20 Dec 15

Priorslee Lake: 06:48 – 09:40
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:18 again

8.5°C > 10.0°C. Some clear spells and some cloud with a few spots of rain; light / moderate SW wind. Good visibility

(156th visit of the year)

Notes
- the geese were, for the first time for ages, flying close-enough to be heard – and indeed 26 Canadas dropped in for a while
- a drake Teal was new in
- since yesterday 3 of the Gadwall ducks seem to have left
- Willow Tit both calling and in song in NE area in group of tits moving W; probably the same bird singing and then seen near the Teece Drive gate later
- 3 groups of Starlings left from very different points this morning
- 4 of the 7 Song Thrushes were singing this morning
- visited the usual Redwing roost site and heard just 1 bird as it left! All the others left from elsewhere around the lake
- Mistle Thrush heard singing from two different locations but suspect the same bird involved (and the same as heard from The Flash later)
- a few Pied Wagtails have started to use the Academy building and car park for hunting
- the Cetti’s Warbler sang once in the NE corner; later I heard a single call at the E end of the N side
- 2 Redpolls flew out of the trees in SW area
and
- still no moths on the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 12 Canada Geese
- 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 79 Wood Pigeons (2 parties)
- c.275 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 3 Greenfinches
- 14 Goldfinches

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 45 Magpies (incomplete count)
- 38 Starlings (3 groups)
- 6 Redwings
- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 26 Canada Geese
- 8 (6♂) Gadwall
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- 9 (5♂) Mallard
- 12 (10♂) Pochard
- 61 (40♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 12 Great Crested Grebes
- 22 Moorhens
- 205 Coots
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls

Not a bad start to the day

Can you just about make out the bird at the back is a drake Teal? Yes - then have 10 points with this barely adequate record shot.

This is a Grey Wagtail. Males do not have a black throat at this time of year. Here the throat is quite white and the breast rather yellow suggesting this is an older bird.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:42 – 10:08
Location

(107th visit of the year)

Notes
- a few more geese today, but last winter’s large numbers show no sign of being repeated
- the over flying Fieldfare were a late addition to my site year-list
- a distant Mistle Thrush in song – probably the same as heard at the lake

Birds noted flying over
- 2 Fieldfare

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 9 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 31 (20♂) Mallard
- 37 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 16 Coots
- 33 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this day in 2006, 2009,  2010, 2013 and 2014

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Report Here
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
2 Teal 
6 Pochard 
94 Tufted Ducks 
10 Goosander
1 Water Rail
229 Coots
2 Fieldfare
85 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe 
151 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Little Grebe 
1 Shoveler 
1 Pochard 
95 Tufted Duck 
133 Coots 
54 Black-headed Gulls
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
7 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
Iceland Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2010

Priorslee Lake
1 Mallard x Pintail
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
110 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gulls
1 Redwing
4 Fieldfare
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake

Little Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Water Rail
>3000 Black-headed Gulls
28 Swans
2 Gadwall
52 Pochard
112 Tufted Ducks
287 Coots
10 Redwings 
199 Jackdaws
6 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee lake
31 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
c.400 Black-headed Gulls
c.2800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
18 Pied Wagtails
2 Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)