20 Feb 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:30
Location

Telford sunrise: 07:16

c.8.0°C. Broken medium / high level cloud filled and some lower cloud later. Moderate / fresh W wind. Very good visibility, especially early

(23rd visit of the year)

Two things to highlight, both of which require follow-up
- a Cetti’s Warbler was heard in song, just once. The far-carrying song was hard to locate with much road-noise from the M54 and the fresh breeze, but seemed to come from the area at the S end of the dam – but here there seems to be rather little suitable habitat
- what seemed to be at least 18 Linnets left the trees between the estate and the school playing field. As it usually Green- and Gold- Finches that leave a roost here then I would have liked to have seen them rather better to avoid problems with my ‘ears being on wrong’ this morning. They certainly looked small for Greenfinches

Other notes
- 2 Swans flew low W to the N of the lake: a (near?) adult with a 1st winter so different from yesterday’s two birds
- 3 brownhead Goosanders flew W and seen descending towards The Flash
- >100 Wood Pigeons over field / trees to E of Castle Farm. Three more small groups totalling c.25 birds seen flying E seemed to be ‘on the move’ rather than local birds
- 2 Kingfishers today, making a lot of noise
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming this morning – first for me this year

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 5 Greylag Geese (2 groups)
- 18 Canada Geese (5 groups)
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- >125 Wood Pigeons
- 74 Jackdaws
- 26 Rooks
- 4 Starlings
- 1 Redwing again
- 4 Greenfinches
- 11 Goldfinches
- 4 Siskins

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese again
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 13 (11♂) Pochard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe heard
- 17 Great Crested Grebes
- 18 Moorhens
- 63 Coots
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

This adult Herring Gull is a rather sad case. Most obvious is the dangling left leg – a not uncommon sight and often will heal naturally. This bird also shows a rather swollen breast which may just be due to a recent large meal but at 08:00 seems more likely to be due to botulism or some such parasite. At a date when many of its congeners are rapidly acquiring summer plumage this bird still retains winter plumage, especially around the eye and seem likely to be in poor condition. It was the only large gull to visit the lake before I left and while it flew off strongly-enough it spent the time sitting in sheltered water.

5 of the Great Crested Grebes at rest on the water. Note that birds 1 and 4, counting from the left, show little sign of head plumes and are likely 1st winter birds (3 Black-headed Gulls in the foreground; and a Coot against the reeds at the back).

So what is this bird then? Not much to go on here with some brown tones in the upper tail the only real clue – but how often do you look at these? Head shape? You will have no trouble when it turns around!

told you.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
5 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
13 Redwings
227 Jackdaws
172 Rooks
Meadow Pipit
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Pochard
174 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
29 Wigeon
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves, John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
2 Goosander
Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Kumlien's Gull
(Peter Wilson/Dawn Balmer )

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Pochard
13 Tufted Ducks
1 Curlew
c.620 Black-headed Gulls
68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
146 Wood Pigeons
34 Robins
18 Blackbirds
15 Song Thrushes
8 Redwings
193 Jackdaws
101 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
122 Coots
963 Wood Pigeons
17 Pied Wagtails
14 Greenfinches
62 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)