24 Dec 15

Priorslee Lake: 12:04 – 12:45
Location

Telford sunrise: not relevant

8.0°C > 6.0°C Clearing after rain and gales; passing showers. Fresh / strong WSW wind. Very good visibility.

Wishing all our readers a Happy Festive Season and all the best for 2016

With rain and gales early I decided against the usual dawn start. Later to The Flash and then viewing the lake from the dam only with only the birds on the water logged.

Was rewarded with my first Reed Bunting of 2015 at The Flash! The half-dozen or so that roost at the lake must go somewhere (though they seem to be flying off SE from there and hence away from The Flash)

(160th visit of the year)

Notes
- the large gulls mainly arrived and after a quick wash departed

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 13 (8♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 13 (11♂) Pochard
- 82 (45♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 12 Great Crested Grebes again
- 29 Moorhens
- 197 Coots
- 71 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 14 Herring Gulls
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull again

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 11:28 – 11:59
Location

(109th visit of the year)

Notes
- Goosanders again: strange that so far this winter drakes have been (almost) as numerous as brownheads. Since they first started using this site in winter, about 6 years ago, there has usually be a significant preponderance of brownheads (females / immatures). Does this mean they did not have a good breeding season in 2015 and there are few immatures?
- Kingfisher yet again
- the Reed Bunting as highlighted

Birds noted flying over
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 42 (26♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 38 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 (4♂) Goosander
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- 19 Black-headed Gulls

A Christmas Eve rainbow over The Flash. The low winter sun means big rainbows even in the middle of the day.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Report Here
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
7 Pochard 
34 Tufted Ducks 
204 Coots counted 
123 Black-headed Gulls
16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
22 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

 The Flash
2 Grey Herons
126 Canada Geese
110 Tufted Ducks 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
3 Great Crested Grebes 
2 Shoveler 
71 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
125 Coots
>40 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

 Trench Middle Pool
1 Tufted Duck 
19 Goosander 
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
13 Pochard
35 Tufted Ducks
178 Coots
Peregrine
14 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

 The Flash
1 Pochard
38 Tufted Duck
5 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

 Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes 
10 Swans
28 Pochard 
77 Tufted Ducks
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
60 Herring Gulls
1 Water Rail heard 
299 Coots counted 
4 Redwings 
2 Willow Tits again 
c.5 Goldfinches
c.10 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Dawn Balmer/ Peter Wilson)

2006
Priorslee lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
41 Pochard
38 Tufted Ducks
8 Redwing
2 Fieldfare
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)