Location
Telford sunrise: 07:31
c.2.0°C. Rather thick high overcast, scattered below. Moderate E wind. Moderate visibility becoming good
(20th visit of the year)
Best record today was my first Kestrel at this site this year: one hovering over the fields to the E – fields that, sadly, have planning permission for yet more housing
Other notes
- a small goose in one of the departing pre-dawn groups was likely the small race / species Lesser / Cackling Goose
- a pair of Goosander flew low over and headed off E, unusually
- 3 Grey Herons present for a short while, but mostly just one
- of the c.200 Wood Pigeons logged over 90 of these were put up from trees to the SE of the lake; 113 were counted in 4 groups that seemed on a more determined movement
- although I am arriving too late to see all the Magpies leave their roost, I did see 46 birds leave almost together as I was approaching my usual watch spot. At least another 11 were still around the roost trees
- Willow Tit again, but only calls – no song today
- the overhead Pied Wagtail was my first for a week
- >35 Greenfinches logged this morning. There are small roosts in the Ricoh hedge; in the hedge to the W of the new Academy; and in the trees on the edge of estate. Birds call from deep in cover for many minutes before flying off, often very high. Some birds stay around for a long while. So separating over-flights from local birds is rather problematic
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 28 Greylag Geese (2 groups)
- 29 Canada Geese (5 groups)
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose sp.
- 2 (1♂) Goosanders
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove again
- c.200 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- c.360 Jackdaws
- 73 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 14 Greenfinches (but see notes)
- 9 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- none counted but see notes re Magpies and Greenfinches
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 16 (14♂) Pochard
- 14 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Cormorants
- 3 Grey Herons
- 14 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail again
- 17 Moorhens
- 69 Coots again
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
This Black-headed Gull is almost in full summer plumage – just a small white spot mars the chocolate hood and the white ‘eye-lids’ are perhaps not as prominent as they will become.
The two adult Great Crested Grebes in the centre of the frame have just finished their head-shaking display and are separating. Both seem to be waving a leg in the air – not something I had noted previously. An immature – I guess a 1st winter – looks on.
Two pairs of Gadwall at the lake this morning. Numbers vary from day to day: have been as many as 15. Have never stayed to breed as yet.
I know: you have seen drake Gadwall before. I don’t care – they are still very special.
This is a different drake – look at the mark on the bill. No idea what that is all about.
(Ed Wilson)
Telford sunrise: 07:31
c.2.0°C. Rather thick high overcast, scattered below. Moderate E wind. Moderate visibility becoming good
(20th visit of the year)
Best record today was my first Kestrel at this site this year: one hovering over the fields to the E – fields that, sadly, have planning permission for yet more housing
Other notes
- a small goose in one of the departing pre-dawn groups was likely the small race / species Lesser / Cackling Goose
- a pair of Goosander flew low over and headed off E, unusually
- 3 Grey Herons present for a short while, but mostly just one
- of the c.200 Wood Pigeons logged over 90 of these were put up from trees to the SE of the lake; 113 were counted in 4 groups that seemed on a more determined movement
- although I am arriving too late to see all the Magpies leave their roost, I did see 46 birds leave almost together as I was approaching my usual watch spot. At least another 11 were still around the roost trees
- Willow Tit again, but only calls – no song today
- the overhead Pied Wagtail was my first for a week
- >35 Greenfinches logged this morning. There are small roosts in the Ricoh hedge; in the hedge to the W of the new Academy; and in the trees on the edge of estate. Birds call from deep in cover for many minutes before flying off, often very high. Some birds stay around for a long while. So separating over-flights from local birds is rather problematic
Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 28 Greylag Geese (2 groups)
- 29 Canada Geese (5 groups)
- 1 Lesser Canada Goose sp.
- 2 (1♂) Goosanders
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove again
- c.200 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- c.360 Jackdaws
- 73 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 14 Greenfinches (but see notes)
- 9 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- none counted but see notes re Magpies and Greenfinches
The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 16 (14♂) Pochard
- 14 (6♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Cormorants
- 3 Grey Herons
- 14 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail again
- 17 Moorhens
- 69 Coots again
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
Just in case the duck Gadwall feels left out.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 10:15
Location
The pair of resident Mute Swans have another pair to contend with. More on Readers Corner Here.
(Ann Dewhurst)
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On this day in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Candles landfill / Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
3 Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gull
Herring x Lesser Black-backed gull hybrid
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1000+ large gulls
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
39 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
173 Coots
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Geoff Holmes)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Pink-footed Geese
c.70 Golden Plover
80 Fieldfares
10 Great Crested Grebes
10 Pink-footed Geese
10 Pochard
38 Tufted Ducks
151 Coots
1 Water Rail
1065 Wood Pigeons
273 Jackdaws
186 Rooks
400 Starling
27 Robins
23 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
11 Greenfinches
48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
10 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson).
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
(Observer Unknown)
2013
Candles landfill / Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
3 Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gull
Herring x Lesser Black-backed gull hybrid
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
1000+ large gulls
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
39 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
173 Coots
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Geoff Holmes)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Pink-footed Geese
c.70 Golden Plover
80 Fieldfares
10 Great Crested Grebes
10 Pink-footed Geese
10 Pochard
38 Tufted Ducks
151 Coots
1 Water Rail
1065 Wood Pigeons
273 Jackdaws
186 Rooks
400 Starling
27 Robins
23 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
11 Greenfinches
48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
10 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson).