8 Mar 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 12.0°C: Some early cloud cleared away to the West leaving hazy sun. Light south-easterly breeze. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:43 GMT

* = a species photographed today

An additional pair of Mute Swans at both locations.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 08:50

(56th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- there were nine Canada Geese seen together. Small groups departed and arrived so more individuals were likely involved. Also a dead Canada Goose that seems likely to be yet another avian flu victim – the body seemed unmarked
- just one pair of Gadwall noted and these seen mating.
- I noted a duck-type Pochard distantly. It was not seen well-enough to confirm that it is the bird that has been present for several weeks (but not the last tow days?). My impression was it was not the same.
- 44 Black-headed Gulls flew in from the West. I think many of them probably flew through.
- Otherwise very few gulls, all briefly.
- three singing Chiffchaffs noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Geese: outbound together
- 42 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 103 Jackdaws
- 65 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 9 Canada Geese: plus one dead: see notes
- 3 Mute Swan: plus one dead
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard: see notes
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 Moorhens
- 54 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Great (White) Egret
- 1 Kingfisher: heard only

Of note:
Still nothing on the street lamp poles early: *some unidentified small flies sunning themselves later.

The beginning of the sunrise. The cloud here moved away to the West later.

Peak colour.

This Canada Goose looks freshly dead and therefore different from the dead bird seen about two weeks ago. It looks unmarked and the angle of the head and neck is apparently characteristic of birds that have avian flu.

This is known as feathering your own nest. Long-tailed Tits construct their nests using spider webs to make them elastic to accommodate their growing brood, camouflage them on the outside with moss and lichen and line the insides with feathers.

It appears to be tricky to fly with a large (to them) feather...

...and keep it under control.

There were four birds in the group. Here are two others, another of which has found a feather.

Zoomed right in. I don't recall noticing a Long-tailed Tit with its bill open before.

One of a dozen or so unidentified flies sunning on the street lamp poles.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:55 – 10:05

(54th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the "here today, gone tomorrow" Great Crested Grebe was here today.
- all the gulls overhead were more or less together circling as they flew East.
- two Grey Herons were in the tops of trees on the island. One chased the other and they both departed.
- two singing Chiffchaffs noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 6 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 30 Canada Geese
- 7 Greylag Geese
- *5 Mute Swans
- 21 (14♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- 21 (14♂) Tufted Duck: yes same number as Mallard
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Black-headed Gull: very briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: very briefly
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

Of note:

Nothing else

The newly arrived pair of Mute Swans, the cob with the larger swelling at the base of his bill is the furthest bird.

My pair of friendly Long-tailed Tits seemed to be taking a break from nest building. Here is one.

And the other. Unlike the party of four I photographed at the Balancing Lake there seems to be just two birds involved here.

I have no idea why one limb of this long-dead tree has been felled and cut. The erstwhile Nuthatch nest hole remains at the top of the other limb. I did not note it being used last year though bird(s) inspected and cleaned it out. Two (three?) trees on the East side grassy area have also been felled. As many as six were marked for felling due to ash die-back. I understood that after a local out-cry the order had been rescinded. Apparently not completely.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
1 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
1 Oystercatcher
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
9 Cormorant
15 Tufted Duck
1 Woodcock
311 Wood Pigeon
36 Robin
24 Blackbird
10 Redwing
53 Magpie
5 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
6 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
103 Coots
1 Water Rail
1 Ring-billed Gull
141 Wood Pigeon
142 Jackdaws
23 Blackbirds
11 Song Thrushes
1 Redwing
14 Greenfinches
6 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson and et al)

7 Mar 25

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

9.0°C > 12.0°C: Broken cloud at multiple levels. Light south-easterly breeze. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:43 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

A later start to avoid the forecast early rain that never materialised! Starting with The Flash.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:25 – 10:30

(55th visit of the year)

Bird notes
*Another new species for the year here. A Red Kite floated over to the North at 11:15. Unlike Common Buzzards this species does not utilise thermals and soar. Nevertheless it is more often seen in the middle part of the day. I have single records from each of the years 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2022. A species that increasing in abundance in our area. It becomes bird species #73 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- no matter how many times I counted I could only ever find eight Great Crested Grebes. Loosely as four pairs.
- all the gulls dropped in only briefly before moving off.
- possibly one or two additional Cormorants. Most were fishing much of the time and moving long distances underwater.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: inbound together
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- *1 Red Kite

Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese
- *1 Mute Swan: plus one dead
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- *7 (5♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhen
- 57 Coots
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *4 Cormorants at least

So now I know the identity of the surviving Mute Swan. All I now have to do is find where I filed the information about which sex had which ring attached!

Mallard formation team with the drake hot on the heels of the duck. It seems to be a trick of the light but on neither bird the white border to the blue speculum is visible on their respective right wings.

The white border shows clearly-enough on this view of a drake – albeit a different individual.

And on this view of a drake.

A "head and shoulders" view of a Cormorant with soggy head plumes. I was unable edit the photo to further highlight the blue eye of this species.

This picture of the Red Kite that passed well to the North is not going to win prizes. You can identify it my its long, forked tail and the way it holds its wings very differently from a soaring Common Buzzard.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:40 – 11:45

(53rd visit of the year)

At least two singing Chiffchaffs were new for the year here. As they have almost certainly still to set up territory they are more mobile: there could have been a third. Bird species #55 for me here this year. Only 2019 and 2022 have provided earlier records of this species here.

Bird notes:
- a further reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- the gulls noted only visited briefly. At least two of the Black-headed Gulls were different bird (only one had a full 'black head').

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 27 (18♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- 15 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: all briefly
- 1 Herring Gull: first year, briefly
- 3 Cormorants

Of note:

Nothing else

A Stock Dove probably with nesting material and not an olive branch. I don't know what a Stock Dove's nest looks like. Had this been a Wood Pigeon this would comprise about a quarter of the nest. They provision just enough to stop the eggs rolling away.

Yes I know: more Long-tailed Tits. This shows where lichen can be gathered.

While its partner takes things easy.

"Butter wouldn't melt...."

There are always twigs in the way... a female Bullfinch eating buds.

Keeping one eye on me. Never mind. In a few weeks there will be leaves as well twigs and they can really hide away.

Plane of the day. Not, as you might think, one I have shown before. This Airbus Helicopters EC 145T2 is the replacement helicopter with the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. It is normally assigned to "East Midlands" activities. It operates from the same base adjacent to RAF Cosford as the "West Midlands" example registered G-RMAA which is the one we usually see. I had thought the previous East Midlands incumbent, registered G-HWAA, was away on maintenance and this one, G-HMAA, was a temporary stand-in from the pool maintained by Babcock's of Gloucester (who operate many of the Air Ambulances nationwide). However I doubt a stand-in would be painted with these titles. I would get out less but my anorak needs regular airing.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged gull
(Gary Crowder)

Horsehay Pool
1 Iceland Gull
(Ian Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
5 Teal
8 Goosander
15 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
7 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
6 Gadwall
26 Pochard
5 Goosanders
62 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
76 Coots
62 Magpies
2 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
3 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
16 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
1 Woodcock
425 Wood Pigeon
2 Grey Wagtail
37 Robin
26 Blackbird
7 Song Thrush
6 Redwing
47 Magpie
146 Jackdaw
10 Greenfinch
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Little Grebe
6 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
4 Pochard
52 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
106 Coots
1 Water Rail
1 Curlew
23 Blackbirds
11 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
3 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

6 Mar 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

1.0°C > 8.0°C: Clear but hazy. A calm start with light / moderate southerly breeze developing. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:45 GMT

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:20

(54th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- four small ducks (Teal? Tufted Duck?) were seen in flight at 06:05. They may or may not have been birds from or to the lake.
- six Great Crested Grebes. As usual too some finding at times and I don't think I missed any. Two pairs.
- an Oystercatcher was on the south-west grass at 08:00 at least. I did not see or hear it arrive or leave.
- two Great (White) Egrets present for some time before one was chased away.
- I hope I have the split between Jackdaws (107) and Rooks (168) correct. Passage of apparently mixed groups started before 06:00 with birds distant in still low light levels.
- now two Chiffchaffs singing: one in the north-west area where it has been for a week or so. The other heard singing from across the other side of Castle Fame Way.
- a month ago I was noting 12 or 13 singing Song Thrushes. Now only five or six. Were the others winter visitors that have now left us?
- two Mistle Thrushes were again on the south-west grass. At c.08:45.
- just one Reed Bunting calling and then singing at the West end.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: outbound together
- 1 Feral Pigeon: an all-white bird
- 54 Wood Pigeons
- 18 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 107 Jackdaws
- 168 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 13 Canada Geese: of these a pair and a trio arrived; and a quartet departed
- 1 Mute Swan: plus one dead
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhen
- 65 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Oystercatcher
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- 20 Herring Gulls
- 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: arrived individually
- *2 Great (White) Egret: one chased away
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher

Seen later:

Nothing

On the street lamp poles pre dawn:

Nothing noted

An amazing glow pre-dawn but with no clouds, just haze, to provide the colour.

A distant record shot, taken from the dam, of the Oystercatcher on the south-west grass.

One of four Cormorants that dropped in. The fishermen will be please. They call them "black death".

Legs akimbo the two Great (White) Egrets begin to spar.

Some photos of each of them as they flew around.

I lost track of which was which.

They looked the same anyway.

One heads off.

"So what did you have for breakfast?" Can almost see inside this Wren.

A very scruffy-looking tail on this bird.

Open wide...

....wider..

 ...wider still. It is not just the tail that looks as if it could do with a good preen.

Very loud for such a small bird.

A smart male Greenfinch catches the morning sun.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse Lane area:

I paid my first visit of the year here. It was very quiet.

Ponds
In the two ponds / storm overflows for the new estate I noted
- 10 (8♂) Mallard: they had all flown off when I passed back

In the lane
- 2 Yellowhammers were moving between trees ahead of me

That was about it. no Pheasants, no Skylarks, no wagtails, no Linnets and just one calling Chaffinch being the only finch. The singing Chiffchaff around the sluice exit could be heard from the dam top and so is included in the main list.

*Also noted were my first Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna flowers this year.

A small copse in the middle of a field against the sunrise.

A misty view down Woodhouse Lane. Now permanently a no-through road used only by farm machinery in order to access just three fields.

Looking rather battered and frosted are these Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna flowers on the verge.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:20

(52nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- definite reduction in Tufted Duck numbers (as there had been, less obviously, at the Balancing Lake).
- no gulls noted: all gone?
- I was told a Grey Heron had been seen alongside one of the bridges some 15 minutes before I arrived.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- *16 Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- *3 Mute Swans
- *20 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- no Pochard
- 37 (26♂) Tufted Duck
- 13 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no gulls
- 2 Cormorants

Of note:

Nothing else

A Canada Goose makes a noisy approach.

Last year's Mute Swan cygnets fly strongly and usually stay close together.

Lord and Lady Mallard survey the scene from a rood in Westcroft Walk.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
9 Pochard
9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c80 Black-headed Gulls
(Gary Crowder)

Telford Central Railway Station
35 Redwing
(Gary Crowder)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site:
2 Glaucous Gulls
1 Caspian Gull
(Kris Webb)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
15 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
c.1200 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
c.420 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
10 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock
2 Little Grebes
30 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
3 Pochard
6 Goosanders
4 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
34 Greylag Geese
9 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
775 Black-headed Gulls
488 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
28 Robins
19 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
1 Redwing
1 Willow Tit
41 Magpies
250 Jackdaws
100 Rooks
4 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
22 Pochard
63 Tufted Ducks
164 Coots
600 Wood Pigeons
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
9 Herring Gulls
21 Robins
24 Blackbirds
9 Song Thrushes
3 Willow Tits
11 Greenfinches
15 Siskins
17 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

5 Mar 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

1.0°C > 5.0°C: Broken medium-high cloud giving an impressive sunrise. Another calm start with light south-westerly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:47 GMT

Other calls on my time today. There will be photos later – honest!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:25

(53rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the duck(?) Pochard not seen.
- nine Great Crested Grebes. Four pairs.
- after several days without either Grey Heron or Great (White) Egret both were present today and another Great (White) Egret flew over.
- very few Black-headed Gulls: more flying over than visiting (gone from The Flash too)
- I assume the same Reed Bunting as yesterday started calling from deep in the reeds at the West end at 06:40 and five minutes later had started to sing. At c.06:50 it flew off high East. What was therefore almost certainly another individual was singing along the South side at c.06:55 and thereafter.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: inbound together
- 31 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Great (White) Egret
- 144 Jackdaws
- 132 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Geese: of these two pairs arrived; and a quintet departed
- 1 Mute Swan: plus one dead
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 12 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhen
- 59 Coots
- 9 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Herring Gulls
- 45 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived individually
- 1 Great (White) Egret
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher

Seen later:

Nothing

Street Lamp Poles
Nothing noted pre dawn

Not only the best sunrise of the year (so far) but one of the best I can remember. Deep red across much of the sky well ahead of the sun being anywhere near being visible.

As wider perspective as I could take.

From the West end zoomed in on as the trees the other side of Castle Farm Way are silhouetted against the red sky.

And zooming out again.

Quite spectacular.

Even after the sun was just about to rise and the colour was fading there was an interesting cloud effect.

Well that is a problem. I though I would be able to read the Mute Swan's ring and therefore determine what is the sex of the survivor. Seems it is only half the ring and its reflection and '7J...' tells me nothing useful.

A posing duck Mallard. She is showing the white-bordered and black-edged blue speculum in her wing particularly clearly.

A Grey Heron standing in a favourite spot in the Wesley Brook. The long dangling feathers (aigrettes) and the bright bill indicate it is in breeding condition. This is an early-nesting species and its partner is likely on eggs at a nest in a communal heronry.

 "Here's looking at you kid".

A reflective pose. The heron did not seem unduly concerned by appearing on camera,

An unsuccessful jab for a meal.

Now here is a surprise. Now I look at the photo the fly-over egret yesterday was a Little Egret and not as I thought and logged a Great (White) Egret. The bill is black and not yellow; and the legs do not stick out far enough. It should show yellow feet but these are not apparent as the bird is too far away and taken against the light. It becomes bird species #72 for me here this year.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:35

(51st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- goose numbers are likely under-recorded as pairs take to nests on the island and are difficult to view
- yesterday's additional pair of Mute Swans had gone.
- no Pochard found.
- I surmise that the brief visits (so far) by Great Crested Grebes suggests that there are few small fish for them to eat. It probably also explains why the Goosanders have been scarce all winter – serves then right for scoffing them in the hundreds a few years ago! Tufted Ducks, Coots etc. eat vegetable matter and not fish.
- two Stock Doves were in a tree on the island.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 3 Mute Swans
- 21 (14♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard [’Aylesbury Duck’]
- no Pochard
- 48 (33♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 3 Herring Gulls: two adults, briefly; one un-aged immature
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- no Cormorant

Of note:

Nothing else

The all-white drake feral Mallard, commonly known as an Aylesbury Duck is a strong flyer. If it was ever in captivity its clipped wings have long since grown full-sized replacements.

At long range. Two Stock Doves on the island. The iridescent patches on the neck show well. Note too the black marks across the centre of the folded wing.

A first year Herring Gull unusually still sporting an all-black bill. At this date most show some pale at the base.

An unusually dark Common Buzzards. This species has a wide range of tones from almost white to almost all dark brown. Most are somewhat paler than this one.

With a glint in its eye.

As usual a Carrion Crow is none too pleased with its presence on the crow's territory and seeks to persuade it elsewhere.

The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull that was present joins in the pursuit.

There is a little known law that means I have to take a photo of any Long-tailed Tit I come across.

Well: actually a photo or two...

 ...or three.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Horsehay Pool
4 Great Crested Grebes
20 Goosander
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Paul King)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Pochard
21 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
4 Great Crested Grebes
8 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
6 Gadwall
28 Pochard
57 Tufted Duck
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
55 Magpies
1 Linnet
2 Siskin
12 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.10 Herring Gulls
2 Common Gulls
9 Mute Swans
12 Tufted Duck
8 Great Crested Grebe
(Mike Cooper)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Herons
1 Cormorant
11 Pochard
90 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
607 Wood Pigeon
11 Greenfinches
23 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)