6.0°C: Overcast apart from some brightness to the East. A calm start with a light south-easterly breeze developing. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 08:12 GMT
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:05 – 09:25
(14th visit of the year)
No ice remains.
New Bird Species
Another two additions to my 2026 bird species list for here:
- two single Lesser Redpolls were heard and seen flying over.
- four Feral Pigeons made it from the estate roofs to enter my recording area.
These bring this year's total species to 55.
Bird notes:
- six Canada Geese on and around the dam-top. Also a trio flew East.
- the drake Shoveler seen c.07:30 but not thereafter.
- yesterday's Pochard not noted.
- *a pair of Goosander again. This is most unusual behaviour here. Any birds typically stay only minutes not days.
- for some days there have been Coots, unusually, feeding on the dam-top. Today there were seven. When these flush off they tend to walk clumsily down the stone dam-face rather than fly. Why?
- just three Cormorants noted.
- a pair of Mistle Thrushes were in trees alongside Teece Drive.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: flew East together
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Stock Dove
- 22 Wood Pigeons
- 15 Herring Gulls
- *186 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 77 Jackdaws
- 117 Rooks
- 2 Lesser Redpolls
Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 2 (1♂) Mallard
- 11 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- *2 (1♂) Goosander
- 4 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- >11 Herring Gulls
- >80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: most staying only a few minutes
- 3 Cormorants: all arrived
- *1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
The poles were again damp with dew.
Moths:
- *1 male Early Moth Theria primaria
- *1 male Early Moth Theria primaria
Flies:
- 4 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 4 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
Springtails:
- *1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- 2 very small unidentified springtails
- also another springtail seen on a pole much later, *perhaps Dicyrtoma fusca
- *1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- 2 very small unidentified springtails
- also another springtail seen on a pole much later, *perhaps Dicyrtoma fusca
Spiders / harvestmen etc.:
- *1 money spider, probably Erigone sp.
- *1 unidentified spider
Noted later on the walls of the Telford Sailing Club HQ:
- *1 money spider, probably Erigone sp.
- *1 unidentified spider
Noted later on the walls of the Telford Sailing Club HQ:
- at least four springtails of at least three species including:
*globular springtail, probably Dicyrtomina saundersi
*possible Tomocerus vulgaris
*globular springtail, probably Dicyrtomina saundersi
*possible Tomocerus vulgaris
Probably more had I inspected all the walls in detail.
Later on the Teece Drive fence
Later on the Teece Drive fence
Nothing noted
The sunrise caught me by surprise as it was, typically, low cloud overhead. The colour had faded by the time I managed to get to a better vantage point.
One of many small groups of mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading South. There were a few contrary groups flying North. Among them were a scattering of Herring Gulls.
It is just possible to see part of the white thigh patch indicating this Cormorant is coming in to breeding condition.
Again not quite enough light to freeze the action. Nevertheless it is apparent the Great (White) Egret is not happy.
This male Early Moth Theria primaria was in almost exactly the same spot as the individual I photographed yesterday. That one had flown off when I re-examined the street lamp pole later. Had it flown back last night or is this another individual?
One of two very small unidentified springtails. This seems even smaller and tubbier than any I have seen before.
I found this more or less unmarked globular springtail on a street lamp pole well after dawn. It could be Dicyrtoma fusca: then again...
A money spider, probably an Erigone species. The spider is only c.4mm so the springtail it looks to be about to devour must be the smallest I have seen yet.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane area
An abbreviated visit failing to get in position for the brief pink sunrise. While there I noted:
- 20 (15♂) Mallard: all but one drake were on the upper storm pool for a change
- 1 Coot on the lower storm pool
- 1 Meadow Pipit heard in flight
(10th visit of the year)
No ice remains.
New Bird Species
Another addition to my 2026 bird species list for here:
- a group of ten Cormorants flying together overhead was one way of ending the unusual scarcity of this species here this so far this year.
This brings this year's bird species count to 42.
Bird notes:
- most of the Canada Geese recorded arrived in one group. *In addition a dead bird was noted in the water.
- no Mute Swans today.
- four drake Pochard noted. Perhaps yesterday's trio from the lake had joined the lone bird seen here yesterday?
- two pairs of Goosander seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *10 Cormorants: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 52 Canada Geese: see notes
- no Mute Swans
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 37 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (2♂) Goosander
- 10 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Grey Heron
Of note around the area:
A later brief burst of sunlight produced this attractive landscape. It looks more like Autumn than Winter.
What is presumably the same pair of Goosander still here.
The Grey Heron flies off with a fish. I could have done with more light.
This I believe to be the springtail Orchesella cincta.
One of the springtails on a wall of the sailing club HQ. This one seems to have a chequered abdomen. I can't find any such species illustrated in NatureSpot.
On the same wall was this springtail. It is possibly Tomocerus vulgaris.
Also here was a well-marked globular springtail, probably Dicyrtomina saundersi.
On the face of it a very distinctive spider. I cannot get an identity for it.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodhouse Lane area
An abbreviated visit failing to get in position for the brief pink sunrise. While there I noted:
- 20 (15♂) Mallard: all but one drake were on the upper storm pool for a change
- 1 Coot on the lower storm pool
- 1 Meadow Pipit heard in flight
No berries remain on the Hawthorn bushes so there were no Fieldfare or Redwing around.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:40
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:40
(10th visit of the year)
No ice remains.
New Bird Species
Another addition to my 2026 bird species list for here:
- a group of ten Cormorants flying together overhead was one way of ending the unusual scarcity of this species here this so far this year.
This brings this year's bird species count to 42.
Bird notes:
- most of the Canada Geese recorded arrived in one group. *In addition a dead bird was noted in the water.
- no Mute Swans today.
- four drake Pochard noted. Perhaps yesterday's trio from the lake had joined the lone bird seen here yesterday?
- two pairs of Goosander seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *10 Cormorants: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 52 Canada Geese: see notes
- no Mute Swans
- 29 (22♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 37 (17♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 (2♂) Goosander
- 10 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Grey Heron
Of note around the area:
Nothing else
Always sad to see a dead bird. This Canada Goose is probably the one that has been mooching around on its own for a few days. I have not heard any reports of avian flu in the area recently.
(Ed Wilson)
2014
Priorslee Lake
57 Magpies
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
119 Coots counted
>500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
18 Redwings
>1500 Jackdaws
>325 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1st-winter female Velvet Scoter
102 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson and Unknown Observer)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
21 Pochard
80 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
155 Coots
Snipe
Woodcock
Kingfisher
113 Redwing
30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)
The Flash
31 Tufted Duck
50 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll.
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
21 Pochard
95 Tufted Duck
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
15 Great Black-backed Gulls
117 Redwings
12 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Wrekin
6 Marsh Tit
2 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorants
4 Pink-footed Geese
3 Greylag Geese
16 Pochard
35 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
>600 Black-headed Gulls
>487 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
94 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
24 Robins
11 Blackbirds
8 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
39 Magpies
205 Jackdaws
76 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
11 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
213 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.360 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
169 Jackdaws
117 Rooks
220 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
20 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
41 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
One way to end the dearth of Cormorants here: ten in flight together.
The Grey Heron failed to confuse the camera's focus mechanism by hiding behind twigs.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014
Priorslee Lake
57 Magpies
10 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
119 Coots counted
>500 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
18 Redwings
>1500 Jackdaws
>325 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1st-winter female Velvet Scoter
102 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson and Unknown Observer)
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
21 Pochard
80 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
155 Coots
Snipe
Woodcock
Kingfisher
113 Redwing
30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)
The Flash
31 Tufted Duck
50 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll.
(Ed Wilson)
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
(Tom Lowe)
2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
21 Pochard
95 Tufted Duck
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
15 Great Black-backed Gulls
117 Redwings
12 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)
The Wrekin
6 Marsh Tit
2 Brambling
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Cormorants
4 Pink-footed Geese
3 Greylag Geese
16 Pochard
35 Tufted Ducks
1 Goldeneye
>600 Black-headed Gulls
>487 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
94 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
24 Robins
11 Blackbirds
8 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
39 Magpies
205 Jackdaws
76 Rooks
12 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
11 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
213 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.360 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
169 Jackdaws
117 Rooks
220 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
20 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
41 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)