3.0°C > 7.0°C: Early clear spells gave way to low cloud and misty conditions. Light south-easterly breeze. Early good visibility becoming moderate at times.
Sunrise: 07:49 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:25 – 09:25
(27th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- three pairs of Gadwall noted. The extra duck that was present for many weeks from 2024 seems to have either paired up or departed.
- the first Lesser Black-backed Gull arrived at 07:12; the first group of Black-headed Gulls at 07:35. Gull numbers have definitely declined. I wonder whether they will increase again with the threatened cold weather over the next few days.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 Stock Dove
- 64 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 76 Jackdaws
- 55 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 19 Canada Geese: throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 11 (8♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 12 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 138 Coots again
- *4 Great Crested Grebes
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 16 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed
- 1 Great (White) Egret
Noted on the street lamp poles pre dawn:
Flies:
- 2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 2 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
Springtails:
- 4 globular springtails Dicyrtomina sp. type
- 4 globular springtails Dicyrtomina sp. type
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 spider not specifically identified
Telford Sailing Club
Noted around Telford Sailing Club HQ pre dawn.
- *1 spider not specifically identified
Telford Sailing Club
Noted around Telford Sailing Club HQ pre dawn.
Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
Barkflies:
- 1 barkflies Valenzuela flavidus
- 1 barkflies Valenzuela flavidus
Springtails:
- 3 globular springtails Dicyrtomina sp. type
- 3 globular springtails Dicyrtomina sp. type
Spiders etc.:
- 7 spiders not specifically identified
Noted later:
- 7 spiders not specifically identified
Noted later:
Nothing
Where are all the Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni this year? In the previous two winters these have been regular in small numbers on the Teece Drive fence. None has been seen this winter here nor at The Flash.
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
Where are all the Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni this year? In the previous two winters these have been regular in small numbers on the Teece Drive fence. None has been seen this winter here nor at The Flash.
New Bird Species
No additions to the bird species on my site for here in 2025
A few early breaks in medium-level cloud before low cloud rolled in.
A pair of Great Crested Grebes were doing their full "weed dance" as part of their pairing ritual.
It would have been better had they been side on!
"Ptui. That tasted nasty".
Time to shake our heads.
"I see no planes".
"Can't you read? 'No Parking' it says".
"Who me?" "Yes you: and did you drop that litter?"
These Hazel catkins are the male part of the plant.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:45
(25th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a Water Rail was flushed from the top end. My first this year here. Why does it never appear when I have the camera prepped for a photo?
- a Cormorant(?) noted was mostly just a carcass on the East side grass. I was told there was a Common Buzzard feeding on it but that had flown off by the time I got there. It is a mystery as to how the large bird got to where it was. I doubt a buzzard could kill something of that size but as a carrion feeder would welcome the opportunity.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 50 Canada Geese: some of these departed
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 4 Mute Swans
- 32 (24♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 58 (32♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail
- 13 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 43 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: two adults; one second winter
- 2 Cormorants: see notes
Of note elsewhere:
Noted on / around the water:
- 50 Canada Geese: some of these departed
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- 4 Mute Swans
- 32 (24♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 58 (32♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail
- 13 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 43 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: two adults; one second winter
- 2 Cormorants: see notes
Of note elsewhere:
Nothing
New Bird Species
One addition to the bird species on my site for here in 2025:
48 Water Rail
At the time I thought this carcass was a Cormorant. Now I am not so sure though I do not have any better suggestion. The tail is missing and there is hole in the rib-cage. I was told a Common Buzzard was feeding off it earlier. It looks to be too large for a buzzard to kill though if it were already dead it would be a welcome meal.
The head has gone too. Perhaps an Otter (or worse still, a Mink) could do this. A few day ago someone mentioned to me they thought they had seen what might be Otter footprints around here.
My camera can make birds look very different under changed lighting. This Collared Dove is in deep shade in a tree.
New Bird Species
One addition to the bird species on my site for here in 2025:
48 Water Rail
And here is one in the open. It is a different bird but to my eyes they looked the same colour.
(Ed Wilson)
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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Viking, or possibly a dark Iceland
(J Reeves)
Telford Crematorium
1 Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2013
Priorslee Lake
12 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
3 Pochard
32 Tufted Duck
2 Reed Bunting
(Tony Beckett)
The Flash
15 Pochard
53 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander
(Tony Beckett)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Glaucous x Great Black-backed Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe / Andy Latham)
2012
Priorslee Lake
26 Pochard
29 Tufted Duck
>5000 gulls
Ring-billed Gull hybrid
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Roger Clay / Ed Wilson / John Isherwood / Martin Grant)
Trench Pool
Snipe
(Dave Tromans)
2011
Priorslee Lake
8 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
77 Herring Gull
5 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Merlin
(Observer Unknown)
2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Skylarks
4 Fieldfare
c.55 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
17 Pochard
37 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
3 Lapwings
30 Robins
14 Blackbirds
1 Fieldfare
11 Song Thrushes
3 Redwing
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
2 Wigeon
19 Pochard
77 Tufted Ducks
151 Coots
1 Water Rail
15 Robins
13 Blackbirds
90 Siskin
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
5 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson)