30 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Medium/low overcast unexpectedly started to break after 08:45 with a few sunny spells. Moderate WSW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:57 GMT

* = a photo today

The milder weather seemed to have led to an exodus of, in particular, Tufted Duck.

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 09:30

(275th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Just the one Mute Swan. It spent a lot of time asleep near the nest area. I rather assume it is the local pen left behind yesterday though I could not see whether or not it was ringed.
- Initially I could only find the 'spare' drake Gadwall. Eventually two pairs paddled in to join it at the E end. Some 15 minutes later there were two pairs at the W end. Had they paddled back? It was too distant to see whether the others were all still by the dam. So perhaps four pairs.
- Many of the Tufted Duck were very mobile. I managed to complete a 'total' count but was unable to ever get a full count of the number of drakes.
- A Water Rail was heard calling at 08:50. A rather unusual time as I normally only hear them around first light. My first of the winter.
- At least 350 Black-headed Gulls were on the water by 07:00: perhaps they roosted? They stayed quiet until a blue-light ambulance went along Castle Farm Way when they all went up, a prelude to them starting to leave.
- At least two Reed Buntings were heard calling in the W end scrubby area but none was seen to leave.

Overhead:
- 29 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: singles
- 133 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks again
- 3 Ravens: together
- 1 Starling
- 14 Fieldfare: together
- 8 Redwing: group of three and five singles
- 7 Pied Wagtails heard
- 1 Meadow Pipit
- 3 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:

None

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: calls only again

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan: presumed the local pen
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard again
- 52 (>21♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail: heard only
- 7 Moorhens
- 48 Coots
- >350 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull: adult
- *12 Herring Gulls
- *2 Common Gulls: first winters, together
- 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 6 Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata)

And:
- *1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
- *1 possible Phaonia pallida (Muscid fly)
- 2 craneflies
- many 'winter midges'

Spiders and Harvestman:
- 3 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders
- *Two other spiders of different species to be identified.

Noted later:
- 1 wasp sp. in flight(!)
- 1 Grey Squirrel

An unexpected sunny spell produced this stunning effect as the low winter sun shone on the reeds and trees with a very dark cloud as backdrop.

This photo highlights the difficulty of gull identification from photos taken in strong cross-lighting. The upper wing is clearly of a Herring Gull-type being pale grey. Yet the dark along the whole underwing trailing edge is typical of Lesser Black-backed Gull, especially as it shows no paler area at the inner primaries. The bill and pale eye indicate this is a full adult. The top-side of the outer primary on the right wing appears to show an extensive white area ahead of the normal small white 'mirror' as well as a white tip. That too is puzzling. However the extent of the black on the outer wing more or less rules out and species other than Herring Gull.

Well the bird on the right is a first-winter Common Gull. Note the rather thin pale bill with extensive dark tip; the rounded head-shape; the dark-eye; the slightly darker grey mantle; and, as a first winter, extensive brown in the wings. That leaves the bird on the left. Much the same size also with a dark eye. However the mantle looks slightly paler and the bill more robust, perhaps with a pale tip?

Thoughts of anything more interesting are dispelled here. The pattern of the dark feathers on the back show this is the left-hand bird from the previous shot and here, the bill in particular, shows it is another first-winter Common Gull. Despite its name this is an unusual gull species in this part of Shropshire. Go to the gull roost at Ellesmere in winter and you will find at least 100. There have been up to 30 noted roosting at nearby Belvide Reservoir recently so I have been on the lookout for them here.

One of 'our' Common Buzzards in the same tree. Note the barring on the upper tail.

And here flying about.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker surveying the scene.

Red on the nape so it is a male.

Two of the three Ravens that flew over. One appears to be calling though I did not hear the distinctive sound. The overall size, large head and bill and wing-tips with well-separated primaries (fingers) all help identify this species in the absence of the calls.

Alarmingly close, bit a too close really; a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) in winter 'plumage'.

 I think this is a Phaonia pallida (a Muscid fly).

This spider has some resemblance to a Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider but looks rather hunched up. I am checking its identity.

A strange one. The size of a money spider but the photo shows no separation between the thorax and the abdomen as is usual in spiders. It does seem to have at least seven legs though. Another for Nigel.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:30

(251st visit of the year)

No ice!

Bird notes:
- There was likely a seventh Canada Goose present – as there seems to be these days. I failed to find the bird with 'angel wings' but since it cannot fly it should have been around somewhere.
- Two drake Teal were together at the top end and then flew to hide beside the island. No ducks seen.
- The only drake Pochard I noted was lurking underneath overhanging vegetation at the top end. It is possible other(s) were there too. I could not check without flushing this sleeping bird.
- This is the first year that I have consistently noted as many drake Goosander as brownheads: indeed more drakes today.
- A Coal Tit noted singing: a bit early?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Common Buzzard

On /around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 28 (18♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Teal
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 30 (14♂) Tufted Duck only
- 9 (5♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 20 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Herring Gull: third winter, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, departed
- 2 Grey Herons

Around the Ivy: amazing what the milder weather brings out!
- *>5 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *2 Common Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 possible Phaonia pallida (Muscid fly)
- Many other flies of at least four species

Of note:

Nothing else

The two first-winter Great Crested Grebes are often close together and often, as with this one, asleep. Birds can sleep with 'one-eye open'.

The Herring Gull that briefly dropped in. The dark marks along the front of the wings indicate this is a third-winter bird.

From this angle an interesting 'hooded' effect from the winter head markings. Rather atypical – but then aren't they all!

The local Common Buzzard here was also up for a fly-about.

A Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris) having a good gnaw at one of the few remaining Ivy flowers.

I just managed a quick shot of this Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) before it flew away. I wonder where these delicate-looking insects hid during the cold and windy weather of the last few days?

As the eyes do not meet this Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) is a female. I hope the hoverflies stay around for a while: it is always good to get them on the December list.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2012

Priorslee Lake

9 Pochard

3 Gadwall

1 duck Goldeneye

1750 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

370 Black-headed Gulls

76 Herring Gulls

1 adult Great Black-backed Gull

1 adult Yellow-legged Gull

Redpoll

Siskin

Willow Tit

(John Isherwood / Martin Grant)

Holmer Lake

3 Goosander

1 Pochard

(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site

11 Yellow-legged Gulls

An adult Caspian Gull

3,000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

30-40 Waxwings

2 Common Gulls

(Tom Lowe)

2010

Madeley

3 Waxwings

(Pete Nickless)

2006

Priorslee Lake

3 Cormorants

20 Pochard

56 Tufted Ducks

6 Buzzards

1 Kestrel

>1050 Black-headed Gulls

451 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

188 Wood Pigeons

18 Blackbirds

166 Fieldfares

62 Redwings

187 Jackdaws

80 Rooks

4 Siskin

6 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee Lake

1 Wigeon again

3 Pochard

47 Tufted Duck

215 Coot

4000 Black-headed Gulls

2500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

3 Herring Gulls

1 Fieldfare

1 Skylark

168 Jackdaws

72 Rooks.

19 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

29 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

0.0°C: Broken medium level cloud tended to increase after a colourful sunrise. Almost calm. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:55 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:10

(274th visit of the year)

Highlight was the small party of eight Golden Plover that flew over – rather high but the best view of the year by far.

A large conifer tree is laying across the N side path. I assume felled by Storm Arwen.

Bird notes:
- The cob Mute Swan and all three cygnets flew around and then left to the E at 08:20. They had not returned by 09:00. The pen was left on her own.
- Back to three pairs of Gadwall with the 'spare' drake, all together.
- Yet another Woodcock sighting with one flying to roost at 07:10.
- At least 200 Black-headed Gulls assembled on the water by 07:15 and stayed there until 07:30 unusually making almost no noise. After they dispersed very few gulls of any description noted.
- After my comment last Wednesday about the apparent absence of a Magpie roost this winter a number flushed this morning as I made my way along the N side. From underneath I could not determine how many. I would say at least 25.
- Just a lone Starling seen leaving the N side reeds. I was not positioned to necessarily see any leaving the W end.
- Very few Pied Wagtails heard flying over this morning. Perhaps the roost, wherever it was, has dispersed with the arrival of the cold weather.
- Two Reed Buntings seen leaving the N side and flying off SW. I often hear birds calling here at first light but rarely see them disperse. It is worth noting that the SOS (Shropshire Ornithological Society) undertake annual ringing at the Shifnal Sewage Farm and have recorded winter roosts there of over 300 Reed Buntings.

Overhead:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 9 Wood Pigeons only
- *8 Golden Plover: as highlighted
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 123 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
- 1 Redwing
- 6 Pied Wagtails only heard
- 4 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 1 Starling
- 2 Reed Buntings

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: calls only

Counts from the lake area:
- *2 + 3 Mute Swans: the cob and three cygnets departed
- *7 (4♂) Gadwall
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 60 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 52 Coots
- *2 Little Grebes
- *>200 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- *1 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

Nothing else – wimps!

Later:

Nothing of note

A series of photos of the excellent sunrise this morning. This was taken very early, hand-held with a slow shutter speed: note the car-lights along Castle Farm Way as streaks.

Colouring up.

Even better.

And now red almost half way across the sky.

The three cygnets make a suitable foreground.

A big fir tree, felled by Storm Arwen no doubt, blocking the N side path.

How could I resist this drake Gadwall?

Or this one?

This adult winter Black-headed Gull has worked out that Paul's burger van is a source of titbits and is hanging about in hope.

Two Little Grebes popped out of the reeds while it was still very dark: looked about: and disappeared again. A record shot of one of them.

This Cormorant is in the process of swallowing whatever it has caught. I find the eyes of this group of birds fascinating whether they are blue, as here; green as in the more maritime Shag; or red as in some related species in the Southern Hemisphere.

And if you think Cormorant feathers are all-black then think again. If the light is at the right angle they gloss green and mauve as here.

Another that won't win prizes. These eight Golden Plover were high and fast-flying. By the time I got the camera on them they were also some way passed. Just about noticeable are the long pointed wings that characterise this species in flight.

Robins do look unusual when seen from head-on!

This Pied Wagtail has also worked out where to get titbits. These fast-running birds are happy mixing it with the vehicles in the lay-by as they search for morsels.

The only thing brave-enough to sit on any of the frost-covered lamp posts was this Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:15

(250th visit of the year)

c.40% mainly thin ice

Bird notes:
- Back to two drake Pochard.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Starling
- 5 Fieldfares: together
- 1 Siskin

On /around the water:
- 9 Canada Geese: two of these flew in
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 36 (23♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Pochard
- *72 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 (3♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: again
- 31 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Grey Heron: again

Of note:

Nothing else

Feeding time! Some kind person has put down some seed. A pair of Mallard and three Black-headed Gulls are tucking in. Two of the gulls are first-winter birds with brown markings on the folded wings.

If there is food in the offing then a Wood Pigeon will not be far away.

Two drake Pochard today. Both together – they were definitely not doing synchronised diving so it was a challenge to get them both on the surface. The very fine vermiculations on the grey plumage are just about visible.

Talking of handsome ducks... a splendid drake Tufted Duck. Not much of a 'tuft' as yet.

A bigger 'tuft' but some retained eclipse plumage feathers in the flanks still to be replaced. Note the wide tail resting on the surface, used as a rudder when it is diving.

This drake still has even more flank feathers to moult and a tuft to grow before coming in to breeding condition.

Mr. Grumpy (or perhaps Mrs. Grumpy – I cannot sex this species). This is a full adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with only the merest dark mark on the upper mandible. The legs are supposed to be yellow – brighter when in breeding condition next Spring. I suppose they are not as pink as its feet. This bird is unusual for this date in showing almost no dark markings on the head.

Not much light to catch these energetic Long-tailed Tits as they frantically search for food in the limited hours of daylight.

Off it goes.

A Nuthatch with a nut. Will it hatch? As noted previously the bird's name is derived from 'nut hack' as they attack nuts to get at the kernels. It seems to have done that here.

The angle rather foreshortens the body but the tailless appearance is very obvious in flight

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2013

Priorslee Lake

6 Gadwall

2 Pochard

2 Teal

1 Shoveler

Shelduck

1 Yellow-legged Gull

4 Great Black-backed Gulls

(JW Reeves / John Isherwood)

2012

Priorslee Lake

Goldeneye

3 Gadwall

6 Pochard

33 Tufted Ducks

144 Coots

Woodcock

216 Black-headed Gulls

c.480 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

47 Herring Gulls

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

c.950 Wood Pigeons

16 Redwings

2 Fieldfares

c.560 Jackdaws

81 Rooks

11 Siskins

3 Redpolls

(Ed Wilson)

2011

Priorslee Lake

3 Yellow-legged Gulls

1 Great Black-backed Gull

(John Isherwood)

2010

Madeley

3 Waxwings

(Pete Nickless)

2009

Priorslee Lake

Drake Pintail

(Martin & Ian Grant)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

28 Pochard

54 Tufted Ducks

1 drake Ruddy Duck

>1450 Black-headed Gulls

331 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

278 Wood Pigeons

35 Robins

27 Blackbirds

69 Fieldfares

7 Song Thrushes

13 Redwings

1 Siskin

8 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee Lake

2 Little Grebes again

2 Wigeon

2 Pochard

47 Tufted Duck

223 Coot

A drake Shoveler

7+ Cormorants

8000 Black-headed Gulls

3500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

7 Herring Gulls

25 Golden Plover

14 Fieldfares

8 Redwings

13 Sky Larks

7 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

28 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

0.0°C > 1.0°C: Scattered clouds. Light WNW wind. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 07:54 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 07:35 – 09:10

(273rd visit of the year)

Again viewing from E end lay-by area only.

Bird notes:
- The Mute Swans went for another fly-about: again it was the pen who did not stay in the air long.
- Yesterday's Wigeon had gone.
- Again very few Black-headed Gulls around.
- The Common Kestrel briefly hovered over the M54 verge alongside Ricoh and then flew away S.

Overhead:
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 82 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 3 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Redwing
- 8 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- *3 + 2 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard still
- *69 (34♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 51 Coots
- 17 Black-headed Gulls only
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived; did not stay long

Nothing noted otherwise.

A bit late for Autumn colours but the low winter sun was doing its best.

One for cloud fans.

And another. From the wind direction it may well have been The Wrekin that caused this effect.

The Mute Swans went for a fly-about again. Here are two of the cygnets.

Don't mind me!

Oi! Junior. You are supposed to me 'mute'.

Dad spreads his wings.

A bunch of likely lads. Still a few old grey feathers in the flanks of these drake Tufted Ducks.

One having a scratch. Drakes have a golden eye – at least you think they do until you see a real Goldeneye duck.

And a pair of Tufted Duck. She looks surprised and he looks cross. Write your own soap-opera episode as to why.

The Cormorant arrives. Within the next few weeks adults will begin to show white thigh patches as they start moulting in to breeding plumage. The white head plumes will follow a bit later.

One of the local Common Buzzards with a twinkle in its eye.

Of course this shot of the buzzard passing in front of the moon was entirely planned....

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:00

(249th visit of the year)

A small amount of thin ice at the Derwent Drive end.

Bird notes:
- More Mallard than I have seen for a while.
- Only one drake Teal located.
- Now three drake Pochard (but still one at the lake)
- Two juvenile Great Crested Grebes together – as they often are.
- Many of the gulls shown, including the two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, had flown off before I departed.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
- 3 Ravens

On /around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 43 (29♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 55 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 (6♂) Goosander
- 12 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 78 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, departed
- 1 Grey Heron

Of note:

Nothing else

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2012

Priorslee Lake

3 Gadwall

7 Pochard

24 Tufted Ducks

1 Goldeneye

c.373 Wood Pigeons

2 Woodcock

17 Redwings

29 Fieldfares

c.490 Jackdaws

56 Rooks

9 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

2 Pochard

48 Tufted Duck

10+ Goosander

(Ed Wilson)

2009

The Wrekin

Firecrest

(Martin & Ian Grant)

2006

Priorslee Lake

1 Little Grebe

26 Pochard

47 Tufted Ducks

1 drake Ruddy Duck

1 Water Rail

64 Coots

895 Black-headed Gulls

48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

35 Fieldfares

24 Redwings

191 Jackdaws

123 Rooks

53 Starlings

16 Greenfinch

13 Goldfinches

7 Reed Buntings

(Ed Wilson)

2005

Priorslee Lake

2 Little Grebes

A duck Wigeon

Cormorant

c.75 Lapwing

2 Fieldfares

1 duck Pochard

34 Tufted Duck logged.

200 Coot

(Ed Wilson)