Location
Lunchtime Update: 12:00
1 Great Black-backed Gull
11 Gadwall
10 Pochard
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:54 – 10:50
Location
(105th visit of the year)
Notes
- the two adult Mute Swans chased off the main lake were here and being chased somewhat half-heartedly by the residents. They seemed unsure which bird to chase, swapping duties, which may suggest the interlopers were not at pair and amenable to man-to-man and woman-to-woman conflict
- as with the main lake this morning one group of passing large gulls contained 2 Black-headed Gulls and these continued on with the larger birds
- Kingfisher again
- a Raven over here as well as the lake
Birds noted flying over
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Raven
The counts from the water
- 4 + 2 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 5 Canada Geese still
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 33 (23♂) Mallard
- 42 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 19 Coots
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
Here is one of the Mute Swan visitors – identified as orange 17H thanks to the camera. I could never have read it with binoculars.
The light is not very good at this time of year but this Moorhen shows little sign of adult plumage. Compared with all the 35+ birds at the lake which all have red shields on the bill this is very immature-looking bird. Perhaps just from a late brood? Perhaps some genetic problem at so late a day?
(Ed Wilson)
Devil's Dingle: 10:30
15 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
Lunchtime Update: 12:00
1 Great Black-backed Gull
11 Gadwall
10 Pochard
(John Isherwood)
Morning Report: 06:58 – 09:51
Telford sunrise: 08:11
4.0°C > 6.5°C. Fine with mainly high cloud, though some lower cloud to N. Light wind, becoming moderate W. Very good visibility
(152nd visit of the year)
Another strange mammal sighting. I glimpsed a very dark (black?) mammal run across the path near the yacht club hut. From the brief view I judged this to be about 50% larger than a Fox with proportionally shorter legs. The only other feature I noted was a long and bushy tail held horizontally. Later I was told that one of the regular dog-walkers has seen what he thought was an otter. Hmm
Notes
- Swan activity today: an adult and cygnet circled the lake: these I suspect were birds from The Flash. Then two adults had to be chased off by the residents – these then went to harass the pair at The Flash where I was able to read the rings (with the aid of the camera): Orange 17H and blue 7HLP
- no geese seen this morning: I was elsewhere around the lake from where their recent flight path was out of my sight-line
- the Gadwall were very flighty this morning and keeping track of them to provide an accurate count was a trial
- unsure again about the Shoveler: I glimpsed it moving in to the reeds where it stayed. I thought a drake
- small movement of large gulls: one group contained 2 Black-headed Gulls and these continued on with the larger birds
- one party of c.40 Jackdaws stopped off for a while in the trees in the NE part of the lake – strange as they usually only do this when they get disorientated in fog
- single fly-over Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit: neither common overhead at this time of year
- Cetti’s Warbler not heard or seen
- no Starlings at all today
- 16 of the roosting Redwings were seen leaving the traditional roost at the E end of the N side, the first time I have noted this roost with more than 2 or 3 birds this winter. Another 5 seen much later in the Ricoh hedge
- 11 Siskins in the trees
- 1 Redpoll on the fence of the yacht compound
- at least 9 Bullfinches seen this morning
- after 5 Reed Buntings flew out of the W end roost there were still at least 3 birds calling around the lake
and
- three Winter Moths on the same lamp this morning
- Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) added to my list of unseasonal flowering plants today
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 1 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 8 Feral Pigeons (2 groups)
- 3 Stock Doves
- 5 Wood Pigeons (1 party)
- 635 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 1 Sky lark
- 3 Pied Wagtails again
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 5 Greenfinches
- 3 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- Magpies: not counted
- no Starlings
- 19 Redwings
- 5 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area
- 4 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 11 (6♂) Gadwall (see notes)
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (0?♂) Shoveler (see notes)
- 8 (6♂) Pochard again
- 58 (31♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 37 Moorhens
- 236 Coots
- 88 Black-headed Gulls
A Jay of course. Don’t get too many opportunities to photograph these rather wary birds.
And head on: rather soggy-looking breast plumage, for once not from rain! Assume from leaping through damp vegetation.
Your starter for 10: what is this species having a good preen? It can be identified – the V-notch in the tail means it is a finch; the brown on the tips of the coverts mean it is a Linnet or Redpoll. And the streaking and pale rump lead to the identity as a Redpoll.
Rather strange that all 3 male Winter Moths should be on the same lamp. I assume there was a (flightless) female somewhere nearby giving off pheromones, but I could not find her.
Here is the Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) I added to my list of unseasonal flowering plants today.
Morning Report: 06:58 – 09:51
Telford sunrise: 08:11
4.0°C > 6.5°C. Fine with mainly high cloud, though some lower cloud to N. Light wind, becoming moderate W. Very good visibility
(152nd visit of the year)
Another strange mammal sighting. I glimpsed a very dark (black?) mammal run across the path near the yacht club hut. From the brief view I judged this to be about 50% larger than a Fox with proportionally shorter legs. The only other feature I noted was a long and bushy tail held horizontally. Later I was told that one of the regular dog-walkers has seen what he thought was an otter. Hmm
Notes
- Swan activity today: an adult and cygnet circled the lake: these I suspect were birds from The Flash. Then two adults had to be chased off by the residents – these then went to harass the pair at The Flash where I was able to read the rings (with the aid of the camera): Orange 17H and blue 7HLP
- no geese seen this morning: I was elsewhere around the lake from where their recent flight path was out of my sight-line
- the Gadwall were very flighty this morning and keeping track of them to provide an accurate count was a trial
- unsure again about the Shoveler: I glimpsed it moving in to the reeds where it stayed. I thought a drake
- small movement of large gulls: one group contained 2 Black-headed Gulls and these continued on with the larger birds
- one party of c.40 Jackdaws stopped off for a while in the trees in the NE part of the lake – strange as they usually only do this when they get disorientated in fog
- single fly-over Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit: neither common overhead at this time of year
- Cetti’s Warbler not heard or seen
- no Starlings at all today
- 16 of the roosting Redwings were seen leaving the traditional roost at the E end of the N side, the first time I have noted this roost with more than 2 or 3 birds this winter. Another 5 seen much later in the Ricoh hedge
- 11 Siskins in the trees
- 1 Redpoll on the fence of the yacht compound
- at least 9 Bullfinches seen this morning
- after 5 Reed Buntings flew out of the W end roost there were still at least 3 birds calling around the lake
and
- three Winter Moths on the same lamp this morning
- Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) added to my list of unseasonal flowering plants today
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 1 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 8 Feral Pigeons (2 groups)
- 3 Stock Doves
- 5 Wood Pigeons (1 party)
- 635 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 1 Sky lark
- 3 Pied Wagtails again
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 5 Greenfinches
- 3 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- Magpies: not counted
- no Starlings
- 19 Redwings
- 5 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area
- 4 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 11 (6♂) Gadwall (see notes)
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (0?♂) Shoveler (see notes)
- 8 (6♂) Pochard again
- 58 (31♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 10 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 37 Moorhens
- 236 Coots
- 88 Black-headed Gulls
As long as it is prepared to pose I am prepared to shoot!
But it is a lot easier this way round!. Now you know why it is called a Redpoll.
Always worth a shot: a fine male Bullfinch.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:54 – 10:50
Location
(105th visit of the year)
Notes
- the two adult Mute Swans chased off the main lake were here and being chased somewhat half-heartedly by the residents. They seemed unsure which bird to chase, swapping duties, which may suggest the interlopers were not at pair and amenable to man-to-man and woman-to-woman conflict
- as with the main lake this morning one group of passing large gulls contained 2 Black-headed Gulls and these continued on with the larger birds
- Kingfisher again
- a Raven over here as well as the lake
Birds noted flying over
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Raven
The counts from the water
- 4 + 2 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 5 Canada Geese still
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 33 (23♂) Mallard
- 42 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 19 Coots
- 51 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
Here is the other one being given a hard time.
Charge!
And now we have its identity too – blue 7HLP.
Closing in!
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devil's Dingle: 10:30
Location
30 Teal
4 Raven
(John Isherwood)
Holmer Lake: 11:30
Location
30 Teal
4 Raven
(John Isherwood)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holmer Lake: 11:30
Location
15 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Report Here
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
Scaup imm/fem
4 Yellow-legged Gull
(Gary Crowder)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Report Here
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
Scaup imm/fem
4 Yellow-legged Gull
(Gary Crowder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Yellow legged Gull
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 duck Gadwall
3 Goosander
4 Teal
1 Wigeon
1 Redshank
8 Pochard.
55 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
172 Coots.
4 Great Black-backed Gulls .
36 Redwings
42 Fieldfares
453 Jackdaws
64 Rooks
(John Isherwood/Roger Clay/Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
Location
35 Mute Swans
1 drake Wigeon
1 duck Goldeneye
2 drake Shoveler
40 Tufted Duck
1 Common Gull
6 Herring Gull
163 Lesser Black-backed Gull
128 Black-headed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
165 Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull with a Dark Blue ring with Orange [red] numbers 567. This bird bred in Germany.
(Martin Grant/Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Cormorants
18 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
27 Robins
23 Blackbirds
3 Fieldfares
2 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
750 Black-headed Gulls
1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
15 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
2 Redpolls
25 Siskins
15 Pied Wagtails
2 Redwings
32 Fieldfares
5 Reed Buntings
13 Robins
18 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
3 Yellow legged Gull
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 duck Gadwall
3 Goosander
4 Teal
1 Wigeon
1 Redshank
8 Pochard.
55 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
172 Coots.
4 Great Black-backed Gulls .
36 Redwings
42 Fieldfares
453 Jackdaws
64 Rooks
(John Isherwood/Roger Clay/Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
Location
35 Mute Swans
1 drake Wigeon
1 duck Goldeneye
2 drake Shoveler
40 Tufted Duck
1 Common Gull
6 Herring Gull
163 Lesser Black-backed Gull
128 Black-headed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
165 Coot
Lesser Black-backed Gull with a Dark Blue ring with Orange [red] numbers 567. This bird bred in Germany.
(Martin Grant/Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Cormorants
18 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
27 Robins
23 Blackbirds
3 Fieldfares
2 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
750 Black-headed Gulls
1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Little Grebes
5 Great Crested Grebes
15 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
2 Redpolls
25 Siskins
15 Pied Wagtails
2 Redwings
32 Fieldfares
5 Reed Buntings
13 Robins
18 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)