31 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake only

8°C:  Rather low overcast with occasional very slight drizzle. Light WSW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT: will be Jan 04 before this changes

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 08:55

(196th visit of the year)

A rather abbreviated visit this morning means that not all counts are complete

A mystery call was solved. A rather deep, guttural and even somewhat hoarse call was heard while it was still dark. I could not decide whether it was from the water or a bird in flight. I did not recognise it. I thought it might be a Great Black-backed Gull. Some 10 minutes later I heard it again and could only see a Great Crested Grebe nearby. Subsequent checking on the xeno-canto web site confirmed this was the culprit making a much louder and more insistent call than usual

Bird notes
- the Mute Swans again went for a long fly-around and were out of sight for at least 10 minutes
- no geese on the water this morning
- 2 Goosanders W at 08:23. Both brownheads
- back to just 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls arrived by 08:00. As has been the case for some weeks almost all left by 08:15 when just 15 remained. c.150 then arrived low from the W, perhaps different birds as the earlier birds had left to the S and SE
- fewer Jackdaws sped past in eight smaller groups at 07:44. Did not see or hear any others

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 (0♂) Goosanders
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 117 Jackdaws
- 2 Ravens

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 4 Redwings only
- no Reed Buntings seen

The counts from the lake area:
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 23 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- >300? Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 Northern Winter Moth
- 1 Scarce Umber moth
- 1 Mottled Umber moth
- 2 Early Moths
- 1 Chestnut moth – same specimen as yesterday
- 1 spider sp., perhaps a Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica)

A web-spider found at a street-lamp this morning. I am thinking this might be a Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica, also known as Toad Spider), so called because of its walnut colouration.

This is a Scarce Umber moth. Superficially like a Mottled Umber the first clue is the lack of ‘black spot’ in the middle of the forewing. While this can be absent in Mottled Umber it is usually only missing on the rare specimens that lack any markings. Here we also see the slightly wavy cross line near the base of the wing. The outer cross line is a subtly different shape, most noticeable where the wings meet and the pattern forms a straight line. On Mottled Umber the cross line dips where the wings meet.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Ian Grant)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
(Jim Almond and Paul Spear)

2010
Priorslee Lake
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
11 Great Crested Grebes
31 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
237 Coot
Golden Plover
1 Water Rail
700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.1250 Black-headed Gulls
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
37 Herring Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gull
374 Jackdaws
178 Rooks
1 Kingfisher
1 Willow Tit
2 Redpolls.
2 Redwings
14 Robins
19 Blackbirds
13 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

30 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:35
The Flash:  09:40 – 10:20
Trench Lock Pool:  10:30 – 10:40 // 11:20 – 11:40
Trench Middle Pool:  10:45 – 11:15

9°C > 11°C:  Mainly cloudy with a few breaks. Calm start: light W wind later. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT once again

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:35

(195th visit of the year)

More song this morning. A Blackbird was singing at 06:45. Song Thrushes heard from 8 locations around the lake – perhaps fewer birds? A Mistle Thrush was sitting on its song perch at 09:30 though not singing or calling. Both Blue and Great Tits were calling and chasing around a lot: no ‘song’ as such though

I noted today that the part of the building site closest to the NE part of the lake is itself one huge muddy puddle. I suggest you don’t buy a house there!

Other bird notes
- the Mute Swans went for a long fly-around the lake but pitched back in
- the mixed group of 4 Greylag and 7 Canada Geese left at 07:35. No others today
- a pair of Teal new in
- 11 Goosanders W at 08:10; 2 S at 08:20. All brownheads
- 5 Great Crested Grebes seen together though for most of the time there were either just 4 together or two pairs. The 5th seemed to be lurking in the reeds most of the time
- 25 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:30. No more before 08:00 when c.175 arrived. By 08:10 only 3 remained! Thereafter c.115 returnees?
- Jackdaws in three separate groups today. c.95 over the E end of the lake at 07:40. >80 seen skimming the fields to the E of Castle Farm at 07:50. And then 34 over the lake at 07:51. Unusually at 09:00 7 birds flew E to the N
- 3 Siskins in Alders today. Not seen as many as usual so far this winter
- perhaps I was too late getting back to the Reed Bunting roost area. The only three birds I heard seemed to stay around

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 13 (0♂) Goosanders
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Stock Doves
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- >200 Jackdaws

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 3 Redwings only
- no Reed Buntings seen

The counts from the lake area:
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 7 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall still
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 12 (9♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 33 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Little Grebes
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 12 Moorhens
- 70 Coots
- >200 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 1 Winter Moth
- 3 Mottled Umber moths
- 1 Early Moth
- 1 Chestnut moth
- 1 gnat sp. (Dixella aestivallis?) with many more gnats flying about.

A better early sky this morning.

Far to the east and behind the trees the sky looks clearer.

Bulrushes (properly Greater Reed-mace), the remains of willow-herb spikes rising above sedges.

Superficially marked like an Early Moth but with wings held at a narrower angle and a ‘hairy head’ suggest that this is a Chestnut moth. My second this year – the previous specimen was my first-ever here.

Another slightly puzzling moth sitting with its wings at a narrow angle reminiscent of Noctuid moths. I think the darker bar towards the back of the wing means this one form of a Dark Chestnut moth. Another new species for me here.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:40 – 10:20

(154th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- many of the Goosanders flew in while I was walking around. All of them then left. Not before there had been an almighty scrum when a brownhead caught a large fish and had trouble dealing with it. Many of the others piled in to ‘help’
- unusually some of the Mallard took to the air when the Goosanders left and also climbed high in the sky – as did many of the Black-headed Gulls. Could not see why
- two Song Thrush singing here again
and
- 1 Mottled Umber on a different lamp pole to previous logs
- 1 Dark Chestnut moth on the same pole: my first in Shropshire

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 4 Feral Pigeons

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again
- 4 Canada Geese
- 42 (25♂) Mallard
- 33 (22♂) Tufted Ducks
- 16 (3♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
- 46 Black-headed Gulls

A record shot at best. I was surprised to find this plant still in flower. Perhaps Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) though the sow-thistles hybridise freely. Usually that is with Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper) which normally finishes flowering in August whereas Smooth Sow-thistle can be found most years in to November and is therefore a more likely candidate.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:30 – 10:40 // 11:20 – 11:40

(33rd visit of the year)

Nothing much to note here

Birds noted flying over / near here (other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws)
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans [the pen has the Blue Darvic ring ‘7HXA’ and was born at Priorslee Lake in 2013 (credit Martin Grant)]
- 72 Canada Geese
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 36 (28♂)Tufted Ducks
- 6 (4♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Moorhens
- 83 Coots
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:45 – 11:15

(32nd visit of the year)

Notes from here
- single apparently unringed Mute Swan back
- two duck Teal were new
- drake Pochard back (the additional bird at Trench Lock gone again, so ...?)
- Great Crested Grebe back yet again and has brought a friend
- 32 Black-headed Gulls when I arrived. When some food arrived the number increased to 65. Later they all left . To where? they were not at Trench Lock
and
- 1 unidentified spider was all I could find on the lamps

Birds noted flying over / near here
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 2 Stock Doves

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 44 Canada Geese
- 2 (0♂) Teal
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) feral Mallard again
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 13 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 35 Coots
- 32 > 65 > 0 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

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 female Scaup
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
7 Gadwall
(John Isherwood/Dawn Balmer)

The Flash
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Yellow-legged Gull
(Dawn Balmer)

Horsehay Pool
12 Goosander
(Dawn Balmer)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Jim Almond/Chris Ballance)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
9 Great Black-backed Gulls
Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow-legged Gull
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
(Jason)

2006
Priorslee lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
19 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
>300 Black-headed Gulls
>298 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gull
33 Robins
13 Blackbirds
10 Fieldfares
45 Redwings
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
2 Little Grebes 
11 Great Crested Grebes 
1 Cormorant 
2 Mute Swans 
35 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
243 Coot
c.250 Black-headed Gulls 
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 
1 Yellow-legged Gull 
32 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

29 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:20
The Flash:  09:25 – 10:15

10°C > 11°C:  Scattered cloud below a high overcast. Moderate WSW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT still

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:20

(194th visit of the year)

Bird notes
- more Black-headed Gulls than the last few days – due to stronger wind? Later they exhibited unusual behaviour circling very high overhead before drifting downwind off to the E. I think these had all started from the lake rather than birds from elsewhere but cannot be certain
- a lone Lapwing arrived on the SW grass at 08:15 and stayed until after 09:00 before being flushed by a dog-walker
- 4 Reed Buntings left the roost at 08:05; 4 more at 08:13. Neither group was heard to call before they left. Perhaps I missed some: these left to the S rather than to the E as they have done the previous few days. Due to the stronger wind?

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- c.200 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Raven
- 11 Fieldfare
- 1 Siskin

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 7 Redwing
- 8 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese again
- 12 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 10 (6♂) Mallard
- 30 (15♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant again
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 8 Moorhens
- 72 Coots
- 1 Lapwing
- >200 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, all on lamp poles
- 3 Winter Moths
- 3 Mottled Umber moths
- 1 Early Moth: a different specimen
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. again

The ‘sunrise’ showing that it wasn’t quite the 100% cloud as forecast.

Here are the two ‘new’ Mute Swans. I think the cob is on the left with the larger ‘knob’ at the base of the bill. Note that his bill is much more orange-toned than the pen. I suspect she is not fully mature, though likely mature-enough to give nesting a go this year.

This is a rather strange moth with rufous-tinged wing-tips. As far as I can tell it is ‘just’ an extreme form of Early Moth.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:25 – 10:15

(153rd visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- the cygnet Mute Swan was seen taking a short flight this morning: the first time I have seen it well clear of the water
- a 2nd Great Crested Grebe this morning: birds often keeping together
- perhaps the number of fishermen was behind the dearth of Goosanders, though the new-in Pochard and small increase in the number of Tufted Ducks might suggest otherwise
- a Nuthatch apparently inspecting its nest site
and
- checked the Ivy again as it was mild and bright: only a single Muscid fly noted (perhaps Eudasyphora cyanella)
- fungus that might be Stereum hirsutum (or Hairy Curtain Crust) noted

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Sparrowhawk again
- 1 Raven

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 6 Canada Geese
- 49 (29♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 28 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

The pair(?) of Great Crested Grebes. The first time there have been two of this species here for several months.

The large bill and diamond-shaped tail mean this has to be a Raven.

In silhouette we see the characteristic shape of the large bill. Note also the ‘fingered’ wing-tip. Usually a Raven is obvious from its call, its tendency to turn upside down or its sheer size. My rule to separate from Crow is that if I have any doubt its a Crow. A Rook tends to be easy because of the distinctive pale and dagger-like bill.

Nuthatches likely nested in this hole in a large Ash tree at the bottom of squirrel alley. The Ash was suffering badly from Chalara ash dieback and was ‘pollarded’ by the council. Happily they left the holes formed after limbs broke away many years ago. It was these that the Nuthatches appropriated. How they will feel about their now very exposed position remains to be seen.

The Nuthatch is certainly giving it good look.

Before doing its trapeze walk along one of the branches.

Perhaps it is safer across the branch.

The single Muscid fly (perhaps Eudasyphora cyanella) on what looks like a rather time-expired Ivy flower.

This view shows something I have never seen before. Flies have very small hind wings (halteres) that apparently act like gyroscopes to maintain the fly’s balance when it is flying. We appear to be able to see these. I cannot really make out what is face and what is mouth between the eyes. Looks rather nasty anyway.

This fungus is growing on fallen wood. I think it might be Stereum hirsutum (or Hairy Curtain Crust): its is certainly hairy.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2012
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gull
22 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Tundra Bean Goose
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
9 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Black-necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
2 Water Rail
2 Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Ring-billed Gull
(John Isherwood/Richard Vernon/Dawn Balmer/Peter Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant 
3 Wigeon
30 Tufted Duck
4 Pochard
180+ Coot
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
4000+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
1000+ Black-headed Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Pochard
10 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
>550 Black-headed Gulls
>108 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.40 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
c.3200 Lesser black-backed Gulls
c.1700 Black-headed Gulls
c100 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
4 Yellow-legged Gull
(Martin Adlam/Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)

28 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:45
The Flash:  09:50 – 10:50

8°C > 9°C:  medium-level cloud early: some brighter spells for a while. Almost calm again. Good visibility

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT again

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:45

(193rd visit of the year)

Highlights today, not included in the counts, were
- a Woodcock flying W along the N shore at 07:30
- a Snipe flushed out of rank grass near the sailing club shelter at 09:20. Rather strange because I had walked past several times earlier and there had been dog-walkers passing as well. My first on the ground here this year – my previous sighting was a fly-over

Other bird notes
- 2 Mute Swans back on the lake. One of these with blue Darvic ring 7JNU: must be from a different pair
- 10 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:35 and soon left. c.55 arrived after 07:55 bringing the Lesser Black-backed Gull with them (the bird seen at The Flash later?)
- drake Pochard replaces the duck seen recently
- all the Jackdaws passed by together this morning at the ‘normal’ time of 07:43
- Song Thrushes now singing from eight locations
- Meadow Pipit over is rather unusual at this date
- 13 Reed Buntings left the roost at 08:10

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- c.190 Jackdaws
- 1 Meadow Pipit

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Redwing only
- 13 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 14 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 10 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 30 (12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 74 Coots
- c.65 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

My log of other things, all on lamp poles
- 3 Winter Moths + another flying around
- 8 Mottled Umber moths
- 1 Early Moth: new for the year
- 1 stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
- 1 crane-fly, likely Limonia nubeculosa.

Thanks to digital cameras it is possible to read the rings even when swans are paddling fast. Only one of the birds read – 7JNU.

A Cormorant hauled out. No sign of the white thigh-patch shown when they come in to breeding condition. There are a very few white feathers on the belly and this looks more or less a full adult.

The Grey Heron this morning does show signs of the approaching breeding season – this species is an early nester, often by late February. We see the long feathers on its back and the base of the bill colouring up.

The Pied Wagtail came to visit me again today. In better light a sharper photo.

“is this is my better side?”

The shape and colour all suggest this is just an unusually plain Mottled Umber. I was concerned about the wavy cross-line near the back of the wing and checking the literature this revealed it to be a (very) Early Moth. The first time I have seen this species before the turn of the year and my first in 2018 (my only previous record in Shropshire was on 08 January 2017) [I now realise that the moth I photographed at Trench Middle Pool yesterday and remained unsure about was almost certainly a poorly-marked Early Moth and not an unusually large and rather brown Winter Moth].

Here we seem to have a small crane-fly alongside a stretch spider, Tetragnatha sp. The crane-fly is likely Limonia nubeculosa, a species active all year.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:50 – 10:50

(152nd visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- the Ring-necked Parakeet calling and flying around. So long as it remains around I will no longer mention it
and
- 1 Winter Moth on a lamp pole
- 1 Mottled Umber on a different lamp pole

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans as ever
- 2 Canada Geese
- 34 (22♂) Mallard
- 24 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 45 (10♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

It is just about possible to ID the bird in this photo. The orange foot colour and dark rear mean it is ....

... rather easier when you can see the green head. A drake Mallard having a bathe.

As the water settles.

Not easy to photograph flying birds at The Flash. They are usually flying away or towards you. If not then the background changes between water, trees and houses confusing both the exposure and the focus. The camera did a pretty good job of getting it right on this pair of flying Mallard.

Lurking in the gloom in the lee of the island were these two ducks. The left-hand bird is clearly a duck Tufted Duck. With all that white on the face could the other bird be a duck Scaup?

On slightly more of an angle we see that the head shape is all wrong fro Scaup and it has the tell-tale vestigial ‘tuft’. Other reasons we can dismiss Scaup (or a hybrid come to that) are the identical bill markings (Scaup has a much smaller black tip), the size (Scaup is slightly larger) and flank colour (Scaup is browner: our bird is paler).

Do I get any points for artistic merit? Or do they go to the Black-headed Gull?

Talking of Black-headed Gull here is your chance to examine all the wing-feathers in a 1st winter bird. Slightly marred by the confusing background: apologies.

Wood Pigeons are a randy species and more or less any time of year will do. I won’t show what happened next as it is before the watershed and there may be children watching (in truth it was all over in a blur ...).

(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
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
1 Scaup
1 Goosander
218 Coots
28 Redwings
386 Jackdaws
209 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
19 Pochard
1 Peregrine
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
4 Goosander
1 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
15+ Great Black-backed Gulls
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Kriss Webb)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Caspian Gull 
9 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Dawn Balmer/Peter Wilson/David Fairhurst)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Peregrine
 2 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull 
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2007
The Flash
11 Goosander
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
9 Siskins
7 Redwing
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
13 Lapwings
c.100 Black-headed Gulls
c.1100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
12 Pied Wagtails
6 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
160 Jackdaws
97 Rooks
20 Chaffinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee lake
30 Pochard 30
32 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
200+ Coot
1 Water Rail
c.3000 Black-headed Gulls
c.2000 Lesser Black-backs
4 Herring Gulls
21 Pied Wagtails
247 Rooks
172 Jackdaw
5 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
46 Siskin
19 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

27 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake:  06:50 – 09:40
The Flash:  09:45 – 10:25
Trench Lock Pool:  10:35 – 10:45 // 11:25 – 11:55
Trench Middle Pool:  10:50 – 11:20

6°C > 8°C:  Cloudy: mist early and again c.08:30 for a while. Almost calm. Poor visibility, eventually becoming good

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT
Still getting darker in the mornings

Priorslee Lake:  06:50 – 09:40

(192nd visit of the year)

Bird notes
- 4 Greylag and 6 Canada Geese left at 07:45: the other 4 Canada Geese spent some time on the SW grass before leaving at 08:10
- 5 Goosanders W at 08:05
- a Water Rail heard calling at 08:15: then one, probably the same, seen along the Wesley Brrok at 09:00
- 5 Black-headed Gulls flew through at 07:52 and it was 08:04 before the first birds settled on the lake. 83 arrived and stayed but a few minutes. At 08:12 they had all gone. At least 75 (returnees?) by 09:20
- presumably the same occasionally seen Lesser Black-backed Gull was on its favourite buoy
- I inadvertently flushed some of the Magpies from their roost before I could complete the count
- one or more Jackdaws flew over at the very early time of 07:13. A noisy group flew over unseen in the dark at 07:19. A group of c.140 followed at the more usual time for this date of 07:43
- Song Thrushes singing from seven locations around the lake: at least six different birds involved
- the first 2 of the 16 Reed Buntings seen leaving the roost departed at 08:03: the rest left as two groups at 08:20 and 08:21. Many of these were seen climbing around the vegetation before they left – probably able to do this as there was no wind

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 5 (?♂) Goosanders
- 6 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- >>140 Jackdaws

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >45 Magpies (partial count)
- 2 Redwings only
- 16 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 4 Greylag Geese again
- 10 Canada Geese again
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall still
- 13 (8♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard again
- 27 (11♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Water Rail heard and later seen
- 9 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- c.85 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 7 Mottled Umber moths
- 4 Nursery Web spiders (Pisaura mirabilis)
It has been amazing season for Mottled Umber moths – or at least for the males. I was reading on the NatureSpot (Rutland) that numbers have been exceptional there also

Not too much to photograph at this time of year. This Pied Wagtail popped up in front of me.

Another view.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:45 – 10:25

(151st visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- two groups comprising 10 Goosanders flew in while I was here
- the Ring-necked Parakeet seen eating Alder cones on the island
- two distant Song Thrush singing again
and
- 1 Mottled Umber on a lamp pole

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Grey Wagtail

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: the usual
- 39 (24♂) Mallard
- 21 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 52 (9♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Moorhens yet again
- 18 Coots again
- 29 Black-headed Gulls

A record shot at best: the Ring-necked Parakeet eating one of the Alder cones on the island in this morning’s gloom.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:35 – 10:45 // 11:25 – 11:55

(32nd visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- 44 of the Canada Geese flew in as three separate groups
- otherwise lower numbers of most species
- 2 Bullfinches good to see

Birds noted flying over / near here (other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws)
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.30 Starlings in the distance

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 77 Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) ‘feral’ Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 26 (17♂)Tufted Ducks
- 7 (5♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 1 Moorhen
- 86 Coots
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls

Some of the incoming Canada Geese. Easier to photo here than they are against the tighter confines of The Flash.

Just touching down.

An adult winter Herring Gull. Note the extensive head streaking which reaches its peak at the turn of the year. Thereafter the moult begins to acquire the pure white head of breeding birds. Full adults, as this bird is, show no dark mark on the upper mandible.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:50 – 11:20

(31st visit of the year)

Notes from here
- one of the two long-term Greylag Geese was very noisy and flying around. The other stayed on the water
- the long-term drake Pochard seems to have gone. Perhaps the additional drake at Trench Lock?
- no Goosanders here
- Great Crested Grebe gone yet again
- just 1 Black-headed Gull until some food arrived ....
and
- 1 Mottled Umber moth on another lamp pole. My first here
- 1 Early Moth on a lamp pole. Also my first here
- same(?) fungus as found three weeks ago still extant and looking fresh

Birds noted flying over / near here
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Greylag Geese still
- 35 Canada Geese
- 30 (23♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) feral Mallard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 11 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 1 > 17 Black-headed Gulls

Subsequently I have re-identified this moth as an Early Moth – my first at this site and my earliest-ever record.

These fungi look much the same as they did two weeks ago.

(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 Little Grebe
7 Gadwall
7 Pochard
101 Tufted Ducks
1 Scaup
210 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

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

2012
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

2011
The Wrekin
Flock of Crossbills near summit
(Maurice Baker)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
18 Mute Swans
59 Canada Geese
4 Gadwall
29 Pochard 
92 Tufted Ducks 
2 Water Rails
327 Coots
2 Redwings
16 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
22 Tufted Ducks
86 Coots
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
3 Buzzards
20 Pied Wagtails
c.200 Redwing
4 Mistle Thrush
c.500 Fieldfare
1 Willow Tit
3 Brambling
14 Chaffinches
13 Greenfinches
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

26 Dec 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:35
The Flash:  09:40 – 10:25

7°C:  Much better than forecast: some mist and low cloud at times with some good breaks. Very light winds. Moderate visibility

Sunrise: 08:21 GMT still

Priorslee Lake:  06:45 – 09:35

(191st visit of the year)

Bird notes
- some or all of the 14 geese flew in at 06:50. I was able to positively ID all the individuals with 4 Greylag and 6 Canada Geese leaving at 07:45 and the other 4 Canada Geese leaving at 08:00
- 5 Goosanders flew low W at 07:25 – too dark to sex. A drake flew high W at 08:25
- four Song Thrushes tempted to sing by the mild weather
- in addition to the 15 Reed Buntings seen leaving the roost there were at least 5 more calling / seen in various locations later

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 6 (1+♂) Goosanders
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 13 Wood Pigeons
- >170 Jackdaws
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >32 Magpies (partial count)
- 5 Redwings
- 15 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area:
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 10 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 31 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Water Rail heard again
- 11 Moorhens
- 72 Coots
- c.135 Black-headed Gulls

My log of other things, on lamp poles
- 2 Winter Moths
- 3 Mottled Umber moths
- 1 small fly sp. (perhaps a Black Legionnaire (Beris sp.) again)
- 1, probably 2, Nursery Web spiders (Pisaura mirabilis)
and
- 1 moth flushed from vegetation pre-dawn: on size probably a Mottled Umber

I did not expect this today: forecast was cloudy and dull.

There was some mist, mainly shallow and soon clearing away.

Mr. Bullfinch after the willow-herb seeds.

Was not at all sure about this spider in its web pre-dawn. Looking at the photo I think it is the second Nursery Web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) of the day. The other was in a more usual pose another lamp pole.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:40 – 10:25

(150th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here
- the Ring-necked Parakeet was calling from the island again and then seen flying around, sometimes pursued by Black-headed Gulls
- two distant Song Thrush singing
and
- 1 Grey Squirrel

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Starlings

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: the usual
- 2 Canada Geese
- 36 (22♂) Mallard
- 16 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 77 (18♂) Goosanders
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 2 Moorhens again
- 18 Coots still
- 42 Black-headed Gulls

Nothing too exciting but some shots of a flapping duck Mallard showing how the apparent extent of white on the under-wing varies with the angle of view. Very little white with the wing almost horizontal.

Lots of white when looking at 90° to the under-wing.

As the wing is closed we see on the upper-wing the white bar above the blue speculum.

Another view of that white under-wing.

As she settled on the water the white bar above the blue speculum shows even more clearly.

More Goosanders I am afraid: the duck in the foreground is mid-way through swallowing a catch. The bird behind has some white above the bill, indicating a 1st winter bird. The extent of the white in the folded wing suggests this, despite the rather straggly crest, is moulting in to drake plumage. On the evidence here an adult female has no black on the tip of its bill but....

Not quite sharp as it races to get away, this seems also to be an adult female albeit with a black tip to its bill. More examples needed.

You will probably have to take my word for it. Top right a Ring-necked Parakeet: bottom left a Black-headed Gull in not-so-close pursuit.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Unknown)

2012
Priorslee Lake
A drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
10 Great Black-backed Gull
(Kriss Webb)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
97 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosander
327 Coots
5 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
10 Goldfinches 
14 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)