Priorslee Lake: 06:15 – 08:30
The Flash: 08:35 – 09:15
7.0°C: Clear but hazy start with high cloud from W after 07:00. Moderate + ESES wind. Good visibility
Sunrise: 07:23 GMT
Priorslee Lake: 06:15 – 08:30
(45th visit of the year)
Bird notes
- seemed to be no Mute Swans when I arrived. One on the water by 07:30 and stayed in the water so unable to see whether ringed. I wondered whether it (and a mate) are already using a nest and I looked at the traditional site without seeing any evidence, although the successful pair last year did not use this site. All a mystery at the moment
- a lone Black-headed Gull arrived at 06:35. No more until 40 flew in at 06:58. As usual these left. Then at least 52 flew east directly over the lake. At 08:10 I counted 146 on the water – from where?
- corvid numbers lower this morning – with the rather brisk wind I suspect some more were unseen, field hopping below my sight-line
- two Sky Larks heard and seen singing over fields to the east
- Song Thrushes singing from 13 locations this morning: at least 11 birds involved
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 2 Greylag Geese (pair outbound)
- 8 Canada Geese (2 groups outbound)
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 14 Wood Pigeons only
- >575 Jackdaws
- 16 Rooks
- 34 Starlings (31;1;2)
- 1 Greenfinch
- 1 Goldfinch
Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 3 Reed Buntings
The counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute swan (arrived?)
- 2 Canada Geese (arrived again)
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- >146 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
The lamp poles were disappointing yet again – too windy?
- 1 Nursery Web Spider
also
- Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica) in flower
And again.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:35 – 09:15
(40th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- Gadwall not located today
- one pair of Mallard taken to ‘roof-sitting’ as they seem to at this time of year
- a second drake Shoveler found
- a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying
and
- 3 Grey Squirrels having a stand-off in squirrel alley
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Stock Dove
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Greenfinches
The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 9 Canada Geese
- 41 (25♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Shovelers
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 56 (33♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhen
- 27 Coots
- 11 Black-headed Gulls only
Rather a long way away when these Great Crested Grebes decided to display.
Looking deep in to each other’s eyes.
A ritual turn away – always to the right, I wonder?
A bit of preening.
Raising the head plumes.
And off we go. Perhaps later I will get an opportunity for a closer encounter.
Did not really want to move for me – but did when a vehicle came along. Wise move.
(Ed Wilson)
Notes
1. A few photos taken at Venus on 17 Feb Here.
2. A few photos taken at Belvide on 14 and 16 Feb Here.
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On this day..........
2015Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
3 Scaup
1 Grey Wagtail
8 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
3 Great Crested Grebe
(Gary Crowder)
Telford Crematorium
2 Caspian Gull
c.500 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c.40 Herring Gull
(Gary Crowder)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Jim Almond)
2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
5 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
18 Tufted Ducks
121 Coots
741 Wood Pigeon
289 Jackdaws
108 Rooks
290 Starlings
1 Sky Lark
18 Robins
19 Blackbirds again
11 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
23 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)