Priorslee Lake: 07:20 – 08:30
The Flash: 08:35 – 09:35
3.0°C > 6.0°C: Fine with only a few clouds. Moderate / fresh WSW wind. Very good visibility.
[Sunrise: 06:55 GMT]
Priorslee Lake: 07:20 – 08:30
(46th visit of the year)
Another short visit to the E end lay-by area to avoid being frozen by the fresh and chilly breeze.
Notes:
- All four cygnets present and scattered around the water. After some while the cob began chasing one of the cygnets and soon after the pen started chasing another. She was then ‘helped’ by a third cygnet! At c.08:10 two cygnets left together after circling for a while. Then at c.08:15 the other two cygnets flew the length of the lake. The original two cygnets (I assume) returned c.08:25 and then scattered, unmolested.
- Only 11 Black-headed Gulls at 07:30. Over 150 ‘arrived’ c.08:00, dropping from height.
- A Meadow Pipit flew W – my first 2020 record in Shropshire. Early March is a typical ‘first date’ for here.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adult
- 2 Herring Gulls: both immatures
- 32 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 2 Jackdaws
- 7 Rooks
- 1 Meadow Pipit
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 4 Canada Geese: two of these arrived
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 10 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 173 Black-headed Gulls
Nothing else of note.
Additional bird species for my 2020 bird list at this site:
#67 Meadow Pipit
One of the cygnets joins in the ‘threatening posture’ to one of its siblings.
Here two of the cygnet leave the lake – for a while anyway.
A close fly-by.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 08:35 – 09:35
(45th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The ‘eighth’ drake Pochard (present for over a week) was probably lurking somewhere. The keen wind meant it was challenging to find all the sheltering birds.
- All the drake Goosanders were full adults today.
- The immature Herring Gulls seems likely to have been the bird seen on many days since the turn of the year. It has been camera-shy the past few days and I have been unable to check the plumage details.
- I saw one or more Kingfishers on six separate occasions in flight. While I saw then about to perch I was quite unable to see them after they had done so. Once again they were very noisy and I do wonder whether more than two birds were involved.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- 16 Canada Geese
- 37 (21♂) Mallard
- 7 (7♂) Pochard only
- 33 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (3♂) Goosander again
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 5 Moorhen
- 15 Coots
- 64 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: immature - departed
- 2 Kingfishers
A Dunnock silhouetted against the sky. So close I chopped the tip of its tail off.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2019Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Shirlett High Park
16 Crossbills
(Yvonne C)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(JW Reeves)
2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
17 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock
3 Pochard
50 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
4 Heron
3 Cormorants
5 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
107 Coots
2 Water Rails
606 Wood Pigeon
334 Jackdaws
156 Rooks
25 Starlings
11 Pied Wagtails
21 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
1 Willow Tit
26 Starlings
10 Greenfinches
69 Siskins
3 Redpolls
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)