18 Dec 15

Priorslee Lake: 06:57 – 09:34
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:17

9.5°C > 10.5°C. Broken high cloud with some low patches. Light / moderate SW wind. Very good visibility

(154th visit of the year)

Not much reward for a trudge around in the cold and wet. A Woodcock returning to roost was about the only notable sighting

Notes
- the Canada Geese stayed on the lake all the while I was present. The Swans were unperturbed
- drake Goosander flew low over the lake but headed off SE
- low numbers of gulls, particularly large gulls, continues
- single large party of c.100 Wood Pigeons logged flying NW. Apart from these just 9 Wood Pigeons noted
- 2 Kingfishers chasing
- the Magpie roost has moved slightly since the previous winters with birds emerging in two different locations. It is almost impossible to see all birds when they leave away from me out of both locations simultaneously
- all 7 Ravens were in a single loose group
- Cetti’s Warbler very vocal and singing at the W end before moving to the NW reeds and then only intermittently calling
- 4 Song Thrushes singing this morning
- 5 Starlings left a roost in the NE area. It was >10 minutes later before the birds in the NW reeds left. They did so in at least 6 small groups. They left low over the water before hedge-hopping away and counts were very approximate
and
- no moths on the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Stock Dove
- c.100 Wood Pigeons (1 party)
- c.580 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 7 Ravens
- 5 Pied Wagtails
- 13 Fieldfare (2 parties)
- 1 Redwing
- 2 Greenfinches
- 2 Siskins

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 68 Magpies
- >75 Starlings (about 6 groups)
- 3 Redwings
- 6 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese (throughout)
- 9 (5♂) Gadwall again
- 12 (6♂) Mallard
- 11 (9♂) Pochard
- 48 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe
- 12 Great Crested Grebes
- 32 Moorhens
- 237 Coots
- c.125 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

A great sunrise this morning. Red sky means wind and rain: that will make a change!

Another, slightly later, view.

Not much light and so not a good shot, but enough to record the fly-over drake Goosander.

Mistle Thrush: identify here from the rather small head and the spotting – rather more sparse compared with Song Thrush. The similar-sized Fieldfare would show a grey head.

These sprites are rarely still long-enough to photo except when they are singing in Spring, so I was pleased with this in the poor winter light.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:36 – 10:21

(106th visit of the year)

Notes
The large hedge alongside the footpath in the NW area has been cut right back. Not sure why – too hard to trim? Anyway if they were going to do it this is the right time of year
- all the cygnets have now gone
- Kingfisher yet again

Birds noted flying over
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 5 Canada Geese again
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 40 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- 28 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2014
Trench Lock and Priorslee Flash
Today's Report Here
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
7 Pochard
48 Tufted Ducks 
233 Coots
324 Black-headed Gulls
19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
11 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
6 Fieldfare
151 Redwings
284 Jackdaws
156 Rooks
4 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2012

Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe.
4 Gadwall.
12 Pochard.
43 Tufted Ducks.
182 Coots
189 Wood Pigeons
20 Redwings
184 Jackdaws
3 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake

1 Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
29 Swans
42 Pochard
2 Water Rails
c.900 Black-headed Gulls
c.2200 large gulls
127 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Redwings
2 Fieldfare
16 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee lake
3 Gadwall
13 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

2005
Priorslee Lake
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
c.200 Lesser Black-backs
20 Pochard
58 Tufted Duck
A drake Wigeon
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Dabchick
c.200 Coot
2 Water Rail
202 Rooks
247 Jackdaws
11 Pied Wagtails
23 Siskin
5 Redpoll
19 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)