22 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 13:26 – 13:56
Location

Telford sunrise: not relevant

9.0°C > 11.0°C. Cleared after morning rain and mostly sunny; moderate / fresh W wind; good visibility

Another early afternoon sortie after wind and rain suggested an early visit would not be rewarding

(8th visit of the year)

Notes
- the Wigeon were new in and my first here this year
- after yesterday’s very low count of Moorhens with the ice all gone the Moorhens were visible in force again
- all the large gulls and many of the Black-headed Gulls flew off while I was present

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (5♂) Gadwall
- 4 (2♂) Wigeon
- 8 (4♂) Mallard
- 19 (17♂) Pochard
- 37 (19♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Little Grebes
- 18 Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Moorhens
- 109 Coots
- 128 Black-headed Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 12:47 – 13:21
Location

(6th visit of the year)

Other notes
- geese remain in low number: the three Canada Geese all seem to be non-flying birds. I wonder whether erecting the fences to limit the area that can be trampled by the geese has made the location less attractive and they have gone elsewhere (but where)?
- Tufted Duck numbers well down: suspect that the water mostly iced over in the last few days forcing them to leave
- ice may have been the reason no Great Crested Grebes were logged, though these can do a good job of hiding when they have finished breakfast
- is it always the same adult Lesser Black-backed Gull here? and if so why?
- a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Song Thrush were both new for the site-list this year

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 39 (23♂) Mallard
- 23 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 37 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)      

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On this day in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Pochard
106 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
106 Coots
c.260 Black-headed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
204 Redwing
c.250 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes 
32 Wigeon 
6 Gadwall 
25 Pochard 
105 Tufted Ducks
166 Coot
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>450 Herring Gulls
13 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
28 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
31 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gulls
20 Robins
23 Blackbirds
19 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
3 Jays
31 Magpies
183 Jackdaws
159 Rooks
7 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)