27 Nov 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 13.0°C: Mostly cloudy. Moderate southerly wind. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 07:53 GMT

photos to be added later
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:45

(289th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a male Pheasant walked past me along the South side c.07:20.
- the early arriving gulls had already begun to move off before it was light-enough to give accurate estimates of their number.
- after 08:00 there was again a mass arrival from the North of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The percentage of Herring Gulls in this later arrival was far greater, suggesting that these are all likely to be separate birds.
- estimated numbers of gulls noted on these two occasions are expressed as <total_1> || <total_2>
- another disappointing count of Jackdaws and Rooks passing over from their roost(s). There were no large groups, just a meagre passage of mixed groups.
- two Fieldfare were the only non-regular species seen flying over.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: heard passing over c.06:30
- 17 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 78 Jackdaws
- 84 Rooks
- 2 Fieldfare

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose: probably arrived and departed
- 14 (8♂) Mallard
- 5 (2♂) Pochard
- 47 (22?♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 48 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.50 || 44 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 || 53 Herring Gulls
- c.500 || c.200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 2 Grey Herons

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
An amazing collection of insects etc. considering how few are seen elsewhere or on the poles later.

Moths:
- 7 Winter Moths Operophtera brumata

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 possible unidentified sawfly larva

Flies:
- 1 barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi agg.
- 1 $$ fly Peplomyza litura
- 2 female Yellow Dung Flies Scathophaga stercoraria
- 1 probable dark-winged fungus gnat Sciara sp.
- 2 wood gnats Sylvicola sp.
- >7 winter craneflies Trichocera regelationis
- 2 other unidentified flies, different species

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 $ Common Mesh-weaver Dictyna arundinacea
- 2 Nursery Web Spiders Pisaura mirabilis
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Don't believe the weather forecast. "Rain" it said. Pah!

When I reviewed this photo of a male Pheasant I took c.07:20 on the camera it looked essentially black. A bit of editing and can at least see what it is. I am certain Darwin was correct. When I see extravagant plumage such as this I do wonder what evolutionary pressure can have led to its development.

From the left three duck (female) and a drake Pochard. But what is that standing in the vegetation between Pochard #2 and #3? And are they its pink feet or trapped leaves? A duck Mallard perhaps. I really have no idea.

A bumper morning for Winter Moths Operophtera brumata. I noted seven on the street lamp poles pre-dawn and then found another five (of which this is one) on the Teece Drive fence c.09:30.

Strange. I am sure this Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria was not on this street lamp pole when I checked the poles pre-dawn. A bonus!

A caterpillar? I am not sure. My vote would be for a sawfly larva.

This is a barkfly from the Ectopsocus briggsi group.

A new fly for me and a distinctive one at that. It has no vernacular name so we call it Peplomyza litura. It doesn't show from this angle but photos on the internet show it has banded eyes.

One of two female Yellow Dung Flies Scathophaga stercoraria noted. This fly can be seen in any month.

I believe this to be one of the dark-winged fungus gnat Sciara sp. No way of identifying which from photographs.

The marks in the wing identify this as one of the wood gnats Sylvicola sp.

One of at least seven winter craneflies Trichocera regelationis I noted on and flying around the lamp poles.

One of two flies, of different species, that remain unidentified.

 And the other one.

I am not very confident identifying spiders (among many other things!). I will agree with Obsidentify that this small spider is a Common Mesh-weaver Dictyna arundinacea.

I could not get both these Nursery Web Spiders Pisaura mirabilis in focus. I think it is the male at the top: slightly smaller and with larger palps. Note that these were likely "on the move" as all the legs are separated.

One of the two now at rest with the front pair of legs held together. I do not know much about how spiders use their (usually) eight eyes. Here it seems that only one is giving eye-shine – caused by the camera flash. Does that mean the other eyes were pointing elsewhere and spiders can move each eye individually. That would be a good idea!

This harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus confused me. Normally these sit with legs tightly bunched and held at right-angles to the body with their long, forked pedipalps pointing straight ahead. It was the abdomen pattern, especially the white area that suggested to me that I ought to look more closely.

Also on the Teece Drive fence were two harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis this being a rare example with all eight legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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On the Teece Drive fence and elsewhere:

Noted later 

Moths:
- 5 Winter Moths Operophtera brumata: on the Teece Drive fence!
- 1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria: on a street lamp pole where it had not been earlier

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Flies:
- 1 midge only
- 2 winter craneflies

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 spiders: all Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

Obsidentify told me this spider is a Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica. I doubt it. It looks like a Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata to me. Note the water-droplets on the wall behind the spider. The sudden change of temperature meant the walls and ceiling of the tunnel were dripping with condensation.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:50 – 11:05

(282nd visit of the year)

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday almost iced-over. Not a trace of ice remains in balmy temperatures.

Bird notes:
- the trio of (Common) Teal not seen in the ice conditions yesterday were back beside the island today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 25 (16♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) (Common) Teal
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 (0♂) Goosander
- 12 Moorhens
- 54 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 42 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted around the area:
A few things on the bank of Ivy despite the cloudy conditions. Warm-enough for them.

Moths:
- 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Other flies:
- >2 Common Blow Flies Calliphora vicina

What have we here? Centre stage are the two drake and one duck (Common) Teal. On the left an adult winter Black-headed Gull. On the right a first-winter Herring Gull. In the foreground an out-of-focus drake Tufted Duck. And? Who can spot anything else? Behind the middle duck is a Moorhen at the edge of the island. The red and yellow of the bill is reasonably easy to see. It is walking right and the white flank line and white under-tail are also just about recognisable.

A third-winter Herring Gull. The bill pattern can lead to confusion with the vagrant Ring-billed Gull from America. That species is smaller and in winter would have an almost unmarked white head with an obvious collar of grey spotting (not streaks).

Compare and contrast. On the right the same third-winter Herring Gull. On the left a second-winter with pale only at the base of the bill. (A first winter would show pale grey only just behind the nape and browner wings).

"Ships that pass in the night" The same two birds.

A very different-looking Winter Moth Operophtera brumata from those at the Balancing Lake. No idea why. This one was on a street lamp pole in squirrel alley.

Proof that at least one Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris was out and about.

Plane of the day: circling overhead under the low cloud-base was this 1981-build Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II owned by the obscurely named UP (EGBO) Ltd. of Droitwich. EGBO is the airport code for Halfpenny Green Airfield near Wolverhampton where this aircraft is based. Quite why the tailplane is painted in an approximation of the British Airways (BA) "Chatham Dockyard" tail livery is unclear. On the BA livery the middle area is blue and not, as here, red. It is apparently a stylised version of the Union Flag for which I am sure consultants were paid a vast amount of money.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls
930+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
95 Herring Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Goldeneye
3 Gadwall
6 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
146 Coots
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
8 Redwings
151 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

2005
Priorslee Lake
50+ Golden Plover
4 Pochard
39 Tufted Duck
1 duck Wigeon
2 Ruddy Duck
2 Little Grebes
200+ Coot
1 Water Rail
1 Kingfisher
12 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
8 Siskin
5 Reed Bunting
(Martin R Adlam)

26 Nov 25

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

0.0°C > 3.0°C: Clear skies until c.10:30 when cloud encroached from the West. Light south-easterly breeze. Mostly very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 07:52 GMT]

I decided on another "Winter schedule" visit to avoid the early chill. A fortuitous choice as the Balancing Lake had been fogged-in early and was only beginning to clear as I was heading to start at The Flash.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:25 – 10:30

(288th visit of the year)

Mostly from the dam-top area. I did walk all around without anything interesting entering the log.

Bird notes:
- the model boat club were using the West end of the lake. Some ducks may have departed as a result.
- none of the three Pochard was an adult drake: neither did they seem to be immature drakes. It is most unusual for duck Pochard to outnumber drakes. But then, not quite so unusual, the duck Tufted Duck also outnumbered the drakes.
- a dead Moorhen was seen. Just the head and scattered feathers remained. Exactly what killed it is not clear. The plucked feathers might suggest a Sparrowhawk but I would be surprised that one would have taken anything right alongside the water. I would not have expected a Fox to pluck its prey. No bones were noted.
- I took gull counts as I arrived and again as I was about to depart. It is likely that different birds were involved as there was a steady stream of arrivals and departures. The two totals are presented as <total_1> || <total_2>.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
No specific counts were taken. Approximate numbers...
- >10 Wood Pigeons
- >1 Herring Gull
- c.40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 15 (9♂) Mallard
- 3 (0♂) Pochard
- 30 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens: one dead: see notes
- 55 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 27 || 34 Black-headed Gulls
- 28 || 32 Herring Gulls
- 108 || 132 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

I checked all the street lamp poles and found nothing.

One of three duck (female) Pochard here. The eye looks white because the protective translucent membrane is covering the pupil allowing some vision against danger. Just about visible of the pale eye ring with a pale line running behind the eye.

Here are the other two. Pale eye-rings and streaks behind the eye more easily seen.

A first-winter Herring Gull departs.

The back gull of these two immature gulls looked different somehow. Smaller and more compact that the first-winter Herring Gull in front of it. I wondered what Obsidentify would make of my photo. "Harbour porpoise". Well I know the photo is not very good! Google Lens said "Iceland Gull". Wrong again as that species at all ages lacks any black feathering and this bird shows unrelieved black on the folded wing-tips. A "different-looking" first-winter Herring Gull is my conclusion.

A typical adult-winter Herring Gull, the pale eye and the head streaking giving it an evil look.

I did a double-take on this adult Herring Gull. There is so little dark on the wing-tips that at first glance it looked like an Iceland Gull which has no black. The camera reveals all. Looking at the right wing it shows that several of the outer primaries are still re-growing. Thus when viewed from above it appears as a thin line of black where these feathers are overlaid on each other.

An adult-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull with several unusual features. There looks to be no contrast between the inner wing and the always black wing-tips. The head is about at densely streaked as any I have seen. And the usual wide white trailing edge to the wing is narrow and uneven. I can't turn it in to anything more exciting.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:40 – 12:15

(281st visit of the year)

c.90% ice. Apart from many of the gulls happily standing on the ice most birds were concentrated in a small area between the island and the Wordsworth Way turn.

Bird notes:
- no (Common) Teal seen.
- most of yesterday's Pochard gone. Just a trio of drakes remain.
- a single brownhead Goosander noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 31 (19♂) Mallard
- no (Common) Teal
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 34 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander only
- 7 Moorhens
- 45 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 74 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Herring Gulls: ages not determined
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Nothing noted around the area:
I was not surprised to draw a blank. The Ivy bank was in full sun but with a temperature of just 1.0°C nothing was venturing out.

Taken from the pull-in in Derwent Drive The Flash was ice all the way to the island.

Here from one of the footbridges with ice all the way to the top end. The Flash always freezes quickly. Nevertheless I was surprised how extensive the ice was after just one below freezing night. The incoming cloud is lurking to the West and North.

One of the three drake Pochard asleep on the patch of open water between the island and Wordsworth Way. Note the fine vermiculations on the flanks of this bird.

Another one pretending to be asleep. Note the red eye. I can find no information on why the eye colour varies between bird species. What may be relevant is that Pochard often dive at night to feed on vegetation and spend the day loafing. Tufted Ducks with yellow or orange eyes dive during daylight.

Two first-winter Herring Gulls probably encountering their first ice and slip-sliding about.

Four immature Herring Gulls looking for food on the ice. The left-most three are all first-winters with dark bills. The right-hand bird with only a small amount of black on the bill and a pale eye is a second-winter bird.

I paused over this gull. Rounded head and dark eye. These are Common Gull features. Not so: the bill is too robust and would be two-tone on a Common Gull. And anyway as a two-year (to maturity) gull a Common Gull would show extensive pale grey on the back and wings. This bird is a first-winter Herring Gull, most likely a female which average smaller than males.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
22 Tufted Ducks
143 Coots
Nuthatch
34 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
228 Jackdaws
98 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Greylag Geese
27 Pochard
70 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
70 Coots
>400 Black-headed Gulls
315 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Herring Gulls
221 Wood Pigeons
22 Blackbirds
45 Fieldfares
38 Redwings
264 Jackdaws
71 Rooks
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
1 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
2 Ruddy Duck
C.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
16 Herring Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
Caspian Gull
Sparrowhawk
c.628 Jackdaws
c.358 Rooks
(Martin Adlam)

25 Nov 25

Note:
19 Nov - 1 Dec
Sightings will be unformatted and without images.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:15 – 09:35
The Flash: 09:40 – 10:50

3.0°C > 5.0°C: Clear skies. Light north-westerly wind. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 07:50 GMT


photos to be added later
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(287th visit of the year)

A distant and high party of 22 Golden Plover were seen to the East at 07:25 identified by their distinctive formation pattern and very fast wingbeats. I record this species most years. The numbers involved seems to reduce year-on-year. It is bird species #106 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- a male Pheasant calling again in the south-west area.
- large arrival of gulls started by 06:40 with eventually c.700 Lesser Black-backed and c.250 (very noisy) Black-headed Gulls. Not easy to see at this time but there seemed to be no more than 10 Herring Gulls with them.
- after 08:00 there was a mass arrival from the North of 41 Herring and 210 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- a low count of Jackdaws and Rooks passing over from their roost(s). With a northerly component in the breeze and clear skies those I noted were flying very high out of both audible and, without using binoculars, visual range.
- at least 20 Siskins in

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 22 $ Golden Plover
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 26 Jackdaws
- 25 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
- 9 Canada Geese: arrived as a septet and then a duo
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 48 (24?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 47 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls
- c.50 Herring Gulls
- c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 7 Winter Moths Operophtera brumata
- 2 Mottled Umbers Erranis defoliaria
Ants:
- 1 Formica sp., possibly Blood-red Ant F. sanguinea
Beetle:
- 1 flea-beetle
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Nothing noted later on the Teece Drive fence or elsewhere:

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Flies:
- 1 midge only
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 spiders: all Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:
(280th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still very few geese.
- a first-winter Mute Swan cygnet was departing as I arrived.
- no sign of the Little Egret but three Grey Herons.
- a trio of (Common) Teal (two drakes) flew from the top end and was then unusually seen in the open alongside the island.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 26 (17♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) (Common) Teal
- 8 (6♂) Pochard
- 31 (16♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 3 (0♂) Goosander
- 4 Moorhens only
- 59 Coots only
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- 6 Cormorants
- 3 Grey Herons
- no Little Egret

Noted around the area:
A few things on the sunlit bank of Ivy despite the low temperature
Moths:
- 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata : same as yesterday
Bees, wasps etc.:
- >3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- >2 Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax
Other flies:
- >40 Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina
- >10 smaller unidentified flies

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Gadwall
1 Teal
2 Pochard
99 Tufted Duck
225 Coots counted
1 Woodcock
6 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Green Woodpecker
231 Fieldfare
66 Redwings
c.375 Jackdaws
2 Redpolls
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
31 Greylag Geese
3 Gadwall
8 Pochard
23 Tufted Duck
Goosander
143 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
19 Redwings
2 Fieldfares
259 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Allan Heath)

2005
Priorslee Lake
206 Starlings going to roost
C.500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow legged Gull
1 Caspian Gull
c.700 Black-headed Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

24 Nov 25

Note:
19 Nov - 1 Dec
Sightings will be unformatted and without images.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:55 – 11:00
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 11:10 – 11:55

4.0°C > 5.0°C: Low cloud with spells of drizzle, clearing after c.11:30. Fresh north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility, less so during drizzle.
[Sunrise: 07:48 GMT]

Another "Winter schedule" visit starting again at The Flash, this time to ensure safe parcel delivery before I left home.

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(286th visit of the year)

Mainly viewing from the dam-top area trying to shelter from the keen wind.

Bird notes:
- I managed to confirm the presence of a Great Black-backed Gull.
- unlike previous mid-morning visits there was almost no movement of gulls in or out.

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 51 (27♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 54 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 16 Herring Gulls
- 58 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:
(279th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- yesterday's Mute Swans gone again.
- no (Common) Teal seen.
- now four Pochard. Perhaps these were, like many of yesterday's Tufted Duck, refugees from the sailing club's exploits on the Balancing Lake.
- still a few Goosanders hanging on.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- no Mute Swans
- 28 (19♂) Mallard
- no (Common) Teal
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 29 (20♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (0♂) Goosander
- 10 Moorhens
- 66 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls: ages not determined
- 5 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Egret remains

Noted around the area:
I was surprised to see anything.
Moths:
- 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata


(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Gadwall
2 Teal
3 Pochard
114 Tufted Duck
228 Coots
1 Snipe
Tawny Owl
157 Fieldfare
63 Redwings
208 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
31 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
35 Greylag Geese
3 Gadwall
9 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks
157 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
18 Redwings
16 Fieldfares
4 Siskins
3 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
6 Yellow-legged Gulls
700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood / Tom Lowe)

2007
Priorslee Lake
A male Stonechat
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Great Black-backed Gull
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

East of Priorslee
60 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)

23 Nov 25

Note:
19 Nov - 1 Dec
Sightings will be unformatted and without images.


---------------------------------------------------------------------

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:50 – 09:10
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:50

7.0°C > 8.0°C: Mostly clear after earlier rain. Moderate / fresh south-westerly wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:47 GMT

photos to be added later
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area

I avoided the early rain with a late start at the Balancing Lake.

Priorslee Balancing Lake:
(285th visit of the year)

Viewing from the dam-top area only.

Bird notes:
- yesterday's pair of Gadwall not noted.
- very few Mallard seen.
- only those gulls arriving after 07:50 noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
none of the early pre-dawn movements noted
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 8 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 (2♂) Mallard only
- 6 (>2?♂) Pochard again
- 53 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 47 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 79 Black-headed Gulls
- 20 Herring Gulls
- 42 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: arrived separately: one of these departed
- 1 Grey Heron

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013

The Flash:
(278th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- very few geese again.
- two unringed adult Mute Swans were new in.
- at least 32 Tufted Duck flew in more or less together. These were no doubt refugees from the Balancing Lake, flushed off when the sailing club's boats were put in the water. These all settled at the "far end" and as a result I was unable to sex most of them.
- a drake as well as four brownhead Goosander.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: others heard from inside island?
- 24 (15♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) (Common) Teal
- 2 (2♂) Pochard remain
- 48 (?♂) Tufted Duck: see notes
- 5 (1♂) Goosander
- 9 Moorhens
- 89 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 98 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: two (near) adults; three immatures
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, departed
- 10 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Little Egret

Noted around the area:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- >5 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
- >4 Tapered Droneflies Eristalis pertinax
- 1 syrphus-type: did not stick around to be photographed
Other flies:
- >30 Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina
- 1 Muscid fly, probably Polietes lardarius
- >10 smaller similar-looking flies

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
2 Pochard
123 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
2 Water Rails
15 Moorhens
227 Coots counted
1 Snipe
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
2 adult hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gulls
102 Fieldfare
39 Redwings
266 Jackdaws
Redpolls
Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Tom Lowe)

Trench Middle Pool
22 Swans
6 Shoveler
14 Tufted Duck
183 Coots
61 Black-headed Gulls
14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
17 Herring Gulls
Caspian/Yellow-legged Gull
2 Ravens
1 Redwing
(Ed Wilson)

Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Adult + 1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls
1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
30 Greylag
3 Gadwall
6 Pochard.
21 Tufted Ducks
3 Goosander
153 Coots
c.640 Wood Pigeons
8 Redwings again.
453 Jackdaws
61 Rooks logged.
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
6 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Andy Latham)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Cormorants
>60 Greylag Geese
14 Pochard
177 Tufted Duck
1 Lapwing
1 Snipe
2 Water Rails
159 Coot
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
5+ Herring Gulls
74 Redwings
c.60 Fieldfare
132 Jackdaws
166 Rooks
c.1750 Starlings
c.30 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

22 Nov 25

Note:
19 Nov - 1 Dec

Sightings will be unformatted and without images.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 22 November 2025

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  06:20 – 09:35

The Flash:  09:40 – 10:50

4.0°C > 6.0°C:  Mostly overcast with several spells of rain. Moderate south-easterly breeze, abating somewhat. Very good visibility but moderate in rain.

Sunrise:  07:45 GMT

photos to be added later

$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area

It was not the weather to get complete and accurate counts. With that proviso here we go...

Priorslee Balancing Lake:

(284th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- very few geese: a party of six Greylags flew East; and a duo few West much later

- yesterday's Mute Swans had gone.

- no (Common) Teal but a pair of Gadwall noted.

- many of the Mallard seen on the water flew off before it was light-enough to sex them.

- fewer gulls this morning with c.125 Lesser Black-backed Gulls by 06:55 and c.300 by 07:15. By his time there were also c.60 Black-headed Gulls. As yesterday there were mixed in with the larger gulls rather than the separate grouping they often form. A small passage of Lesser Black-backs passing to the East may account for some of the missing birds.

- no Song Thrush was heard singing. That may have been no more than I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

- the only notable fly-over was a single Meadow Pipit. A scarce species these last two years.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

- 8 Greylag Geese: seen notes

- 28 Wood Pigeons

- 2 Herring Gulls

- 74 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 1 Cormorant

- 126 Jackdaws

- 128 Rooks

- 7 Redwings: together

- 1 Meadow Pipit

No birds seen leaving roosts around the lake

Counts from the lake area:

- no Mute Swans

- 2 (1♂) Gadwall

- 12 (>5♂) Mallard

- 6 (>2?♂) Pochard

- 51 (?♂) Tufted Duck

- 5 Moorhens

- 39 Coots

- 4 Great Crested Grebes

- c.60 Black-headed Gulls

- 16 Herring Gulls

- c.340 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.300 early on; c.40 arrived after 08:00

- 5 Cormorants: arrived separately

- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:

- 1 $ probable Neriene peltata

- 1 Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis

- 1 unidentified small spider sp.

- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Nothing noted later on the Teece Drive fence or elsewhere:

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Still cold

Flies:

- 3 midges

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:

- 1 spider only: Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:

(278th visit of the year)

Ice gone

Bird notes:

- where were all the geese? just five Canadas noted and none heard from inside the island.

- a trio of (Common) Teal found lurking by the island.

- still just four brownhead Goosander. Hard to find today with three of them loafing around the island.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

- 2 Herring Gulls: together

- 3 Jackdaws: together

Noted on / around the water:

- 5 Canada Geese

- no Greylag Geese

- 24 (17♂) Mallard

- 3 (2♂) (Common) Teal

- 2 (2♂) Pochard still

- 29 (17♂) Tufted Duck

- 4 (0♂) Goosander: again

- 8 Moorhens: again

- 57 Coots only

- 3 Great Crested Grebes only

- 56 Black-headed Gulls

- 2 Herring Gulls: immatures

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

- 7 Cormorants

- 1 Grey Heron

- 1 Little Egret

Nothing else noted around the area:

too cold, too dull and too windy

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Priorslee Lake
8 Wigeon
6 Gadwall
4 Teal
2 Shoveler
2 Pochard
116 Tufted Duck
2 Water Rails
222 Coots
1 Snipe
c.90 Lapwing over
4 Yellow-legged gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
A Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid
134 Fieldfare
22 Redwings
171 Jackdaws
3 Ravens
3 Siskins
3 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood/JW Reeves)

Horsehay Pool
Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Kingfisher
12 Goosander
Raven
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall
8 Pochard
24 Tufted Ducks
152 Coots
8 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
8 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cormorant
56 Greylag Geese
12 Pochard
187 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
2 Water Rails
149 Coot
c.800 Black-headed
c.2200 Lesser Black-backed
<20 Herring Gulls
1st winter Common Gull
50 Redwings
8 Fieldfare
1 Treecreeper
c.1000 Starlings left a roost
c.20 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
23 Greylag Geese
27 Pochard
55 Tufted Ducks
3 Buzzards
>1650 Black-headed Gull
>4022 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
246 Wood Pigeons
1 Kingfisher
26 Robins
27 Blackbirds
4 Fieldfares
34 Redwings
male Blackcap
1 Willow Tit
246 Jackdaws
160 Rooks
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

21 Nov 25

Note:
19 Nov - 1 Dec

Sightings will be unformatted and without images.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 21 November 2025

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  06:15 – 09:25

The Flash:  09:30 – 10:50

0.0°C > 3.0°C:  A small amount of thin high cloud, otherwise clear. Very light mainly south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise:  07:43 GMT

photos to be added later

With the keen wind having abated I braved the cold for a "normal" visit.

Priorslee Balancing Lake:

(283rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- six Canada Geese throughout. Perhaps the six I noted yesterday did not leave: but hid.

- a small returning Greylag Geese flock of 15 birds after singles had flown both westbound and eastbound. One of the mainly-white feral geese was with the flock.

- an adult Mute Swan flew in with four first-winter cygnets.

- a duck (Common) Teal was noted.

- just two small groups of passage Wood Pigeons.

- a large number (>400?) gulls were already present by 06:40 with more streaming in from the South and north-east. Unusually many of the Black-headed Gulls were scattered among the Lesser Black-backs. They usually mostly form separate groups. Best effort at estimating the total and the separate species counts. Later my third Common Gull – another first-winter - was found.

- only only Song Thrush was heard singing in the cold conditions.

- another fly-over Lesser Redpoll. I have yet to record Linnet here this year even though I have seen them as close as in Woodhouse Lane

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

- 17 Greylag Geese: seen notes

- 1 mainly white feral goose with Greylags

- 49 Wood Pigeons: of these 33 were noted in two migrant groups

- 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 4 Cormorants: two duos

- c.150 Jackdaws

- 40 Rooks

- 1 Pied Wagtail

- 1 Lesser Redpoll

No birds seen leaving roosts around the lake

Counts from the lake area:

- 6 Canada Geese

- 1 + 4 Mute Swans: arrived – see notes

- 20 (12♂) Mallard

- 1 (0♂) (Common) Teal

- 2 (2?♂) Pochard

- 48 (25♂) Tufted Duck

- 4 Moorhens

- 44 Coots

- 5 Great Crested Grebes

- c.200 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Common Gull

- 24 Herring Gulls

- c.800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.750 early on; c.50 arrived after 08:00

- 3 Cormorants: arrived separately; one departed

- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Nothing noted on frost-covered poles

Nothing noted later on the Teece Drive fence or elsewhere:

In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:

Cold again

Flies:

- 1 midges

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:

- 2 spiders only including, unusually, a Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:

(277th visit of the year)

About 10% thin ice

Bird notes:

- confirming my log from yesterday: there are currently no Mute Swans here.

- no (Common) Teal noted.

- two trios of Cormorants were diving as groups, presumably to corral their prey.

- a Common Buzzard was hounded out of trees at the top end by Magpies and Carrion Crows and briefly perched in full view.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

- 1 Herring Gull

- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Noted on / around the water:

- 6 Canada Geese: more inside the island?

- 4 Greylag Geese: more inside the island?

- 1 all-white feral goose

- no Mute Swans

- 20 (12♂) Mallard

- 2 (2♂) Pochard again

- 30 (13♂) Tufted Duck

- 4 (0♂) Goosander

- 8 Moorhens

- 68 Coots

- 5 Great Crested Grebes

- 39 Black-headed Gulls

- 3 Herring Gulls: immatures

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

- 10 Cormorants

- 2 Grey Herons

- 1 Little Egret

Noted around the area:

Bees, wasps etc.:

- 3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Flies:

- >10 blowflies of at least two species.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall
1 Pochard
125 Tufted Duck
3 Water Rails
15 Moorhens
221 Coots counted again
1 Snipe
23 Fieldfare
8 Redwings
196 Jackdaws
4 Rooks
2 Ravens
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall
8 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
9 Moorhens
142 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1st winter Great Black-backed Gull
3 female Goosander
3 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
30 Greylag Gees
16 Pochard
166 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander
Water Rail
148 Coot
c.700 Black-headed
c.1300 Lesser Black-backed
<20 Herring Gulls
93 Redwings
c.500 Starlings left a roost
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Pochard
69 Tufted Ducks
6 Buzzards
>1750 Black-headed Gulls
2251 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Robins
32 Blackbirds
96 Fieldfares
4 Song Thrushes
13 Redwings
384 Jackdaws
216 Rooks
22 Greenfinch
2 Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)