4.0°C > 9.0°C: Fine and clear apart from a band of cloud to the far East. A clam start with a moderate westerly wind developing. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:05 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:00 – 09:15
(46th visit of the year)
Bird notes
Best today was a Woodcock seen at 06:30 at the West end. Most of my sightings of this species have been of birds flying in from the fields to the East to drop in to one of the small wooded areas at the West end, spending the day roosting, well-camouflaged against the leaf-litter. Today's bird seemed to be moving between wooded areas though I only saw it very briefly. Bird species #69 for me here this year.
Other bird notes:
- the Gadwall were again hiding under overhanging vegetation. An extra duck noted today: possibly another – to make three pairs – hiding away.
- the same Pochard noted. I did not improve on yesterday's view to get any further with positively identifying its sex.
- *the Great (White) Egret flew in at 06:40.
- a Kingfisher was heard calling at 06:45, presumably at or leaving its North side roost.
- *two Cetti's Warblers noted again.
- a Chiffchaff was calling from the West end reedy area at 06:40. What was likely the same bird was seen skulking in the same general area c.08:45.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese; two separate pairs outbound
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 37 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 156 Jackdaws
- 91 Rooks
- 11 Redwings: together
- 13 Siskins: together
Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese: of these a pair flew in from the West; and a group of six from the fields to the East
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂?) Pochard: same
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhen
- 68 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- *1 Great (White) Egret: arrived
- 1 Kingfishers
Street Lamp Poles
Noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Flies:
- 2 wood gnats, perhaps Sylvicola sp.
- 2 wood gnats, perhaps Sylvicola sp.
Springtails:
- 3 unidentified springtails of at least two species
- 3 unidentified springtails of at least two species
Beetles:
- *1 unidentified (as yet) beetle
Noted later:
The bank of cloud to the East prevented any colour in the sunrise. Note on this end (the West end) the water is still with just a few ripples in the distance. The breeze increased later. Where does the wind go at night? Mr. Google knows: "At night...it [wind] tends to significantly decrease in strength near the ground because the Earth's surface cools rapidly, leading to less convective air movement; this is why nights are often calmer than days". So there.
This bird had a single white feather in its left wing. I am used to seeing Blackbirds with white feathers in various places but cannot recall seeing this on a Song Thrush before even though they are both part of the thrush (Turdus) family.
Neither Obsidentify nor Google Lens has come up with anything on this beetle on one of the street lamp poles. The problem with beetles is that there are 4000 species in the UK and many of them are small and black! I'll see whether the Shropshire recorder can help.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25
- *1 unidentified (as yet) beetle
Noted later:
Nothing
No mistaking a Great (White) Egret!
With the light shining through the wing it is possible to see how the feathers, held in place by the shafts, overlap so as to lock together.
One of the Cetti's Warblers was determined not to be photographed.
It remained inquisitive enough for me to get another chance.
A Song Thrush searching for morsels.
And now standing up straight. Note the many different shades of brown in the plumage.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25
(44th visit of the year)
When I arrived council workers were on the water in a boat collecting three dead Canada Geese. I was told the geese would be sent to a lab in Shrewsbury for analysis. The worker I spoke to did not know where any result would be published or be available.
The disturbance meant that birds had been moved around somewhat and there were no Cormorants present.
Bird notes:
- a pair of Coots seen mating.
- four Chaffinches were at feeders in Westcroft Walk. I rarely see more than one or two here. No song here as yet.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 53 Canada Geese: also three dead birds removed: see above
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these two pairs seen arriving
- 4 Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 45 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: all arrived: three adults; two immatures
- 1 Cormorant
Of note
Nothing else.
***the Ivy bank was devoid of insects despite being in full sun in mild conditions.
2014
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
5 Tufted Duck
5 Cormorant
1 Kittiwake
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
1 Iceland Gull
1 Caspian Gull
23 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>300 Rooks
9 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, J. Reeves, P. Jordan, John Isherwood, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
215 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
11 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Telford Crematorium
Cackling Goose
300 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c.20 Herring Gull
500 Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Gary Crowder)
Nedge Hill
1 Stonechat
(John Isherwood)
2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
25 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
17 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Greater Scaup
50 Tufted Duck
12 Pochard
(Jim Shannon)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Redpoll
Priorslee Flash
1 Goosander
Nedge Hill
8 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
47 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
c.550 Black-headed Gulls
c. 800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
56 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrel
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Lapwing
3 Grey Wagtail
26 Wren
28 Robin
21 Blackbird
15 Redwing
53 Magpie
14 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
5 Cormorants
121 Coot
1 Mediterranean Gull
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
33 Herring Gulls.
741 Wood Pigeon
289 Jackdaws
108 Rooks
290 Starlings
21 Reed Bunting
1 Skylark
11 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
23 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
29 Pied Wagtails
23 Blackbirds
6 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
1 Redpoll
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
When I arrived council workers were on the water in a boat collecting three dead Canada Geese. I was told the geese would be sent to a lab in Shrewsbury for analysis. The worker I spoke to did not know where any result would be published or be available.
The disturbance meant that birds had been moved around somewhat and there were no Cormorants present.
Bird notes:
- a pair of Coots seen mating.
- four Chaffinches were at feeders in Westcroft Walk. I rarely see more than one or two here. No song here as yet.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 53 Canada Geese: also three dead birds removed: see above
- 5 Greylag Geese: of these two pairs seen arriving
- 4 Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 45 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: all arrived: three adults; two immatures
- 1 Cormorant
Of note
Nothing else.
***the Ivy bank was devoid of insects despite being in full sun in mild conditions.
(Ed Wilson)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTE
Here are a few photos from the Wirral - 19 Feb 25
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
5 Tufted Duck
5 Cormorant
1 Kittiwake
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
1 Iceland Gull
1 Caspian Gull
23 Redwings
c.800 Jackdaws
>300 Rooks
9 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, J. Reeves, P. Jordan, John Isherwood, Gary Crowder)
The Flash
1 Little Grebe
215 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool
11 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Telford Crematorium
Cackling Goose
300 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c.20 Herring Gull
500 Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Gary Crowder)
Nedge Hill
1 Stonechat
(John Isherwood)
2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
25 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
17 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
Greater Scaup
50 Tufted Duck
12 Pochard
(Jim Shannon)
2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Redpoll
Priorslee Flash
1 Goosander
Nedge Hill
8 Lapwing
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Gadwall
47 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
c.550 Black-headed Gulls
c. 800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
56 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Pochard
7 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrel
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Lapwing
3 Grey Wagtail
26 Wren
28 Robin
21 Blackbird
15 Redwing
53 Magpie
14 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
5 Cormorants
121 Coot
1 Mediterranean Gull
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
33 Herring Gulls.
741 Wood Pigeon
289 Jackdaws
108 Rooks
290 Starlings
21 Reed Bunting
1 Skylark
11 Greenfinches
6 Siskins
23 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
29 Pied Wagtails
23 Blackbirds
6 Greenfinches
17 Siskins
1 Redpoll
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)