28 Feb 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

3.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear and frosty again after early mist. Calm. Good visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:00 GMT]

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 08:55 - 09:30

(19th visit of the year)

It was very misty in Newport when I would normally have been leaving. Visibility in lake area is usually much worse than at home so I decided not to venture out. Once the mist began to thin I left for a quick visit only to find it clear from Donnington onwards. Wrong decision!

Viewing from E end lay-by only

Notes:
- A Little Grebe was very vocal but incredibly hard to see - I saw just part of the rear end sticking out of the reeds on one occasion.
- A lone Black-headed Gull when I arrived. Two more drifted in. All of these were adults and none showed any hint of summer plumage.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 2 Canada Geese: inbound
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe again
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

My 2021 bird species list remains at 65.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 - 10:55

(9th visit of the year)

Notes:
- A pair of Gadwall new arrivals.
- c.25% reduction in Tufted Duck numbers since yesterday.
- Seems a rather late date for a Goosander to appear here.
- The Grey Wagtail with rings seen again.
- Siskins head from trees on the island and in squirrel alley.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls: two adults
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Counts from the water:
- 36 Canada Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 25 (14♂) Mallard
- 76 (37♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 5 Moorhens
- 28 Coots
- 15 Black-headed Gulls

My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 50: new today was:
- Gadwall
- Goosander
- Goldcrest: one singing near one of the footbridges
- Lesser Redpoll: one overhead

Also recorded
- 1 Dotted Border moth (Agriopis marginaria) on a lamp pole: my first moth of the year.
- 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina).
- 1 bee sp., my first of the year, heard flying past while I was photographing the shieldbug.
- 1 Grey Squirrel

The pair of Gadwall would not come too close. Here is the drake - note the black rear and all-black bill. This species is slightly smaller than Mallard.

Here is his mate. Less distinctive. Features to separate from duck Mallard are the brighter orange edges to the bill, rather more mottled flanks and, as visible here, a white speculum.

Later they became even less visible tucked up against the island, the duck on the left of the view. I see a few of this species here most years.

I am not at all sure why Mallard start to perch on house roofs at this time of year. Here is a drake.

And here his smart partner. There were two different pairs on roofs this morning.

My first Goosander of the year here and on a rather late date - I would have expected them to have moved away to their breeding streams by now. It is not very obvious in the photo but there was some white between the bill and the eye suggesting this is a first-winter bird. Perhaps still to work out how it should behave?

'That' Grey Wagtail again. Rather against the light in this view but shows the extent of the black bib on breeding males of this species. Still to go fully jet-black. The white moustache will remain.

Here is the Dotted Border moth (Agriopis marginaria). My previous records from here were on 26th February 2014 and 6th February 2019

This is a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) still in the brown colour they acquire in Autumn. Will soon revert to normal green colouration.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2014

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

2 Iceland Gulls

(Observer Unknown)

2013

Priorslee Lake

31 Wigeon 

7 Gadwall 

5 Pochard 

18 Tufted Ducks 

1 Greater Scaup

2 Lapwings

c.1600 Black-headed Gulls

c.800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

c.100 Herring Gulls

1 Iceland

1 Glaucous Gull

1 Caspian Gull

1 Yellow-legged Gull

38 Redwings

2 Fieldfare

15 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant, Tom Lowe)

The Flash

1 Little Grebe

10 Pochard 

123 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool

21 Tufted Duck 

1 Goosander 

(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool

1 Yellow-legged Gull

(Tom Lowe)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

2 Yellow-legged Gulls.

(Tom Lowe)

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

3 Pochard

32 Tufted Duck

4 Curlew

2 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock

26 Tufted Duck 

9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

13 Herring Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe as noted 

6 Great Crested Grebes

4 Gadwall

39 Pochard

57 Tufted Ducks

99 Coots 

29 Blackbirds

4 Redwing

8 Song Thrushes

22 Siskins

3 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Common Gull

6 Ravens

(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane

Stonechat

(John Isherwood)

2007

Priorslee Lake

4 Cormorant

2 Pochard

15 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

1 Peregrine Falcon

26 Robin

11 Redwing

63 Magpie

196 Jackdaw

12 Greenfinch

10 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

2 Little Grebes

6 Great Crested Grebes

2 Cormorants

7 Pochard

35 Tufted Ducks

1 Water Rail

800 Wood Pigeon

142 Starlings

14 Pied Wagtails

18 Robins

20 Blackbirds

11 Fieldfare

10 Song Thrushes

2 Willow Tits

15 Greenfinches

11 Siskins

7 Reed Buntings 

(Ed Wilson)

27 Feb 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

0.0°C > 7.0°C: Clear and frosty with some early light mist. Calm. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:02 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:00 - 09:35

(18th visit of the year)

Notes:
- A pair of Canada Geese flew in from the W c.06:50, proceeded to mate and soon after departed to the S. Then c.08:50 a pair (the same?) arrived from the E and were forced on to the SW grass by the resident Mute Swans.
- I could only find six Great Crested Grebes this morning. One pair was confusingly displaying at multiple different locations making it hard to keep track of them.
- Very unusual behaviour from the Black-headed Gulls. The few first were noted high overhead at 06:30, apparently arriving from the N. Numbers built up until >200 were circling very high. Two groups, each of c.30 birds, dropped out of the main group towards the water. Only a few of these briefly settled before rising back to rejoin the main group which drifted off SE. There was none of the usual arrival from the W. Thereafter never more than six birds on the water and I logged 10 singles flying high over in various directions.
- Several Cormorants approached and circled, seemingly noted that fishermen were present and decided to fly on.
- A Woodcock flew over to its roost site c.06:20.
- I assume that the over-wintering Jackdaw roost is breaking up as birds prepare to breed. Passage started early at 06:10 and was in small groups along multiple flight lines, passing both to E and W of the lake with some birds field-skimming to the E and others very high. Many fewer in total today.
- Presumably the same Chiffchaff was heard singing at c.06:40 and thereafter seen actively hunting insects etc. high in the trees near the Wesley Brook. It seems probable that this is a migrant rather than an over-wintering bird. At nearby Belvide the first three Chiffchaffs of the year were also recorded yesterday, one of them singing.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 20 Canada Geese: 8 outbound; 12 inbound
- 5 Greylag Geese: all outbound
- 2 Stock Doves
- 43 Wood Pigeons
- >150 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- c.205 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks yet again
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 4 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 4? Canada Geese: two? pairs - see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 32 Coots again
- 1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- c.60 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 2 Grey Herons

My 2021 bird species list remains at 65.

On /around the street lights pre-dawn:

Nothing


Noted later

- 1 Grey Squirrel yet again
- 1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax): very different location to the one seen yesterday

Not (for once) a dirty camera lens but mist over the lake diffusing the sunrise.

I'll keep trying the 'arty' shots until I get one right.

Just 60 or so of the many Black-headed Gulls high over the lake. The main group was so high that I could not persuade the camera to 'see' them to focus for a picture.

A summer adult Lesser Black-backed Gull showing the unrelieved dusky tone on the trailing part of the underwing. All the head streaking now gone and only the merest hint of dark remaining on the upper mandible. The less said about the yellow legs of this species the better - mainly hidden here and the feet are supposed to be flesh-coloured (that must be a pre-PC term)

Of course it was hiding behind twigs: a Goldfinch.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:40 - 10:45

(8th visit of the year)

Notes:
- No juvenile Mute Swans seen. The ménage a trois of adults continues.
- The drake Pochard apparently gone. Improbable number of exactly 100 Tufted Duck. So why are there none on the lake?
- A trio of all-white Feral Pigeons flew over together: not noted these previously.
- The Grey Wagtail with rings seen again and photographed, confirming it is the same bird as first identified on 20th December. Now moulting in to male plumage.
- At least three female Siskins at the top end.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature
- 1 Jackdaw

Counts from the water:
- 22 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose again
- 3 Mute Swans
- 25 (15♂) Mallard
- 100 (47♂) Tufted Duck exactly
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 8 Black-headed Gulls

My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 46: new today was:
- Jay calling from trees alongside squirrel alley

This presumed male Canada Goose was returning to its partner and crowing about having seen off a rival.

Stick your tongue away please

"There: wasn't I a protective partner?"

The cob Mute Swan seems to have singled out a particular Canada Goose and was pursuing it relentlessly, forcing it to fly. The swan can paddle faster than the goose. I have no idea how the swan recognises his quarry - the geese look the same to me except that in any pair one of them, the female, is slightly smaller.

A drake Tufted Duck looking rather surprised that it can just hang in the air.

No visible means of support indeed.

A different drake. With light at the right angle there is a mauve gloss to the head. Less often a slight green tinge can occur.

No problem separating the sexes at this time of year. A duck Tufted Duck without the brilliant white flanks and, at the correct angle, only a hint of a 'tuft' on the nape.

Coal Tits usually sing from the top or very near the top of tall trees. For a photographer there is the added challenge to avoid all the twigs!

A rather different view of a Grey Wagtail. Remember that wagtails are named after the colour of their back so despite all the yellow on this species it is a Grey Wagtail. Yellow Wagtails are summer visitors and will not be here for another month or more.

This is the bird I first identified on 20th December as having been ringed at Middleton Nature Reserve, Heysham, Lancashire on 10 September 2020. From this view it can be seen to be acquiring a black bib and yellow on the breast indicating it is a male. Some females, thought to be older birds, show an indistinct black bib but never a yellow breast.

Quite a challenge to get a clear shot. Here the yellow is seen to extend right under the belly towards the even brighter yellow under tail.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee 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

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

2 Iceland Gulls

1 Caspian Gull

(Observer Unknown)

2013

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

1 Greater Scaup

26 Wigeon

4 Gadwall 

33 Tufted Ducks 

84 Coots 

c.800 Black-headed Gulls

c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

c.60 Herring Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull 

(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool

1 Glaucous Gull

(J W Reeves )

2012

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes

1 Shelduck

4 Pochard

30 Tufted Duck

35 Robins

24 Wrens

15 Dunnocks 

(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

3 Great Crested Grebes

9 Pochard

53 Tufted Duck 

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe 

6 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron 

4 Gadwall

35 Pochard

51 Tufted Ducks

1 Water Rail

103 Coots 

c.700 Black-headed Gulls

c.225 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

27 Herring Gulls

Common Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

2 Willow Tit

124 Jackdaws

86 Rooks

1 Linnet

14 Siskins

2 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2009

Priorslee Lake

1 Glaucous Gull

1 Iceland Gull

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

4 Pochard 

19 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

600 Black-headed Gulls

100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

1 Herring Gull

1 Great Black-backed Gull

36 Wren

28 Robin

7 Redwing

20 Magpie

134 Jackdaw 

8 Greenfinch

4 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

2006

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

2 Cormorant

2 Gadwall

7 Pochard

42 Tufted Ducks

110 Coots

150 Starlings

23 Pied Wagtails

21 Wrens

15 Robins

17 Blackbirds

2 Redwings

1 Willow Tit

16 Greenfinches

38 Siskins

1 Redpoll

4 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

26 Feb 21

Priorslee Lake, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

1.0°C > 8.0°C: Frosty, clear and calm start. A few clouds after 11:0 with light WSW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:04 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake :06:05 - 09:40

(18th visit of the year)

Three signs of Spring this morning:
- a singing Chiffchaff
- my first hoverfly of the year - a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- three more species of flower noted - Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Cowslip (Primula veris) and, rather belatedly, Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). I suspect the latter were planted and I do not seem to recorded them in previous years.

Notes:
- Rather fewer Moorhens than usual. These are to be found on the SW grass at first light where they feed before dispersing later. They do not use the grass when it is frosted.
- Now seven Great Crested Grebes with two pairs seen displaying.
- 30 large gulls arrived from the E at 06:25. Of these four were immature Herring Gull-types (Herring / Caspian / Yellow-legged) but they left again while it was too dark to attempt a positive ID. It was an overflying Buzzard that flushed most of the gulls. All the other large gulls were adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- Two of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls overhead were flying E: this is a most unusual direction for this time of day.
- Herons everywhere this morning with three seen concurrently around the lake; two seen being chased off; and then two overhead while two were still present around the lake.
- The Chiffchaff was somewhat of a surprise. It was c.06:40 as I crossed the Wesley Brook bridge to try for a better angle on the large gulls when I heard the call. "Surely not" I thought as this species rarely calls during winter. With that it started singing, which over-wintering birds will do on fine days in February. But at 06:40 when it is frosty!? My earliest ever date for a bird here (not singing) was on 25th February 2019.
- Two Starlings seen to leave a roost around the lake, together.
- A Grey Wagtail in the Wesley Brook when I went to try and relocate the Chiffchaff. A different bird from the one at The Flash yesterday - this one had no leg rings.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 15 Canada Geese: 13 outbound; pair inbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Grey Herons
- c.425 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks again
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 5 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall: heard only
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens only
- 32 Coots
- Little Grebe heard only again
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls only
- 4 Herring Gull-types
- 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorant: one arrived and departed separately
- 3 Grey Herons

My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 65 with:
- Chiffchaff

Street lights:

Not visited pre-dawn:

Noted later
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Three flower species as highlighted

This is the Snow Moon some 20 hours before it is a full moon. It is only in winter that I can ever take its photo prior to the full moon.

No sign of any Sahara dust in this sunrise.

My best attempt at an 'arty' sunrise.

Ten days ago there were no Great Crested Grebes, probably forced off by the ice (remember that?). This morning there were seven. Here is one.

Grey Herons seemed to be everywhere this morning. This one loudly complaining as it leaves.

A Grey Wagtail in the Wesley Brook.

And again: here it is clear it has no rings on its legs.

My first hoverfly of the year - a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

One of the many dandelion-like yellow flowers of Spring is this Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). It is best identified by the flower stems appearing before any leaves are present. It is also one of the earliest to flower.

When it grows up a bit this will be a splendid Cowslip (Primula veris)

Not the best specimens, well past their best. These were Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), growing at the edge of the football field among yet-to-flower Daffodils. So I expect they were planted. I cannot recall seeing them in previous years.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane:  07:15 - 07:35

(1st visit of the year)

I made a short visit here to check the top fields for any early migrant Wheatears - this species likes being able to see the horizon which it can do from here. I drew a blank but did note:
- 1 Meadow Pipit calling over the fields
- 1 male Yellowhammer in stuttering song
Those species only seen / heard from here are not included on my Priorslee Lake species count.

Slight mist as well as the frost this morning looking down Woodhouse Lane to the thundering noise of the M54.

A sunny bird on a sunny morning. This male Yellowhammer was winding up and yet to give a full song. This species has multiple broods and sings until mid-August. He has six months of hard work and singing ahead of him. Typically hiding behind twigs.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:50 – 10:00 // 10:45 - 11:05

(1st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A singing Chaffinch was perhaps the best I could muster.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
[The local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws not included]
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swan: the resident pair 7JTX & 7JUA
- 16 Canada Geese
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Moorhens
- 13 Coots
- no gulls!

Only 21 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Common Buzzard
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Wren
Blackbird
Robin
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

The fine weather tempted the Common Buzzards to soar. Here is one.

Signs of Spring - this is pussy willow about to open. These will be the furry male catkins and occur on many species of willow trees and shrubs. Most individual species of willow are hard to identify.


(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:05 – 10:40

(1st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- A Song Thrush in song
- Singles of both Pied and Grey Wagtail on the new concrete embankment.
- A Bullfinch here: I did not record this species here in 2020.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 4 Common Buzzards: two pairs displaying
- 1 Siskin

Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 17 Greylag Geese
- 56 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose: as usual
- 16 (11♂) Mallard
- 14 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- *16 (6♂) Goosander
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls

27 bird species recorded here on this first visit of the year: also in the latest BTO systematic order
Canada Goose
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Black-headed Gull
Buzzard
Magpie
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit parties
Goldcrest
Wren
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin
Dunnock
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
The Feral Goose not included

Otherwise of note
- A few flowers of Blackthorn [Sloe] (Prunus spinosa). The slightly lower elevation here than at Priorslee always means this species flowers about a week earlier here

Unlike its more skittish cousin the Grey Wagtail this female Pied Wagtail allowed me to take its photo. Soon Continental race/species White Wagtail might be seen on Spring passage. These look superficially like female Pied Wagtails but show clean white flanks.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flowers here at least a week before Priorslee - the lower elevation means a warmer micro climate.

A single flower for your delight?

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee 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

Priorslee Lake

4 Great Crested Grebes 

3 Cormorants 

1 Grey Heron 

8 Pochard 

4 Tufted Duck 

164 Black-headed Gulls

78 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

9 Herring Gulls

1 Yellow-legged Gull

16 Fieldfare

18 Redwings

c.800 Jackdaws

 >250 Rooks

20 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash

1 Little Grebe 

185 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

2 Iceland Gulls

3 Caspian Gull

(Observer Unknown)

2013

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes 

33 Wigeon 

1 Common Teal 

4 Gadwall 

33 Tufted Ducks 

89 Coots 

c.650 Black-headed Gulls

c.410 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

41 Herring Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

The Flash

1 Little Grebe

9 Pochard 

89 Tufted Duck 

1 Greater Scaup

(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

6 Great Crested Grebes 

18 Swans 

4 Gadwall

35 Pochard

44 Tufted Duck

96 Coots 

c.650 Black-headed Gulls 

c.220 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 

12 Herring Gulls 

1 other 'strange gull'!

(Ed Wilson)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Iceland Gull

2 Curlew

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Water Rail

2 Sky Larks

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

6 Great Crested Grebes

1 Heron

1 Cormorant

2 Gadwall

6 Pochard

45 Tufted Ducks

96 Coots

c.1000 Black-headed Gulls

274 Wood Pigeon

135 Jackdaws

111 Rooks

78 Starlings

45 Pied Wagtails

20 Robins

17 Blackbirds

10 Song Thrushes

4 Redwings

2 Willow Tits

20 Greenfinches

6 Siskins

5 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

25 Feb 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 10.0°C: Medium/high cloud on cold front slowly clearing to E and sun after 08:50. Mainly light W wind . Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:06 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:15 - 09:35

(16th visit of the year)

Notes:
- Coots are very quarrelsome birds but usually it all about noise and waving feet at each other. What seemed to be a dead bird seen, though as it was still being attacked perhaps it was only playing dead.
- 18 Black-headed Gulls flew WNW with six Lesser Black-backed Gulls and seemed unconnected with the lake
- Very many of the 177 over-flying Wood Pigeons were much higher than usual, possibly partly due to the better weather. Of these 73 were seen in seven groups that contained more than six birds, as if they might be migrants. Most of these were flying N, though the largest group of 18 flew S!
- *Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard drumming concurrently. As far as I know females do not drum so seems we have two birds setting up territory.
- Not sure why I noted so few Jackdaws. Those I did see were in small groups and some way W of their usual flight lines.
- The group of four Fieldfare were flying SW. Wrong way guys - or do they know something we don't about the weather to come?

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 18 Canada Geese: 10 outbound; 5 inbound
- 4 Greylag Geese: pair outbound; (same?) pair inbound
- 177 Wood Pigeons (see notes)
- 18 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.125 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 31 Starlings: two groups
- 4 Fieldfare
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 2 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 4 Mute Swans: a visiting pair of adults VERY briefly
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall: departed
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 34 Coots: one of these dead
- Little Grebe heard
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.175 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Cormorant: one arrived and departed; later another arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher

My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 64 with:
- the four Fieldfare overhead
- and a Kingfisher seen speeding low across the water

On /around the street lights pre-dawn:
- *5 midge sp.

Noted later
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 3 flies, all different but unidentified species, sunning on a fence
- *My first flowers of the year - Daisies (Bellis perennis)!

This pair of Great Crested Grebes are full of the joys of Spring.

I managed to find a clearer line on to one of the drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker. Nice red trousers!

Why do birds always perch behind branches and twigs. A Jay misbehaving today.

That's a bit better. This bird was giving its mewing call that could easily be mistaken for a Buzzard. However Buzzards usually only call while soaring so if the sound appears to come from trees the likely culprit is a Jay. Jays can also make good Tawny Owl calls as well.

This Blue Tit was peering in to the hollow top of this pole on the dam. If it was thinking of it as a potential nest site that seems unwise - no protection from the rain. Perhaps just searching for spiders.

My daily Long-tailed Tit photo. This one having a good preen ....

... which may not be easy as this individual seems to have a deformed bill. Difficult to say but I think the lower mandible is too long.

A fine male Siskin amongst the Alder cones.

"Do I look better in profile?"

Good to record something on the lamp poles pre-dawn. One of five midges I noted. This presumably a female with simple antennae.

This will not win prizes but they are my first flowers here this year. Daisies (Bellis perennis) of course. Can usually be found flowering in all months.

(Ed Wilson)

Thank you to Mark Williams for the following images taken this afternoon on a nice Spring walk.

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The Flash: 09:40 - 10:30

(7th visit of the year)

An overdue return visit.

Notes:
- Two juvenile Mute Swans in flight with the adults in threatening pose. I presume these are the same two juveniles I saw later keeping out of the way on the island.
- Several of the Coots here are already on nests.
- Just one singing Song Thrush and that was more muttering than singing. I logged none in song earlier at the lake, albeit that was around dawn.
- *Nuthatches seemed to be busy clearing their nest hole.
- A Grey Wagtail with rings seen briefly in Derwent Drive. Too briefly to confirm it is the same ring pattern as on the bird seen in November / December 2020.
- The only finch singing in the area was a lone Greenfinch. There are normally several Chaffinches singing. The Goldfinches and Siskins were fly-overs.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 3 Common Buzzards
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Goldfinches
- 2 Siskins

Counts from the water:
- 35 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 3 + 2 Mute Swans
- 27 (16♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 80 (39♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 8 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 25 Black-headed Gulls also

My 2021 bird species list for here moves on to 45: in recorder order new today were
- Greenfinch
- Common Buzzard
- Great Crested Grebe
- Siskin
- Song Thrush

Also noted:
- *what I think is Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) coming in to 'flower'.

A Nuthatch at a traditional nest hole.

Well we better have a look ....

 ... and see what's what.

Get rid of this rubbish to start with!

Watch it all the way to the ground.

I struggle to identify flowers and here there is always the chance I am looking at garden escapes. I think this is Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia).

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day

2020

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2015

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2014

Priorslee Lake

8 Pochard 

5 Tufted Duck

5 Cormorant

1 Kittiwake

1 Great Black-backed Gull.

1 Iceland Gull

1 Caspian Gull

23 Redwings

c.800 Jackdaws

 >300 Rooks

 9 Siskins

(Ed Wilson, J.Reeves, P.Jordan, John Isherwood, Gary Crowder)

The Flash

1 Little Grebe

215 Tufted Ducks

2 Goosanders

(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool

11 Tufted Duck

(Ed Wilson)

Telford Crematorium

Cackling Goose

300 Lesser Black-backed Gull

c.20 Herring Gull

500 Black-headed Gull 

1 Great Black-backed Gull

(Gary Crowder)

Nedge Hill

1 Stonechat

(John Isherwood)

2013

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes

25 Wigeon

4 Gadwall

17 Tufted Ducks

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

Greater Scaup

50 Tufted Duck

12 Pochard

(Jim Shannon)

2012

Priorslee Lake

5 Redpoll

Priorslee Flash

1 Goosander

Nedge Hill

8 Lapwing

(John Isherwood)

2010

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe 

5 Great Crested Grebes

4 Gadwall

47 Pochard

55 Tufted Duck

c.550 Black-headed Gulls

c. 800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 

56 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

7 Pochard

7 Tufted Duck

1 Ruddy Duck

2 Kestrel

1 Peregrine Falcon

1 Lapwing

3 Grey Wagtail

26 Wren

28 Robin

21 Blackbird

15 Redwing

53 Magpie

14 Greenfinch

6 Reed Bunting

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

6 Great Crested Grebes

2 Gadwall

9 Pochard

56 Tufted Ducks

5 Cormorants

121 Coot

1 Mediterranean Gull

c.1100 Black-headed Gulls

211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

33 Herring Gulls.

741 Wood Pigeon

289 Jackdaws

108 Rooks

290 Starlings

21 Reed Bunting

1 Sky Lark

11 Greenfinches

6 Siskins

23 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

29 Pied Wagtails

23 Blackbirds

6 Greenfinches

17 Siskins

1 Redpoll

6 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)