different flies, seen including a Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga carnaria.
Counts
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
3 (2) Gadwall
16 (9) Mallard
3 (3) Pochard
46 (?) Tufted Duck
7 Moorhen
169 Coots
1 Lapwing over
c.225 Black-headed Gulls
354 Lesser Black-backed Gulls counted: 118 of these stopped off for a while on the water.
4 Herring Gulls noted amongst these: 3 of them stopped off on the water.
Corvid roost dispersal: >950 Jackdaws and 215 Rooks.

The sunrise.

A typical view of a drake Pochard. This species typically feeds at night and appears asleep during much of the day. However it is usually slowing turning and keeping one-eye sleepily looking for danger.

What a stunning bird the drake Gadwall is with all those vermiculations.

The black stern makes the drake Gadwall instantly identifiable even when upended!

On the pair of Gadwall the unrelieved black bill of the drake and the neat orangey edges to the bill of the duck are good identification features.

While some trees have lost many leaves there is very little sign of autumn in the remaining foliage. It is December before trees stand gaunt but this last weekend was ‘the’ period to visit Westonbirt Arboretum for the autumn colours when I last visited some 30 years ago.

Compare this with a shot taken and hour earlier when the yellow morning sun shows the trees in quite a different light.

    

A late fly takes the sun. With eyes set well apart it resembles a Warble Fly but that should be smaller and is unlikely to be flying at this date. And where are the cattle on which it lays its eggs. This is actually a Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga carnaria.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 9:04am - 9:56am
Map

(99th visit of the year)

Still hard to separate the drake Tufted Ducks: at least 14 today but I suspect more 1st year birds are in fact drakes.

Counts
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
3 Greylag Geese
1 Cackling-type small Canada Goose
144 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
34 (25) Mallard
The all-white feral duck
36 (14?) Tufted Ducks
12 Moorhen
16 Coots
45 Black-headed Gulls
24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, all flying over.

A Sparrowhawk over The Flash.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 10:04am - 10:35am // 11:20am - 11:30am
Map

(43rd visit of the year)

Notes
2 1st winter Mute Swan cygnets keeping well out of the way of the adults: both wearing orange Darvic rings (used for birds ringed in Worcestershire) – 45L and 68L (note 45L flew in to Middle Pool later).
Further modest increase in number of Coots.
Kingfisher again
2 Pied Wagtails were my first of the year here!
1 Chiffchaff heard calling: a few years ago one bird spent the whole winter here.
and
A late hoverfly here – probably Episyrphus balteatus that can be active at any time of the year if warm-enough and nectar can be found.
Also a late bumble bee sp. - probably Bombus pascuorum

The counts
3 Little Grebes
4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 + 2 Swans
52 Canada Geese
12 (7) Mallard
37 (?) Tufted Ducks
10 Moorhens
162 Coots
52 Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, one of these overhead only
1 Herring Gull

This Kingfisher was lurking under the sallows at Trench Lock. The red on the bill indicates a female. I would expect the white tips to the coverts to indicate a 1st year bird, but I am unsure as I would not expect a 1st year bird to show the red bill. 

Here it is looking about and showing off the stunning azure / cobalt back.

and the other side of the same bird.

 

This bumble bee sp. was probably warming its flight muscles in the early sun: probably Bombus pascuorum, noted as one of the last bees to disappear in autumn. Northern populations are darker than the foxy red of this fine specimen.

A 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull at Trench Lock: it shows the typical extent of the pale on the bill and some retained 1st summer feathers on the coverts and mantle. 

this is the same bird not flying off but ...

   

... apparently taking a dive, ending up ...

   ... like this.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:40am - 11:15am
Map

(22nd visit of the year)

Notes
No juvenile Great Crested Grebes remain.
One of the Worcestershire-ringed Mute Swan cygnets arrived from Trench Lock and got a peck for its pains from one of the usual trio.
Rather fewer Mallard: but some of these were noted on the island and apparently well-fed as they declined to come to the offerings made while I was there. Probably others loafing there as well (and likely where the unseen feral birds were also to be found).
1 Goldcrest: a species new for me at this site this year.

The counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 + 1 Swans
74 Canada Geese
19 (9) Mallard
No feral Mallard-type ducks
4 (0) Tufted Duck
10 Moorhen
11 Coots
69 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

An adult winter-plumaged duck Tufted Duck: a 1st winter bird would show only a hint of a tuft and typically appear paler with more even brown marks along the flanks.

Well you can’t win them all: this was a Tufted Duck!

A 1st winter Black-headed Gull at Trench Middle Pool: will look like this until c. March next year.

  

Unidentified fungus at Trench Middle Pool.

(Ed Wilson)

25 - 27 Oct 14

No sightings reported in over this period.

24 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 12:15pm
Map

1 drake Gadwall

(John Isherwood)

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Devil's Dingle, Buildwas: 10:30am
Map

1 Green Sandpiper
6 Snipe
5 Teal

(John Isherwood)

23 Oct 14

No sightings reported in over this period.

22 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 4:55pm
Map

2cy Caspian Gull

10 Yellow-legged Gulls

3 Great Black-backed Gulls

800+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls

c30 Herring Gulls

(Tom Lowe)

16 - 21 Oct 14

No sightings reported in over this period.

15 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake:
Map

Afternoon Update: A juvenile Arctic Tern passed through at 1:30pm heading east. Photo Here (Tom Lowe)

Early Morning Report: 6:49am - 8:56am

10.5°C > 11.5°C:  Low overcast and dull yet again: some light drizzle at first. Light SE wind fell calm. Moderate visibility.

Best sighting was the male Peregrine that shot low over the field between The Flash and the old A5 to the N and then away to the W. Seemed to be on a hunt but when it pulled up over the water it ignored a passing party of 10 Feral Pigeon and they, in turn, seemed to ignore it. My first Peregrine at this site this year.

Today’s over flights
- 1 Sky Lark over The Flash.
- 5 Pied Wagtails over the lake; another over The Flash.
- 21 Redwings over the lake (and another 5 in the trees); another 5 over The Flash.
- at least 15 Goldfinches over the lake (in addition to the small groups in various Alders around the lake).
- 1 Siskin over the lake.
- 8 unidentified and strangely silent finches in a tight group; another party of 10 birds over The Flash.

(117th visit of the year)

Other notes
2 Song Thrushes in song this morning: both singing rather quietly.
Later a Blackbird was also heard singing – no doubt encouraged by the mild weather.
Not sure what happened with the corvid dispersal this morning: started as usual with a large group of Rooks – 180 counted – with c.30 Jackdaws with them. But then nothing until several small (by usual standards) groups of Jackdaws both to E and W. Passage continued sporadically for over 90 minutes with, unusually, more Rooks than Jackdaws.
and
A lacewing sp. on one of the lamps.

Counts
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
11 Greylag Geese, all outbound
11 (6) Mallard
71 (34) Tufted Duck
7 Moorhen
122 Coots
c.145 Black-headed Gulls
23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 10 of these on the water
Corvid roost dispersal: 213 Jackdaws and 253 Rooks
and
26 Redwings (as highlighted)

At last some signs of Autumn: the trees and shrubs alongside Castle Farm Way are now starting to colour.

Another picture that certainly won’t win any prizes: the male Peregrine disappears over The Flash – did not have any notice to get the camera ready for this! Even in this edited tail-on shot you can sense the power and see both the sharply pointed wings and the rather stout body.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 8:59am - 9:42am
Map

(98th visit of the year)

Notes
5 Great Crested Grebes this morning: one was certainly an immature with striped face; and two of the others seemed also to be immatures (one fewer seen at the lake this morning).
The Grey Heron was seen in the distance being pursued by Magpies low over the estate roofs.
As highlighted one or more Redwings heard calling.
Not sure why more of the Tufted Duck seemed to be drakes this morning: incompetence?

Counts
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
7 Greylag Geese
51 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
37 (26) Mallard
The all-white feral duck
48 (21) Tufted Ducks
3 Moorhen
17 Coots
21 Black-headed Gulls
12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls all flying over

(Ed Wilson)

14 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:43am - 9:02am
Map

8.5°C > 9.5°C:  Overcast and dull again: some light rain. more persistent after 10:00. Moderate NNW wind fell away. Good visibility.

Again a few notable sightings
- 2 duck / immature Wigeon circled the lake and then landed: but I never re-found them.
- an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Trench.
- >20 Redwings: with a party of at least 16 over the lake and bird(s) heard at The Flash (amazingly these are my first at The Flash this year.
– I recorded several Fieldfares early in the year, but no Redwings)

Again a few confirmed over flights
- 14 Pied Wagtails over the lake
- 1 Linnet over the lake
- 2 Redpolls over The Flash (these also a new species for me this year here)

(116th visit of the year)

Other notes
c.80 of the Black-headed Gulls flew off S from the Ricoh area without coming to the lake first.
c.135 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the lake when I arrived and seem likely to have roosted – this is rather unusual even in the depth of winter, the loafing birds seen late afternoon usually leave at or after dark (for ?). Many of these then went to the fields to the E: later some returned and / or flew off W. Therefore the number of additional birds passing over was difficult to estimate.
As recorded above I logged 14 Pied Wagtails over: may have been more as it was too dark to see all the birds and at least initially there are often small groups on roost dispersal which need to be seen.
2 Reed Buntings heard in N side reeds today: one seen flying off at dawn. The previous roost at the W end seems not to be used at the moment.

Counts
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
2 (0) Wigeon
16 (10) Mallard!
65 Tufted Duck
9 Moorhen
134 Coots
c.125 Black-headed Gulls
c.175 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.135 roosted
Corvid roost dispersal: c.520 Jackdaws and c.175 Rooks
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
>19 Redwing

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 9:05am - 9:39am
Map

(97th visit of the year)

Notes
Again only 2 Great Crested Grebes: did not check age.
The Grey Heron was seen in the distance being pursued by Magpies low over the estate roofs.
As highlighted one or more Redwings heard calling.

Counts
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
77 Greylag Geese
1 Greylag x Canada Goose
126 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
43 (28) Mallard
The all-white feral duck
49 (13) Tufted Ducks
6 Moorhen
14 Coots
14 Black-headed Gulls

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Trench Lock Pool: 9:48am - 10:17am
Map

(42nd visit of the year)

Notes
1 feral Mallard again: where does this go and hide? Does it / can it fly?
2 Kingfishers seen in flight together.

The counts
2 Little Grebes
4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
6 Canada Geese
8 (5) Mallard
1 feral Mallard
27 (9) Tufted Ducks
6 Moorhens
147 Coots
29 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Herring Gull

What I think is an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The legs themselves are not really ‘yellow’: but neither are they the pink or flesh colour of Herring Gull. Other clues are the rather darker grey of the mantle; the noticeable red of the orbital ring; the overall clean look; and the square-looking head (though this feature is far from diagnostic as it all depends upon the posture)
(Ed Wilson)

13 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake: 6:41am - 9:02am
Map

9.0°C > 10.0°C:  Overcast and very dark, though the promised rain never materialised. Moderate NNE wind. Good visibility.

Despite the dullness and it being rather quiet there were some notable sightings.
- 14 Cormorants flew E over the lake: and then later 13, possibly some of the same, flew N over The Flash.
- 1 drake Wigeon moulting into adult plumage was at the lake: and then 11 Wigeon circled The Flash but flew on.
**later note: looking at my picture of this bird it looks to have some characteristics that suggest American Wigeon: I am getting a 2nd opinion
- 1 ‘brownhead’ Goosander flew S over the lake: a rather early date for here.
- a party of 26 Wood Pigeon flew high S over the lake: these were almost certainly migrants and as such my first of the Autumn.
- 1 Redwing, also my first of the Autumn, flew W over the lake.

Otherwise just a few confirmed over flights
- 4 Meadow Pipits over The Flash
- 5 Pied Wagtails over the lake
- 1 Linnet over The Flash

(115th visit of the year)

Notes
No Mallard at all here today
57 Tufted Ducks when I did the count: 4 had flown off earlier; and another 11 were seen in flight but whether they left was unclear with a tail-wind component on their flight-path the corvids were passing VERY high over and only those passing directly overhead could be seen in the gloom.

Counts
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
14 Cormorants over
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
4 Greylag Geese outbound
1 (1) Wigeon
No Mallard!
1 (0) Goosander over
61+ Tufted Duck
8 Moorhen
119 Coots
c.110 Black-headed Gulls
103 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: only 7 of these stopped off
3 Herring Gulls stopped off
Corvid roost dispersal: 174 Jackdaws and 100 Rooks
and
1 (0) Chiffchaff
1 Redwing

Modern cameras help: I wound the ISO rating to 6400 and played around with the exposure compensation and just managed a reasonably sharp shot of this drake Wigeon at the lake in the early gloom. Whether it was this that has caused the rather grey tone to the head is unclear, but the effect is to raise a question in my mind as to whether it is an American Wigeon ...

Here the extent of the grey on the flanks seems not right for American Wigeon and suggests that it is indeed a ‘colour-cast’ effect of the very poor light.

14 Cormorants over the lake

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash: 9:05am - 9:51am
Map

(96th visit of the year)

Notes
Only 2 Great Crested Grebes seen today.
The 13 Cormorants my largest party seen over here.
Most of the geese still away: perhaps because the cloud (hiding the moon) prevented them feeding in the fields over night.
Just 2 of the party of Wigeon seemed to be adult males.
Not sure why rather fewer Tufted Ducks this morning

Counts
1 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
13 Cormorants over
1 Grey Heron
2 Swans
40 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
11 (2?) Wigeon over
38 (24) Mallard
The all-white feral duck
41 (21) Tufted Ducks
9 Moorhen
18 Coots
35 Black-headed Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull over

13 Cormorants over The Flash much later: co-incidence?  

11 Wigeon over The Flash. The left-most bird shows the white patch on the upper forewing that identifies an adult drake. The wings of the lowest bird are mainly hidden but suggest it is also a drake: this is supported by the clean white centre to the belly. All the others will be ducks or immatures.

0412   Yes I know I've done this recently, but I could not resist this poseur: an adult winter Black-headed Gull (F)

Too much mascara in the rain!

 

And a 1st winter Black-headed Gull for comparison. Note how dull the bill-colour is compared with the adult. In this bird the black of the bill-base ‘bleeds’ along the cutting edge of, especially, the lower mandible.
(Ed Wilson)

12 Oct 14

Priorslee Lake:
Map

Late Morning: 10:30am - 11:45am

WeBS Count for October

Hazy fog/bright

5     Great Crested Grebe
120     Coot
19(8)   Tufted duck
96    Black-headed Gulls
32    Lesser Black-backed Gull
4     Herring Gull
2      Mute Swan
13     Moorhen
3(1)   Mallard
8     Greylag Geese

(Tony Beckett)


Early Morning: 6:47am - 9:17am

2.5°C > 7.0°C:  Low-level mist cleared quite quickly here, though unusually lingered elsewhere – the lake is usually a fog-trap. Calm. Poor but later moderate visibility.

Rather quieter this morning: highlights
- male Peregrine over the lake
- what may well have been a Brambling overhead: not 100% confident of this species’ flight-call and without a better view will have leave this as a ‘probable’. I have listened to the recordings on the excellent web site xeno-canto.org without any real conclusion.

Confirmed over flights
- at least 2 Sky Larks over The Flash and over the lake
- 7 Meadow Pipits
- 7 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin again

(114th visit of the year)

Notes
Little Grebe again: lost in the mist yesterday I suspect.
Single Cormorant flew over and then back again.
A few outbound Canada Geese seen: another large party heard but lost in the mist.
All the Mallard again flew in from the NW.
54 Tufted Ducks: several groups later flew off and were probably then recorded at The Flash.
8 Song Thrushes, one in song. 4 of these seen flying over in tight group – probably migrants.
Just one Chiffchaff: called once only and then seen foraging rather low in the edge of the N side reed bed.
The mist cleared just after the first large noisy party of Jackdaws (and, I assume, the usually, quieter and earlier Rooks) passed: nevertheless >300 Jackdaws seen.

Counts
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant over
2 Grey Herons
2 Swans
>6 Canada Geese outbound
14 (8) Mallard
54 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
11 Moorhen
132 Coots
c.250 Black-headed Gulls
83 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 12 of these only on the water
1 Herring Gull over
Corvid roost dispersal: >300 Jackdaws and 42 Rooks
and
2 (0) Chiffchaff

This was a surprise sighting: in the distance this misty morning was this plume of what my Physics master would have insisted was water vapour – “you can’t see steam, boy”. As far as I can tell the origin was probably Rugely Power Station (though I initially thought it might just be Kegworth)

You always need foreground for the best sunrise shots. Will these preening Swans do? Note the moulted feathers floating away.

Not as stark as pre-dawn shots but still showing impressive cross-lit craters here is this morning’s waning moon.

Birds are nothing if not opportunistic: this Buzzard is using the scaffolding around the new school as an early-morning perch. The workers will not disturb it today, but.....

... eagle-eyed(?) he did not like the camera being pointed at him and flew off.

Just frosted in the sheltered spots this morning: this web is, however, only showing liquid droplets from the morning mist.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Flash:
Map

WeBS Count for October: 9:25am - 10:20am

Bright with slight haze, Chilly around 60

3      Great Crested Grebe
165   Canada Geese
36      Black-headed Gulls
19      Coot
22(13)   Mallard
6      Moorhen
79(35)  Tufted Ducks
2     Mute Swan
2      Feral Geese
66     Greylag Geese

(Tony Beckett)


Morning Sightings: 9:21am - 10:15am

(95th visit of the year)

Notes
A 4th Great Crested Grebe again today and now fairly certain there are 3 adults and 1 immature.
Not sure why rather few Mallard this morning.
Even if Tufted Duck numbers were boosted by arrivals from the lake it was still a high count: again a preponderance of immatures / ducks.
and
An Epirrita sp (November Moth agg.) moth on one of the lamps here this morning.

Counts
3 + 1 Great Crested Grebes
2 Swans
137 Greylag Geese
1 Greylag x Canada Goose
1 Cackling-type Canada Goose
164 Canada Geese
The all-white feral goose
20 (13) Mallard
The all-white feral duck
85 (31) Tufted Ducks
7 Moorhen
18 Coots
21 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull over

Geese arriving at The Flash: all but one are Greylag Geese showing the pale grey in forewing. The other goose, at first glance, looks like a Canada Goose but is in fact a hybrid showing only pale, not white, cheeks. Also shows some white shafts and grey in the wings.

Meanwhile the Greylag formation team practices overhead ...

.. but seems to need some work on the synchronised undercarriage lowering.

(Ed Wilson)

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Horsehay Pool: 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Map

WeBS Count for October:

14    Coot
285    Canada Geese
30(12)   Mallard
8    Moorhen
8    Black-headed Gull
2    Feral Geese
(1)   Tufted Duck

(Tony Beckett)