21 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake:  06:57 – 09:36
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:08

-1.0°C > 1.5°C. clouded after a frosty night; light / moderate SE wind; moderate visibility

(7th visit of the year)

About 80% ice with open water only in NE area

Best here were 3 Redpolls feeding on dead seed-heads along the S side of the lake. A new species for me this year

Other notes
- all the waterbirds were concentrated in the NE area. A significant increase in the number of Mallard and a small decrease in the number of Great Crested Grebes. Otherwise numbers were remarkably unchanged. Not clear where all the Moorhens go when the edges are iced-up
- the Stock Doves overhead were also new for me this year
- now several bird-scarers in operation in the fields to the E and this no doubt the reason why no Woodpigeons overhead
- the lower number of Jackdaws not directly attributable to the only moderate visibility – and there were more Rooks than I have noted for many weeks
- just one lone Starling over and none noted leaving roosts
- the Redwing roost was slightly busier

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 8 Canada Geese
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 4 Stock Doves
- 280 Jackdaws
- 46 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 9 Greenfinches
- 2 Siskin

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 65 Magpies
- 21 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (6♂) Gadwall
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- 25 (14♂) Mallard
- 19 (17♂) Pochard
- 45 (22♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 16 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens only
- 130 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls

The second clear frosty night had iced over most of the lake but by 07:00 this morning it had clouded up. The ice remained, here showing the view of the NW end.

One of the 3 Redpolls that were feeding on these seed-heads along the S side of the frozen lake.

A view of one of the other Redpolls.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:45 – 10:25
Location

(2nd visit of the year)

About 60% iced over

Notes
- significant increase in number of Mallard but no other dabbling ducks
- the lone Goosander was a drake today
- the 2 Little Grebes were new for the year hear
- a much better count of gulls here
- other species here not noted during previous visits this year were Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit

Birds noted flying over
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 29 Canada Geese
- 36 (4♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 61 (34♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 119 Coots
- 126 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 6 Herring Gulls

The only Goosander here today was a splendid drake

The adult Black-headed Gull in the centre of the photo is well-advanced in to breeding plumage with most of the black hood evident. The other birds are more typical of this date. The black hood is acquired very quickly once development starts.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
113 Coot
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
32 Wigeon 
8 Gadwall
1 Shoveler 
20 Pochard 
86 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
2 Goldeneye 
 >1000 Black-headed Gulls
c.250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
146 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
Woodcock
c.30 Fieldfare
(J Reeves, John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
133 Black-headed Gulls
37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
13 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
4 Pochard
63 Tufted Ducks
c.380 Black-headed Gulls
c.750 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
29 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Little Grebes
2 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
94 Coots
c.560 Black-headed Gulls
112 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
13 Cormorants
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
>270 Black-headed Gulls
223 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
53 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
25 Robins
20 Blackbirds
9 Redwings
30 Magpies
290 Jackdaws
160 Rooks
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
5 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
11 Tufted Ducks
149 Coot
1 Water Rail
312 Jackdaws
300 Wood Pigeons
2000 Starlings
17 Robins
26 Blackbirds
59 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)