Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

11 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 09:15
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:00

4.0°C > 6.0°C: Clear early with the ‘Telford hat’ of low cloud soon appearing, even with a few spots of rain. Light / moderate WNW wind. Excellent visibility

Sunrise: 07:35 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 09:15

(39th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
61 Treecreeper
It has taken me a long while to record this resident species here this year. Still need Nuthatch ...

Very quiet on the lake with a single duck Pochard the only diving duck present

Bird notes
- a lone Mute Swan asleep on the lake pre-dawn. It moved to the bottom of the concrete ramp later but I was unable to see whether it was the ringed cob. It left at 08:00 to the E
- the outbound group of c.10 geese was too far away to count much less hazard an ID. Later a pair of Canada Geese and then a single Greylag Goose, this flying very high, flew E
- a single Great Crested Grebe is back and looking to ‘own’ the NW reeds
- two of the Moorhens on the SW grass had a long scrap – it seemed to last several minutes. Both eventually walked away apparently not harmed physically
- rather few Black-headed Gulls
- at least 10 Song Thrushes singing: a bird singing at an 11th location had, I suspect, relocated
- no Reed Buntings heard at W end roost location

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Greylag Goose [outbound]
- 2 Canada Geese [outbound]
- c.10 unidentified geese [outbound]
- 1 Cormorant
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 20 Wood Pigeons
- c.500 Jackdaws
- >22 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 2 Redwings

The counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan: departed
- 4 (2♂) Gadwall
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler still
- 1 (0♂) Pochard only
- [no Tufted Ducks]
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Water Rail
- 11 Moorhens
- 41 Coots
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

On the lamp poles
- 1 Dotted Border moth
- 1 Pale Brindled Beauty moth
- 1 unidentified small Mirid bug that I have recorded on two previous occasions this year

Here is the Dotted Border moth.

This is a Pale Brindled Beauty moth of the form monacharia, devoid of the ‘brindled’ markings. This form is not uncommon, especially in NW England.

Another attempt to get a decent shot of this bug sp. – I think my third record this year. It is very small and does not like me getting too close to get a sharper photo. Unable to find anything on the web for this.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:00

(34th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
52 Jay
This species was recorded almost daily last Autumn, since when it has done a disappearing act

Notes from here:
much as yesterday afternoon
also
- 1 Dotted Border moth
- small, red cup-shaped fungus, likely Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austriaca)

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Feral Pigeons

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 9 Canada Geese still
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall remain
- 32 (18♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Pochard
- 64 (35♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (0♂?) Goosander
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 8 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 28 Black-headed Gulls

Oh no – not again! Yes again. Not only is a drake Gadwall always a great photo but the contrast pattern of the water adds interest.

The first of a trio of duck Tufted Ducks. Some birds retain white at the base of the bill in to the breeding season, though three together would seem unusual. Adults show a white band across the bill behind an extensive dark tip. The tip on this bird is rather diffuse.

Whereas on this bird the dark tip is broad and the white band less distinct. Note that like all duck Tufted Ducks there is a hint of a ‘tuft’ on the crown.

A rather smudgy blend between the dark tip and the diffuse white band.

A smart Cormorant.

This fungus is probably Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austriaca). There is a similar but less common species Ruby Elfcup (Sarcoscypha coccinea). It requires a microscope to look at the mature spores – something I did not have about my person.

A close-up. These are rather small – compare with the moss growing around them.

Quite splendid.

(Ed Wilson)

1. A few photos from Venus Pool on 7 Feb Here.

2. 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

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Velvet Scoter
3 Greater Scaup
7 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
(Gary Crowder)

2013
St Georges
5 Waxwings
(Observer Unknown)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Caspian Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
(Observer Unknown

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
12 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
15+ Redwing
33 Fieldfare
1 Willow Tit
4 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Great Crested Grebes
12 Cormorants
24 Pochard
102 Tufted Ducks
131 Coots
2 Water Rails
1 Kingfisher
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
56 Herring Gulls.
598 Wood Pigeons
210 Starling roost
16 Robins
1 Willow Tit
13 Greenfinches
19 Siskin
6 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

10 Feb 19

The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

The Flash: 14:10 – 14:50
Trench Lock Pool: 15:05 – 15:25 // 15:55 – 16:30
Trench Middle Pool: 15:30 – 15:50

7.0°C > 6.0°C: Mainly sunny with just a few showers in the vicinity. Moderate W wind. Very good visibility

(Sunrise: 07:37 GMT)

Rain precluded my usual early start

The Flash: 14:10 – 14:50

(33rd visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
52 Common Buzzard

Notes from here:
- the pair of Gadwall re-found
- drake Shoveler not located
- highest number of Tufted Duck this year: perhaps some disturbed from the lake?
- Goosander returned – all the rain made the River Severn too muddy? Not sure of the sex of this bird – I think a first-year drake yet to acquire adult plumage

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Common Buzzards at least
- 1 Stock Dove

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 9 Canada Geese again
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 48 (30♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 66 (35♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (0♂?) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Moorhens
- 32 Coots
- 96 Black-headed Gulls

With the bill and bill-base largely hidden sexing this bird in either eclipse or immature plumage is not easy. Seems too much white in the back for a duck Goosander so my vote would be a first-winter drake.

One of the local Buzzards came out for a soar. My first here this year.

Seems to be food in the offing and these Black-headed Gulls are not about to be left out.

No table manners.

Word soon spreads ...

Not an easy species to photograph. Outside the breeding season when Coal Tits are in mixed roaming tit-parties they are inconspicuous and always on the move. They are bottom of the pecking order at feeders. In the breeding season they sing from the very tops of trees – and of course they are our smallest tits anyway.

I was very happy with two shots.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 15:05 – 15:25 // 15:55 – 16:30

(8th visit of the year)

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
36 Common Buzzard
37 Goldcrest

Gulls were difficult – and rather few. Just 14 Black-headed Gulls before I went to Middle Pool and back. When I returned there were >60 on the water and many more spiralling it. At that point a dog-walker-cum-fisherman arrived and all the gulls went up and left. Single Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited briefly, otherwise the water was devoid of gulls

Notes from here
- the lone Mute Swan still
- a drake Pochard new / back: however many Tufted Ducks gone
- a few Goosanders here as well
- very low number of Coots

Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws]
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 2 Starlings

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan
- 19 Canada Geese
- 3 (2♂) Mallard again
- 1 (1♂) Feral Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 11 (5♂) Tufted Ducks
- 5 (3♂) Goosander
- 2 Little Grebes again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen
- 41 Coots
- 14 > c.100 > 1 Black-headed Gulls
- 0 > 1 > 0 Lesser Black-backed Gull

This Goosander – with its tail up! – still shows some pale above the bill-base suggesting it is a first year bird, as does the lack of a well-defined crest. A duck I think – too little white in the wing.

One of the local Buzzards came out for a soar here as well.

Not a feeding frenzy here: a panic to get away when a dog-walker-cum-fisherman arrived.

Later this Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in for a few minutes. Here it is leaving. Typically extensive head-streaking, though this is a variable feature of this species. There is pale on the inner primaries which suggests this is a sub-adult – probably third-winter. There does not look to be much black on the bill and the eye is pale.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 15:30 – 15:50

(8th visit of the year)

Strangest sighting here was what seems most likely to have been a small bat sp. flying around low over the water. It was about as far away from me as it could be. Its flight action reminded me more of a large insect – like a locust – flying rather aimlessly, albeit in the same general direction. It looked rather pale and unicoloured. Strange date: must have been disturbed as still too cold for insects

Bird species added to my 2019 log from here
31 Coal Tit

Notes from here
- rather quiet
- lone Mute Swan gone
- a few Black-headed Gulls dropping in: too early for the big roost numbers

The counts from the water
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 40 Canada Geese
- 24 (17♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 13 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 46 > 69 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

1. A few photos from Venus Pool on 7 Feb Here.

2. 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

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1st-winter female Velvet Scoter
(Tom Lowe)

2013
Priorslee Lake
27 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
11 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
118 Coot
(Tony Beckett)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
2 Iceland Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Common Gull
1 Peregrine
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant and Roger Clay )

Telford
1 Waxwing
(Mike Shurmer)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Goosander
1 Snipe
10 Pochard
39 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
25+ Siskins
(Ed Wilson and Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
148 Coots
2 Water Rails
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
385 Wood Pigeon
473 Jackdaws
394 Rooks
12 Robins
18 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
13 Greenfinches
53 Siskin
5 Redpolls
14 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

9 Feb 19

No Sightings in today.

1. A few photos from Venus Pool on 7 Feb Here.

2. 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

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Priorslee Lake
A juvenile Iceland Gull
2nd winter Iceland Gull
A juvenile Glaucous Gull
1st winter Greater Black-backed Gull
An adult Common Gull
(Ian Grant / Roger Clay / Martin Grant / Jim Almond / Paul King)

Ringed Birds
Today Roger Clay found 75 ringed birds. Only 12 of these had he seen on previous days before. There were:

- 3 from Iceland
- 3 from Netherlands
- 3 Still to be checked and the remaining ringed birds were all from the UK
(Roger Clay)

2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
11 Pochard
40 Tufted Ducks
144 Coots
2 Water Rails
88 Lapwing
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
63 Lesser Black-backed Gull
27 Herring Gulls.
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
c.45 Fieldfares and Redwing
450 Jackdaws
259 Rooks
250 Starling
19 Robins
16 Blackbirds
10 Song Thrushes
12 Greenfinches
33 Siskin
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

8 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake only

7.0°C > 8.0°C: Cloudy with rain after 07:25. Fresh S wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:41 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:40 – 09:20

(38th visit of the year)

Badly rain-affected forcing me in to the Sailing Club shelter for most of the time

Bird notes
- the pair of Mute Swans are behaving strangely. Much of the time they were not that close together. Twice they went for a fly well outside the confines of the lake and on both occasions the cob returned some while before the pen
- the outbound Greylag Geese were not specifically with any Canada Geese though I thought I could hear them somewhere – I was engaged in checking Jackdaws and Rooks at the time. Two parties of Canada Geese later
- drake Shoveler re-found. Probably hiding yesterday
- Pochard and Tufted Duck numbers fading away at the moment
- 413 Black-headed Gulls counted arriving from the W. How many of these were repeat arrivals is hard to say. Never more than c.175 on the water at any one time. Most seemed to fly off to the SE so perhaps most were different birds
- from my position in the Sailing Club hut I probably did not see some of the Magpies that left the roost to the N – assuming any did leave ‘downwind’. 51 is a lower roost total than the previous two years around this date
- the passing Jackdaws were in several long streams at 07:15: judged to be at least 530 birds. At least 10 Rooks in with the last group. Then a few stragglers of both species
- the mild weather encouraged 7 Song Thrushes to sing. Great Tit the only other songster noted in the rain

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 17+ Canada Geese [2 groups outbound]
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 23 Wood Pigeons
- c.540 Jackdaws
- >14 Rooks

Birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- 51 Magpies (incomplete?)
- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 3 (1♂) Pochard
- 12 (6♂) Tufted Ducks only
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Grebe
- 9 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- 413? Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again

Nothing on the lamp poles – too wet and / or windy

In the rain it was a rather black and white morning. Black represented by these Coots (and 2 Moorhens). Meanwhile.

White was all Black-headed Gulls.

In the gloom amidst the rain drops this Black-headed Gull now has an almost complete ‘black head’.

(Ed Wilson)

Note

1. A few photos from Venus Pool on 7 Feb Here.

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

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
(Observer Unknown)

2013
Little Wenlock, Candles Landfill Site
1 Iceland Gull
(Tom Lowe)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
c.1100 Black-headed Gulls
131 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
35 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
2 Gadwall
14 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
162 Coots
1 Water Rail
293 Jackdaw
105 Rook
c.120 Starling
27 Robins
18 Blackbirds
2 Willow Tits
8 Greenfinches
28 Siskins
2 Redpolls
19 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

7 Feb 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:00
The Flash: 09:05 – 09:35

5.0°C: Mainly cloudy with spells of mainly light rain after early clearer spells. Very strong WSW wind abated somewhat after 09:00. Good visibility if rather dull

Sunrise: 07:43 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:45 – 09:00

(37th visit of the year)

Best today was the Woodcock that flew low over my head at 07:00. I was sheltering in the lee of the copse in the SW area and had three sightings of dark shapes struggling with the wind flying very close to me. The first two were perhaps Blackbirds. The third passed low overhead and was perfectly silhouetted against the sky and clearly a Woodcock. It is just possible the others were too – perhaps even the same bird circling the copse before going to its day-roost

And a frustrating ‘one that got away’. A distant first-winter gull with well-marked upper-wing pattern flew W. It was likely either a Common or Mediterranean Gull – first-winters of these species are very similar in flight at the best of times: this wasn’t

Bird notes
- the usual group of geese was 11-strong today with an additional 8th Canada Goose
- drake Shoveler not located
- Black-headed Gulls swirling around in the wind, coming and going in all directions. Possibly many more
- the passing Jackdaws in a long swirling stream at 07:16: judged to be at least 450 birds. No obvious Rooks amongst them, but .... Just 5 more Jackdaws much later

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 3 Greylag Geese [part of group outbound]
- 8 Canada Geese [3 groups outbound]
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Stock Doves
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- >455 Jackdaws
- 1 Greenfinch

No birds recorded leaving roosts around the lake
- too windy to make any valid counts

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (3♂) Gadwall
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (1♂) Pochard
- 19 (10♂) Tufted Ducks only
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 11 Moorhens
- [Coots not counted]
- >235 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Nothing on the lamp poles – too windy

An early break in the wet and very windy conditions.

Red sky in the morning is supposed to indicate wind or rain: both in this case.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:05 – 09:35

(32nd visit of the year)

No ice remaining

Notes from here:
- despite yesterday’s remark that all the geese are ‘paired-off’ I found what seemed to be a lone Canada Goose on the island. Its partner could have been lurking inside somewhere
- could not locate the Gadwall – wrong conditions for a lengthy search
- now 6 drake Pochard

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Sparrowhawk

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 9 Canada Geese
- 40 (24♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler still
- 6 (6♂) Pochard
- 45 (23♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 3 Moorhens
- 30 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls only

(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)

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..........

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)

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