6 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:35 – 09:20
The Flash:  09:25 – 10:10

4.0°C > 5.0°C:  Few wisps of thin high cloud. Just frosted in sheltered areas. Light S wind increasing moderate. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:44 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:35 – 09:20

(36th visit of the year)

All ice gone

Bird notes
- the usual group of 10 geese overhead yet again. I must say that on size it looked as if there might only be 2 Greylags today – too dark to be sure
- drake Shoveler giving much better views
- try as I might I could not find any Little Grebes
- usually 8 or 9 Moorhens on the SW grass at first light: just 2 today for some reason
- after just 6 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:20 a big rush of c.375 at 07:35 – much too fast an arrival to count
- the final group of passing Jackdaws also contained 14 Rooks (with 4 more Rooks later). In days of yore the Rooks always preceded the Jackdaws: then last year Rooks were usually with the first group of Jackdaws. Perhaps this means the relative positions of the roosts have moved?
- a Greenfinch heard giving its wheezy song on several occasions
- single short burst of what passes as a Reed Bunting’s song heard. First of year

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3? Greylag Geese [part of group outbound]
- 17 Canada Geese [3 groups outbound]
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Wood Pigeons
- c.195 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 3 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Goldfinch

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- >41 Magpies
- 1 Reed Bunting only

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 3 Canada Geese
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall still
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler still
- 6 (2♂) Pochard
- 39 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons once more
- 4 Moorhens only
- 49 Coots
- >375 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again

As a PS to these number I stopped by at 13:00 and the swans, ducks and herons were all the same bar
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
No doubt due to boating activity on the water they had gone elsewhere

The lamp poles produced
- 1 spider sp. My photo was naff but was probably and orb-web spider Zygiella x-notata
- 1 what I took to be a slug sp. but looking at the photo I remain puzzled
and
- some Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa) fungus found

Definitely a morning to be up and enjoying the sunrise. Here are a few shots from a variety of vantage points around the lake. Here at the W end early on.

I scooted round to the N side – as is necessary in winter when the sunrise is in the SE.

Dramatic for a while.

Beginning to fade.

Back to the W end looking along the S side: a touch of mist.

And much, much later.

The drake Shoveler was not ‘lurking’ today. The pale at the base of the bill is because this bird has yet to acquire full breeding plumage. It might be it is a first-winter bird, though many drakes do take some while to look breeding-smart.

A couple of the local Buzzards had a bit of a barney and this is one flying off.

I could almost think it is looking at me.

Not heard this species sing as yet – Mistle Thrush is an early songster, often known as Stormcock from its habit of singing from exposed perches in the strongest of winds. Separate from Song Thrush by its larger size, rather small headed appearance and more-sparse spotting on the breast.

A rather elderly fungus. I think Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa).

When I took this photo I assumed this was a slug of some type. Looking at the strange marks at the lower end I am not so sure. But what else?

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:25 – 10:10

(31st visit of the year)

Very small amount of ice remaining, just at S end

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
51      Starling

Notes from here:
- all the geese are clearly ‘paired’ now. A Greylag x Canada Goose is with an ordinary Canada Goose
- a 3rd drake Pochard – another refugee from the lake?
- all the Coots out of hiding and in good number
and
- 1 Dotted Border moth on a lamp

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 5 Feral Pigeons
- 5 Starlings – new for the year, surprisingly

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 17 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 35 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 37 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 5 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- 68 Black-headed Gulls

The hybrid goose with the bill of a Greylag Goose (albeit pink-toned rather than the orange-tones of a real Greylag); and the white chin-strap reminiscent of Canada Goose. It is currently paired with a normal-looking Canada Goose.

Drake Pochard are so contrasting it is difficult to show the intricate pattern on the silver back while enabling the red eye and two-tone neck to be appreciated. Note the bill pattern. There are similar species that are exceptionally uncommon vagrants that are best identified by their differing bill markings.

This Coot was holding one leg up while managing to preen while standing on the other leg. Why? No idea.

A Dotted Border moth. Seems a reasonable-enough name. This specimen shows only a hint of the median cross-line. It is a very variable species with some specimens almost dark-brown all-over.

Can Spring be far away? 

(Ed Wilson)

Note

1. A few photos from Belvide on 4 Feb Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:15
The Flash:  09:20 – 10:00
Trench Lock Pool:  10:10 – 10:20 // 10:55 – 11:25
Trench Middle Pool:  10:25 – 10:50

0.0°C > 6.0°C:  Murky after overnight sharp frost. Mist / low cloud began to break after c.09:30 but soon clouded again. Light SE wind increasing moderate. Moderate visibility, good later

Sunrise: 07:48 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:40 – 09:15

(35th visit of the year)

>80% ice with a few holes around the edges. The ground was frozen rock-hard when I arrived, though melting frost was already dripping from the trees as mist and cloud-cover raised the temperature

Bird notes
- the usual group of 3 Greylag and 7 Canada Geese overhead yet again. Seven other small groups of Canada Geese over and two more pairs visited the lake
- drake Shoveler re-found here – has it ever been away? Clearly it is a different bird at The Flash
- more Tufted Duck apparently decamped to The Flash
- one of the Cormorants was a quite splendid white-plumed adult: it left before it was light-enough to photograph
- 4 Little Grebes re-found
- 235 Black-headed Gulls specifically counted arriving from the W. Almost none of these then left to the W, with most headed off SE
- the lone Lesser Black-backed Gull on the lake did NOT arrive with the Black-heads this morning: I saw it come from the SW all on its own; and then leave on its own to the S
- Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming again
- c.255 Jackdaws went over in 7 more or less concurrent groups making an accurate count impossible

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
60      Collared Dove

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese [part of group outbound]
- 33 Canada Geese [8 groups outbound]
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Collared Doves
- c.255 Jackdaws

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 3 Reed Buntings again

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans again
- 4 Canada Geese
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall again
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 6 (3♂) Pochard
- 24 (9♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 4 Little Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 58 Coots again
- 235 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull

The frosted lamp poles had no inhabitants this morning

I could not have done this if I tried. Try and work out which bits belong to which geese.

This drake Shoveler is really lurking which is perhaps why I overlooked yesterday.

A Grey Heron in more ‘natural’ surroundings as it walks up the Wesley Brook.

Very close to where I photographed a female Great Spotted Woodpecker yesterday here is a male at his drumming post.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:20 – 10:00

(30th visit of the year)

>80% ice after last night’s frost

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
49      Greenfinch
50      Lesser Redpoll

Notes from here:
the additional ice had probably forced birds back inside the island, hence lower totals of e.g. Mallard and Coot
- the pair of Gadwall is still here
- drake Shoveler here as well as at the lake
- 9 Redwings flew in to trees along the E side
- the fly-over Greenfinch was probably put up from nearby by the passing Sparrowhawk
- party of 8 finches landed briefly in trees at S end: from flight calls as they arrived at least 2 of these were Lesser Redpolls

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 7 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Greenfinch

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans as ever
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 30 (20♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler again
- 2 (2♂) Pochard again
- 52 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 2 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 45 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool:  10:10 – 10:20 // 10:55 – 11:25

(7th visit of the year)

c.50% ice, mostly rather thin

Notes from here
- still just the one Mute Swan
- the geese arrived while I was at Middle Pool
- again the only Goosander of the day was here

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Pigeons and Jackdaws]
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only yet again
- 21 Canada Geese arrived
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Feral Mallard still
- 42 (15♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe as ever
- 1 Moorhen
- 63 Coots
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Two of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls present. The right-most bird has a metal ring on its left leg – I only noticed this when looking at the photo.

And here are four Lesser Black-backed Gulls (and three Black-headed Gulls). The flying bird has the typical yellow legs that all the bird-books tell you they have. The two birds in front of it look like adults but to my eyes the legs are more pinkish/grey than yellow. The bird facing us is an immature and is allowed to have washed out leg colour. Nevertheless it is an odd mixture as the pale eye indicates a 2nd year bird (at least) yet from this angle the bill looks all-dark as if it is a first-winter bird. Confused? So am I.

Are those legs really yellow? Two possible explanations. The darker-mantled race intermedius (birds from Scandinavia that winter here) have paler legs: at the time I did not think this looked dark-enough – on these birds the mantle colour is almost the same shade as the primaries. Otherwise the small dark mark on the upper mandible may suggest that this is a 4th winter bird and even though no other plumage features support that view then if indeed it is not a full adult it may not acquire adult leg colour.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool:  10:25 – 10:50

(7th visit of the year)

>50% ice, mainly rather thin

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
30      Herring Gull

Notes from here
- until food was in the offing some of the geese, Mallards and Moorhens were on the very red waters of the small pools in the NW area. Not often that I see birds here
- the gulls all left for a while – where did they go? I know they often sit on the lamps in Wombridge Way but I doubt there are enough lamps for them all

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan only again: unringed
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 34 Canada Geese
- 35 (26♂) Mallard
- 5 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant again
- 12 Moorhens
- 25 Coots
- 86 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull

This Cormorant had just flown in and was settling on the branch. Probably not yet fully adult as there are only a few wispy white feathers in the thigh area – adults should have a big white patch here by this date. I do like the blue eyes of Cormorants.

Not something you really expect to see – a Moorhen up a tree. However this species has hidden talents and climbs well – indeed it nests inside bushes rather than on the ground. It also walks long distances between patches of water even though it can, if needed, fly well.

A challenge when it is icy. Q: how many gulls are there here? A: 11 on the ice and 1 flying.

This is the first winter Herring Gull that dropped in briefly. We cannot see all the plumage details but note the all-black bill, the much paler inner primaries, pale greater coverts in front of the secondaries and rather diffuse tail-band and spotted upper-tail.

(Ed Wilson)

Note

1. A few photos from Belvide on 4 Feb Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Priorslee Lake
10 Gadwall
29 Wigeon
Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood, Kris Webb)

The Flash
2 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
13 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
11 Pochard
65 Tufted Duck
c.50 Lapwings
Dunlin
c.300 Black-headed Gulls
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.50 Herring Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Common Gull
(Ed Wilson / Jim Almond)

2011
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
>1000 Black-headed Gulls 
82 Herring Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
>500 Wood Pigeons
248 Jackdaws
211 Rooks logged 
1 Redpoll
(JW Reeves, Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
102 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
9 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
2 Water Rails
32 Robins
26 Blackbirds
13 Song Thrushes
4 Redwings
2 Willow Tits
11 Greenfinches
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.850 Black-headed Gulls
8 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
20 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
163 Coots
20 Robins
22 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
1 Willow Tit
13 Greenfinches
10 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

4 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:35 – 09:25
The Flash:  09:30 – 10:15

6.0°C > 7.0°C:  Started cloudy after rain: began to lift and break after 09:00. Moderate, occasionally fresh, S wind. Good visibility, becoming very good

Sunrise: 07:48 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:35 – 09:25

(34th visit of the year)

c.40% ice remaining, mainly in E / SE areas, but some in NW as well

Bird notes
- the usual group of 3 Greylag and 7 Canada Geese were among the small number passing
- now back to 3 pairs of Gadwall: were they always hiding here? or has a 3rd pair arrived from The Flash?
- 2 of the drake Mallards were swimming together with one displaying to the other: oh er missus!
- significant number of Pochard and Tufted Duck gone – perhaps to The Flash due to disturbance yesterday?
- Little Grebes gone? More likely hiding somewhere
- the Black-headed Gulls tended to arrive from the W and take a look at all the ice and then fly off back W. No more than c.40 landed at any one time. At least 120 in a single wave from the W, but probably many more involved
- a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen and another heard drumming. My first drum of the year. Drumming can sometimes even be heard before the turn of the year: my earliest was on one Christmas Eve
- no Jackdaws seen on their usual dispersal routes. Perhaps the frozen ground forced them elsewhere. Just 3 went over to the W of the lake

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 4 Greylag Geese [2 groups outbound]
- 18 Canada Geese [3 groups outbound]
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws only
- 1 Greenfinch
- 2 Siskins

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 3 Reed Buntings only

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 11 (7♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Pochard
- 34 (16♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 11 Moorhens
- 58 Coots
- >125 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Despite the milder weather nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn: later
- 1 Muscid fly ‘sunning’ itself – probably Phaonia tuguriorum
also
- >10 Winter Midges flying about

At the front a duck Pochard. The ‘spectacles’ are a clue. The grey mark across the bill indicates this is an adult.

You can see why the appearance of a Grey Heron looming overhead causes panic amongst small birds. This is the second bird at the lake this morning.

This Great Spotted Woodpecker knew exactly which twig to perch on – no matter where I moved I could get no closer to her. Probably her mate was drumming alongside Teece Drive later. I must say the twig hardly looks strong-enough to support a woodpecker.

This hairy fly with distinctive marks in the wings seems to be Phaonia tuguriorum (no vernacular name). The NatureSpot web site notes "the early appearance of this fly helps to point to this species" with a flight period from February until late October.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:30 – 10:15

(29th visit of the year)

>60% ice still

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
47      Kestrel
48      Yellow-legged Gull

Notes from here:
- pair of Gadwall not seen!
- drake Shoveler again
- 2 drake Pochard new: together with increase in Tufted Ducks perhaps some from the lake?
- female Kestrel flew E: this is my first record here for at least 5 years (as far back as my computer logs go). As far as I recall it may indeed be my first-ever here
- a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull flew W: required the camera to confirm the ID. Another species I have not recorded here for at least 5 years – if ever

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Kestrel
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Stock Dove

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 10 Canada Geese
- 38 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 2 (2♂) Pochard
- 35 (13♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 4 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 29 Black-headed Gulls

This was a tricky one: a heavy-looking gull with a large black bill. Could it be a Great Black-backed Gull?

Here we see the upperwing pattern which left me little further forward with this first-winter gull. A Great Black-backed Gull should show a whiter head and pale inner primaries. A Lesser Black-backed Gull should show dark greater coverts, no paler tips to the inner primaries and a pale-based bill. My reference books solved the problem: this is a classic first winter Yellow-legged Gull. I don’t see too many of these gulls, especially of this age. Another bird ID confirmed by using the camera.

A Collared Dove on the wires. It was singing, a song that is often misreported as an early Cuckoo. Easy to separate if you remember a Cuckoo is always two-notes: a Collared Dove always three-notes.

A pair of Blue Tits was examining this hole with one bird disappearing inside at times.

Note the spread wings and tail – part of the effect of rising testosterone levels as Spring approaches.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
8 Pochard
(Gary Crowder)

2013
Priorslee Lake
8 Gadwall
26 Wigeon
2 Great Black-backed Gulls 
1 Common Gull 
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull 
1 Caspian Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Mediterranean Gull
(Roger Clay / Tom Lowe)

2011
Priorslee Lake
10 Pochard
16 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
<10 Pochard
c.50 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
1 Lapwing
1 Common Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
c.35 Herring Gulls
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Glaucous Gull
c.25 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Jim and Jason)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
23 Herring Gulls
65 Black-headed Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
26 Tufted Ducks
21 Robins
21 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
19 Pochard
89 Tufted Ducks
183 Coots
 c.580 Black-headed Gulls
116 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
31 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
540 Wood Pigeon
169 Jackdaws
16 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
34 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
13 Greenfinches
40 Goldfinches
127 Siskins
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

3 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  09:45 – 10:10
The Flash:  10:15 – 11:00

0.0°C:  Mainly clear. Light S wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:50 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  09:45 – 10:10

(33rd visit of the year)

The lead of open water still present: it seemed somewhat narrower. The patch of open water along N side larger. New narrow lead along S side

Bird notes
- Shelduck not located
- fairly certain there were just 2 pairs of Gadwall
- Shoveler perhaps gone back to The Flash?
- 4 Grey Herons all standing along the S edge – where there was a small open lead: unusual
- 5 Cormorants when I arrived: 2 more flew in: then 2 left a few minutes later

Birds noted flying over / near the lake
None

Bird counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Pochard again
- 57 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Little Grebes
- 7 Cormorants
- 4 Grey Herons
- 1 Moorhen
- 46 Coots
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  10:15 – 11:00

(28th visit of the year)

Almost iced over still: same hole beside SW part of island

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
45      Stock Dove
46      Siskin

Notes from here: still difficult to census things as the area of open water was in part under and behind overhanging trees where birds could hide. With patience things would emerge: but then vanish
- pair of Gadwall re-found
- drake Shoveler still here: whether this is the bird that was at the lake yesterday we will never know
- a Great Crested Grebe eventually emerged from under the vegetation
- even fewer Coots
- the two passing Collared Doves seemed to be too high to be local birds flying about
- first Herring Gulls on the water – well ice really – this year: previous record from here was a fly-over
- at least 4 Siskins in trees in NW area – my first of year here

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves
- 2 Collared Doves

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 37 Canada Geese
- 2 (1) Gadwall
- 39 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler remains
- 15 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen
- 15 Coots only
- 54 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls

Ungainly landings on ice by some of the Canada Geese.

I guess they have to throw their necks well-forward to try and counter-balance their body weight.

The bird on the left looks like it was complaining. It was much more likely it was excited by the food in prospect.

Probably the best landing.

This drake Mallard seems to be using its bottom as an additional brake. A Black-headed Gull looks bemused.

A duck Mallard also at touch-down.

Not sure the Black-headed Gulls were any more sure-footed.

Probably an adult Herring Gull though the small black smudge on the upper mandible may indicate a 4th year bird. The contrasting light makes it difficult to see the extent of any remaining winter plumage head-streaking. I will call this bird 1.

A different bird – bird 2 – in flight. Note the outer primary on the right wing (P10) is still growing. My book says that 5% do not finish their wing moult until late January so this is unusual but not perhaps exceptional.

Here we see the moult is symmetrical and this eliminates the possibility that the primary had been lost or damaged and was simply regrowing.

I (over!) enlarged the head of bird 2 here to see the bill pattern more clearly. The red ‘spot’ on the lower mandible is more extensive than it is on bird 1. There is only the smallest black mark on the upper mandible.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

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 Sky Larks
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)

2 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake only

0.0°C:  Mainly clear. Light / moderate NW wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:51 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  08:40 – 10:10

(32nd visit of the year)

The chill breeze was keeping the water open despite sub-zero temperatures last night

Bird notes
- still cannot be 100% sure but there does not seem to be a 3rd duck Gadwall
- drake Shoveler new in – the bird from The Flash taking refuge perhaps
- confirmed 4 Little Grebes
and
- I don’t normally report mole-hills as they are an almost daily occurrence somewhere around the edges. However it was noteworthy that despite the ground seeming to be frozen hard there were new hills poking up along the S side. Moles must be strong

Birds noted flying over / near the lake
- 25 Canada Geese
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Bird counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Shelduck
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 13 (8♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 10 (6♂) Pochard
- 59 (29♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Little Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 61 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

A record shot of the Shoveler: note with the wing held up we can see the green speculum. This is normally only visible in flight when it is the blue forewing that tends to catch the eye.

Always happy to get photos of Bullfinches. Not sure what is causing the white streak in front of / under the eye of this male.

Here is its mate eating buds as usual.

Seems to be having some difficulty with the wind!

(Ed Wilson)

Note

1. Click Here for a few photos from Belvide - 2 Feb 19.

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On this day..........

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup

2012
Priorslee Lake
 Dunlin 
6 Great Crested Grebes
14 Pochard
58 Tufted Duck
1 Dunlin
>5000 gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Common Gull
20 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson, Mike Cooper)

Trench Pool
11 Pochard
46 Tufted Ducks
94 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks 
2 Sparrowhawk
16 Linnets
Siskin in song 
4 Pale Brindled Beauty moths
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Golden Plover
Willow Tit
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
19 Pochard
32 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
>700 Black-headed Gulls
>432 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.30 Herring Gulls
34 Robins
17 Blackbirds
3 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
34 Magpies
11 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
2 Little Grebe
2 Gadwall
16 Pochard
101 Tufted Ducks
159 Coots
1 Water Rail
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
14 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls.
1 Willow Tit
2 Siskins
13 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

1 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake only

0.0°C > 1.0°C:  Variable cloud. Moderate NNE wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:53 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  09:25 – 10:45

(31st visit of the year)

Even though temperature stayed below freezing all yesterday more open water now

Bird notes
- Shelduck still here: definitely a first year bird
- a photo in to the dark recesses of overhanging branches along the N side revealed a 3rd drake Gadwall, but failed to locate a 3rd duck
- no Great Crested Grebes seen – but 4 (just perhaps 5) Little Grebes
and
- fungus which might be Trametes ochracea

Birds noted flying over / near the lake
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 5 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Ravens
- 5 Greenfinches

Bird counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Shelduck remains
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall (see notes)
- 15 (12♂) Mallard
- 10 (6♂) Pochard again
- 50 (26♂) Tufted Ducks
- 4 Little Grebes
- 1 Water Rail
- 2 Moorhens
- 55 Coots
- 21 Black-headed Gulls

Yesterday there were just two small patches of open water along the N side: today, even after the temperature remained at or below freezing, a long ‘lead’ of open water was available.

Necessarily ‘over blown’ we see the Shelduck has white on the face behind the bill and is therefore an immature. It shows no sign of the swelling at the bill-base which both sexes show when adult. The swelling at the base of the drake’s bill becomes much larger than that of the duck during the breeding season.

Also over-blown is this shot showing just 5 Gadwall – three drakes.

This fungus might be Trametes ochracea, a paler species than the more common Trametes versicolor (Turkeytail). I was unable get access to these fruiting bodies to check the undersides which would have helped distinguish between these two species – and indeed eliminate several other similar fungi, particularly Daedaleopsis confragosa (Blushing Bracket).

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter 
3 Scaup
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
1 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
(John Isherwood)

2013
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
3 Caspian Gulls
Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2012
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
59 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
3 Dunlin
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
19 Herring Gulls
Glaucous Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood, Martin Grant, Andy Latham, Jim Almond)

Priorslee Flash
1 Teal
64 Greylags
32 Tufted Ducks
c.400 Black-headed Gulls
65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
17 Herring Gulls (Ed Wilson)

Holmer Lake
40 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
3 Yellow-legged Gull
Glaucous Gull
6 Pochard
25 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson, Richard Vernon)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
7 Pochard
29 Tufted Ducks
>200 Black-headed Gulls
113 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
107 Wood Pigeons
21 Wrens
40 Robins
26 Blackbirds
6 Fieldfares
10 Song Thrushes
10 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
54 Magpies
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.450 Black-headed Gulls
c.650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
10 Great Crested Grebes
16 Pochard
27 Tufted Ducks
168 Coots
200 Wood Pigeons
3 Redwings
2 Willow Tit
17 Siskin
5 Reed Buntings.
(Ed Wilson)