26 Feb 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:15 – 09:25

Location

Telford sunrise: 07:03

c.2.0°C. Bank of cloud to the NE moving away, otherwise watery sunshine through high overcast. Light ESE wind. Very good visibility but rather hazy

(27th visit of the year)

A very quiet morning but there is always something. The star of the morning was the Hare flushed – not saying where as I know there is illegal hare coursing in the area

My first Raven here this year flew over

Also my first record here this year of a singing Yellowhammer – from the fields the other side of Castle Farm Way. I had my suspicion on Tuesday but the traffic noise drowned any repeat performance. Later when I went across the road I found at least two singing birds but they were very mobile so would have been only occasionally audible from the lake area

Notes

- a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming away again

- just 2 singing Song Thrushes this morning

- in addition to the Redwings overhead there were 3 seen in the trees

- confirmed that there are 3 different singing Mistle Thrushes in the area: one of these was seen to carry on singing even as it flew

- the 2 Reed Buntings that have been singing recently were singing again; another bird flew high W over the lake

also

- my first March Moth for three years on one of the lamps

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)

- 4 Canada Geese (1 group)

- 6 Black-headed Gulls

- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 1 Herring Gull yet again

- 11 Jackdaws

- 13 Rooks

- 1 Raven

- 1 Starling

- 3 Redwings

- 12 Greenfinches

- 6 Goldfinches

- 1 Siskin

- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area

- 2 Mute Swans

- 5 (3♂) Gadwall

- 4 (2♂) Mallard

- 3 (3♂) Pochard

- 10 (7♂) Tufted Ducks

- 1 Cormorant

- 1 Grey Heron

- 15 Great Crested Grebes

- 18 Moorhens

- 68 Coots again

- 28 Black-headed Gulls again

- 5 Herring Gulls

this morning’s rather watery sunrise.

The best I could do capturing the rather strange propulsion of Great Crested Grebes. Because their legs are positioned so far back it is a furious paddle with wings, and surprisingly white wings, flailing. Look like hard work.

This Robin is another poser.

A March Moth.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane: 08:15 – 08:40

Location

Equally quiet but notable

- no parties of Wood Pigeons seen over the area while at the lake and very few in fields / trees when I ventured here

- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming here as well as at the lake

- 1 Song Thrush only singing here – I would have expected at least 3

- 1 Sky Lark eventually burst in to song (and was later audible from the lake)

- 2 different Yellowhammers in song, but as noted above, very mobile and singing from many different song-posts

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2009,  2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes 
3 Cormorants 
1 Grey Heron 
8 Pochard 
4 Tufted Duck 
164 Black-headed Gulls
78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
 >250 Rooks
20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe 
185 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
2 Iceland Gulls
3 Caspian Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes 
33 Wigeon 
1 Common Teal 
4 Gadwall 
33 Tufted Ducks 
89 Coots 
c.650 Black-headed Gulls
c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
41 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
9 Pochard 
89 Tufted Duck 
1 Greater Scaup
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes 
18 Swans 
4 Gadwall
35 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
96 Coots 
c.650 Black-headed Gulls 
c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 
12 Herring Gulls 
1 other 'strange gull'!
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
2 Curlew
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Sky Larks
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Cormorant
2 Gadwall
6 Pochard
45 Tufted Ducks
96 Coots
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
274 Wood Pigeon
135 Jackdaws
111 Rooks
78 Starlings
45 Pied Wagtails
20 Robins
17 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
20 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)