31 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:00 – 09:25
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:20

0°C > 1°C: Frosty. A few areas of cloud; but mainly clear. Calm start; light SE wind later. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:04 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:00 – 09:25

(138th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Pheasant called from the Ricoh area: my first here since 28 May. He must know it is now the close season
- now 5 Little Grebes: may be my highest-ever count here
- a party of 14 Cormorants came from the W and circled once or twice. One of these broke away and landed, the others flew off NE
- >200 Golden Plover high over fields to far E again
- migrant Wood Pigeons again all flying N and / or NE
- low Jackdaw count likely due to calm / light SE wind. In these conditions dispersing birds fly very low over the fields to the E and are partially hidden from my view by the shrubs alongside Castle Farm Way
- this morning’s apparent roost dispersal of Reed Buntings took place very late and from a different location to yesterday. 3 birds left at 07:50 and 2 more at 08:10

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 13 Cormorants
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- >200 Golden Plover
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon again
- 1 Stock Dove (with migrant Wood Pigeons)
- 381 Wood Pigeons (288 migrants in 12 groups)
- 122 Jackdaws
- 11 Rooks
- 59 Starlings (2 groups)
- 11 Fieldfare (1 group)
- 5 Redwings (singles)
- 3 Pied Wagtails (1 group)
- 7 Siskins
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 5 Reed Buntings again

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall still
- 13 (10♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 106 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron once more
- 5 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- 2 Water Rails heard again
- 7 Moorhens
- 115 Coots
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 1 Autumnal-type moth (Epirrita sp.) on a lamp pole
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

The waning of the moon is captured here with the cross-lighting adding more detail to the surface features.

A good sunrise this morning.

And again.

Looking the other way from the dam there are some Autumn tints, accentuated here by the early light.

The frost always brings to life the pattern of mundane Bramble leaves.

The cygnets went for a fly-about again today, staying within the confines of the lake. Again one of them was less adventurous. Here the other two flare for landing feet-first.

Meanwhile a Cormorant lands tail first.

A drake Mallard fly-by.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:20

(110th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- just one cygnet again: I guess the others have perished?
- drake Pochard new in
- a few Tufted Duck back
- the Cormorant arrived while I was present: it did not stay long
- both Great Crested Grebes look like 1st year birds with no trace of head-plumes: both have lost any face-stripes
and
- c.10 wasps on the ivy. Although it was in full-sun the ivy was also facing the chilly SE breeze which likely kept insect numbers low

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Common Buzzard once more
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Skylark
- 1 Pied Wagtail

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- [no geese]
- 43 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1) Pochard
- 3 (2) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 10 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls

A typically angry-looking duck Tufted Duck – too close for all the bird to be in focus. Note the broad black tip to the bill: on the somewhat similar Scaup the black is very restricted.

This drake looks slightly less angry. Note the flanks are starting to get the gleaming white of breeding plumage. Also the ‘tuft’ is starting to appear, albeit rather wispy at this stage.

Here is another drake with the flanks rather whiter, though the tuft is still wispy. Note the undertail is white, even on this drake. Many filed guides suggest it is only ducks that show this feature.

The Cormorant in-bound here. An immature with the pale belly but not the bare skin at the base of the bill is yellow. Not all field guides indicate that immatures can show the yellow bare skin.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Candles Landfill Site
2nd winter Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gulls
Great Black-backed Gull
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Chiffchaff
Mistle Thrush
29 Fieldfares
32 Redwings
13 Siskins
3 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Shoveler
5 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2005
Trench Pool
2 Goosander
10 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)

30 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:10 – 09:25
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:00

0°C > 3°C: Spell of sleety rain until c.07:25 then cleared but still cloudy. Moderate NW wind. Moderate visibility in rain, otherwise very good

Sunrise: 07:02 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:10 – 09:25

(137th visit of the year)

Viewing conditions not as good as yesterday mid-morning. However there were clearly many fewer Tufted Ducks today even though a 100% accurate total was precluded by many birds flying about and others continually diving

Other bird notes:
- the cygnets made separate sorties without adult attendance all within the confines of the lake
- 4 duck Wigeon were birds I did not note yesterday
- one pair of Mallard was seen mating
- at least 4 Little Grebes – in three different locations, all visible at the same time
- a 1st winter Herring Gull dropped in for a wash and brush-up at dawn. Otherwise all the large gulls seen were Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Both visiting and over-flying birds were all singles, birds staying on the lake for only a few minutes
- the Wood Pigeons were almost un-migrating today with all the groups flying N and / or NE. I assume these birds had been on the Shropshire Hills when the sleety rain started and were moving towards clearer conditions they could see spreading from the NE
- first significant roost dispersal of Reed Buntings this winter: a group of 4 and a single bird later

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 179 Wood Pigeons (161 migrants? in 9 groups)
- 132 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 2 Ravens
- 20 Starlings (3 groups)
- 15 Fieldfare (4 groups)
- 108 Redwings (8 groups)
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 2 Chaffinches
- 5 Goldfinches
- 8 Siskins

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 24 Starlings (1 group)
- 2 Redwing at least (heard only)
- 5 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans again
- 4 (0♂) Wigeon
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall again
- 14 (10♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Pochard
- 107 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebes
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails heard
- 9 Moorhens
- 109 Coots
- 16 Black-headed Gulls only
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

And other notes
- my log today consisted of just
- 1 Grey Squirrel

I think this is a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus). There are several similar species and the best separation is the mark on the abdomen. Not much help when they are this way up.

If you were a prey item the last thing you might see is this. 

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:00

(109th visit of the year)

A party of 6 over-flying Redwings surprised me by being my first record from here this year. My 2018 site bird species total moves to 71

Apart from these very quiet again: where have all the birds gone?

Notes from here
- just one cygnet seen today. Meanwhile two adult Mute Swans, presumably the residents though the rings were not read, chasing another unringed adult around: to little effect
- all bar 2 of the Canada Geese left while I was present
and
- 1 presumed Garden Spider found on a lamp

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 1 Jackdaw
- 6 Redwings
- 10 Goldfinches

The counts from the water
- 3 + 1 Mute Swans
- 25 Canada Geese
- 40 (25♂) Mallard
- [no Tufted Ducks]
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens again
- 7 Coots
- 23 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2010
Priorslee Lake
10 Swans
c.60 Golden Plover
c.200 Starlings left a roost in the reeds at the W end
763 Wood Pigeons
3 Sky Larks
7 Meadow Pipits
165 Fieldfare
9 Redwings
4 Siskins
3 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
8 Wigeon
20 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Goosander
1 Teal
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
100 Jackdaw
130 Rooks
1 Buzzard
Kestrel
c.60 Golden Plover
(Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee Lake
450 to 500 Starlings left the roost
11 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
Pair of Ruddy Duck
200+ Coot
1 Dunlin
104 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
100 Black-headed Gulls
Kingfisher
A Buzzard was seen feeding on earthworms and possibly beetles
2000+ Wood Pigeon
62 Redwing
54 Fieldfare
3 Song Thrushes 
(Martin Adlam)

29 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake: 11:15 – 11:45
Trench Lock Pool: 11:55 – 12:20
Trench Middle Pool: 12:25 – 13:00

5°C > 7°C: Now clear after fog. Almost calm. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:00 GMT

The very foggy start suggested that an early visit would not be productive

Best sighting was a rather late Common Sandpiper on the mud at Trench Lock Pool. My latest-ever in Shropshire. Birds do over winter on the S coast most years but not usually inland

Priorslee Lake: 11:15 – 11:45

(136th visit of the year)

Bird notes
- the Swans all back from yesterday’s adventure
- even bigger count of Tufted Ducks
- the dire numbers of gulls continues

Just the counts from the lake area toady
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 168 (>58♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 3 Little Grebes
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 124 Coots
- 11 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 11:55 – 12:20

(17th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- the Shoveler were fast asleep in the middle: they looked like immature drakes in partial plumage
- the unexpected Common Sandpiper was my first of the year here and only my 3rd ever at this site, my last record being on 14 July 2015. It was also may latest date in the area
- very few gulls again. Once more 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls but today one of these was an immature. They both flew off
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers calling loudly and chasing in trees alongside The Blue Pig
- Grey Wagtail here again

Birds noted flying over / near here
[apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- 4 Buzzards circling in the distance

The counts from the water
- 14 Mute Swans
- 24 Canada Geese
- 5 (1♂) Teal
- 37 (22♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard as usual
- 3 (3?♂) Shoveler
- 18 (6♂)Tufted Ducks
- 6 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe
- 1 + 3 (1 brood?) Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 193 Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Very much a record shot of a rather distant Common Sandpiper. The bill is hard to see against the background. We can however see the white area up the shoulder that characterises this species. From the mottling on the back feathers I suspect this is a 1st winter bird.

Two of the three Shoveler that were asleep here. The rufous tones and the large pale-fringed flank feathers point to immature drake Shoveler. On the left-hand bird the shape of the head running in to the bill supports the species ID.

Here is the third bird. Note it too is showing a white eye. This is the nictitating membrane – a translucent third eyelid – that protects the eye and which they can see through well-enough when loafing on the water.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 12:25 – 13:00

(16th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- yet another high count of Goosanders: there cannot be many fish left! Two drakes in full breeding plumage today
- only 1 Great Crested Grebe found: surprisingly hard to find in amongst all the Goosanders
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Jackdaw

The counts from the water
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese still
- 25 Canada Geese
- 30 (22♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) ‘feral’ Mallard again
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 37 (>2♂) Goosander
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 10 Moorhens again
- 27 Coots
- 71 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

A whole gaggle (not the right collective noun I am sure) of Goosanders at Middle Pool today. With careful approach was able to get some decent shots despite the inherent wariness of these birds. Here is a duck. This bird shows extensive ‘crest’ on the nape [apparently the collective noun is ‘dopping’ – ‘a dopping of Goosanders’!].

And another.

A third duck having a preen.

A fourth stretching after its preen.

And yet another wing-flapping after its preen. At this time of year it is not easy to separate immature birds and ducks (females) – colloquially all ‘brownheads’. Here we see that the white goes only part way across the inner wing and the inner fore-wing is pale grey. Thus it is a duck. Even on an immature drake the white would cover the complete inner wing.

This drake Goosander is powering along looking for fish. Note the very bright feet.

And here he is almost in breeding plumage. Still a hint of brown in the head behind the eye and a couple of grey feathers along the flanks. The breast and belly will eventually acquire a pinkish tone, but not until the new year.

For direct comparison with the drake a duck swims by.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
7 Gadwall
1 Teal
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
Location
1 Pochard
1 Teal
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow legged Gull
2 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
1 Wigeon
Chiffchaff
10+ Fieldfare
Siskin
Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
Location
3 Pochard
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
34 Pochard a high count 
500+  Lesser Black-backed Gulls
432 Jackdaws
228 Rooks
171 Fieldfare
5 Redwings
2 Siskins
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
115 Canada Geese
9 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
1 Kestrel
c.200 Golden Plover
23 Pied Wagtails
17 Robins
18 Blackbirds
12 Song Thrushes
70 Redwing
1 Mistle Thrush
9 Fieldfare
1 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
1 Willow Tit
195 Jackdaws
206 Rooks
31 Greenfinches
4 Redpoll
10 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Buzzard feeding on earthworms, mobbed by Black-headed Gulls
1 Raven
7 Pied Wagtails
3 Grey Wagtail
11 Meadow Pipits
Kingfisher
1700+ Wood Pigeon
192 Redwing
111 Fieldfare
(Martin Adlam)

28 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 05:55 – 08:50
The Flash: 08:55 – 09:35

1°C > 3°C: Clear and frosty. Moderate / fresh NNW wind making it feel very chilly. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 06:58 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 05:55 – 08:50

(135th visit of the year)

A typically busy late October morning. Rather few Wood Pigeons seen over: perhaps partly explained by the very clear skies enabling them to fly too high to see easily

Bird notes:
- the Swans took off well before dawn and apart from a fly-by E->W at c.06:30 (I assume by the same birds) they had not returned by the time I left
- at least 19 Wigeon on the lake with at least 6 of these drakes. Hard to count or sex as they were all mixed in with many of the Tufted Ducks
- highest count of Tufted Ducks this year: possibly more as some groups were actively diving
- Tawny Owl calling by the Teece Drive gate again
- Peregrine again: seen very briefly today but impression was of a female on size: Friday’s was certainly a male
- big party of Golden Plover seen over fields far to the E: >200 birds when first seen. Later smaller groups assumed to be from the original party
- Starlings came from all different places around the lake and eventually were hard to separate from passing birds. They emerged over a protracted period
- most unusually at least 2 Fieldfare perched on Hawthorn bushes around the lake: these are usually open country birds
- in addition to the roosting and over-flying Redwings several of these birds also seen in Hawthorns

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine again!
- >200 Golden Plover
- 1 Lapwing
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 119 Wood Pigeons (64 migrants in 3 groups)
- 260 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 2 Skylarks
- 159 Starlings (11 groups)
- 69 Fieldfare (12 groups)
- 99 Redwings (14 groups)
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Chaffinch
- 6 Siskins
- 12 unidentified finches (3 groups)

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 104 Starlings (12 groups)
- 13 Redwing (at least 3 sites)

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 19 (>6♂) Wigeon
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 13 (9♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 111 (>43♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 11 Moorhens
- 105 Coots
- 47 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 1 spider sp (probably Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)) on a lamp pole

The moon has gone all wonky already.

There are 6 Wigeon and 6 Tufted Duck in this shot: not easy to separate. I reckon the Wigeon are, counting from the left #2, 3, 6, 8, 9 & 10 (at the back).

Not any easier the other side against the light: 2 Wigeon (3rd and 4th back on the left) and 4 Tufted Duck.

To confuse matters further a Coot gets in on the action. A Wigeon flapping showing the clean white belly.

How could I resist a poseur?

A Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis). The vernacular name arises from the tented web the female constructs when it is hatching time for the eggs that she has previously carried as a ball.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:55 – 09:35

(108th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- one cygnet was sitting down along with the standing cob (Yellow 52F) at the N end feeding on corn provided. Another cygnet was seen alongside Derwent Drive – a rather larger-looking bird and perhaps one from the lake (q.v.). So where was the other
- 3 Cormorants flew low W just as I arrived: they may just have lifted from the water behind the island
- at one point there was a great commotion with c.15 Magpies and c.6 Carrion Crows making a racket about something on the island. After several minutes they lost interest, quietened down and gradually flew away. Could not see anything untoward
and
- >25 wasps on the sheltered Ivy by Priorslee Academy. No hoverflies with them

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
- 9 Starlings

The counts from the water
- 1 + 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 Canada Geese
- 39 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 9 Coots
- 42 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2010
Priorslee Lake
c.75 Starlings left roost at W end
118 Wood Pigeons
2 Sky Larks
7 Meadow Pipits
478 Fieldfare
76 Redwings
9 Siskins
13 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorants
26 Pochard
47 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Water Rail
64 Coots
35 Fieldfares
3 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
4 Mistle Thrushes
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebes
Wigeon
Cormorant
300 Black-headed Gulls
40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.75 Lapwings
2 Fieldfares
1 duck Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
200 Coot
(Ed Wilson)

27 Oct 18

No Sightings in so far today..........

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On this day..........

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Adult Great Black-backed Gull
1000+ large gulls
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Great Black-backed Gull
11 Golden Plover
2 Kingfishers
16 Reed Buntings
5 Sky Larks
8 Meadow Pipits
71 Redwings
457 Fieldfare
31 Siskins
1 Linnet
4 Redpolls 
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
40 Tufted Duck
16 Pochard
2 Ruddy Duck
Common Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
c.2500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Kingfisher
2 Goldcrest
42 Fieldfare
Willow Tit
14 Long-tailed Tits
(Martin Adlam)

26 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake only

7°C > 9°C: Clearing after overnight rain. Light rain showers soon developed. Moderate NW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:55 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:35

(134th visit of the year)

Best bird this morning was the male Peregrine that shot SW low over the lake c.09:50. Only my second sighting here this year

Other bird notes:
- 4 Cormorants came from the E, circled several times but left back to the E: later a single flew S
- 2 Little Grebes seen lurking in different locations: but were they the same two?
- 2 Sparrowhawks seen over the NW area displaying and then diving in to the same area where I have suspected this species has bred for a number of years
- in addition to the 3 migrant parties of 89 Wood Pigeons another 92 flew over low W, mostly in two parties. These birds were flying too low for migrants and seemed likely to have been disturbed from trees / fields to the E. Meanwhile I found just 2 in the trees around the lake

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (?♂) Goosander
- 5 Cormorants
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves
- 187 Wood Pigeons (89 migrants in 3 groups)
- 296 Jackdaws
- 1 Skylark
- 6 Starlings (2 groups)
- 3 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Siskin
- 1 Lesser Redpoll again

Warblers seen / heard
None

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Redwing only

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 10 (8♂) Mallard again
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 92 (>33♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 or 4 Little Grebes (see notes)
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails heard
- 8 Moorhens
- 113 Coots
- 33 Black-headed Gulls

And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 3 Autumnal-type moth (Epirrita sp.) on lamp poles
- 1 harvestman sp (probably Paroligolophus agrestis) on a lamp pole
- 1 bumble bee sp. in flight
- 1 Grey Squirrel yet again

Sky cleared enough for me to get the shot of an almost full moon. This month it is Hunter’s Moon and was full on Wednesday at 16:45. From this shot you can see why early astronomers thought there were seas on the surface.

Clouds soon developed with light rain showers down the ‘Cheshire Gap’. With the low sun the rainbow was almost a complete arc and the autumn tones showed well.

A Jay lurking: never an easy species to see well.

Down the hatch: a male Blackbird swallows a Hawthorn berry. Note the pale fringes to the feathers of this bird: these will wear off during the winter to leave it a smart glossy black at the start of the breeding season.

The next to go!

This harvestman is almost certainly Paroligolophus agrestis with rather shorter legs than on many species – especially the front pair; and with the legs noticeably thicker on the basal half.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Ducks
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2005
Priorslee Lake
16 Pochard
41 Tufted Duck
212 Coot
778 Fieldfare
199 Redwings
800 Wood Pigeons
Chiffchaff
Possible Firecrest
3 Siskin
18 Redpoll
275 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)

25 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:35
The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15

8°C > 9°C: Overcast with a hint of drizzle in the air at times. Light WNW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:53 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:35

(133rd visit of the year)

A council notice had gone up in Teece Drive announcing the adoption of that part of Teece Drive past the school as a council-maintained highway. I assume this is a formality as the road signs and markings were all done by the council and last winter the road was gritted by the highways people. The map for some reason omits the last 50’ or so that includes the exit from the school car park and the turning circle

A very quiet morning with few things flying over. However I notched up a new species for me at the lake (ever!) and my 102nd bird species here this year when a lone Common Crossbill flew W at 09:00

Other bird notes:
- the 3 cygnets and their parents again left the lake and flew over the fields to the E for a while
- there may just have been a 2nd pair of Gadwall briefly. A pair landed in the SW area around dawn. What I assume was the usual pair was seen later in their usual position feeding on weed in the NE area. Perhaps these had been temporarily disturbed by the boisterous swans returning from an early flight? Never saw both pairs at the same time
- slight decline in number of Coots
- remarkably consistent number of Black-headed Gulls recently: the same birds every day?
- 4 of the Jackdaws on roost dispersal broke away from the main group, circled around and landed in trees on the N side. I have only ever seen them do this previously when they have become disorientated in mist or fog
- meanwhile the Rooks seem to have found somewhere else to feed as they have been totally missing for well over a week now

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 13 Wood Pigeons only (no migrants)
- 256 Jackdaws
- 5 Redwings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 1 Greenfinch
- 2 Goldfinches
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 1 Common Crossbill

Warblers seen / heard
None

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 2 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall as usual
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 75 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Little Grebes again
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 11 Moorhens
- 102 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 1 Autumnal-type moth (Epirrita sp.) on a lamp pole
- 1 spider sp on a lamp pole
- >3 bumble bee sp. in flight
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

A nicely-posed adult male Pied Wagtail. It is rather late in Autumn to be checking for the migrant European (sub)species White Wagtail. That would be generally paler and both males and females show a grey rump and clean flanks. Here we see typical greyish flank marks of UK’s Pied Wagtail.

This is a spider sp. I have seen before on the lamps: may be Metellina segmentata but I am not that confident.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:15

(107th visit of the year)

Very quiet with no geese; no heron and no grebe. Reduced number of Tufted Duck also. Perhaps overdue were my first Goosanders of the winter here

Other notes from here
- remarkably consistent number of Black-headed Gulls here as well as at the lake
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth on a lamp pole

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 5 Starlings

The counts from the water
- 1 + 3 Mute Swans
- [no geese]
- 37 (24♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant (arrived)
- [no Grey Heron]
- [no Great Crested Grebe]
- 5 Moorhens
- 7 Coots
- 22 Black-headed Gulls

I’ve played around a bit with this photo to highlight the markings of this Mottled Umber. The ground colour and strength of the markings is variable on this species. The shape of the cross-bands and the black spot in the forewing are consistent features except for a very few specimens that show no marks at all.

(Ed Wilson)

Note: Click Here for a few images from RSPB Burton Mere on 23 Oct 18.

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
1 Wigeon
1 Common Gull
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Goosander
7 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
12 Golden Plover
1577 Wood Pigeons
28 Sky Larks
12 Fieldfare
8 Redwings
4 Siskins
1 Linnet
2 Redpoll
1 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)

24 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake only

10°C: Area of medium cloud moved away: clear with scattered, thin low cloud thereafter. Brisk NW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:51 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 09:10

(132nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the 3 cygnets and their parents left the lake and flew over the fields to the E for several minutes before returning – all 3 cygnets together today. Later a stray adult arrived and was chased by all 5 residents
- increase in Tufted Duck numbers: ‘best effort’ at total with many birds diving and others flying around
- the Goosanders were on the lake for at most two minutes
- party of 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in as I was leaving
- almost all the migrant Wood Pigeons were in a single sprawling group of birds flying S to the far W
- after a week with no sign of any Chiffchaffs one was heard calling

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 295 Wood Pigeons (includes 270 migrants in 2 groups)
- 204 Jackdaws
- 2 Skylarks
- 1 Starling
- 2 Redwings
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Siskins

Warblers seen / heard
- 1 Chiffchaff

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 6 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 11 (9♂) Mallard
- 83 (36♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 (2♂) Goosander
- 3 Little Grebes
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails heard again
- 12 Moorhens
- 114 Coots
- 53 Black-headed Gulls again
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

And other notes
- my log today consisted of
- 2 Autumnal-type moths (Epirrita sp.) on the lamp poles
- 1 wasp sp.: a rather late date
- >10 Muscid flies again on lamp poles later
- 1 Grey Squirrel

Here is the visiting adult Mute Swan. We can clearly see it is unringed.

Touching down for the umpteenth time before finally getting the ‘MOVE’ message.

Goody goody – breakfast.

“I suppose you think that’s funny?” Seems junior still has to learn how to manipulate fish to swallow them.

This is a fairly typical example of the Autumnal Moth complex with rather indistinct markings.

This is a very different-looking example with much stronger markings. The ‘fluffiness’ of the wing-edges suggests this is a very fresh individual. The wing here is rather more rounded but this merely indicates it as a female and helps little in separating between the species.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2010
Priorslee Lake
733 Wood Pigeons
11 Sky Larks
151 Fieldfare
20 Redwings
2 Brambling
2 Linnets
2 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
5 Wigeon
1 Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
1 Shoveler 
1 Teal (female)
1 Common Gull
(John Isherwood)

23 Oct 18

No sightings in today.

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2010
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
9 Meadow Pipits
143 Fieldfare
8 Redwings 
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Common Gull
6 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Female Blackcap
(John Isherwood)

22 Oct 18

Priorslee Lake: then Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:45
Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:30 // 11:15 – 11:20
Trench Middle Pool: 10:35 – 11:10

6°C > 7°C: A line of cloud to the far E otherwise clear and sunny. Light / moderate NW wind with ground frost in the sheltered areas. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:47 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:45

(131st visit of the year)

Best today were two Snipe seen flying amongst one of the migrant groups of Wood Pigeons. I am fairly sure that this was just co-incidence and they happened to be passing at the same time. I would not have seen them but for the much larger pigeons being there. It takes my 2018 site bird-species total to 101

There was a very noisy dog pre-dawn somewhere in the NW area (I did not investigate!). This may have led to some of the sedges and reeds being flattened

Bird notes:
- the 3 cygnets were taken for a long-range flight way over the construction site to the N before returning. However the weaker and / or less confident cygnet declined to leave the lake area and returned early
- an additional adult Great Crested Grebe this morning
- there were undoubtedly many more migrant Wood Pigeon parties that I failed to see: many groups were passing very high up and crossing in front of the hazy sun
- a lone Starling left the NW reed-beds. I do not think any left earlier under cover of darkness and flushed by the dog in the area

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 4 Cormorants (1 group)
- 2 Snipe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves
- 966 Wood Pigeons (includes 931 migrants in 21 groups)
- 163 Jackdaws
- 1 Skylark
- 9 Starlings (2 groups)
- 32 Fieldfare (3 groups)
- 7 Redwings (3 groups)
- 3 Pied Wagtails again
- 3 Siskins
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Starling
- 4 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall still
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 53 (27♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Little Grebes
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Water Rails heard
- 8 Moorhens
- 121 Coots
- 53 Black-headed Gulls

And other notes
- chilly start meant fewer Autumnal-type moths
- my log today consisted of
- 3 Autumnal-type moths (Epirrita sp.) on the lamp poles
- 1 harvestman sp. on a lamp pole
- 1 spider sp. on a different lamp pole
- 1 female Tipula pagana cranefly also on a lamp pole
- >30 Muscid flies of at least 3 species sunning on lamp poles later
- 3 Grey Squirrels

All the Mute Swans take off on their epic flight away from the lake for a while.

An early return and close fly-by from the cygnet that was unhappy to leave the confines of the lake.

VERY close!

Here with an adult in pursuit.

The two adults together: the cob (male) closest with the larger swelling at the bill-base.

And again, the cob still closest. Note the difference in bill colour suggesting he is older.

And the adults return with one cygnet.

And in this shot two cygnets.

An extra adult Great Crested Grebe this morning. Perhaps what provoked this bit of a display.

The harvestman sp. on a lamp post. Hard to tell whether it really has a pale streak along its back or whether that was caused by the flash-photography. Will go unidentified.

Also unidentified is this spider sp. There are not too many spiders that habitually hold the front two pairs of legs together and most of those are crab-spiders which are a different shape entirely. Most likely a Philodromus sp.

One of many Muscid flies on the lamp poles after sun-up.

Well it looks like a crane-fly but where are its wings? It is in fact a female Tipula pagana, a species in which the female has very reduced wings and is flightless. Not something I have seen before.
(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:30 // 11:15 – 11:20

(16th visit of the year)

Water level slightly higher again

Bird notes from here
- first Pochard of the winter
- significant increase in Tufted Duck numbers as water-level rises
- the Great Crested Grebes were rather nearer today: looking closely I think two adults and their three full-grown juveniles. The juveniles stayed together much of the time
- very few gulls here at the moment. On my last three visits there have been 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls – same?

Birds noted flying over / near here
[apart from the local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws coming and going]
- c.20 Feral Pigeons circling in the distance

The counts from the water
- 17 Mute Swans
- 12 Canada Geese
- 3 (0♂) Teal still
- 13 (8♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard as usual
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 20 (7♂)Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron yet again
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 + 3 (1 brood?) Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 184 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls yet again
- 1 Kingfisher again

A pair of Tufted Ducks flying about: the drake in front with the brighter eye and more extensive white on the flanks even though he is not yet in full breeding plumage.

Tufted Duck landings always look like a barely controlled crash in to the water but it seems to serve them well.

An adult and juvenile Great Crested Grebe, the juvenile still with faint head-stripes and pale bill.

All three of the juvenile Great Crested Grebes here.

Macabre: a headless gull. From the spots in the folded wings looks as if this was an adult Herring Gull. Apparently the head neatly removed: by what?

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:35 – 11:10

(15th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- another very good count of Goosanders. Either they are moulting fast since my last visit or some adult drakes have arrived
and
- Autumnal-type moth found on one of the lamps
- 1 Grey Squirrel

Birds noted flying over / near here
None

The counts from the water
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans still
- 2 Greylag Geese again
- 54 Canada Geese
- 37 (28♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) ‘feral’ Mallard again
- 5 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 24 (>2♂) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 10 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 43 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

A drake Goosander moulting in to adult plumage. The front of the head is bottle-green, the back still brown. And those wispy feathers on the nape will not impress too many ducks.

Another in moult.

A duck Goosander shows what a proper crest should look like.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
1 adult Great Black-backed Gull
4 Gadwall
1 Teal
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
A Raven tussling with Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
389 Fieldfare
6 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
15 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
13 Moorhens
232 Coots
1 Redwing heard 
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
A male Stonechat the west end
2 Gadwall
A drake Shoveler
14 Pochard
44 Tufted Duck
Siskin
Redpoll
C.350 Starlings in the roost
20 Redwings
209 Coot
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)