10 Dec 23

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

8.0°C: Low overcast with slight drizzle at times. Light / moderate south-easterly breeze. Good visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:10 GMT]

A frustrating visit. I stayed home until the forecast rain had passed and the sun had come out. It might have come out in Newport but Telford was still wearing its hat of low cloud.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 12:10 – 12:15

(=== visit of the year)

When I arrived here the sailing club were out on the water and apart from Coots nothing was visible. Had anything been blown in by either of the storms it had gone.

I did not stay long and did not count anything.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 12:20 – 13:10

(241st visit of the year)

Photos

None taken. Poor light.

Bird notes:
- Many of the Pochard and Tufted Duck were no doubt refugees from the sailing activity on the Balancing Lake.
- The two Goosander may have been forced off the River Severn. When it is in spate these birds have difficulty seeing the fish.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Redwings
- c.35 Goldfinches

Noted on / around the water:
- 1 Canada Goose
- 15 Greylag Geese: probably more inside the island.
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 41 (27♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 103 (53♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosander
- 20 Moorhens
- 40 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: of these one departed
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near?) adult
- 4 Cormorants: of these one departed
- 2 Grey Herons

Of note elsewhere.

Nothing

(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
2 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
6 Gadwall
4 Pochard
2 Teal
4 Raven
(John Isherwood)

The Flash
3 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Horsehay Pool
Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe.
3 Gadwall.
6 Pochard.
46 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Water Rail
155 Coots
23 Redwings
6 Fieldfares.
151 Jackdaws
63 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull
2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
c20 Herring Gulls.
(J W Reeves)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull
An adult Little Gull
(Jason/Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
53 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Merlin
3 Buzzards
>500 Black-headed Gulls
234 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
24 Robins
22 Blackbirds
122 Fieldfares
178 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
139 Jackdaws
66 Rooks
12 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee Lake
160 Golden Plover
1500 Black-headed Gulls
400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Little Grebes
13 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
239 Coot
1 Water Rail
142 Jackdaws
251 Rooks
2 Redpolls
47 Siskins
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)