31 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2012


2012

Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
22 Greylag Geese
19 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
c.390 Black-headed Gulls
c.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
32 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
3 Yellow-legged Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
69 Redwings
25 Greenfinches
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Tundra Bean Goose
8 Greylag Geese
37 Tufted Ducks
c.1000 Black-headed Gulls
246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
35 Herring Gulls.
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Trench Pool
8 Pochard
50 Tufted Ducks
79 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

Holmer Lake
50 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

30 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

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On this day in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Cormorants 
1 Teal 
7 Pochard 
66 Tufted Duck 
3 Greater Scaup 
1 Velvet Scoter 
91 Coots 
1 Woodcock 
50 Herring Gulls 
33 Redwings 
c.495 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
106 Tufted Ducks 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
7 Pochard 
25 Tufted Duck 
4 Goosander 
44 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

Park Pool, Chetwynd near Newport
31 Shoveler

(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
29 Wigeon 
10 Gadwall 
8 Pochard 
59 Tufted Ducks 
1 Scaup
169 Coots
 >300 Starlings
13 Redwings
46 Fieldfare 
211 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

The Flash
9 Pochard 
54 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Goosander
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
1 Gadwall
9 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
(John Isherwood)


2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
c.190 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
8 Herring Gulls
Glaucous Gull
75 Redwing
16 Bullfinch 
(Ed Wilson, Martin Grant) 

Priorslee Flash
1 Pochard
43 Tufted Ducks
282 Black-headed Gulls
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
 1 Water Rail
4 Gadwall
2 Willow Tit
(John Isherwood)


2009
Priorslee Lake
A female Ruddy Duck
500+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring & Black-headed Gulls.
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull

29 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 12:30 – 13:10
Location

c.12°C. Passing showers; fresh / strong SW wind; good visibility, moderate in showers

For some time to come I will be restricted to making sporadic visits using public transport and ‘middle of the day’ visits are likely

(11th visit of the year)

Notes
- all the counts were done while trying to stand on a VERY windy dam and are ‘best effort’. The dam is the only place where all the water can be seen and under- / over-laps in counts can be avoided
- while doing the count an adult Common Gull appeared briefly overhead: by the time I had retrieved the camera from the safety of my rucksack it had disappeared. Second here this year on what is otherwise a dire year for gulls in both quantity and quality
- a Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) noted in flower

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (5♂) Gadwall
- 6 (3♂) Mallard
- 24 (21♂) Pochard
- 40 (19♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Moorhens
- 103 Coots (possibly incomplete count)
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Herring Gulls

A statuesque Cormorant with some breeding white plumes.        

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 11:40 – 12:10
Location

(7th visit of the year)

Notes
- party of 12 Magpies seen bathing along the E edge of the fast-disappearing island

Birds noted flying over
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 34 (23♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 89 (55♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 21 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2014
Priorslee Lake
Location
14 Pochard
71 Tufted Duck
3 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
103 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
141 Redwings
502 Jackdaws
383 Rooks
2 Ravens
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash
89 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake

Drake Scaup
26 Wigeon
12 Gadwall
12 Pochard
60 Tufted Ducks
181 Coots
c.400 Black-headed Gulls
246 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
21 Redwings
147 Jackdaws
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Unknown Observer)

Trench Lock Pool
18 Swans
8 Pochard
45 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
99 Coots counted
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake

5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
51 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake

c.2000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
109 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.250 Black-headed Gulls.
1 Buzzard
1 Merlin
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake

1 Goldeneye
(Ed Wilson)

28 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2012, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake

Location
12 Pochard
63 Tufted Duck
3 Greater Scaup
Velvet Scoter
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
16 Redwings over
555 Jackdaws
345 Rooks
(Ed Wilson, Gary Crowder)

The Flash
120 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
3 Pochard
34 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
2 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon
10 Gadwall
11 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
177 Coots again
38 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
9 Redwings
52 Magpies
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Shoveler
4 Pochard
57 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
38 Tufted Duck
150 Wood Pigeons
57 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash

36 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
7 Pochard
33 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

27 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
13 Pochard
63 Tufted Duck
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
101 Coots counted
31 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
7 Redwings
522 Jackdaws
335 Rooks
71 Magpies
4 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
111 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
26 Wigeon 
10 Gadwall 
14 Pochard
56 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup
177 Coots
4 Redwings
30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson, Dave Tromans)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
4 Goosander
(Dave Tromans)

26 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2008, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
Velvet Scoter
2 Scaup
(Martin and Ian Grant)

2013
Priorslee Lake
39 Wigeon
8 Gadwall 
24 Pochard 
74 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
173 Coots
169 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
18 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)

25 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
11 Pochard
61 Tufted Duck
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
98 Coots
4 Redwings
c.735 Jackdaws
c.257 Rooks
4 Siskins
1 Redpoll 
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
92 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
Peregrine
6 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
12 Gadwall 
1 Greater Scaup
>700 Black-headed Gulls
7 Common Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>300 Herring Gulls
7 Great Black-backed Gulls.
(Ed Wilson, (John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
1 Little Grebe 
30 Swans
4 Gadwall
28 Pochard
86 Tufted Ducks
1 Buzzard 
296 Coots
5 Redwings
27 Greenfinches
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Goldeneye

1 Water Rail
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.45 Herring Gulls
10 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
24 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
152 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

24 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 07:07 – 10:06
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:04

11.0°C > 12.0°C. Cloudy and dull with a few early brighter bits. Light / moderate SSW wind. Very good visibility. Very mild

(10th visit of the year)

Best today was the pair of Shoveler that may or may not have touched down, briefly

Other notes
- party of 8 Wigeon circled over but seemed even less likely than the Shoveler to land
- Little Grebes seen again today
- after weeks with almost no early arrival of Black-headed Gulls c.320 arrived in three large groups at 08:02. At least 200, presumably some of these birds, seen flying fast N away from the area at 08:25 (I was in the field around the Academy and could not see where they had come). Then >75 birds drifted in from the N after 09:45 – the same returning?
- two Kingfishers this morning
- no big roost of Starlings: a lone bird flew out of the NW reeds after 09:00 – a full hour later than the usual departure!
- in addition to the 17 Greenfinches logged flying over another 20 flushed out of the hedge alongside the new Academy (discretion means I do not to visit here while school is in session!)
- Bullfinches seen feeding on Ash keys this morning
and
- disappointed the mild weather failed to produce any moths
- however did find my first flower of the year (catkins apart): a single Meadow Buttercup

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 7 Greylag Geese (2 groups)
- 103 Canada Geese (8 groups)
- 8 (?♂) Wigeon
- ?? Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 10 Herring Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves
- 1 Redwing
- c.290 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 17 Greenfinches
- 1 Goldfinch
- 3 Siskins

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 83 Magpies
- 1 Starling
- 2 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Gadwall
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler
- 21 (19♂) Pochard
- 39 (17♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 16 Great Crested Grebes
- 22 Moorhens
- 108 Coots
- >320 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 2 Herring Gulls

This pair of Shoveler flew around and around. Several times they looked as if they might be landing, but not sure whether they ever did.

Less than five minutes later 8 Wigeon appeared and also circled for a while before heading off S. In the rather dull conditions I was unable to see how many drakes there were and was rather hoping these photos might help. They don’t! None of the six birds here is an adult drake which would show a large white patch on the upper-wing. Bird 1, perhaps bird 5 and just possibly bird 4 look as if they could be immature drakes. Bird 3 in particular shows the distinctive Wigeon head shape and otherwise there is rather little to be going on here.

Here we see all eight birds and the obvious white belly of Wigeon. Gadwall would be the only confusion species though we can dismiss that species as this view shows the very pointed wings typical of Wigeon.

2 Cormorants hang their wings out to dry / aid digestion of their food (delete that which does not apply: opinions are divided). The bright yellow chin patch shows that both are full adults but only the nearer bird shows the white thigh patch and head plumes of a bird in breeding condition.

My first flower here this year: a lone Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) [I could not even locate any of the umbellifers that were still flowering just before Christmas – the plants seemed to have disappeared]

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
56 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
108 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
95 Tufted Ducks
4 Goosanders
9 Bullfinches
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
8 Gadwall 
26 Pochard 
99 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
>1200 Black-headed Gulls
>2200 large gulls
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
23 Tufted Duck 
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Cormorant 
16 Swans 
2 Gadwall 
1 Shoveler 
5 Pochard 
37 Tufted Duck 
1 Goosander 
117 Coots
96 Black-headed Gulls
42 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
38 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Horsehay Pool
1 Caspian Gull
(Jim Almond)

2010
Priorslee Lake
>300 Jackdaws
36 Swans
4 Gadwall
26 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
315 Coots 
>300 Black-headed Gulls
39 Lesser Black-backed
28 Herring Gulls
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Iceland Gull
(Jason Buckley)

2008
Priorslee Lake

120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
16 Herring Gulls
50 Black-headed Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
3 Wigeon
2 Gadwall
14 Pochard
23 Tufted Ducks
151 Coot
370 Jackdaws
118 Rooks
250 Wood Pigeon
15 Robins
14 Blackbirds
47 Siskins
3 Redpolls
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

23 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 06:57 – 09:58
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:05

2.5°C > 5.5°C. Fine with variable and increasing cloud. Light S wind.

Moderate visibility. Just frosted: no ice remains on the lake
(9th visit of the year)

Best today was, at last, a prolonged view of the often elusive and usually skulking Cetti’s Warbler

Mistle Thrush was new for my site year list

Other notes
- Little Grebe(s) not seen today
- yesterday’s Wigeon gone
- not sure why early counts consistently produce higher totals of both Moorhens and Coots. At one stage there were 16 Moorhens together on the grass in front of the shelter
- >150 Starlings left the E end in at least 3 groups: then about 3 minutes later >250 more left the NW reeds in at least 2 more groups
- the slightly milder conditions tempted more song – a Blackbird, 3 Song

Thrushes and a Mistle Thrush all joined in with the tits
- no sign of any Reed Bunting roost this morning: just 1 bird heard calling at W end

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 4 Greylag Geese (1 group)
- 7 Canada Geese (2 groups)
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 3 Stock Doves
- 5 Redwings
- c.540 Jackdaws
- 29 Rooks
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 7 Greenfinches
- 1 Goldfinch
- 2 Siskins

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 76 Magpies
- >400 Starlings (5 groups – see notes)

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Gadwall
- 8 (4♂) Mallard
- 20 (17♂) Pochard
- 37 (22♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 19 Great Crested Grebes
- 26 Moorhens
- 137 Coots
- 56 Black-headed Gulls

 this morning’s sunrise, such as it was

Slightly obscured – and slightly scruffy – this Mistle Thrush was tempted to sing by the rather milder weather this morning.

A grab shot of a not-that-common occurrence: a Jay on the ground and in the open. It didn’t stay long.

A shot I have been after for ages: here is the often elusive and usually skulking Cetti’s Warbler feeding in the open along the Wesley Brook just below the footbridge. Note the warm brown tones of the back and crown; the thin white supercilium with dark lores; greyer side to the head; typically raised and rather long tail (this often looks rounded when spread).

In this view the thin and pointed bill are obvious.

Here we can see how the tail can look rounded from some angles.

Milking this sighting for all its worth! Here we see the pale-tipped undertail coverts, typically a noticeable feature of the (vagrant to the UK) River Warbler, though in that species the undertail coverts are both more boldly tipped and also extend almost the length of the tail.

And now for something completely different: a Carrion Crow contemplates how it can anything else in its bill.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
6 Pochard
42 Tufted Duck
A drake Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
111 Coots
78 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
8 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson , Unknown Observer)

The Flash
1 Little Grebe
5 Pochard
116 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
8 Moorhens
5 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
5 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
72 Coots
69 Black-headed Gulls
15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
43 Herring Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Middle Pool
1 Willow Tit
1 Tufted Duck
4 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
28 Wigeon 
8 Gadwall 
25 Pochard 
99 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
169 Coots
>1500 Black-headed Gulls
3 Common Gulls
>500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.100 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Glaucous Gull
1 Yellow legged Gull
(Richard Vernon)

2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Greater Black-backed Gull
27 Herring Gull
150 Black-headed Gulls.
(Martin Adlam)


2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
10 Pochard
17 Tufted Ducks
149 Coot again
1 Water Rail
2 Lapwings
10 Robins
13 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
37 Siskins
2 Redpolls
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

22 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 13:26 – 13:56
Location

Telford sunrise: not relevant

9.0°C > 11.0°C. Cleared after morning rain and mostly sunny; moderate / fresh W wind; good visibility

Another early afternoon sortie after wind and rain suggested an early visit would not be rewarding

(8th visit of the year)

Notes
- the Wigeon were new in and my first here this year
- after yesterday’s very low count of Moorhens with the ice all gone the Moorhens were visible in force again
- all the large gulls and many of the Black-headed Gulls flew off while I was present

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (5♂) Gadwall
- 4 (2♂) Wigeon
- 8 (4♂) Mallard
- 19 (17♂) Pochard
- 37 (19♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Little Grebes
- 18 Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Moorhens
- 109 Coots
- 128 Black-headed Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 12:47 – 13:21
Location

(6th visit of the year)

Other notes
- geese remain in low number: the three Canada Geese all seem to be non-flying birds. I wonder whether erecting the fences to limit the area that can be trampled by the geese has made the location less attractive and they have gone elsewhere (but where)?
- Tufted Duck numbers well down: suspect that the water mostly iced over in the last few days forcing them to leave
- ice may have been the reason no Great Crested Grebes were logged, though these can do a good job of hiding when they have finished breakfast
- is it always the same adult Lesser Black-backed Gull here? and if so why?
- a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Song Thrush were both new for the site-list this year

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 39 (23♂) Mallard
- 23 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 37 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

(Ed Wilson)      

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
9 Pochard
106 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
106 Coots
c.260 Black-headed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
204 Redwing
c.250 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes 
32 Wigeon 
6 Gadwall 
25 Pochard 
105 Tufted Ducks
166 Coot
>1700 Black-headed Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>450 Herring Gulls
13 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Water Rail
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)

Holmer Lake
28 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
65 Herring Gulls
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
31 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
c.200 Black-headed Gulls
128 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gulls
20 Robins
23 Blackbirds
19 Fieldfares
17 Redwings
3 Jays
31 Magpies
183 Jackdaws
159 Rooks
7 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

21 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake:  06:57 – 09:36
Location

Telford sunrise: 08:08

-1.0°C > 1.5°C. clouded after a frosty night; light / moderate SE wind; moderate visibility

(7th visit of the year)

About 80% ice with open water only in NE area

Best here were 3 Redpolls feeding on dead seed-heads along the S side of the lake. A new species for me this year

Other notes
- all the waterbirds were concentrated in the NE area. A significant increase in the number of Mallard and a small decrease in the number of Great Crested Grebes. Otherwise numbers were remarkably unchanged. Not clear where all the Moorhens go when the edges are iced-up
- the Stock Doves overhead were also new for me this year
- now several bird-scarers in operation in the fields to the E and this no doubt the reason why no Woodpigeons overhead
- the lower number of Jackdaws not directly attributable to the only moderate visibility – and there were more Rooks than I have noted for many weeks
- just one lone Starling over and none noted leaving roosts
- the Redwing roost was slightly busier

Counts of birds flying over the lake (in addition to those on / around lake)
- 8 Canada Geese
- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 4 Stock Doves
- 280 Jackdaws
- 46 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 9 Greenfinches
- 2 Siskin

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 65 Magpies
- 21 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 10 (6♂) Gadwall
- 1 (1♂) Teal
- 25 (14♂) Mallard
- 19 (17♂) Pochard
- 45 (22♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Grey Herons
- 16 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens only
- 130 Coots
- 27 Black-headed Gulls

The second clear frosty night had iced over most of the lake but by 07:00 this morning it had clouded up. The ice remained, here showing the view of the NW end.

One of the 3 Redpolls that were feeding on these seed-heads along the S side of the frozen lake.

A view of one of the other Redpolls.

(Ed Wilson)

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

Trench Lock Pool: 09:45 – 10:25
Location

(2nd visit of the year)

About 60% iced over

Notes

- significant increase in number of Mallard but no other dabbling ducks
- the lone Goosander was a drake today
- the 2 Little Grebes were new for the year hear
- a much better count of gulls here
- other species here not noted during previous visits this year were Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit

Birds noted flying over
None

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 29 Canada Geese
- 36 (4♂) Mallard
- 3 feral Mallard-type ducks
- 61 (34♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1♂) Goosander
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 119 Coots
- 126 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 6 Herring Gulls

The only Goosander here today was a splendid drake

The adult Black-headed Gull in the centre of the photo is well-advanced in to breeding plumage with most of the black hood evident. The other birds are more typical of this date. The black hood is acquired very quickly once development starts.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
9 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
1 Velvet Scoter
113 Coot
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
32 Wigeon 
8 Gadwall
1 Shoveler 
20 Pochard 
86 Tufted Ducks 
1 Greater Scaup 
2 Goldeneye 
 >1000 Black-headed Gulls
c.250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
146 Herring Gulls
8 Great Black-backed Gulls
Woodcock
c.30 Fieldfare
(J Reeves, John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

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

2012
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
21 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
133 Black-headed Gulls
37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
13 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
Pochard
63 Tufted Ducks
c.380 Black-headed Gulls
c.750 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
29 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
2 Little Grebes
2 Pochard
39 Tufted Ducks
94 Coots
c.560 Black-headed Gulls
112 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
33 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
13 Cormorants
7 Pochard
42 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders
>270 Black-headed Gulls
223 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
53 Herring Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
25 Robins
20 Blackbirds
9 Redwings
30 Magpies
290 Jackdaws
160 Rooks
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
10 Great Crested Grebes
5 Cormorants
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
11 Tufted Ducks
149 Coot
1 Water Rail
312 Jackdaws
300 Wood Pigeons
2000 Starlings
17 Robins
26 Blackbirds
59 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

20 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
2  Greater Scaup 
1 Velvet Scoter 
117 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Redwings 
c.274 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Mike Stokes)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe 
1 Greater Scaup 
1 Goldeneye
26 Wigeon 
4 Gadwall 
1 Shoveler 
22 Pochard 
76 Tufted Ducks 
157 Coots 
1 Common Gull
144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
74 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Glaucous Gull
Juvenile Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
c.195 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
132 Coot
2 Water Rail
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
428 Jackdaws
438 Rook
300 Wood Pigeons
14 Robin
80 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
11 Blackbird
1 Willow Tits
6 Greenfinch
65 Siskins
6 Redpolls
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

19 Jan 16

Priorslee Lake: 13:58 – 14:50
Location

Telford sunrise: not relevant

5.0°C > 6.0°C. Fine with broken cloud and some sun. Light SE wind. Good visibility

Another day with early afternoon visits

(7th visit of the year)

Notes
- strangely no Herring Gulls

The counts from the lake area
- 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 10 (5♂) Mallard
- 20 (17♂) Pochard
- 36 (19♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Little Grebes
- 19 Great Crested Grebes
- 14 Moorhens
- 114 Coots
- 58 Black-headed Gulls
- 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash: 12:59 – 13:54
Location

(5th visit of the year)

Notes
- the lone Greylag Goose – my first of the year here – was associating with the all-white feral goose
- other birds seen that were also ‘firsts’ for the year at this site included Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit, Bullfinch (and Grey Squirrel)

The counts from the water
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 3 Canada Geese
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 21 (12♂) Mallard
- 46 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 all-white feral duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

An interesting Moorhen: this was probably a late-brood bird in 2015 that has still to acquire the red shield and other aspects of adult plumage.

At The Flash gulls are often more approachable than on the lake: here is an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull showing a typical amount of head-streaking. Birds will begin to lose this over the next few weeks to become white-headed by end-March for the breeding season.

A male Tufted Duck. Note the slight gloss on the side of the head – this can look either purple or green depending on the angle of the light. I think it looks green here, but I know that others see this colour as more mauve!

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup - 1st winter male, 2 1st winter females
(David Barnes / Tony Beckett / Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)

2007
Priorslee Lake
8 Cormorants
3 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
c.50 Golden Plover
>1100 Black-headed Gulls
133 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls
250 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
17 Blackbirds
8 Fieldfares
4 Redwings
43 Magpies
279 Jackdaws
136 Rooks
5 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1100 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
198 Coot
376 Jackdaws
265 Rooks
200 Wood Pigeons
28 Robins
21 Blackbirds
22 Siskins
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

18 Jan 16

No sightings in today.

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On this day in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014
2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup
2 Yellow Legged Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Glaucous Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Probable "intermedius" Lesser Black-backed Gull.
At least 1 Ring-billed Gull look-alike
(Andy Latham / Ian Grant)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Wigeon
5 Gadwall
25 Pochard
100 Tufted Duck 
3 Water Rails
1000 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.400 Wood Pigeons
Blackcap
1000 Starlings
30 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
14 Pochard
55 Tufted Duck
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
11 Great Crested Grebes
6 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
208 Coot
c.900 Black-headed Gulls
c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
13 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Kingfisher
53 Siskins
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson. Martin Adlam)