31 Dec 24

Happy New Year to you all

NOTE
Before we start I need to give more than my usual thanks to Martin Adlam for turning my text and photos in to the professional format you read. Towards the end of this year Martin was hospitalised for longer than anyone expected. Throughout that time he managed to upload my unformatted text.

Not only has normal service since been resumed as he recuperates but he has, above and beyond, reformatted and added my photos to all those days when he had technical limitations whilst in hospital. You can see these "missing photos" by using the "earlier posts" links at the bottom of the web pages. Thank you again Martin (and Dawn, who tolerates Martin taking time to do all this around his domestic duties).

Also thanks to all my readers for feedback and support. I am always pleased to impart as much as I know about the wildlife in the area.

Also

2024 The year in retrospect:

Priorslee Lake Here

Priorslee Flash Here.

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 10.0°C: Mostly cloudy. A few very light sprinkles early and late. Also a few 'blue holes' early. Increasing moderate /fresh south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT yet again.

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:30 – 09:15

(287th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only one of the two first winter Mute Swans was noted today.
- *an additional two pair of Gadwall were noted.
- *a duck (Eurasian) Wigeon was also a new arrival.
- on one sweep of the water counting Coots I noted four Great Crested Grebes. Later while I was checking the Pochard and Tufted Ducks I could see none. Where did they go? hide?
- as yesterday very few gulls were noted flying over.
- at least one Kingfisher seems to be roosting around the lake with bird(s) heard calling in flight pre-dawn.
- at least two Redwings were roosting in trees at the East end.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 2 Cormorants together
- 89 Jackdaws
- 111 Rooks
- 4 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- 17 Canada Geese: throughout
- 1 Greylag Goose: throughout
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- *7 (3♂) Gadwall
- *1 (0♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 9 (4♂) Pochard
- *37 (29♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- *271 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- c.500 Black-headed Gulls
- >17 Herring Gulls among
- *1 Great Black-backed Gull
- c.175 large gulls, mainly *Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 2 Grey Herons: second bird chased away
- 1 Great White Egret
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- *1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata

Flies:
- *2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.

Springtails:
- *2 springtails likely from within the genus Tomocerus.
- *1 globular springtail from within the genus Dicyrtomina group, perhaps D. ornata.

Beetles:
- 1 Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:

Barkflies:
- 1 barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi agg.
- 10 barkflies Valenzuela flavidus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 7 spiders, species not determined apart from
1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

Noted later.

Nothing

As noted in the blog there were early spits of rain which did not suggest there would be any sort of sunrise. Another quick scamper to a good viewpoint produced this.

Everything was at long range this morning. Here are three duck Gadwall. Recognise by the orange-brown edges to their bill along with the rather gentle appearance.

At the front are two drake Gadwall. The one on the left can be identified by the all-black bill: the one on the right by the black stern. A drake Tufted Duck behind and between them with a Coot behind it and a duck Tufted Duck top right.

And a distant duck (Eurasian) Wigeon. The rounded head, grey bill with a dark tip, dark area around the eye and warm flanks all help identify.

Compare and contrast. In front an adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull with extensive head streaking and a contrast between the dark of the back and the folded wing-tip. The larger bird is an adult winter Great Black-backed Gull. These do not show any head streaking and the back is as black as the folded wing-tip. Note too the more massive bill.

A species of moth that was my first in 2024 and after 41 more specimens is now my last: a male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata.

Compare and contrast again. On the right one of the winter craneflies Trichocera sp. On the left one of the springtails likely from within the genus Tomocerus.

Another springtail likely from within the genus Tomocerus. There are two species which are basically dark and can only be separable using a microscope.

Perhaps my clearest photo of one of the globular springtails. Not easy when they are less than 1.5mm from top to tail. If I have read the identification guide on the NatureSpot correctly this is almost certainly Dicyrtomina ornata with the caution that "this species is very variable in pattern and colour".

One of the most common spiders throughout Winter and Spring are Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders from the Tetragnatha group, often known as stretch spiders.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
11 unidentified gnats/midges of at least four species

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:45

(290th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- all the 'additional' Mute Swans have now departed leaving just the resident pair and their two surviving cygnets from this year.
- just one Great Crested Grebe seen: close-in beside Derwent Drive.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 16 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese
- >53 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 2 mainly white feral geese
- 2+ 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 36 (23♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- *66 (37♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 65 Coots
- *1 Great Crested Grebe
- 124 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: second winter, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

Noted elsewhere:
- *1 male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata

A drake Tufted Duck doing its "Mr, Angry" with me.

Really fixing me with its stare.

See: they can smile if they want to.

Photographers are never happy. Yesterday in the sun too much contrast for the Great Crested Grebes. Today too little light to do it full justice. I prefer this of the two - for photography!

There was no snow for my Christmas Robin. There is no snow for this New Year Robin either.

Winter Moth Operophtera brumata was not the first moth species I noted here this year but this male is my last.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Ian Grant)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
(Jim Almond and Paul Spear)

2010
Priorslee Lake
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
11 Great Crested Grebes
31 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
237 Coot
Golden Plover
1 Water Rail
700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.1250 Black-headed Gulls
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
37 Herring Gulls
6 Great Black-backed Gull
374 Jackdaws
178 Rooks
1 Kingfisher
1 Willow Tit
2 Redpolls.
2 Redwings
14 Robins
19 Blackbirds
13 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

30 Dec 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 8.0°C: Scattered cloud. Light increasing moderate south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT again.

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:30 – 09:15

(286th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the two first winter Mute Swans reappeared: so were they just hiding yesterday.
- unusual behaviour by the gulls this morning. By 07:15 there were at least 300 large gulls circling around and around over the water – usually it is Black-headed Gulls that are doing this. At least 50 more joined them later. The first c.150 Black-headed Gulls joined them by c.07:20, these sporadically settling, unusually, on the water in the north-east area. More Black-headed Gulls continued to stream in with perhaps as many as 700 birds eventually seen though it is difficult to be sure that some of these were not re-arrivals. During all this commotion the Coots were calling loudly even by their normal standards. Was all this activity in response to some unseen (by me) disturbance?
- just four gulls, all Lesser Black-backs, were noted flying over later.
- a lone Redwing in trees alongside Teece Drive

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 21 Canada Geese: outbound in two groups
- c.80 Greylag Geese: inbound in concurrent groups
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls only
- 3 Cormorants together
- 124 Jackdaws
- 61 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Canada Geese: a trio throughout; two pairs arrived separately, one pair staying only briefly
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 3 (1♂) Gadwall
- 12 (8♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 33 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 258 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.700 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- >9 Herring Gulls among
- c.350 large gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great White Egret
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- *1 male Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 possible Oak Apple Gall Wasp Biorhiza pallida

Flies:
- *6 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- *>1 winter gnat?

Beetles:
- 1 Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
- *1 flea beetle, probably a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala
- *2 other beetles to be identified

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 spider, species not determined

Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
A resurgence of spiders!

Barkflies:
- 3 barkflies Valenzuela flavidus

Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail from within the genus Dicyrtomina group.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 10 spider, species not determined apart from
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later.

Nothing

Did somebody say "gulls". There were a lot of them before sunrise.

Today's variation on a male Mottled Umber moth Erranis defoliaria.

It looks like a large red ant but Obsidentify suggests an Oak Apple Gall Wasp Biorhiza pallida. My concern is that this is my third sighting of what is supposed to be a rarely-seen (if common) insect. It also seems to be larger than the 3.5mm quoted on the NatureSpot web site.

An unusually clear photo of a winter cranefly. It does not help with the identification.

With shorter wings (or longer body?), more robust antennae and spurs on the legs this is most likely a species of winter gnat.

A not very hood photo of a small beetle with large 'thighs' means it is a flea beetle, and probably a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

Unidentified beetle #1. I'll see whether the Shropshire recorder can identify it from this photo.

Unidentified beetle #2 for the Shropshire recorder.

An unidentified small spider. Google Lens suggests Meta menardi though that is also known as a cave spider – which seems unlikely to be on a street lamp pole.

Plane of the day (though I have done this before). It is a Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady of the US Air Force 99th Reconnaissance Squadron based at Beale Air Force Base in California and detached to RAF Fairford. It is climbing out on a high-altitude mission to who knows where to do who knows what. The underwing "span-pods" contain all manner of electronics which we are also not allowed to know about.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Flies:
7 unidentified gnats/midges of at least four species

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:45

(289th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- as at the Balancing Lake a resurgence of Canada Geese.
- a Little Grebe seen again, as usual lurking around overhanging vegetation. Has it been here unseen for many days? Or another / returning bird.
- two Great Crested Grebes were noted together in the middle of the water soon after I arrived. Later one bird was close-in beside Derwent Drive. I could not re-find the original pair. So was this a third?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Noted on / around the water:
- 36 Canada Geese
- >42 Greylag Geese
- no mainly white feral geese
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 31 (21♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 76 (45♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 68 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- *2? Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 106 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: second winter briefly
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted elsewhere:
- >25 flies of several species on the Ivy bank, *including Calliphora vicina

Despite a prolonged search among all these flies I could find no hoverflies to give me my latest-ever records.

A Little Grebe well tucked up against overhanging vegetation.

And a rather soggy individual at that. As soon as it noticed me it dived and was not seen again. Typical.

The low and bright winter sun is all very well but the contrast is too high for my camera to handle. My best efforts with the photo editor still leave a lot to be desired on this photo of two Great Crested Grebes.

Slightly better is this view of the single bird later seen alongside Derwent Drive.

Long-tailed Tits are always a delight...

...but always on the move.

There were plenty of flies of several species on the Ivy bank but sadly no hoverflies. This 'bluebottle' fly is probably Calliphora vicina.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
2 female Scaup
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
7 Gadwall
(John Isherwood/Dawn Balmer)

The Flash
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Yellow-legged Gull
(Dawn Balmer)

Horsehay Pool
12 Goosander
(Dawn Balmer)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Jim Almond/Chris Ballance)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull
9 Great Black-backed Gulls
Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow-legged Gull
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Caspian Gull
(Jason)

2006
Priorslee lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
19 Pochard
34 Tufted Ducks
>300 Black-headed Gulls
>298 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Herring Gull
33 Robins
13 Blackbirds
10 Fieldfares
45 Redwings
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
2 Little Grebes
11 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
2 Mute Swans
35 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
243 Coot
c.250 Black-headed Gulls
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
32 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

29 Dec 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Broken medium-level cloud. No real sunshine. Light and variable, mainly westerly, breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT still.

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:30 – 09:20

(285th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the two first winter Mute Swans seem to have gone.
- I suspect the trio of Gadwall have been present throughout the last few days, obscured by the mist.
- in full song today was a Great Tit.
- I also heard seven Song Thrushes singing. Less expected was the brief song from a Blackbird before 07:15. I am not sure I have ever heard one singing before the turn of the year. My first was on 03 February last winter.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 12 Greylag Geese: outbound in four groups
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: in with...
- 121 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 50 Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: arrived together
- 1 Greylag Goose: visited briefly
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 (1♂) Gadwall
- 10 (8♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Pochard
- 38 (28♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- 268 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- >100 Black-headed Gulls
- >22 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- >250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived together
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great White Egret: flew in from the East at 07:45
- 1 Kingfisher

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- *1 male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata

Flies:
- 5 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.

Beetles:
- 1 Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata

Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:

Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Barkflies:
- 2 barkflies Valenzuela flavidus

Springtails:
- 7 globular springtails from several different species within the genus Dicyrtomina group.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 spider, species not determined

Noted later on the Teece Drive fence:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Noted elsewhere:

Flowers:
*buttercup Ranunculus sp.

A gloomy-looking start well before dawn. At least the fog has gone.

Well, well. Some colour developing. Better leg it to...

...the best vantage point.

The only moth I noted this morning: my 40th Winter Moth Operophtera brumata here of this winter.

On the Teece Drive fence I found this harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis. Identify by its relatively small size, the significantly thicker basal half to the legs and the pale stripe down the abdomen.

Not a flower I expect to see in late December: a species of buttercup Ranunculus sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Flies:
*1 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
- *41 unidentified gnats/midges of at least four species

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 spider, species not determined

Another Psychodidae species of fly: as previously noted sometimes called drain flies, moth flies or owl flies.

One of no fewer 41 unidentified gnats and midges on just one of the walls of the tunnel. I cannot get any satisfactory identification for this species despite its apparent obvious features.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:25

(287th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- at least 29 Greylag Geese (with four mainly white feral geese) around the island when I arrived. At least 57 seen flying in later. I could not find the Pink-footed Goose among them.
- no Pochard seen again: all gone to the Balancing Lake?
- a Great Crested Grebe was a new arrival.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 9 Canada Geese
- >86 Greylag Geese
- 4 mainly white feral geese
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 36 (23♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 49 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: second winter
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult

Elsewhere:

Nothing noted

The four mainly white feral geese among the Greylags. Yes: there are four! There are two together as the left-most, one bending its neck preening. A Black-headed Gull getting in on the action.

This Great Crested Grebe was a new arrival. The complete lack of head plumes suggests a first winter bird though I might have expected the juvenile facial stripes to still be faintly present.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Drake Scaup
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gull
22 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Tundra Bean Goose
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
9 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Black-necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
2 Water Rail
2 Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Ring-billed Gull
(John Isherwood/Richard Vernon/Dawn Balmer/Peter Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Cormorant
3 Wigeon
30 Tufted Duck
4 Pochard
180+ Coot
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
4000+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
1000+ Black-headed Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Pochard
10 Tufted Ducks
1 Lapwing
>550 Black-headed Gulls
>108 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.40 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee lake
c.3200 Lesser black-backed Gulls
c.1700 Black-headed Gulls
c100 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
4 Yellow-legged Gull
(Martin Adlam/Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)

28 Dec 24

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

2.0°C: Mist / fog again. Poor visibility. Light wind.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT.

= a species photographed today

Once more I did not venture out until I though I had a fighting chance of seeing some birds. The Flash first.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:50 – 11:45

(284th visit of the year)

Viewing from the dam-top area just about all the lake could be made out, not very clearly.

Bird notes:
- I could not see the first winter Mute Swans: they could have been hiding on the north-west reeds where they have taken refuge from the resident cob previously.
- more Pochard were present: some from The Flash where I saw none today?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Pochard
- *29 (21♂) Tufted Duck: the drakes are easier to see in the mist
- *3 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- *3 Great Crested Grebes
- 34 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Of note today.

Nothing else

Surprisingly sharp in the conditions: a drake Tufted Duck goes for a fly-about.

A Moorhen attempting to walk on water....

..and failing.

These two Great Crested Grebes seemed to be pairing up. Note the extent of the head plumes, especially well-developed on the left-hand bird.

Compare with this individual with just a few stubby plume-feathers beginning to show. I think this must be a first winter bird.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:55 – 10:40

(286th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Greylag Geese seem to have a good Satnav and a huge group of at least 70 arrived (with at least two mainly white feral birds), many promptly disappearing in the mist.
- all the Pochard seem to have gone though most of the island area could not be checked.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese
- >70 Greylag Geese
- >2 mainly white feral geese
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 49 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 52 Coots
- 38 Black-headed Gulls

Elsewhere:

Nothing noted

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
7 Gadwall
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
1 Scaup
1 Goosander
218 Coots
28 Redwings
386 Jackdaws
209 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
19 Pochard
1 Peregrine
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
4 Goosander
1 Pochard
(John Isherwood)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
15+ Great Black-backed Gulls
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Kriss Webb)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Caspian Gull
9 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Dawn Balmer/Peter Wilson/David Fairhurst)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
4 Gadwall
1 Water Rail
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Peregrine
2 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

2007
The Flash
11 Goosander
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Village
9 Siskins
7 Redwing
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee lake
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Pochard
15 Tufted Ducks
13 Lapwings
c.100 Black-headed Gulls
c.1100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
12 Pied Wagtails
6 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
160 Jackdaws
97 Rooks
20 Chaffinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2005
Priorslee lake
30 Pochard 30
32 Tufted Duck
6 Great Crested Grebe
200+ Coot
1 Water Rail
c.3000 Black-headed Gulls
c.2000 Lesser Black-backs
4 Herring Gulls
21 Pied Wagtails
247 Rooks
172 Jackdaw
5 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
46 Siskin
19 Reed Bunting
(Martin Adlam)

27 Dec 24

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

2.0°C > 3.0°C: Mist / fog at the lake. A brief partial clearance at The Flash. Poor visibility at best. Light wind.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT.

No photographs today

I did not venture out until it looked to be starting to clear. As usual with a late start I visited The Flash first.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:45 – 12:15

(283rd visit of the year)

Limited visibility when I arrived. Deteriorated quickly so I amused myself walking around doing an overdue litter pick. I noted what I saw – which was not much.

Bird notes:
- the two first winter Mute Swans remain.
- a trio of Pochard were new arrivals

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 32 (25♂) Tufted Duck: the drakes are easier to see in the mist
- 3 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- Great Crested Grebes not seen
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Nothing else of note today. Feedback from the Shropshire macro moth recorder has confirmed that the female moths with vestigial wings that I photographed yesterday and on Christmas day were both Northern Winter Moths Operophtera fagata.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:45 – 10:35

(285th visit of the year)

Slightly less affected by the mist.

Bird notes:
- I managed to confirm that there are six mainly white feral geese among the Greylag Geese on and around the island. So one of the pairs of long-term visiting Mute Swans had left by Christmas Day. Now: own up. Who had swan for Xmas dinner?
- nine of the ten Pochard were seen to splash down together in a tight group. I could not see whether they were arriving or merely reposition from the mist at the other end. A lone drake was also noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 7 Canada Geese
- >52 Greylag Geese
- 6 mainly white feral geese
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 35 (20♂) Mallard
- 10 (7♂) Pochard
- 35 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 21 Moorhens
- 61 Coots
- 45 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: one adult; two second winters

Elsewhere:

Nothing noted

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Gadwall
7 Pochard
101 Tufted Ducks
1 Scaup
210 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
69 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
(Dawn Balmer & Pete Wilson)

2011
The Wrekin
Flock of Crossbills near summit
(Maurice Baker)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
18 Mute Swans
59 Canada Geese
4 Gadwall
29 Pochard
92 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
327 Coots
2 Redwings
16 Goldfinches
13 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
22 Tufted Ducks
86 Coots
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
3 Buzzards
20 Pied Wagtails
c.200 Redwing
4 Mistle Thrush
c.500 Fieldfare
1 Willow Tit
3 Brambling
14 Chaffinches
13 Greenfinches
2 Redpoll
1 Siskin
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

26 Dec 24

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 6.0°C: Another winner for the Telford micro-climate. Starry with a sliver waning moon when I left home. Mist from Limekiln Bank and then fog at the lake. Why did I bother?. Very poor visibility. Light wind.

Sunrise: 08:22 GMT.

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:30 – 09:10

(282nd visit of the year)

All observations badly affected by the fog. Very few fly overs noted. Only birds around the edges of the lake seen.

Bird notes:
- two first winter Mute Swans were seen in flight only. Although I only logged one yesterday I noted a bird in several different locations, probably trying to hide from the resident cob – and me.
- how do the gulls manage to find their way in pre-dawn in the mist and fog? SatNavs?
- there seven Song Thrushes singing away this morning. Can they detect that daylight is increasing and Spring is on the way?
- a Mistle Thrush as singing by the Castle Farm Way gate pre-dawn. Another(?) was again singing from the Ricoh area later.
- five Pied Wagtails heard flying over was my highest total for many weeks. Perhaps helped by the lack of traffic noise from the M54?
- as there was little to watch in flight I visited all the areas where Reed Buntings are normally found, sometimes roosting. I heard none. They bred in lower numbers than usual this year. Also I have noted almost no roost departures this winter.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 9+ Greylag Geese: nine seen inbound; others heard
- Jackdaws heard only
- 5 Pied Wagtails

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- 23 (16♂) Tufted Duck
- 11 Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- Great Crested Grebes not seen
- >30 Black-headed Gulls
- >5 Herring Gulls
- >60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great White Egret

Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 1 male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
- 2 male Mottled Umber moths Erranis defoliaria
- *1 unidentified female moth

Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 1 female plumed midge

Beetles:
- 1 Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis
- *1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus

Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:

Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 1 gnat

Barkflies:
- 1 barkfly Valenzuela flavidus

Springtails:
- *1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- 9 globular springtails from several different species within the genus Dicyrtomina group.

Slugs, snails etc.:
- 6 'black slugs'
- 1 small snail

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 spiders, species not determined

Noted later on the Teece Drive fence:

Moths:
- *1 male Mottled Umber moth Erranis defoliaria

Caddisflies:
- *mating pair, not identified

Elsewhere:

Fungi:
- *possible Bleeding Oak Crust Stereum gausapatum

No sunrise this morning. Away from the lake, as here, the visibility was slightly better.

Peering at me through the mist is a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

He (you can just see red on the nape indicating it is a male) seemed little troubled by my presence.

Now you can see he is a male. The large white shoulder patch is often very obvious when this species is seen in its bounding flight.

 "Where shall I go now?"

Resting on the Teece Drive fence was this unusually-toned and poorly-marked male Mottled Umber moth Erranis defoliaria.

Another female moth to identify. This on a different street lamp pole from where I saw a similar individual yesterday. Could she have walked that far?

Seen in the cold light of day does not help me. I'll see whether the Shropshire recorder can help.

A mating pair of caddis flies. This group is hard to identify at the best of times: paired and dew-covered is not the best of times. Obsidentify thought they were moths. I could not persuade Google Lens to concentrate on one individual so it gave some very strange answers for the pair.

The antennae look long-enough for this springtail to be Pogonognathellus longicornis.

A rare species of spider – one that I can identify! The pale line down the cephalothorax as well as the general shape are diagnostic. I only seem to see this species from the turn of the year in to late Spring. But this is full-size so where has it been lurking?

A harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus (though I read a third species has recently been identified from eastern England). Another seven-legged special, this time the front right leg is missing.

This will probably reward revisiting (if I remember). It seems to be Bleeding Oak Crust Stereum gausapatum, the white edging being an identification feature. It seems to have nothing to do with the white fungus, also a crust, that I cannot get an identification for using this photo. The green is moss and lichen (I am not going there: I have a life to live).

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Flies:
- *1 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
- *1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
4 unidentified gnats of at least two species

Slugs, snails etc.:
- *1 slug, perhaps Netted Slug Deroceras reticulatum

Arthropods:
- *1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 spiders, species not determined

One of the Psychodidae species also known as Drain Flies, Moth Flies or Owl Flies. The literature used to say there were 99 species, none of which could be identified from photos. I read recently that a new species had been discovered. I marvel that anyone knows.

A winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

This slug is perhaps Netted Slug Deroceras reticulatum. The patterning is OK but most individuals shown on the web are creamier in tone.

A Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber. If my log summary is to be believed this is my first this year.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:20

(284th visit of the year)

Slightly less affected by the mist.

Bird notes:
- at least 20 Greylag Geese around the island when I arrived. At least 70 seen flying in later.
- I am still not sure whether two of the long-term visiting Mute Swans have departed as I could not see inside the island. I noted two adults in flight together and later four adults (and two first winters / cygnets) on the water. I suspect the two in flight were two of those I saw on water later.
- fewer Pochard and Tufted Duck seen. I am sure this was a real decrease as the number of duck Tufted Duck was little changed while the number of more visible white-sided drakes was smaller.
- a Water Rail was alarm-calling from the top end.
- Coot numbers continue to decline: fewer than half the record number present two months ago.
- there were two Song Thrushes in song.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese
- >90 Greylag Geese
- 4 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: see notes
- 40 (25♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Pochard
- *51 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail: heard only
- 15 Moorhens
- 58 Coots
- *29 Black-headed Gulls

Elsewhere:

Nothing noted

Even duck Tufted Ducks have mostly acquired a small tuft, even is the pale around the base suggests this is a first winter bird.

Yes you. No need to look at me like that.

The drake has a much longer 'tuft' - well crest really.

A complaining first winter Black-headed Gull. Not sure I have noted before that the grey feathers on the mantle have small white fringes. These probably wear before they moult the head and wing feathers to adult plumage. These first year birds may or may not breed but will normally migrate back to their natal site to see how it is done.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Two 1st-winter female Scaup
(Unknown)

2012
Priorslee Lake
A drake Scaup
4 Gadwall
10 Great Black-backed Gull
(Kriss Webb)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
97 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosander
327 Coots
5 Redwings
4 Fieldfare
10 Goldfinches
14 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)