7.0°C > 8.0°C: Clearing after early showery rain. Light SSW wind . Good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:23 GMT
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 06:35 - 09:40
(8th visit of the year)
Notes:
- As I arrived the adult Mute Swans were asleep at the W end and a single cygnet was at the E end. When the adults awoke they chased the cygnet around and it eventually flew strongly off to the E. Some 20 minutes later probably the same cygnet came back from the E to circle and land. The cob made sure it went back on the SW grass and provided it stayed there the cob lost interest.
- Only c.85 Black-headed Gulls flew in early from the W at 07:02. These soon mostly left to the SE with at least 70 more flying directly over in the same direction. Later a few more were noted flying S amongst the passage of large gulls. By the time I left c.50 birds had reassembled on the lake, seemingly from the SE so presumably returning birds. [I noted several large (>50) groups of Black-headed Gulls flying E over my Newport house during yesterday so perhaps they have started to leave for the continent.]
- All but four of the large gulls were moving S more or less throughout. A higher proportion of the Herring Gulls were (near) adults today. Again only one of the 92 Lesser Black-backed Gulls seemed to be an immature.
- Several small groups (max. 14) of Wood Pigeons noted flying rather high suggesting migration or post-hard weather return movement.
- Two Goldcrests seen. Good to know these managed to survive the cold snap.
- Having failed to locate any Long-tailed Tits on any previous visits this year I encountered two small groups of birds playing chase - sorting out breeding territories I suspect.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 6 Greylag Geese: three pairs
- 61 Wood Pigeons
- 76 Black-headed Gulls
- 25 Herring Gulls
- 92 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- c.220 Jackdaws
- 14 Rooks
- 2 Redwings
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 1 Little Grebes
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 59 with the following additions today:
- Long-tailed Tit
- Jay
- Nuthatch
On / around the street lights pre-dawn
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 4 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 42 Coots
- 1 Little Grebes
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
My 2021 bird species list for here moves to 59 with the following additions today:
- Long-tailed Tit
- Jay
- Nuthatch
On / around the street lights pre-dawn
Nothing - too wet?
Noted later:
- my first flies of the year sunbathing on a lamp pole later. Not identified.
- plenty of Hazel catkins
Noted later:
- my first flies of the year sunbathing on a lamp pole later. Not identified.
- plenty of Hazel catkins
... here it is landing at the far end to regain the grass. Typically ignoring the 'No Swimming' sign!
This adult Black-headed Gull is not yet showing any sign of acquiring the summer-plumage dark brown 'hood'....
... whereas this adult is well in to its head-moult. The most-extensive dark hood that I noted today.
One of the ten Song Thrushes taking some time off from singing to go foraging for food.
Also singing with gusto was this Dunnock.
Seen from a slight angle the subtle grey and brown tones of this archetypal 'little brown job' are well seen.
... here
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee 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)