31 Dec 19

Click Here for the FoPL 2019 Summary!

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  07:05 – 09:40
The Flash:  09:45 – 10:45

6.0°C > 5.0°C:  Overcast at medium level. Later more low cloud. Light / moderate E wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT once again

Good wishes for 2020 to all my readers

Best of the day were the second-winter Common Gull at the lake and a drake Teal at The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  07:05 – 09:40

(300th visit of the year)

300 up!!!

A small arrival of Pochard and a pair of Great Crested Grebe new.

Bird notes:
- The fifth Mute Swan cygnet left to the W and was away for just about one hour.
- A different challenge today with the Jackdaws and Rooks. Many of the Rooks preceded the Jackdaws. Some of the Jackdaw groups were skimming the fields to the E and partially hidden behind hedges. Others groups were high overhead with some Rooks mixed in.
- Six singing Song Thrushes.
- One Linnet flew NE: later one flew SW – same bird?
- No Reed Buntings seen or heard in the roost area. One was calling in the SE area pre-dawn – an unusual location for this species. Then three flew together over the N side at 09:15: no idea where they had come from.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 9 Greylag Geese: outbound in one group
- 24 Canada Geese: 22 outbound in one groups; two inbound
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 28 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Collared Doves: pairs
- c.750 Jackdaws
- 127 Rooks
- 3 Fieldfares
- 7 Redwings
- 3 Pied Wagtails
- 1 or 2 Linnets

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 12 Redwings
- no Reed Buntings (see notes)

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 8 (6♂) Pochard
- 41 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander: arrived
- 6 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron again
- [no Little Grebes seen]
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- 1 Kingfisher

Gulls:
The first Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:35. Again c.250 arrived at this time. Twenty large gulls arrived at this time as singles / small groups separately from the Black-heads

As usual almost all these gulls left. As they did so I noted a second-winter Common Gull departing with them. Later a similar number of Black-headed Gulls was present but whether these were returning birds, new birds or a mixture is impossible to say. Sadly the Common Gull was not with them. More large gulls all drifted in as a spread-out group.

Early arrival counts
- >250 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Gull: second winter
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Herring Gulls

Gull count at 09:15
- >250 Black-headed Gulls
- 43 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls

On the lamp pole pre dawn:
- 1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- 1 unidentified spider sp.
There was also a small moth flying around, likely a Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) but just possibly the first Early Moth (Theria primaria) of the winter.

Other sightings
- 1 Grey Squirrel

This Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) was unusually low down and allowed a photo by torch light rather than the camera’s flash. The left pair of front legs are held typically close together pointing ahead. The right pair not quite so neatly arranged.

Not at all sure about this spider. No real features to begin to identify it.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:45 – 10:45

(285th visit of the year)

A postscript to yesterday’s note about the man throwing a weighted object in to the water. It was suggested that he was not fishing but throwing a magnet in to the water, searching for metal objects.

Bird notes from here:
- My second Teal record here this year – previously on 19 April when no doubt on Spring passage.
- I had only found six brownhead Goosanders. One seen in flight is recorded as a fly-over but may have been lurking on the water earlier.
- A calling Great Spotted Woodpecker was my first record this month.
- A group of 18 Goldfinches around the island.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 (0♂) Goosander (see notes)
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Wood Pigeons

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 5 Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 40 (23♂) Mallard
- 8 (8♂) Pochard again
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (0♂) Goosander: departed
- [no Grey Heron seen]
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- 56 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 adult; 1 second-winter
- 2 Kingfishers flying about

No other sightings.

Today’s star bird at The Flash: a drake (Common) Teal. A small duck on dark water all the way across to the island does not make for a stunning photograph. Behind it a drake Mallard of course and behind that a second-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull.

This illustrates the difficulty of counting the number of Goosanders present. Tucked up under overhanging vegetation on the island there are six brownheads (and two Black-headed Gulls).

Here endeth 2019!

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

Click Here for the FoPL 2019 Summary

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 19

Click Here for the FoPL 2019 Summary!

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool [in an unusual order]

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:30
The Flash:  11:05 – 11:45
Trench Lock Pool:  09:40 – 09:55 // 10:35 – 11:05
Trench Middle Pool:  10:00 – 10:30

4.0°C > 5.0°C:  Very low cloud soon breaking up with clear spells. Then after 09:15 fogged in at Priorslee – so off to Trench where clear. Stayed clear. Light / variable, mainly S breeze. Moderate / good visibility, poor at Priorslee for a while.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT still

Best of the day was the Pink-footed Goose that arrived at Trench Middle Pool (q.v.)

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:30

(299th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The fifth Mute Swan cygnet again went for a fly on its own.
- Two Canada Geese on the water when I arrived. Another two flew in c.08:00. All stayed until 09:20 when two left.
- Another challenging day with the Jackdaws and Rooks. >1000 birds streaming past together at 07:38 in multiple mixed groups. Several small groups later.
- A strange morning with Wood Pigeons. Firstly nine birds flew high N in a very loose group. Then 13 flew high E. 22 more flew E before two groups of 68 and 21 respectively flew high W, the larger group containing a Stock Dove. A few singles over as well. Finally 43 were noted descending in to trees around the ‘football’ field, just as I was about to leave and as it fogged in. None of these movements seemed to be initiated by the bird scarers in the fields to the E.
- Five singing Song Thrushes.
- I initially assumed the two Pied Wagtails overhead were making their way to their usual E-end lay-by feast. They were not there.
- Reed Buntings left the roost in three small groups, with the final three at 08:25 – later than I have stayed to check on previous days. Strangely two birds were seen to fly in to the roost area from nearby prior to any birds departing.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 8 Greylag Geese: outbound
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: outbound with Canadas
- 12 Canada Geese: outbound in three groups
- 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 158 Wood Pigeons (see notes)
- 3 Collared Doves: singles
- c.1100 Jackdaws
- c.100 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 2 Redwings
- 2 Pied Wagtails

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 8 Redwings
- 8 Reed Bunting (three groups)

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall still
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochards
- 37 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Moorhens
- 121 Coots

Gulls:
The first Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:35. Only c.250 arrived at this time and they soon dispersed in all directions. After 08:00 I logged c.325 arriving from the W / NW, with many barely pausing before they moved off E. As usual I have no way of telling how many of these were new arrivals.

Very few large gulls came and went

Arrival counts
- >325 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls

On the lamp pole pre dawn:
- 1 Common Stretch-spider (Tetragnatha extensa)

No other sightings

Early low cloud clearing away.

The bank of fog in the distance.

A drake Gadwall. After the magnificent Pintail this is my second-favourite duck.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  11:05 – 11:45

(284th visit of the year)

Some unusual disturbance from one of the fishermen today who appeared to be throwing a weighty object on a rope in to the water and pulling it out. I know nothing about fishing but apart from possibly stunning some accidentally I have no idea what he was doing. Birds were staying well away.

Bird notes from here:
- Usual problem with Great Crested Grebes. Certainly two together. One seen in a different location but then I could relocate neither of the others.
- Lower number of Pochard.

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

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans as ever
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 31 Canada Geese
- 44 (27♂) Mallard
- 8 (8♂) Pochard only
- 31 (15♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 (0♂) Goosander: departed
- 1 Grey Heron yet again
- 3? Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen again
- 12 Coots again
- 27 Black-headed Gulls only: and 15 of these left as I arrived
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: leaving as I arrived
- 1 Kingfisher seen on the island

Other sightings:
- c.10 Muscid sp. flies on the Ivy bank

A slightly better shot of the Kingfisher lurking on the island.

One of the Muscid flies on the Ivy bank.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  09:40 – 09:55 // 10:35 – 11:05

(58th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- Bright and low sun prevented me looking in to the vegetation where the Little Grebes often hide.
- Some of the recent Great Crested Grebes seem to have moved out.
- More Coots than for many weeks.

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws].
None

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 35 Canada Geese: 32 of these arrived in two groups
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Goosanders: departed
- [Little Grebes not seen]
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only
- 3 Moorhens
- 11 Coots
- 31 Black-headed Gulls again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults
- 1 Herring Gull: second-winter
- 1 Kingfisher again

The Canada Goose formation team comes in to land.

Touch down!

This group floating in seem rather reluctant to lower their undercarriage.

A drake Goosander, its bill ploughing through the water.

Same bird now in the sun.

And now preening. Note in particular the serrations on the bill, used for gripping fish. This feature gives this family of ducks the generic name of ‘sawbills’.

Today’s gull lesson. The underwing pattern on this adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull shows a dusky trailing edge apart from the inner primaries. Note the heavily-streaked head on this bird. Also that there is no black on the upper mandible, just a hint alongside red spot on the lower mandible.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:00 – 10:30

(57th visit of the year)

The arriving Pink-footed Goose was a surprise. However not new here in 2019 – I logged one on 04 March. I noted today’s bird as I scanned the geese just after they landed and managed a quick confirmatory shot before it joined all the others behind the island. I could not re-find the bird on the water when I walked around to view the other side: many of the Greylag Geese had climbed on to the island and could not be seen. It must have done so too. The photos I took of the geese arriving shows this bird somewhat better.

Notes from here:
- So why did the gulls all get up and leave? They swirled around for a while but never re-settled.

Birds noted flying over / near here.
None

Counts from the water:
- 1 Pink-footed Goose: arrived with Greylags
- 136 Greylag Geese: 120 of these arrived
- 19 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral Goose-type as usual
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 18 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 (3♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 14 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 18 Black-headed Gulls: all departed as I arrived
- 1 Herring Gulls: departed as I arrived

The group of Greylag Geese arriving. Note the aerobatics being used to lose height with a bird at the top right upside-down. If you enlarge the photo look carefully at the second bird from the left along the bottom: no orange bill.

Here the unusual bird is right in the middle. Note the black neck and upper breast.

... and bottom right here ....

... and bottom left here. We can even see the pink feet on this bird – a Pink-footed Goose.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:

Click Here for the FoPL 2019 Summary

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:15
The Flash:  09:20 – 10:10

7.0°C:  Low cloud beginning to break. Moderate SSE wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT again

Another generally quiet morning

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:15

(298th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The fifth Mute Swan cygnet again went for a fly on its own. It seemed to be unmolested by the resident cob.
- A mixed group of c.450 Jackdaws and c.50 Rooks went over at 07:50 with another c.425 Jackdaws two minutes later. Thereafter a steady stream of small numbers of, mainly, Rooks.
- Just four singing Song Thrushes.
- A single Reed Bunting seen flying away. From my position in the SE area I was unsure of its origin. It seemed to come from the S side reeds rather than the usual W end roost.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 9 Greylag Geese: outbound again
- 2 Canada Geese: outbound
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- >900 Jackdaws
- c.100 Rooks
- 7 Starlings
- 1 Linnet again

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpies not counted]
- 1 Reed Bunting

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall again
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 42 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosanders: departed
- [no Cormorants]
- 1 Grey Heron
- [no Little Grebes]
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 Moorhens
- 119 Coots

Gulls:
The first c.120 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:25 quickly building to c.600 before a passing Common Buzzard put them all in the air and many never resettled. Birds swirling around for much of the time, assumed to be the same as these. At c.09:00 I counted 85 on the academy’s football field and 52 on the ‘football’ field – again assumed to be from the original arrivals.

A few large gulls came and went

Arrival counts
- >600 Black-headed Gulls again
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls

Nothing on any lamp pole pre dawn again. Windy.

Other sightings:
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus) on Belisha beacon in Teece Drive

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:20 – 10:10

(283rd visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- Pochard numbers keep creeping up. No ducks noted for several days, only drakes.
- Small influx of Tufted Ducks – not from the lake where numbers have been fairly constant for some days.
- Great Crested Grebe(s) apparently gone again.
- At least 160 Black-headed Gulls on the water when I arrived. Something put them all up and later I could only log 52. The 23 noted flying over seemed to be different birds, travelling with one of the groups of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- Song Thrush in song
- One Redwing in the trees alongside squirrel alley.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 8 Canada Geese
- 36 (21♂) Mallard
- 15 (15♂) Pochard
- 28 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron still
- [no Great Crested Grebes]
- 1 Moorhen
- 12 Coots
- >160 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 2 adult; 1 first-winters

No other sightings

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:40
The Flash:  09:45 – 10:35

8.0°C:  Low cloud began to break at times revealing broken mid-level below a high overcast. Light SSE wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT

We could do with a change in the weather to move birds around a bit.

Priorslee Lake:  07:00 – 09:40

(297th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The fifth cygnet went for a fly on its own to the East. Only after it returned did it get chased by the cob.
- Yesterday’s Pochard gone.
- Some of the Tufted Ducks were flying around. ‘Best effort’ at total.
- Even more difficult than usual to make an accurate count of Jackdaws. It was still very dark when they started passing and they were well to the E such that their calls were not obvious.
- Groups of Rooks, unusually, passed after the main groups of Jackdaws
- Now six singing Song Thrushes.
- Just a single Reed Bunting heard calling. None seen.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 9 Greylag Geese: outbound
- 2 Canada Geese: flew N
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 111 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- >650 Jackdaws
- 74 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 1 Linnet

Birds logged leaving roosts around the lake:
- 42 Magpies
- 1 Redwing again

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans as usual
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 40 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 11 Moorhens
- 117 Coots

Gulls:
The first gulls arrived at the late time of 07:45 on this very gloomy morning. They were mostly Black-headed Gulls with very few large gulls.

Arrival counts
- c.300 Black-headed Gulls again
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

Nothing on any lamp pole pre dawn despite the mild weather. All the lamps were exposed to the wind and that may have been the reason.

No other sightings

This male Bullfinch was doing something I have not seen before. Usually I see them doing what they like doing – eating buds. This was unusually low down in the vegetation and repeatedly flying to hover as if it were gleaning insects. Only when I looked at the photos could I see the vegetation in its bill. Clearly it was hovering to pull seed heads out of the vegetation and then munching them at its leisure. Also rather unusually it was on its own – usually these birds are encountered in pairs or small groups.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:45 – 10:35

(282nd visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- Families with bird food ensured a high count of Mallard as they all came out of hiding to feast.
- Single Great Crested Grebe seen in two locations but unable to see both at same time....
- A Kingfisher called from trees by the south-most bridge and then, unusually, flew off through the wooded area. Another bird was calling from the island at this time. One of these seen in flight over the water later.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults
- 1 Herring Gull: adult
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Collared Doves
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: departed
- 2 Canada Geese still
- 50 (29♂) Mallard
- 13 (13♂) Pochard
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron yet again
- 1, possibly 2, Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 1 adult; 2 first-winters
- 1 Herring Gull: first-winter again
- 2 Kingfishers

No other sightings

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 19

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool [not in that order]

Priorslee Lake:  13:00 – 13:30
The Flash:  12:20 – 12:55
Trench Lock Pool:  10:25 – 10:35 // 11:40 – 12:10
Trench Middle Pool:  10:40 – 11:35

6.0°C:  Very low cloud with mist at Priorslee. Keen SSE wind. Moderate visibility, poor at Priorslee.

[Sunrise: 08:22 GMT]

Mist and fog suggested an early start would not be productive. The later start was not too productive either.

Priorslee Lake:  13:00 – 13:30

(296th visit of the year)

A check from the E-end lay-by only

Bird notes:
- Coots almost certainly under-recorded in the poor visibility.
- Low number of gulls and no sign of any large gulls moving in or out.
- The return of the burger van heralded the return of the two Pied Wagtails to the lay-by.

Counts from the lake area only:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 42 (23♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 (1♂) Goosanders: departed
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- [no Little Grebes]
- 3 Great Crested Grebes once more
- 3 Moorhens
- 111 Coots
- 71 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls

No other sightings

A first-winter Black-headed Gull. Some brown in the folded wing.

Here are two first-winter Black-headed Gulls. The bird in front is ‘more immature’ with extra brown in its folded wing, Note too the different tone of their legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  12:20 – 12:55

(281st visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- The decline in Tufted Ducks numbers continues – more drakes ‘missing’.
- One Great Crested Grebe back – assuming it really went away.

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

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese again
- 37 (22♂) Mallard
- 10 (10♂) Pochard
- 15 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen only
- 14 Coots
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 1 adult; 1 first-winter; 1 second-winter
- 1 Herring Gull: first-winter
- Kingfisher heard again

No other sightings

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:25 – 10:35 // 11:40 – 12:10

(57th visit of the year)

When the contractors working for the Canal and River Trust trimmed the vegetation along the front of the dam they left all the branches and twigs where they fell. The coppiced shrubs will likely regrow. If the intention was to prevent roots compromising the dam then that does not seem a good idea. So why did they cut them? Interestingly most of the brambles are untouched.

Bird notes from here:
- Two Little Grebes relocated today: they were well tucked inside overhanging vegetation.

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws].
None

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- 4 (4♂) Mallard
- 5 (4♂) Goosanders: three departed
- 2 Little Grebes
- 7 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens again
- 4 Coots only
- 31 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 1 Herring Gull: 1st winter
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: adult
- 1 Kingfisher

‘A rose between two thorns’. A brownhead Goosander passes two sleeping Great Crested Grebes.

This is why I had trouble finding the Little Grebes. Camera on full zoom and the result as enlarged as I dare. One is easy to see. The other, to its left (our right), is less so.

Here is a ‘classic’ adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. This is of the paler European race graellsii showing an obvious contrast between most of the wing and the black wing-tips.

This is a different adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull – note it has more dark on the bill. Rather unusual is that the outer three primaries show three white ‘mirrors’. It shouldn’t according to my bird books.

Here is that second bird at rest. Legs yellow? I suppose so as the feet are pink and certainly different in colour.

From below a first-winter Herring Gull. Note that the pale area along the trailing edge of the wing covers the inner primaries and outer secondaries. Note also the spotted area ahead of the tail-band. Not sure what it has in its bill.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:40 – 11:35

(56th visit of the year)

A rather strange sighting was what appeared to be three goose eggs on the island. I would have thought any remaining from the breeding season would have been broken or eaten long ago. Would a goose lay at this time of year?

Other notes from here:
- Some of the drake Tufted Duck gone from here as well as The Flash
- The sun most certainly did not get in my eyes. Counting the Coots was easy and a larger number was found.
- All the large gulls came and went dependent upon whether there was any food being provided. I suspect these ‘hop over’ from Trench Lock Pool. I doubt there are two adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the area.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
None

Counts from the water:
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 32 Canada Geese: 12 of these arrived
- 1 all-white feral Goose-type
- 32 (20♂) Mallard
- 17 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 (7♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 15 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 86 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: all adults
- 7 Herring Gulls: 3 adults; 1 1st winter; 1 2nd winter; 1 3rd winter and 1 4th winter
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull: adult again

On this ‘gull visit’ here we see the similarity of tone on the backs of adult winters Black-headed and Herring Gull.

And proof that white is not always white. The drake Goosander on the right is much whiter than either of the gulls.

Note the wing-tip pattern on this adult winter Herring Gull

A big bill on this bird. Note that in winter there is often a black smudge on the upper mandible even on adults.

Here it takes off with another adult in front of it and a more heavily-streaked third-winter bird behind. Note the bill on this third bird ....

Compare the third-winter bird shown in the previous photo with this second-winter Herring Gull. Here the bill is almost all-dark and there are more immature feathers on the mantle.

Here are four winter Herring Gulls. Book-ended by two adults, a fourth-winter shows dark feathers in the greater primary coverts and a first-winter looks very different.

The ‘smart’ appearance of this gull is the first clue that this is an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The mantle is too dark for a Herring Gull and not dark-enough for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Both of these species would show head-streaking at this date. Some will soon begin to lose this as they come in to breeding plumage.

And here it is showing its wings. Compared with the Herring Gull note that only the outer primary shows a white ‘mirror’. The legs look yellow, though I always find the true colour of pale legs difficult to judge. In winter leg colour of all gulls is rather muted which makes it even harder. Rather unexpectedly this bird show a few dark feathers in the greater primary coverts which would suggest this is not a full adult – fourth-winter?

For comparison here is an adult winter Herring Gull showing white ‘mirrors’ on three outer primaries (the poor light prevented a faster shutter speed to ‘freeze’ the action). The legs look pink.

A direct comparison between an adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and the adult winter Yellow-legged Gull.

In the wooded area there was rather little light. One of the ever-present Long-tailed Tits.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  11:40 – 12:10
The Flash:  12:15 – 13:05

5.0°C > 6.0°C:  Low overcast. Occasional light drizzle. Light ESE wind. Moderate visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:21 GMT still]

Priorslee Lake:  11:40 – 12:10

(295th visit of the year)

A later visit avoiding the early wind and rain. Observation from the E end lay-by and dam-top only

Bird notes:
- The fifth cygnet Mute Swan remains well-separated. Another cygnet is increasingly spending time away from its parents and siblings.
- Both Pochard and lone Goosander new arrivals.
- Moorhen numbers always low when disturbance flushes them away from their preferred feeding area on the SW grass.
- Rather few gulls and almost no further arrivals while I was present

Bird totals:

Counts from the lake area only:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 43 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 2 Cormorants again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens
- 133 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher

No other sightings

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  12:15 – 13:05

(280th visit of the year)

Bird notes from here:
- A noisy Greylag x Canada Goose present throughout.
- Despite diligent searching all areas with overhanging vegetation I could find no Great Crested Grebes.
- All the large gulls were arrivals. Most left before I did.
- At least 50 finches flying over and around the island. No calls heard: presumed Goldfinches.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None

Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 2 Canada Geese
- 38 (22♂) Mallard
- 12 (12♂) Pochard
- 18 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron again
- [no Great Crested Grebes]
- 4 Moorhens again
- 12 Coots again
- 74 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 2 adults; 1 first-winters again
- 3 Herring Gulls: 2 first-winters; 1 second winter
- 1 Kingfisher heard only

No other sightings

 In the mid-winter gloom the haircut on this brownhead Goosander caught my eye.

One of its companions looked distinctly ‘soggy’ in comparison. In the very dull light it is hard to be certain: the eye colour on this bird looks browner than the previous bird. There is a hint of a pale line between the bill-base and the eye: and some white showing in the flanks. I suspect this is an immature drake beginning to moult in to its first adult plumage.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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)