3.0°C > 4.0°C: The Telford microclimate strikes again. Low overcast, mist and murk. Light southerly wind. Poor or very poor visibility.
Sunrise: 08:08 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:30 – 09:30
(19th visit of the year)
The low cloud and poor visibility made for a 'thin' log.
Bird notes:
- probably the same extra adult Mute Swan as yesterday was already being put to flight by 07:15. It finally departed c.08:00.
- at least 20 Herring Gulls and 230 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the water at 07:25. They seemed settled were almost silent at this time and I suspect these had been roosting. More arrived with Black-headed Gulls joining them after 07:40. 15 of the Black-headed Gulls flew straight over.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 13 Canada Geese: 11 outbound together; pair South
- 2 Greylag Geese: single outbound and perhaps the same inbound a few minutes later
- 3 Wood Pigeon
- 15 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks
- 1 Redwing at least heard overhead
Counts from the lake area:
- 51 Canada Geese: many of these departed
- 3 Mute Swans: the extra bird eventually departed
- 5 (2♂) Gadwall
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 19 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 243 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- >25 Herring Gulls
- >400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Grey Heron or Great (White) Egret again
Noted on the street lamp poles pre dawn.
A poor result despite the slightly milder conditions and lack of dew on the lamp poles:
Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail Dicyrtomina-type
Telford Sailing Club
Noted around Telford Sailing Club HQ pre dawn.
- 1 globular springtail Dicyrtomina-type
Telford Sailing Club
Noted around Telford Sailing Club HQ pre dawn.
Barkflies:
- 2 barkfly Valenzuela flavidus-type
- 2 barkfly Valenzuela flavidus-type
Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail Dicyrtomina-type
Also noted.
- 1 globular springtail Dicyrtomina-type
Also noted.
Nothing else
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
At many places they are planting reeds as a way of helping to reduce pollution. The Severn Trent approach seems to be to cut the reeds and leave the litter to pollute the water. Pah!
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:40
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:40
(17th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the disconsolate-looking drake Tufted Duck with the growth on its neck was not seen.
- *two Little Grebes noted.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese
- 4 Mute Swans
- 34 (23♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 83 (51♂) Tufted Duck
- 15 Moorhens
- 47 Coots
- *2 Little Grebes
- 103 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: one adult: two second winters, briefly
Noted elsewhere:
Nothing
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
When I first noted the Little Grebe it set off at speed for cover.
I waited around and it emerged – of course there is a twig in the way!
Eventually it came out in the open.
And dealt with a nasty itch.
A persistent itch before
..setting off back to cover. This bird is I suspect a first winter bird.
A smart-looking Collared Dove.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
117 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Redwings
c.274 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Mike Stokes)
2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
26 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
22 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
157 Coots
1 Common Gull
144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
74 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Glaucous Gull
Juvenile Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)
2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
c.195 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
132 Coot
2 Water Rail
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
428 Jackdaws
438 Rook
300 Wood Pigeons
14 Robin
80 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
11 Blackbird
1 Willow Tits
6 Greenfinch
65 Siskins
6 Redpolls
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)