10 Feb 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:45
Location

c.4.0°C. Broken cloud, clearing for a while. Moderate WNW wind. Good visibility

First Goosander for me at the lake this year: a pair dropped in very briefly

(17th visit of the year)

Other notes
- 3 Cormorants flew over early and seemed to be different from the 3 that visited later
- 2 Little Grebes today were calling noisily and chasing around: now well in to breeding plumage
- 21 of the Moorhens were together on the SW grass early – a new record number there. Dispersed widely at the W end later (fewer at the E end today)
- tight party of c.250 Jackdaws low across lake at 07:15 just as I arrived. The rest of the birds were mostly in two well-separated passages comprising scattered groups flying high and mixed in with most of the Rooks
- Willow Tit heard calling for the 2nd consecutive day. Seen as well today, but just 1 bird
- excellent view (but sadly not quick enough to photo) a Tree Creeper this morning. Not new for the year list, but previously heard only
- the single Starling was seen leaving a roost in the NW reed bed. Another lone bird over later
- 3 Redwings in the trees by the Teece Drive gate later

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 (1♂) Mallard again
- 3 Cormorants
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- c.500 Jackdaws
- 53 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 5 Fieldfare
- 5 Greenfinches
- 3 Goldfinches
- 2 Siskins again

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
Magpies no longer counted: many leave before I arrive
- 1 Starling

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Canada Goose
- 7 (4♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 18 (16♂) Pochard
- 21 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 3 Cormorants (as well as the 3 over)
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Little Grebes
- 14 Great Crested Grebes
- 25 Moorhens
- 90 Coots
- 20 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

the start of a better sunrise over the lake this morning

about as good as it got

(Ed Wilson)

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Newport
Location

Went out on the bike later and near Newport managed this rather good shot of a Kestrel
Kestrel in hover mode

 (Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1st-winter female Velvet Scoter
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Priorslee Lake
27 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
11 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
118 Coot
(Tony Beckett)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
2 Iceland Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Common Gull
1 Peregrine
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant and Roger Clay )

 Telford
1 Waxwing
(Mike Shurmer)  

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Goosander
1 Snipe
10 Pochard
39 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
25+ Siskins
(Ed Wilson and Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
148 Coots
2 Water Rails
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
385 Wood Pigeon
473 Jackdaws
394 Rooks
12 Robins
18 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
13 Greenfinches
53 Siskin
5 Redpolls
14 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)