11.0°C: Mostly cloudy and dull with just a few brighter spells. Unexpected rain c.07:00. Moderate SW wind, gusting fresh. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 08:21 GMT. First lighter morning of the Winter
* = a photo from today.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:45 – 09:30
(3rd visit of the year)
New Bird Species
Three more species added to my 2023 list from here:
- Two Common Buzzards were overhead briefly c.08:30
- A group of c.15 Feral Pigeons flew West c.09:00
- A party of Long-tailed Tits was in trees between the football field and the houses c.09:15.
This takes my 2023 species count to 48.
A Woodcock was seen going to roost again at 07:35. Perhaps another was seen a few minutes later but it could equally have been the first bird still settling down.
Other bird notes:
- At c.07:55 a Water Rail called from the area around the ingress of the Wesley Brook in to the lake. A few minutes later I glimpsed out the corner of my eye something shoot across the bottom of the concrete ramp and in to a small clump of thistles and rank grass. I expected it to be a Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). A Moorhen that was alongside was looking quizzically in to the area. I wondered what it might make of the rat when to my surprise a Water Rail walked out. Although still very dark I thought I would try for a photo but while sorting out the settings on the camera the rail disappeared and I did not see it again. Was this the same bird I heard calling?
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: flew North
- c.15 Feral Pigeons
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 unidentified large gulls pre-dawn
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 5 Jackdaws
- 26 Rooks
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 2 Reed Buntings: others heard
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 31 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 1? Water Rail: see notes
- 9 Moorhens
- 143 Coots: dull conditions may account for this lower total
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- 19 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull again
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 unidentified large gulls pre-dawn
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
A Woodcock was seen going to roost again at 07:35. Perhaps another was seen a few minutes later but it could equally have been the first bird still settling down.
Other bird notes:
- At c.07:55 a Water Rail called from the area around the ingress of the Wesley Brook in to the lake. A few minutes later I glimpsed out the corner of my eye something shoot across the bottom of the concrete ramp and in to a small clump of thistles and rank grass. I expected it to be a Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). A Moorhen that was alongside was looking quizzically in to the area. I wondered what it might make of the rat when to my surprise a Water Rail walked out. Although still very dark I thought I would try for a photo but while sorting out the settings on the camera the rail disappeared and I did not see it again. Was this the same bird I heard calling?
Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: flew North
- c.15 Feral Pigeons
- 7 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 unidentified large gulls pre-dawn
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 5 Jackdaws
- 26 Rooks
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 2 Reed Buntings: others heard
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 31 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 1? Water Rail: see notes
- 9 Moorhens
- 143 Coots: dull conditions may account for this lower total
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- 19 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull again
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 unidentified large gulls pre-dawn
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Light rain probably moved most things on.
- *1 Northern Winter Moth (Operophtera fagata)
Noted later:
- Grey Squirrel
- *1 Northern Winter Moth (Operophtera fagata)
Noted later:
- Grey Squirrel
With the hindwings visibly extending beyond the folded forewings at rest this indicates this is a Northern Winter Moth (Operophtera fagata) rather than a 'regular' Winter Moth (O. brumata).
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35
(3rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- My view was largely obscured when a group of c.25 Greylag Geese was glimpsed flying North to the East of the area. I assume these were the 23 birds, including three feral geese, that appeared a few minutes later and circled over before settling on the water and scurrying inside the island.
- Two singing Song Thrushes this morning.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
Noted on / around the water
- *7 Canada Geese
- *20 Greylag Geese: arrived together with...
- *3 feral geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *50 (32♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- ? Coots: forgot to count them!
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *36 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Herons again
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35
(3rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- My view was largely obscured when a group of c.25 Greylag Geese was glimpsed flying North to the East of the area. I assume these were the 23 birds, including three feral geese, that appeared a few minutes later and circled over before settling on the water and scurrying inside the island.
- Two singing Song Thrushes this morning.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
Noted on / around the water
- *7 Canada Geese
- *20 Greylag Geese: arrived together with...
- *3 feral geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *50 (32♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- ? Coots: forgot to count them!
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- *36 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Herons again
On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted
Elsewhere:
- *2 species of fungus, one possibly Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor).
New Bird Species
One bird species added to my 2023 list for here:
Herring Gull
The year's species total for here is now 34.
- *2 species of fungus, one possibly Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor).
New Bird Species
One bird species added to my 2023 list for here:
Herring Gull
The year's species total for here is now 34.
I have zoomed in to show the three feral birds more clearly.
Two of them here with ten Greylags.
And the third with a single Greylag. The feral goose shows a much deeper (and shorter?) bill.
Just about enough light to 'freeze' the action as this drake Mallard joins two already on the water.
A different Magpie with rather better-looking primaries.
(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
2014
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st winter female Scaup
(Tom Lowe)
Horsehay Pool
Kittiwake
(Jim Almond)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Flash
Drake Scaup
(J Reeves)
Trench Middle Pool
22 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)
2012
Priorslee Lake
96 Greylags Geese
20 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
86 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
54 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
27 Great Black-backed Gulls
Peregrine
204 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
Trench Pool
2 Little Grebes
215 Canada Geese
3 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
219 Black-headed Gulls
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)
Holmer Lake
46 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
44 Mute Swans
2 Gadwall
47 Pochard
117 Tufted Duck
2 adult Common Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.3400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.250 Herring Gulls
c.2500 Black-headed Gulls
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Water Rail
324 Coots
17 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson/Jason)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Great Crested Grebes
10 Mute Swans
1 drake Shoveler
11 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
122 Coots
34 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Paul King)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
26 Pochard
106 Tufted Ducks
4 Water Rails
100 Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
>7 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
>481 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
14 Blackbirds
5 Fieldfares
67 Redwings
222 Jackdaws
3 Reed Buntings;
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon
1 Goldeneye
22 Pochard
43 Tufted Duck
c.3000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.2000 Black-headed Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
131 Herring Gull
5 Yellow-legged Gulls
66 Siskins
14 Robins
15 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)