The Flash: 07:10 – 07:20
7°C > 8°C: Broken cloud and light drizzly rain gradually cleared after 09:00. Moderate WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 08:20 GMT: at last – earlier sunrise!
(not recorded as a formal visit)
Passing while still dark
- >190 geese on the water: again all seemed to be Canada Geese and no Greylag Geese were heard.
Priorslee Lake: 07:25 – 09:20
(3rd visit of the year)
No Magpie roost count today – went to the other end to check out the area traditionally used as a Redwing roost: just 1 bird here
Two new species for my 2017 list here
- 2 Greylag Geese flew E pre-dawn
- 1 Reed Bunting calling in the N side reeds
Other notes from today
- many different sighting of Goosanders: a pair flew in at 08:02 and were diving at the W end for at least 5 minutes – did not see them leave; 2 brownheads flew W; some 10 minutes later 4 brownheads flew E; then a pair flew E
- two large parties of Jackdaws: c.110 in first group; c.300 in next group; and then just 14 more as singles / small groups. Did not seem to be any Rooks in these large groups, just a few singles later
- >40 finches flew N across the E end (while I was at the W end, natch) and could not positively ID them but suspect Goldfinches
and
- 2 moths: a male and a female Mottled Umber on different lamps
- a spider sp. on another lamp, perhaps Pirate Spider (Ero cambridgei)
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 8 (1♂) Goosander
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- >400 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Goldfinches
- 13 Siskins
- 4 Linnets
- c.40 unidentified finches
Roost counts
- 1 Redwing (see notes)
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall remain
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 28 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail (heard only)
- 11 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
This seems to be a female Mottled Umber moth. The vestigial wings seem rather large for this species and are more the size of Scarce Umber: however this latter species should no longer be active. The wings could also match Winter Moth but that would show spurs on its legs.
My first spider of the year: from the web this may be a so-called Pirate Spider (Ero cambridgei) though the web suggests this is not active until ‘Spring’ (I like the idea of using the web to identify spiders!)
Trench Lock Pool: 09:55 – 10:40
(1st visit of the year)
Other notes
- some of the Canada Geese flew in and some others flew on, presumably to Middle Pool
- 4 drake Shoveler again with at least one of these a different bird as it had still to acquire full adult plumage; 2 apparent ducks had joined these – a bit far to positively exclude 1st winter drakes
- many more Tufted Ducks: numbers may be under-recorded as these were in several large groups that were both moving around and continually diving
- yet another dire count of gulls
Birds noted flying over
- 18 Canada Geese
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 88 Canada Geese
- 32 (24♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Shoveler
- 74 (36♂) Tufted Ducks
- 5 (3♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Cormorants
- 4 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
Trench Middle Pool: 10:45 – 11:00
(1st visit of the year)
Notes
- no idea where all the strange ‘feral’ Mallard have gone: there were c.12 here this time last year and today I could find none
- big reduction in Tufted Duck numbers – gone to Trench Lock?
- another high number of Goosanders: no adult drakes (several of these brownheads looked like they could have been moulting in to drake plumage)
The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan
- 36 Canada Goose
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 13 (0♂) Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 64 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
(Ed Wilson)
7°C > 8°C: Broken cloud and light drizzly rain gradually cleared after 09:00. Moderate WNW wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 08:20 GMT: at last – earlier sunrise!
(not recorded as a formal visit)
Passing while still dark
- >190 geese on the water: again all seemed to be Canada Geese and no Greylag Geese were heard.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Lake: 07:25 – 09:20
(3rd visit of the year)
No Magpie roost count today – went to the other end to check out the area traditionally used as a Redwing roost: just 1 bird here
Two new species for my 2017 list here
- 2 Greylag Geese flew E pre-dawn
- 1 Reed Bunting calling in the N side reeds
Other notes from today
- many different sighting of Goosanders: a pair flew in at 08:02 and were diving at the W end for at least 5 minutes – did not see them leave; 2 brownheads flew W; some 10 minutes later 4 brownheads flew E; then a pair flew E
- two large parties of Jackdaws: c.110 in first group; c.300 in next group; and then just 14 more as singles / small groups. Did not seem to be any Rooks in these large groups, just a few singles later
- >40 finches flew N across the E end (while I was at the W end, natch) and could not positively ID them but suspect Goldfinches
and
- 2 moths: a male and a female Mottled Umber on different lamps
- a spider sp. on another lamp, perhaps Pirate Spider (Ero cambridgei)
Birds noted flying over the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 8 (1♂) Goosander
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- >400 Jackdaws
- 4 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Goldfinches
- 13 Siskins
- 4 Linnets
- c.40 unidentified finches
Roost counts
- 1 Redwing (see notes)
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall remain
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 28 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail (heard only)
- 11 Moorhens
- 43 Coots
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
First photo for the year: one of the less well-marked male Mottled Umber moths on one of the lamps.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 09:55 – 10:40
(1st visit of the year)
Other notes
- some of the Canada Geese flew in and some others flew on, presumably to Middle Pool
- 4 drake Shoveler again with at least one of these a different bird as it had still to acquire full adult plumage; 2 apparent ducks had joined these – a bit far to positively exclude 1st winter drakes
- many more Tufted Ducks: numbers may be under-recorded as these were in several large groups that were both moving around and continually diving
- yet another dire count of gulls
Birds noted flying over
- 18 Canada Geese
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 88 Canada Geese
- 32 (24♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Shoveler
- 74 (36♂) Tufted Ducks
- 5 (3♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Cormorants
- 4 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Middle Pool: 10:45 – 11:00
(1st visit of the year)
Notes
- no idea where all the strange ‘feral’ Mallard have gone: there were c.12 here this time last year and today I could find none
- big reduction in Tufted Duck numbers – gone to Trench Lock?
- another high number of Goosanders: no adult drakes (several of these brownheads looked like they could have been moulting in to drake plumage)
The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan
- 36 Canada Goose
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 13 (0♂) Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 64 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in ...........
2014Priorslee Lake
Two 1st winter female Scaup
(Tom Lowe)
Horsehay Pool
Kittiwake
(Jim Almond)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Flash
Drake Scaup
(J Reeves)
Trench Middle Pool
22 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)
2012
Priorslee Lake
96 Greylags Geese
20 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
86 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
54 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
27 Great Black-backed Gulls
Peregrine
204 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
Trench Pool
2 Little Grebes
215 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
219 Black-headed Gulls
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Holmer Lake
46 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
44 Mute Swans
2 Gadwall
47 Pochard
117 Tufted Duck
2 adult Common Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.3400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.250 Herring Gulls
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Water Rail
324 Coots
17 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson/Jason)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Great Crested Grebes
10 Mute Swans
1 drake Shoveler
11 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
122 Coots
34 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Paul King)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
26 Pochard
106 Tufted Ducks
4 Water Rails
100 Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
>7 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
>481 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
14 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfares
67 Redwings
222 Jackdaws
3 Reed Buntings;
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
22 Pochard
43 Tufted Duck
c.3000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.2000 Black-headed Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
131 Herring Gull
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
66 Siskins
14 Robins
15 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
(Tom Lowe)
Horsehay Pool
Kittiwake
(Jim Almond)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Flash
Drake Scaup
(J Reeves)
Trench Middle Pool
22 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)
2012
Priorslee Lake
96 Greylags Geese
20 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
86 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
54 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
27 Great Black-backed Gulls
Peregrine
204 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
Trench Pool
2 Little Grebes
215 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
219 Black-headed Gulls
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Holmer Lake
46 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
44 Mute Swans
2 Gadwall
47 Pochard
117 Tufted Duck
2 adult Common Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.3400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.250 Herring Gulls
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Water Rail
324 Coots
17 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson/Jason)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Great Crested Grebes
10 Mute Swans
1 drake Shoveler
11 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
122 Coots
34 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Paul King)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
26 Pochard
106 Tufted Ducks
4 Water Rails
100 Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
>7 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
>481 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
14 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfares
67 Redwings
222 Jackdaws
3 Reed Buntings;
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
22 Pochard
43 Tufted Duck
c.3000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.2000 Black-headed Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
131 Herring Gull
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
66 Siskins
14 Robins
15 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)