28th February, Tuesday - Another chilly start at Priorslee with a frost developing at dawn after overnight rain. Keen NW wind to make the eyes water!

The frosty drive from Newport on wet / icy roads netted me 1 [0] Mallard in flight(!); 0 [1] Wrens; 0 [1] Dunnocks; 61 [62] Robins; 18 [21] Blackbirds; 9 [8] Song Thrushes; 1 [0] Blue Tit; 1 [1] Great Tit; and 2 [1] Magpies. No Rabbits today either [yesterday's figures in brackets]

No specific highlight at the lake but some great moments again: spent quite some time with the camera and a male Bullfinch to good effect (will send the best to Martin for this website).

Saw the Water Rail today; both Little Grebes; a Kestrel hovering to the E; a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over; and a party of 11 Fieldfare put up by the bird-scarers. But the Gadwall were nowhere to be seen - they have been flying around recently after being chained to the NE area for several weeks.

Low numbers of gulls again initially but better later. Lake was devoid of them when I arrived and again it was nearly 07:00 before the first few flew in. More today with a big arrival of c.400 birds from, unusually, the NW. Later more large gulls than at this time for some days. Also a respectable count of 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls flying over. One of the Herring Gulls was a most bizarre sight as it was sporting what seemed to be a huge black growth on its head near / at the right eye, over half the size of the head and obvious to the naked eye so much did it distort the silhouette of the bird - ugh!

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:05 43 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.400 Black-headed Gulls; 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gulls.
07:50 c.820 Black-headed Gulls; 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls.
09:05 c.400 Black-headed Gulls; 66 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls.

My log of the water birds was: 2 Little Grebes; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 different single Cormorants; the 2 resident Swans again glaring at a fly-by adult; 36 Canada Geese, 20 of which landed on the lake (though a few left almost immediately); apparently no Gadwall; 13 Mallard, with a pair flying off W; 7 Pochard (6 drakes again); 35 Tufted Ducks (19 drakes); 9 Moorhens; 96 Coots: 1 Water Rail seen.

Wood Pigeons were back in force today with two separate parties of c.300 birds each in a total of 723 logged flying SE to N, with at least one of the big parties seeming to head in to Ward's Rough. Another 57 birds flying over the lake and 18 in the hedges and trees gave me total just short of 800.

Not sure where the corvids were today: it was a very light morning and it is possible many left before I arrived. All I noted were small groups, mainly high to the E, and I logged just 30 [92] Jackdaws and 55 [72] Rooks [yesterday's counts in brackets]

I estimate 120 Starlings left the NW reed-bed this morning at the very early time of 06:45. Saw 22 flying N later.

Viewing conditions poor for Pied Wagtails: just 14 was the log today.

So the passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 14 Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 11 Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes, with 7 in song; no Redwings; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrests; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tit; 2 Willow Tits; 16 Blue Tits; 13 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 14 Magpies; 10 Crows; 8 Chaffinches; 15 Greenfinches; just 1 Goldfinch; 11 Siskins flying over; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 7 Bullfinches; and 7 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

27th February, Monday - Still rather chilly but less windy at Priorslee this morning and back in my 'normal' viewing position on a cloudy morning, but not so dull as recently.

Despite an earlier start the drive from Newport in the workday traffic netted me a larger log and I managed to hear 1 [0] Wren; 1 [0] Dunnock; 62 [54] Robins; 21 [12] Blackbirds; 8 [11] Song Thrushes; 0 [1] Mistle Thrushes; 1 [0] Great Tit; and 0 [1] Magpies. No [2] Rabbits today [yesterday's figures in brackets]

My highlight at the lake was my first-ever sighting of a Pheasant - a fine cock wandering the SW grassy area. Have heard these before - even as close as the Ricoh and Celestica grounds - and seen them in the fields to the E, but this was my first-ever sighting 'at the lake'. Little things mean a lot?

What else unusual? A high-flying Greylag Goose; a distant Kestrel; a few Redwings; and a Stock Dove over.

Low numbers of gulls again: lake was devoid of them when I arrived and it was nearly 07:00 before the first few flew in. Then numbers stayed low. There were few flying over - 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:05 59 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:30 26 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:05 56 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:45 28 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:00 84 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull.

My log of the water birds was: no Little Grebes; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Cormorant (in and out by 07:15); the 2 resident Swans glaring at an adult that threatened to land, but didn't; 1 Greylag Goose over again; 13 Canada Geese flying over in 4 small groups; the pair of Gadwall; just 15 Mallard with 3 more seen flying to the N; 7 Pochard (6 drakes); 42 Tufted Ducks (24 drakes); 13 Moorhens; 110 Coots: with no Water Rails seen or heard again.

Clear site of the Wood Pigeon track this morning, but just 4 smallish groups totalling 111 birds noted: another 27 flying over the lake: 23 in the trees around the lake was an unusually large number.

Sheltering from the wind gave me a poor view of the Wood Pigeon path, but I logged 240 entering the Wards Rough area. Another 33 flew over the lake. Just 1 flushed from the trees around the lake.

Corvids left in 2 groups - one small party of mostly Rooks very early; and some 20 minutes later a larger group of Jackdaws. But then just a scatter of Rooks and I logged just 92 [135] Jackdaws and 72 [111] Rooks [yesterday's counts in brackets]

About 150 Starlings left the NW reed-bed. Saw no others at all.

Viewing conditions reasonable for Pied Wagtails again, though the increased weekday traffic noise did not help: 23 was the log today.

Not 100% sure about some of the passerine records - were there really 3 Tree Creepers? 2 Goldcrests? They were in with different-sized parties of Long-tailed Tits, but could these have been the same birds? There were certainly 2 Tree Creepers as I saw 2 together during a 'purple-patch' while I was looking in vain for the Water Rail. As I was peering down the gully a male Bullfinch came down to drink; that was followed by a party of 32 Siskins also coming to drink; the Tree Creepers appeared very close, along with a tit party that included at least 1 Willow Tits as well as a Goldcrest. All the while I was being deafened by a Song Thrush in full voice. Excellent.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Grey Wagtail; 23 Pied Wagtails; 21 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes, with 8 in song; 2 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Goldcrests; 5 different-sized parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 14 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 3 Tree Creepers; 12 Chaffinches; 16 Greenfinches; 12 Goldfinches (there seems to be a small roost at the W end); 38 Siskins; no Linnets; 1 Redpoll; 6 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

26th February, Sunday - A chilly start at Priorslee this morning requiring shelter from the brisk NE wind, though that had abated somewhat from yesterday blast. But as a result some of the usual watching areas were not covered and this will have affected some of the counts - as did the light showers.

Light showers too on the drive from Newport but I managed to hear 54 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; 11 Song Thrushes; 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Magpies. Also saw 2 Rabbits and a road casualty Badger.

Not much unusual at the lake - a few Redwings about it. Oh yes: two more Rabbits. Gulls were there in force at 06:30 with over 1000 Black-headed Gulls and a scatter of larger gulls evident as it got lighter. Once these had left though it was very quiet and while a few trickled back later it was just that - a trickle. Very few logged flying over either: 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls, but more unusually a party of 17 Black-headed Gulls flying S and showing no interest in the lake at all.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 c.1000 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull.
07:20 c.120 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:35 9 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:20 122 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:50 c.175 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.

My log of the water birds was: 1 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 Cormorant; the 2 resident Swans; 1 Greylag Goose; over; 11 Canada Geese, 2 of which put down briefly on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; just 18 Mallard; 6 Pochard (all 6 drakes); 45 Tufted Ducks (31 drakes); 12 Moorhens; 96 Coots: with no Water Rails seen or heard.

Sheltering from the wind gave me a poor view of the Wood Pigeon path, but I logged 240 entering the Wards Rough area. Another 33 flew over the lake. Just 1 flushed from the trees around the lake.

Corvid counts were better than in some recent days with the birds passing to the east easier to see, though in unspectacular numbers . I logged 135 Jackdaws and 111 Rooks.

I could not see the NW reed bed but the first 45 Starlings seemed to come from the NE end. There were 17 later that seemed to come from the NW area but there was another party of 16 that just seemed confused! [One of the fisherman told me that members of his club night-fishing report seeing "very large parties" coming to roost along the N side, but he was none too clear about how recent that information is].

Viewing conditions were good again for Pied Wagtails leaving the (Town Centre?) roost and 45 were amassed, with one group of 13 birds.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were otherwise unremarkable: 1 Grey Wagtail; 45 Pied Wagtails; 14 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes, with 7 in song; 4 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 4 Chaffinches; 20 Greenfinches; 11 Goldfinches (one in the edge of the Water Rail ditch feeding on the ground with Siskins; just 6 Siskins; no Linnets; no Redpolls; 6 Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings (though not positioned well to see these) (Ed Wilson)

25th February, Saturday Lunchtime update - Just a quick visit to Priorslee at lunchtime when I found a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull that did not stay.

Did not do my usual early start this morning but had to go to town early afternoon and stopped off en route to see what there was in the way of gulls; and also to walk around to try to photograph the Water Rails in better light. The former was more successful than the latter, but only with an all too brief sighting of a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull!

I had in fact done a gull count and was almost round the lake when I found a sheltered spot with the sun behind me where I could re-check some of the gulls through the scope. Since my original count a combination of dog-walkers, joggers and camera-toters (not me, though I do have to be careful with the tripod) had put all the gulls up and most of the originals seemed to have left to be replaced by … I saw a rather pale-looking gull in flight and it landed in view facing three-quarters away into the wind. The folded wings looked to have no black tips, but Black-headed Gulls can cross their wings at rest and give this impression and the bird looked much the same size and with a similar mantle-tone as all the accompanying Black-headed Gulls. As I continued to look hard at the wing-tips, something distracted the birds and the gull turned its head and showed me a deep-set bill, much thicker than any Black-headed Gull and with a bright red area, very different in tone from the orange of a Black-headed Gull even though there was some black on the bill (at the base?) as well. With all the birds moulting in to summer plumage the messy head-pattern was not especially distinctive and white eye-crescents were not noted. At that point all the gulls took fright and moved forward a few hundred yards to where my view of this bird was obstructed, but in flight I had seen small but very distinctive black crescent-shaped edge-markings on the outer primaries that had not been apparent on the folded wing at rest. This combination points to a 2nd winter female (smaller than males) beginning to acquire adult summer characteristics, especially evident on the bill.

I moved position to try and get closer to where I thought the bird had landed but failed to relocate it before another jogger caused all the birds to fly again. After further fruitless searches amongst the 1000+ gulls I had to leave. I stopped on the way back but there were just 23 gulls present that did not take long to check!

This is only my second record of this species here - and the first, at least 6 years ago, was an equally unsatisfactory view of an adult flying off in poor pre-dawn light. One day?

Results of today's gull count at:
c.12:00 was c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 211 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 33 Herring Gulls.
The Mediterranean Gull was first noted at c.12:45.

My log of the water birds today was: 1 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; no Cormorants; the 2 resident Swans; no Canada Geese; the omnipresent pair of Gadwall; 23 Mallard; 6 Pochard (all drakes); 56 Tufted Ducks (32 drakes); 12 Moorhens; 101 Coots; the Water Rails were neither seen nor heard.

The only passerines that I noted, apart from a few tits calling, were Siskins, though these were hard to see as they had abandoned the alders swaying madly in the strong wind and were buried in the mid-storey somewhere A Kestrel was the only other bird of note (Ed Wilson)

25th February, Saturday - Just about dry at the lake by dawn after an unexpected late(?) shower at Newport as I was leaving. Turned out fine and clear after cloud moved away.

On the trip from Newport I logged 75 [59] Robins; 17 [18] Blackbirds; 19 [16] singing Song Thrushes; and 1 [0] Magpies. Also an insomniac Blue Tit, close to where I have had Great Tit in the last 2 weeks! [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Not bad as it was wet for the first mile or so.

Interesting records around the lake this morning were just about confined to a fly-over Great Spotted Woodpecker. But some great views of two Goldcrests; and of the Bullfinches demolishing the hawthorn-flower buds! Other signs of spring were a definite whiteness to the pussy-willow buds today [later in the day I had more pussy-willow at Wall; and then a bumble-bee sp. at home].

Gulls were back to low numbers this morning with none when I arrived: a small arrival of Black-headed Gulls in three distinct movements. Very few large gulls dropped in.

Results of periodic gull counts:
06:40 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:00 33 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.200 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:45 c.700 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:55 c.280 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:10 c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gulls.

[127 Lesser Black-backed and 5 Herring Gulls were noted flying over.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 5 Cormorants, though only 2 seen in the water; 24 Canada Geese with 16 landing; the pair of Gadwall; 11 Mallard; 9 Pochard (6 drakes); 18 Tufted Ducks (11 drakes); 8 Moorhens; 121 Coots: no Water Rail.

More Wood Pigeons noted to the N and flying SE again this morning - c.680. 43 more logged flying over and 18 in the trees around the lake Corvid passage was different again with mainly Jackdaws in several parties of >30 birds and apart from party of 50 Rooks flying high there was a small scattered and protracted passage. My log today was 289 [220] Jackdaws and 108 [199] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. At least 13 Magpies around the lake this morning. Crows in unexceptional numbers.

The Starlings were in the reeds again this morning and I estimated 290 when they left as 5 distinct groups with 3 stragglers. 3 birds were seen flying over before the roost dispersed, unusually.

The number of Reed Buntings I see is a bit 'hit and miss' as they leave silently and may go off in any direction. But a good log of 21 seen leaving (with 2 of these from the N side reeds); and at least 2 still left behind.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark heard again; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 8 Pied Wagtails; 14 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 19 Blackbirds again; no Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes,9 of which were in song again; no Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Goldcrest; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits with at least 9 birds; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits yet again; 1 Tree Creepers; 11 Chaffinches; 11 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 6 Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and 23 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

24th February, Friday - Very much in two minds about Priorslee this morning, but when the rain in Newport turned to snow at 06:30 and started to settle I decided to take the camera and see what was what. Being that bit higher than Newport there was a lot of snow at Priorslee and a real feast for the camera. But too dark initially and I did as best I could in the conditions with bird logging.

The later than usual and snowy drive from Newport gave me a meagre log: 26 [49] Robins; 10 [10] Blackbirds; 4 [10] Song Thrushes; 1 [0] Blue Tit; 2 [0] Great Tits; and 1 [1] Magpie [yesterday's numbers in brackets]

Nothing really 'best' today, but Jays calling again: and the hard weather was moving a few Redwings - well 5 to be precise.

Just 28 Black-headed Gulls present when I arrived: with little else to watch I logged 333 arriving from the W / NW by 07:35 after which they mostly left. More arrived later with a small number of larger gulls. Not a day for gulls flying over - just 3 Lesser Black-backed and 2 herring Gulls.

Results of today's periodic gull counts demonstrate the comings and goings:
07:10 28 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:35 c.360 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull.
08:30 27 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:15 c.400 Black-headed Gulls; 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull

My reasonably complete log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebes; 6 Great Crested Grebes; no Heron; 2 Cormorants; the 2 resident Swans; 17 Canada Geese arrived; the omnipresent pair of Gadwall; 24 Mallard; 7 Pochard (6 drakes); 47 Tufted Ducks (28 drakes); 10 Moorhens; 103 Coots; no Water Rails seen or heard.

The Wood Pigeon flight would have been out of sight in the snow but I did note c.50 for a while in the top a tree to the N. Just 8 flew over and I flushed 2 from the trees around the lake.

Corvid passage would probably not have been visible in the snow either but anyway I arrived after they had probably gone through. I recorded 12 Jackdaw and 9 Rook stragglers only.

c.150 Starlings left the NW reeds in several loose parties which, perhaps not surprisingly, seemed to have trouble orientating themselves and flew about in different directions for a while.

Viewing conditions were poor for Pied Wagtails leaving the roost and only 6 were recorded.

My rather partial passerine log is below: partial because while I walked all the way around as usual I was somewhat preoccupied with the camera: the birds were quiet again: and of course I was not at the lake at first light and missed the usual songs and dawn calls from species like Song Thrushes, Wrens and Dunnocks. Quite why there were so few Siskins is unclear as there seemed to be sufficient wind to keep snow off the tops of the alders So: no Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 6 Pied Wagtails; 4 Wrens; no Dunnocks; 5 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 4 Song Thrushes, with just 2 in song; 5 Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 14 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 3 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 8 Siskins; no Linnets; 4 Redpolls; 2 Bullfinches; and 8 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

23rd February, Thursday - A very different type of day at Priorslee this morning: started with a high overcast but otherwise much as usual. But by 07:30 the cloud had lowered and light snow started. By 08:00 it was too disruptive and the visibility too poor for much birdwatching. I wandered around the lake seeing what I could, but mainly spent the time taking photographs (some of which will be sent to Martin Adlam and they may appear on this web-site in due course). So all the sightings and numbers were affected by the weather.

Fine on the drive from Newport and a bigger log: 49 [25] Robins; 10 [15] Blackbirds; 10 [10] Song Thrushes; and 1 [0] Magpies [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

Best for me was another great view of 2 Water Rails together in the NE ditch - right in the open but with far too little light to contemplate any bird photography in the snow. Today 2 Little Grebes emerged from cover for a while. There were at least 2 Jays calling in the NW area almost at dawn. A Sparrowhawk flew low across the lake, apparently the gulls did not notice it or at least did not care! And a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over.

No gulls were present when I arrived. The usual arrival periods even during the snow. Low numbers again throughout and very few larger gull species on the lake. 47 Lesser Black-backed Gulls noted flying over.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
06:45 c.200 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
07:10 c.160 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls

Thereafter visibility was often too poor to take meaningful counts, though at least 100 arrived c.08:25 while I was busy with the Water Rails.

My log of the water birds was: 2 Little Grebes; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 2 Cormorants one of which was seen flying off at 06:40! the 2 resident Swans had 1 adult interloper to chase as well as the 16 Canada Geese logged (though there were only 15 when they flew off); the pair of Gadwall still here; just 14 Mallard; 9 Pochard (7 drakes); 36 Tufted Ducks (17 drakes); 9 Moorhens again; 92 Coots was all I could find: 3 Water Rails, 2 seen in the NE area and 1 heard around the Wesley Brook.

The Wood Pigeon flight took place again with c.420 birds logged, the first 220 seemed to descend into Ward's Rough (though visibility too poor when I got a line of sight to these woods); and the final 70 stopped and descended in to trees to N. Just 13 other logged before the weather closed in. None in the trees again this morning.

Corvid watching looked promising against the light high overcast but apart from one mixed party overhead the only birds noted were at the extreme edge of visibility to the east. I logged 122 [63] Jackdaws and 63 [60] Rooks.

No Starlings were heard in the NW reeds but several loose parties of c.60 birds was seen leaving.

Viewing conditions were great for Pied Wagtails leaving the (Town Centre?) roost and 29 were recorded.

I now think that some (not all) of my Sky Lark heard records are in fact down to one of the Song Thrushes which includes a very good imitation of the flight call of Sky Lark.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were snow-affected: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 29 Pied Wagtails; 10 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 23 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 8 Song Thrushes, with 6 in song; no Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 8 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 5 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; 7 Goldfinches; 17 Siskins; no Linnets; 1 Redpoll; 2 Bullfinches; and 6 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

22nd February, Wednesday - A really rather raw morning at Priorslee with the wind in a challenging direction - NE: the direction to look for the corvids and Wood Pigeon passage! Numbers affected by the sheltering in the lee of trees in less-than-ideal place, though there were fewer birds interested this morning.

With wet roads on the chilly, breezy drive from Newport it was a small log: no [1] Wrens; no [0] Dunnocks; 25 [54] Robins; 15 [14] Blackbirds; 10 [11] Song Thrushes; and no [0] Magpies [yesterday's numbers in brackets]

Main interest at the lake was being able to check-off all four of the 'less than daily' passerines with sightings of Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Willow Tit and Tree Creeper. Can't remember when that last happened.

Other records of note were the brief sighting of the elusive Little Grebe - I suspect it is here all the time; and a lone Linnet fly-over.

Once again there were no gulls were present when I arrived. The usual arrival periods, but low numbers throughout. And only 3 Herring Gulls of the larger gull species on the lake but 81 Lesser Black-backed Gulls noted flying over.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:00 c.80 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.230 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:40 47 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls.
08:35 c.220 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.

My log of the water birds was: 1 Little Grebe; 7 Great Crested Grebes; 2 different Herons (one has very tatty wings); 4 Cormorants; the 2 resident Swans had no interlopers to chase - just 19 of the 23 Canada Geese logged; the pair of Gadwall still here; 29 Mallard; 6 Pochard (all 6 drakes); 21 Tufted Ducks (10 drakes); 11 Moorhens again; 116 Coots again: 1 Water Rail heard around the Wesley Brook.

The Wood Pigeon flight did not seem to take place this morning, but a big flock of c.600 birds suddenly got up from the N and proceeded to disperse in all directions. In addition there were 27 more flying over the lake. None in the trees this morning.

Corvid watching was always going to be hard with black birds against the heavy overcast. It was! My log today was 63 [228] Jackdaws and 60 [88] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. 14 Magpies were together on the dam-face, probably sheltering from the wind: at least 6 more at the W end.

No Starlings seen leaving roosts around the lake, but conditions were hardly ideal, as they were for Reed Buntings. I logged 1 Starling heading S; and 4 Reed Buntings leaving the roost with 2 more singing.

13 Pied Wagtails was a good log in the conditions.

A big count of 133 Siskins: exactly how many separate birds is hard to judge but all the flocks / parties are different sizes, so … Today there was a party of at least 30 using the Water Rail's ditch to come and drink after all those thirst-inducing alder seeds. Most of these seemed to be females.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: no Sky Lark; no Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 13 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; only 9 Robins; another good count of 28 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 7 Song Thrushes, with only 4 in song; no Redwings; 2 Mistle Thrushes flying over; 1 Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits with at least 9 birds; 2 Coal Tits; at least 4 Willow Tits; 17 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 7 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 133(!) Siskins; 1 Linnet; no Redpolls; 7 Bullfinches; and 6 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

21st February, Tuesday - At times brighter at Priorslee Lake this morning, but a chilly N / NE wind brought the odd snow flurry.

On the way from Newport I logged: 1 [0] Wren; no [0] Dunnocks; 54 [51] Robins; 14 [15] Blackbirds; 11 [13] Song Thrushes; and no [0] Magpies [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

The highlight of the day / week / year for me at Priorslee this morning: a splendid Barn Owl - a site-tick and a year-tick! It was just after 06:30 and still very dark when I heard a Heron give a flight-call - normally a sign that it is on its way to the N shore and being chased by the Black-headed Gulls. Scanning the likely flight path there was a bird with large rounded wings flying low across the water parallel with the N shore: it looked rather odd though and I kept watching. It wavered along until it was over the NW reeds and I thought it had dived into the reeds (to pull out a Starling? except there weren't any today, but I didn't know that then!). It then reappeared atop the "Deep Mud" sign and I managed to get the scope on it before it took off and wavered off towards the Teece Drive gate.

There were some other records of note: single Redwings and Fieldfares flew over; both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Sky Lark heard as was Mistle Thrush.

No gulls were present when I arrived and very few arrived from the W end and these were later than usual. Most of the birds came from the N at 07:30, but soon headed off. More(?) came in from the N after 08:30, though very few large gulls came until later. I did however log 201 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Herring Gull flying over.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:30 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:00 8 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.130 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 6 Herring Gulls.
07:20 c.330 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls.
07:30 c.160 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 3 Herring Gulls.
08:10 c.110 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:45 c.350 Black-headed Gulls; 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants one of which flew over; 4 Swans with another 2 adult interlopers for the residents to chase-away; 23 Canada Geese flew over; the pair of Gadwall yet again; 17 Mallard, 5 of which flew in from the W; 5 Pochard (all 5 drakes); 19 Tufted Ducks (9 drakes); 11 Moorhens; 116 Coots: 1 Water Rail seen in NE area and another heard around the Wesley Brook.

The Wood Pigeons were flying SE to the N again but in much lower numbers. I logged 362 birds with another 22 flying locally over the lake; and 19 in the trees around the lake.

Corvid passage was against clear sky and therefore numbers were higher. But there were rather few Rooks. My log today was 228 [77] Jackdaws and 88 [37] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. At least 12 Magpies around the lake this morning: was surprised to see birds that had roosted in the NW area fly a long way away to the N. Just 7 Crows seen together.

As mentioned there were no Starlings in the NW reeds today, but I saw a party of 22 leave the reeds along the N side and there might well have been more - it was a ways away from where I was standing / looking.

Saw 11 Reed Buntings leave the roost this morning: at least 2 more heard.

Recorded in larger numbers than usual today were Pied Wagtails: I am aware that most days I under-record these as when birds call passing over they are often in small groups, though I usually only hear the one bird. Against the clear sky this morning I was able to pick up most of the flying birds and thus count many of the parties. As a result I logged 35 birds this morning.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark heard; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard; 1 Grey Wagtail; 35 Pied Wagtails; 16 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; no fewer than 31 Blackbirds; 1 Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes, just 6 song; 1 Redwing; 1 Mistle Thrush in distant song; no Goldcrest; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; at least 2 Willow Tits (I presumed they followed me all along the N side rather than there being 3 pairs); 20 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 7 Chaffinches; 16 Greenfinches; 6 Goldfinches; 49 Siskins; no Linnets; 2 single Redpolls over; 6 Bullfinches again; and 13 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

20th February, Monday - Many birds seemed to have the 'Monday morning blues' and were up late and / or not at all on a cold and grey morning with some light rain showers.

On the chilly, breezy trip from Newport I logged fewer birds - no [2] Dunnocks; 51 [75] Robins; 15 [21] Blackbirds; 13 [21] Song Thrushes; and no [1] Magpies [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

Despite the general quiet there were some records of note - there was a real Greylag Goose overhead with a small group of Canada Geese. I saw the raptor trio of Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel, the latter unusually perched on a tree along the N shore. A Mistle Thrush flew over and it or, more likely another, started singing from atop the trees hear the yacht hut. And a Linnet flew over - my first for weeks here.

Gulls were present when I arrived - and I started earlier in deference to earlier sunrise - but it was well after 07:00 before any more arrived. But in unexceptional numbers which soon left. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present for a while but other than that there was just a scatter of 38 passing over Had some business in Telford which took all morning and a brief stop in the way back found the best totals of gulls of the day!

Results of periodic gull counts:
06:30 c.120 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:05 c.75 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:30 c.110 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:50 47 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:15 21 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:45 c.150 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
then
12:15 c.360 Black-headed Gulls; c.440 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 35 Herring Gulls.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 7 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants arrived at widely separated times; 4 Swans with 2 adult interlopers taking less than 5 minutes for the residents to chase-away; 1 Greylag Goose flew over in one of the parties of Canada Geese - in total 29 Canadas; the pair of Gadwall; 20 Mallard; 10 Pochard (8 drakes); 27 Tufted Ducks (16 drakes); 9 Moorhens; 122 Coots: but no Water Rails.

When I briefly stopped at 12:15 on the lake there was 1 Cormorant; 2 Canada Geese; just 4 Pochard (all drakes); 27 Tufted Ducks still - but now 15 drakes! Did not count anything else.

The Wood Pigeons were flying SE to the N again and there were several large parties. Despite rather poor light I logged 930 birds with another 33 flying locally over the lake; and 11 in the trees around the lake. My largest count of the year here. Is this a daily feeding movement of the same birds from a safe night-roost? Or would it be a migration of some sort?

Corvid passage was difficult to find against the heavy overcast and today the flight-line was in fact to the W of the lake for many of the birds. My log today was 77 [81] Jackdaws and 37 [55] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. At least 12 Magpies around the lake this morning. And 15 Crows seen together.

I saw just 6 Starlings leave the reeds this morning though I heard the wings of either repositioning birds or fighting Coots from the reeds some 5 minutes earlier.

The Reed Buntings were elusive again, with only 2 seen flying off: at least 2 more heard.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark heard yet again; no Great Spotted Woodpecker; no Grey Wagtail; 17 Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 12 Blackbirds again; no Fieldfare; 8 Song Thrushes, all in song; no Redwings; 2 Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrest; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 17 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 7 Chaffinches; 14 Greenfinches; 7 Goldfinches; 62 Siskins; the Linnet over; 1 Redpoll also over; 6 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings

19th February, Sunday - Nothing much exciting today. As well I did all the activity with the camera at the lake yesterday: while there was a very white start to the day at Priorslee it had somehow escaped its usual blanket of fog and there was no frost other than on the grass. Anyway cloud (and some very light rain) soon spread in from the SE and it became rather dark and gloomy.

On the cold, frosty and often foggy trip from Newport I logged 2 Dunnocks [new for the mornings]; 75 [81] Robins; 21 [19] Blackbirds; 21 [21 - not all the same] Song Thrushes; and 1 [0] Magpie, with a different insomniac Great Tit [yesterday's figures in brackets]. One of the Blackbirds in Newport was singing before 05:00!

Interesting records around the lake today included a Mistle Thrush at the W end; a Kestrel to the NE; a Stock Dove flying over; and another Sky Lark heard. But generally it was gloomy and quiet. Typically the Water Rail was feeding in the open where I could have made a reasonable shot of it - but it was much too dark. Yesterday when it was sunny the bird stayed lurking in the vegetation! And success: I saw one in the NW area as well, though just a fleeting view of a sprinting shape scuttling into cover.

Gulls were in very low numbers this morning with just 9 when I arrived and never more that 100 in total. The Common Gull was my first of the year here!

Results of periodic gull counts:
06:30 5 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 13 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Common Gull.
07:45 46 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:10 51 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull.
08:45 37 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 0 Herring Gulls.

48 Lesser Black-backed and 1 Herring Gull were noted flying over as was at least 7 Black-headed Gulls, far too high to have come from the lake.

I heard what I thought was a Greylag Goose calling, but when the party hove in sight it appeared only to contain Canada Geese: the sound continued! Very odd.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 7 Great Crested Grebes (perhaps an 8th is on a nest?); 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants; 3 Swans with 1 adult taking a look as it flew by; 10 Canada Geese flew over; the pair of Gadwall were consorting with Mallard today - they have been aloof until now; 29 Mallard; 12 Pochard (8 drakes); 16 Tufted Ducks (9 drakes); 15 Moorhens; 107 Coots: 2 Water Rails.

The Wood Pigeons that have been seen to the N and flying SE were passing again this morning but in noticeably smaller groups and not all taking the same flight path. I logged 336 to the N with another 82 flying over the lake. Just 7 in the trees around the lake.

Corvid passage was light with no big groups and mainly scattered small groups. My log today was 81 [289] Jackdaws and 55 [108] Rooks [Friday's figures in brackets - yesterday fogged out]. At least 11 Magpies around the lake this morning. Crows in unexceptional numbers.

There seemed to be no Starlings in the reeds this morning and I logged just 4 flying N The Reed Buntings were elusive too, with only 1 seen flying off: at least 3 more heard with one in 'full'(?) song(?).

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark heard again; no Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 19 Pied Wagtails - a good day with little traffic noise; 13 Wrens; only 2 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 7 Song Thrushes, all in song; no Redwings; 1 Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrest; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 21 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 6 Chaffinches; 17 Greenfinches; 9 Goldfinches; 45 Siskins; 1 Redpoll; 1 Bullfinch; and 4 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

18th February, Saturday - Not much of interest visible in the foggy conditions today.

Well today's Priorslee report should not take too long - fog! Did wonder whether to bother when I looked out at home, but looked promising for photography of the frost / ice effects, as indeed it was and I had a great time. In fact between Newport and Limekiln there was no mist / fog at all.

On the frosty trip from Newport I logged 81 [75] Robins; 19 [17] Blackbirds; 21 [19] Song Thrushes; and no [1] Magpies. Today there were two insomniac Great Tits.

So the lake: well I walked to the dam as the most likely place to see the corvids - possibly correct as I logged 16 Jackdaws! Could not see when the gulls arrived but did not hear them until just before 07:00 after which they started to leave. About 300, all Black-headed Gulls, left when the bird-scarers started up, but … Thereafter I spent most of the time wandering around with the camera. The fog came and went and occasionally you could see across the lake, but while the passerine records are reasonably 'as usual' all the water bird counts should be treated with caution, though in fact other than the low count of Coots it is probably OK.

Best record for me today was seeing the Water Rail in the NE area again.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 Cormorant; 23 Canada Geese with 21 on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; 20 Mallard; 5 Pochard (3 drakes); 6 Tufted Ducks (4 drakes); 7 Moorhens; just 67 Coots: 1 Water Rail.

Only the 10 Wood Pigeons noted - those in the trees around the lake.

The Starlings were in the reeds again this morning and bigger count of at least 600 flew off this morning. Oddly, as had happened yesterday, some 5 minutes before they left there was a loud fluttering of wings from the reeds. Today I saw the birds apparently reposition ready to leave. No stragglers as they disappeared in the fog.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; only 2 Dunnocks; 21 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; no Fieldfare; 9 Song Thrushes,8 of which were in song; no Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 3 Goldcrest; 3 parties of Long-tailed Tits with at least 6 birds; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 20 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 7 Chaffinches; 5 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 4 Siskins, 1 Redpoll over; 7 Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings.

Wandering about with the camera I flushed 3 Rabbits (Ed Wilson)

17th February, Friday - Just about dry at the lake by dawn after an unexpected late(?) shower at Newport as I was leaving. Turned out fine and clear after cloud moved away.

On the trip from Newport I logged 75 [59] Robins; 17 [18] Blackbirds; 19 [16] singing Song Thrushes; and 1 [0] Magpies. Also an insomniac Blue Tit, close to where I have had Great Tit in the last 2 weeks! [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Not bad as it was wet for the first mile or so.

Interesting records around the lake this morning were just about confined to a fly-over Great Spotted Woodpecker. But some great views of two Goldcrests; and of the Bullfinches demolishing the hawthorn-flower buds! Other signs of spring were a definite whiteness to the pussy-willow buds today [later in the day I had more pussy-willow at Wall; and then a bumble-bee sp. at home].

Gulls were back to low numbers this morning with none when I arrived: a small arrival of Black-headed Gulls in three distinct movements. Very few large gulls dropped in.

Results of periodic gull counts:
06:40 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:00 33 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.200 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:45 c.700 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:55 c.280 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:10 c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gulls
[yesterday's deliberate error was 'Black-backed Gulls' in first column - oops: sorry]

127 Lesser Black-backed and 5 Herring Gulls were noted flying over.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 6 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 5 Cormorants, though only 2 seen in the water; 24 Canada Geese with 16 landing; the pair of Gadwall; 11 Mallard; 9 Pochard (6 drakes); 18 Tufted Ducks (11 drakes); 8 Moorhens; 121 Coots: no Water Rail.

More Wood Pigeons noted to the N and flying SE again this morning - c.680. 43 more logged flying over and 18 in the trees around the lake.

Corvid passage was different again with mainly Jackdaws in several parties of >30 birds and apart from party of 50 Rooks flying high there was a small scattered and protracted passage. My log today was 289 [220] Jackdaws and 108 [199] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. At least 13 Magpies around the lake this morning. Crows in unexceptional numbers.

The Starlings were in the reeds again this morning and I estimated 290 when they left as 5 distinct groups with 3 stragglers. 3 birds were seen flying over before the roost dispersed, unusually.

The number of Reed Buntings I see is a bit 'hit and miss' as they leave silently and may go off in any direction. But a good log of 21 seen leaving (with 2 of these from the N side reeds); and at least 2 still left behind.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark heard again; 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; 1 Grey Wagtail; 8 Pied Wagtails; 14 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 18 Robins; 19 Blackbirds again; no Fieldfare; 10 Song Thrushes,9 of which were in song again; no Redwings; no Mistle Thrushes; 2 Goldcrest; 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits with at least 9 birds; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits yet again; 1 Tree Creepers; 11 Chaffinches; 11 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; 6 Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and 23 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

16th February, Thursday - Another busy start to the day at Priorslee Lake. Mostly fine but there were remnant showers to the E & S, and later one passed close to the S side.

A story in 2-parts today as I spent a good while walking around the lanes and streamside to the east of Castle Farm Way and running the gauntlet of the bird-scarers! Narrative below.

On the trip from Newport I logged 2 [0] Wrens; 59 [56] Robins; 18 [13] Blackbirds; 16 [14] singing Song Thrushes; but no [1] Magpies [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Interesting records around the lake this morning included three sightings of Kestrel; 2 Lapwings briefly overhead; a pair of Collared Dove flying over very early; a Fieldfare unusually in the W end trees (right underneath a Mistle Thrush!); also a Redwing here and another in flight. I thought I heard a Sky Lark early on but with the Song Thrushes at full bore one can never be sure - Song Thrushes are not noted as imitators, but one does excellent calls of Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail and can scold like a Mistle Thrush. Later I did indeed hear a Sky Lark for certain.

But the highlight for the day and a lake year-tick for me was HOUSE SPARROW! Only had these for the first time last year and those were all records from a 10-day period last spring. Quite excited!

Gull numbers were higher today: there were Black-headed Gulls present when I arrived. More birds arrived and even though these almost all left there was a better-then-recent return with a good number of larger gulls. Interesting was the arrival some 30 Herring Gulls, almost all immatures and mostly 1st winter birds, before the Lesser Black-backed Gulls started arriving.

As a result I took more periodic gull counts:

06:40 c.900 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
06:45 c.1200 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:30 34 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:00 c.350 Black-backed Gulls; 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 32 Herring Gulls.
08:15 c.500 Black-backed Gulls; 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 55 Herring Gulls.
09:15 c.400 Black-backed Gulls; c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 44 Herring Gulls.
09:45 c.350 Black-backed Gulls; 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls.

119 Lesser Black-backed and 11 Herring Gulls were noted flying over.

Numbers of Mallard and Coot continue to decline, with the Coot fighting season well under way. Not sure why the Moorhen number was so low today.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 7 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants approached, though only 2 seen in the water; just 3 Canada Geese flying over; the pair of Gadwall; only 9 Mallard; 8 Pochard (6 drakes); 26 Tufted Ducks (17 drakes); just 1 Moorhen; 118 Coots: no Water Rail; 2 Lapwing over.

Slightly fewer Wood Pigeons noted to the N and flying SE again this morning - c.500. 68 more logged flying over and 8 in the trees around the lake. As well as the Collared Doves there were 2 Feral Pigeons overhead. Oddly I have noted no Stock Doves recently - while I cannot check every bird in the flocks the smaller bulk and shorter tail of Stock Dove is often very obvious and I would expect a few in with that number of Wood Pigeons.

The corvid passage started early; was protracted; and was mainly small mixed groups of Jackdaws and Rooks, with no big flocks seen to the east / north-east. My log today was 220 [103] Jackdaws and 199 [95] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. I did not count the Magpies around the lake this morning but did manage to prove that the birds that gather at the E end and raid the litter-bins at dawn for the fox cast-offs include some, at least, of the birds that roost in the NW area. Once again the Crows were flying about in, relatively, large parties with 11 seen together this morning.

No Starlings seen or heard in the reeds today and just 2 birds logged flying in the distance.

It was over an hour after I saw the first Reed Bunting leave before I noted the last fly off - and there were still at least 2 calling, one of which was in stuttering song again. 16 birds was my best log for several weeks.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Sky Lark; no Grey Wagtails; 11 Pied Wagtails; just 7 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 19 Blackbirds; 1 Fieldfare; 9 Song Thrushes, 8 of which were in song again; 2 Redwings; 2 Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrest; 4 party of Long-tailed Tits with at least 12 birds; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits again; no Tree Creepers; 5 Chaffinches yet again; 10 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; 7 Siskins; no Redpolls; 4 Bullfinches; and 16 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

15th February, Wednesday - Busy again at a fine and blustery Priorslee Lake.

The wind and still-wet roads reduced the counts of birds on the trip from Newport: I logged 56 [45] Robins; 13 [7] Blackbirds; 14 [12] singing Song Thrushes; and 1 [1] Magpies [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Interesting records this morning included both Kestrel and Buzzard seen; another Collared Dove flying over; no Fieldfare seen but 2 separate Redwings in flight. One of the Moorhens was going walk-about in the wooded patch along the N side - there birds are inveterate wanderers and not infrequently road-kill (whereas Coot never seem to be).

Gull numbers were very low again this morning: first 3 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 06:48, and thereafter arrivals from the usual W end were seen on small numbers. Very few large gulls.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:45 0 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:15 c.300 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:30 c.75 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:50 16 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:00 42 Black-backed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gulls.

57 Lesser Black-backed and 3 Herring Gulls were noted flying over, but most were far to the N and there were probably many more.

Mallard numbers seem to be decreasing steadily - so do Coot for that matter! But amongst the Mallard today was the Mallard x Pintail drake: the 4th spring I have seen this bird here or at The Flash and my first record this year.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 8 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 4 different Cormorants; 8 Canada Geese flying over; the pair of Gadwall; 17 Mallard; 10 Pochard (6 drakes); 24 Tufted Ducks (14 drakes); 10 Moorhens again [yesterday's figure should have been '10', not '0']; 129 Coots: the Water Rails were neither seen nor heard again.

Slightly fewer Wood Pigeons noted flying SE this morning - c.550, though c.60 in the trees to the E may have been additional birds. 44 more flying over and 16 in the trees around the lake. None seen in Wards Rough again.

The corvid passage - at least what I saw - was very scattered with no sizeable flocks at all. Several groups were seen to the W of the lake, unusually, so perhaps that is where the 'missing' birds were. My log today was 103 [273] Jackdaws and 95 [155] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Around the lake there were at least 14 Magpies; and 8 Crows, with another 6 seen on the wires to the E.

310 Starlings seen flying E over the lake - not sure how many of these came out of the reed bed as I was standing elsewhere out of the wind when these flew off.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 2 Grey Wagtails; 7 Pied Wagtails again; 16 Wrens again; 4 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 25 Blackbirds; 9 Song Thrushes, 8 of which were in song; no Mistle Thrush (though it seems that was due to the wind as the bird was heard from Teece Drive later); 1 Goldcrest; one party of Long-tailed Tits containing 4 birds; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 22 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 5 Chaffinches again; 11 Greenfinches yet again; 1 Goldfinch; 17 Siskins; 4 Redpolls; 8 Bullfinches; and just 2 Reed Buntings again. (Ed Wilson)

14th February, Tuesday - Another fascinating morning at the lake. Decided to make the journey even though it was raining in Newport - the forecast was for the rain to move away east, though the timing was unclear.

The wind, the rain and wet roads limited the counts of birds on the trip from Newport and I was well-pleased with 45 [68] Robins; 7 [17] Blackbirds; 12 [14] singing Song Thrushes; and 1 [1] Magpies [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Interesting records this morning included the return of the Gadwall; both Kestrel and Buzzard seen; 2 sightings of flying Great Spotted Woodpeckers; Collared Doves flying over; a singing Mistle Thrush in the distance; and at least 250 Fieldfare seen. Signs of spring are the Coots beginning to build nests in the reeds, and one of them seems to have appropriated the vestigial nest that a pair of Great Crested Grebes were using as a mating platform yesterday. A Magpie was seen carrying a stick.

Gull numbers were somewhat better this morning with c.300 Black-headed Gulls present at 06:45 and at least another 300 arriving before 07:00 and a smaller arrival after that, though many of the original birds had started to leave by then. After the main exodus c.08:00 there was another small arrival and a few large gulls as well.

Results of today's periodic gull counts:
06:45 c.300 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:25 c.700 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:10 c.70 Black-backed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:35 c.160 Black-backed Gulls; 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls.

94 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted flying over.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 6 Cormorants (4 flew over); 5 Swans (with single and two adults for the residents to chase away); no Greylag Geese over; 20 Canada Geese of which 5 landed on the lake; the pair of Gadwall back again; 22 Mallard; 7 Pochard (5 drakes); 39 Tufted Ducks (22 drakes); 0 Moorhens again; 140 Coots: the Water Rails were neither seen nor heard.

The Wood Pigeons were around in big numbers again: I logged c.800 this morning. 42 more flew over the lake and there were 13 in the trees around the lake. Most unusual was a party of 38 birds that I passed through the binoculars as I was checking passing gulls: these were mere specks high in the sky, but were spiralling down towards the lake and even threatened to land in the trees around the lake before deciding to join the birds in the trees in Wards Rough. I cannot ever recall seeing Wood Pigeons flying so high before.

The corvid passage started earlier than usual while it was still raining and it was again while I was checking a flock of gulls that I saw c.100 birds, mainly Rooks, swirling in silence overhead before heading off S as usual. Probably an incomplete count with dark clouds for some of the time, but reasonable totals with 249 [273] Jackdaws and 155 [186] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Around the lake there were at least 17 Magpies again; and 7 Crows.

I think I was scoping at the Fieldfare flock to the E when Starling roost broke and all I saw was c.25 birds flying off to the E. Just a couple of single birds later.

The passerines totals I logged this morning were: 1 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails; 16 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 24 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 9 Song Thrushes, 7 of which were in song; 1 distant singing Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrest; one party of Long-tailed Tits containing just 2 birds; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 13 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 5 Chaffinches with one in full song again; 11 Greenfinches again; 2 Goldfinches again; 14 Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and just 2 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

13th February, Monday - Back to 'the usual' at the lake first things. Signs of both winter and spring today! The mild weather tempted many species to sing - Chaffinches in good voice this morning. But some species from winter seen.

A good log of birds on the trip from Newport, even though the damp roads hindered the counts. I logged: 1 [0] Wren; 68 [27] Robins; 17 [11] Blackbirds; 14 [4] singing Song Thrushes; and 2 [0] Magpies [the freezing Saturday's figures in brackets].

The highlight this morning was the flock of 10 Pink-footed Geese that flew E over the lake at 07:15. Also a reasonable count of 27 Canada Geese (25 landing on the lake) and 5 different parties totalling 9 Greylag Geese flying over. More signs of winter were the flock of c.70 Golden Plover VERY far to the E - scope view only as I was counting distant Jackdaws! a party of at least 80 Fieldfares was in the trees to the E: and a couple of Lapwings flying over. The Gadwall seem to have gone after being present for an unprecedented four weeks.

Most intriguing was an apparently all dark bird that I flushed from the grass in the SW area at 06:45. This bird, which appeared to be Jackdaw-sized flew off without calling and across the lake. Frustratingly its path meant that it was sighted against the trees and I could get no view of the flight action or jizz other than to note it was apparently direct, level flight. Racked my brains and at a loss to think what it even might have been ground-roosting?

There were no gulls on the lake at 06:45 and it was generally a very quiet morning for gulls. A few arrived before 07:00 but by 07:15 they were starting to leave again, though a reasonable number flew in shortly after for a while. No later build-up of gulls of any sort and no large gulls noted at all on the lake - mild weather?

Results of periodic gull counts:
06:45 0 Black-headed Gulls.
07:00 46 Black-headed Gulls.
07:45 268 Black-headed Gulls.
07:50 62 Black-headed Gulls.
08:35 97 Black-headed Gulls.
09:10 115 Black-headed Gulls.

Just 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls noted flying over.

With the warmer weather and lack of ice many of the diving ducks had moved off - though the regular Sunday sailing that I assume took place yesterday would not have helped.

My log of the water birds was: 0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes (with the pair in the SE area seen mating); 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 10 Pink-footed Geese over; 9 Greylag Geese over; 27 Canada Geese of which 25 landed on the lake; no Gadwall; 23 Mallard; 10 Pochard (6 drakes); 38 Tufted Ducks (23 drakes); 12 Moorhens again; 151 Coots; and 1 Water Rail heard only.

The Wood Pigeons were around in big numbers again: I logged c.625 in 8 groups, the largest with c.300 birds, all to N & E. There were nearly 400 to the E later, but I suspect these were the same birds. 35 more flew over the lake and there were 5 in the trees around the lake.

Yet more different behaviour from the corvids today with the Rooks appearing first and low-down. Reasonable totals with 273 [89] Jackdaws and 186 [39] Rooks [Saturday's figures in brackets]. Around the lake there were at least 14 Magpies again; and 11 Crows, with 8 of these together. None of the Crows shows any of the 'white-wings' so evident 2 years ago.

The Starling roost in the NW reeds dispatched at least 360 birds this morning. Oddly there seemed to be a single bird in the N side reeds that left at the same time! At least 40 others seen in flight to N.

The passerines totals I logged this morning reflect the increased singing: 1 Grey Wagtail; 10 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 27 Robins; 23 Blackbirds; 10 Song Thrushes, all in song; no Mistle Thrush; 1 Goldcrest; three parties of Long-tailed Tits containing at least 10 birds; 4 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 23 Blue Tits; 14 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 6 Chaffinches with one in full song; 11 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 48 Siskins; 1 Redpoll; 2 Bullfinches; and 10 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

11th February, Saturday - A very odd morning at Priorslee Lake this morning. Had not realised that it had been so cold and surprised that the lake was some 7-% iced over. There was a hoar frost but cloud cover was spreading in from the W and after a fiery sunrise it became rather dull and there were even some snow grains.

A very disappointing log of birds on the trip from Newport again, even though the less traffic at weekends normally results in higher counts. I logged: 27 [34] Robins; 11 [5] Blackbirds; 4 [9] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

In many ways as chaotic as yesterday with masses of gulls and pigeons vying for attention, but today I logged very few corvids. It may have been that the encroaching cloud provided insufficient contrast to see the more distant flocks, or they may simply have gone elsewhere with all the ground being frozen hard.

Best around the lake for me was one of the Water Rails again. No chance of a photo today - it was gloomy again and the single bird busied itself along the edges of the channel and stayed buried in the vegetation [sorry: it was Paul King's amazing photo of the Water Rail I was referring to yesterday - where did 'Paul Clark' come from].

A number of 'unusual' birds seen today, several of them while I was talking to a number of the dog-walkers, several of whom are readers of this missive posted on the web site that Martin Adlam runs. Good to get feedback! These 'distraction' birds included another Collared Dove; and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, both flying over. A calling Kingfisher. A calling Water Rail in the Wesley Brook area; And a distantly singing Mistle Thrush.

Just 3 Black-headed Gulls were present on the lake when I arrived! By 08:00 I estimated there were 1500 mainly standing on the ice. This accords very well with the logs I made of arriving birds. The original 3 were supplemented by at least 370 that arrived from the W before 06:55. There was a pause before 07:05 when another 180 also arrived from the W. It was then 07:30 before just 63 more were logged, but the big arrival was from the N again today: 665 at least. Relatively few left.

A modest number of large gulls flew from the N with the Black-headed Gulls, but flew on over. I logged 129.Later they came in to the lake.

Results of periodic gull counts were taken as there was little movement:
06:45 3 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
08:00 c.1500 Black-headed Gulls; 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 7 Herring Gulls.
08:30 c.1300 Black-headed Gulls; 44 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 32 Herring Gulls.
08:45 c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 88 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 43 Herring Gulls.
09:35 c.850 Black-headed Gulls; 38 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 56 Herring Gulls.

With all the ice concentrating the birds it ought to have been easy to take the water bird counts, but it wasn't! The gulls were harassing the diving ducks and everyone was being wary of the groups of Cormorants, so they were all milling about! And there were lots of them to mill. My logs give: 1 Little Grebe (back again, though only glimpsed once); 10 (or 11?) Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 12 different Cormorants though only 8 at any one time; 2 Swans; 49 Canada Geese of which 34 landed on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; 46 Mallard; 24 Pochard (15 drakes); 102 Tufted Ducks (58 drakes); 12 Moorhens; 131 Coots; and 2 Water Rails (one seen and another heard).

The Wood Pigeons were back in the trees in Wards Rough today: l estimated 130 by 07:40, but that was only the start with another 375 logged flying E to the N (and 43 overhead as well). 15 birds around the lake again.

As noted the corvids were not well seen this morning - I logged just 89 [473] Jackdaws; and 39 [394] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Around the lake there were at least 14 Magpies; and 5 Crows.

The Starling roost dispatched at least 210 birds this morning.

The passerines totals I logged on a rather quiet morning: 1 Grey Wagtail; 6 Pied Wagtails; 7 Wrens;3 Dunnocks; 16 Robins; only 8 Blackbirds (gone where the ground was not frozen hard?); 5 Song Thrushes, all in song; 1 Mistle Thrush heard distantly in song; 2 Goldcrests; two small parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 18 Blue Tits; 15 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 4 Chaffinches with one in stuttering song; 13 Greenfinches again; 1 Goldfinch; 19 Siskin; no Redpolls; 1 Bullfinch; and 6 Reed Buntings, one of which was in song - my first of the year (Ed Wilson)

10th February, Friday - The forecast was right: cold and frosty at Priorslee, with sufficient wind to keep the ice away from most of the water. Few bits of cloud to give some great sunrise effects again.

A chaotic morning when I am sure I missed some things: at one stage the corvids were flying S to the E; flocks of Wood Pigeons were moving E / SE to the N; big parties of gulls were moving S / SW off the tip, as well as birds moving off the lake to the N / NW; all at the same time as the Starlings and Reed Buntings were leaving the lakeside roost; and the odd Cormorant was in amongst them. Needed more eyes!

Another disappointing log of birds on the trip from Newport today: 34 [45] Robins; 5 [12] Blackbirds; 9 [8] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Best around the lake for me were the co-operative Siskins in the sun on the NW alders allowing great pictures: pity the Redpolls were not as co-operative. And then the 2 Water Rails again, one of them giving some acceptable photos, though not in the Paul Clark class.

Collared Dove flying over was only the 'unusual' bird today.

With a very light morning the Black-headed Gulls were already present with over 300 at 06:45 and another c.680 logged flying in from the west before 06:50 by which time some of the birds were already leaving. Thereafter lower numbers throughout with a small increase after 09:30. Very few large gulls today.

Results of periodic gull counts were taken as there was little movement:
06:45 c.300 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
06:55 c.1000 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:45 c.550 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls.
08:00 c.300 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls.
09:05 c.280 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
09:40 c.530 Black-headed Gulls; 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls.

I logged c.300 other Black-headed Gulls and c.400 large gulls (mainly Lesser Black-backed, but with some likely to be Herring Gulls) flying over, mainly SW (from the tip): this morning passage of Black-headed Gulls with the parties of large gulls is something I do not recall seeing before.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 9 Great Crested Grebes again; 2 Herons; 5 Cormorants though only 3 on the lake; 2 Swans; 9 Canada Geese with 4 landing on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; just 21 Mallard; 5 Pochard (4 drakes); 36 Tufted Ducks (20 drakes); 13 Moorhens; 148 Coots; and 2 Water Rails seen together again.

Once again the Wood Pigeon flock was not in Wards Rough again this morning but I logged 330 birds (in 6 flocks) flying in the area from the NW. 15 birds around the lake and another 40+ flying over brought the total close to 400.

Almost all the corvids were well to the E this morning, but the light sky gave good visibility to them and I logged 473 [450] Jackdaws and 394 [259] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets]. Around the lake there were at least 18 Magpies; and 6 Crows with at least 4 more on the wires to the east.

The Starling roost dispatched at least 45 birds to the north - the direction I was looking at the time: there may have been more, but my impression was that there was less noise from the roost and likely to be fewer birds.

The passerines totals I logged today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 17 Pied Wagtails; 18 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; only 12 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes, 5 in song; 1 Mistle Thrush heard distantly in song and then heard calling in flight; 1 Goldcrest; three small parties of Long-tailed Tits totalling at least 8 birds; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 14 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 5 Chaffinches; 13 Greenfinches; 6 Goldfinches; 53 Siskin; 5 Redpolls; no Bullfinches; and 14 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

9th February, Thursday - Not quite what was forecast at Priorslee this morning with cloud-cover keeping the frost away but providing another good sunrise. Eventually cleared to a sparkling morning.

Higher number of birds logged on the trip from Newport today, but hardly a return to form and this year there are still no Song Thrushes at the Newport end of the journey: 45 [20] Robins; 12 [9] Blackbirds; 8 [7] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Best around the lake for me was final proof that there are 2 Water Rails (at least) in the NW area. Also of interest was the first flock of Lapwings for a while, with all 88 eventually pitching in on the SW grass - just like the old days when these seemed to be a daily occurrence in winter, often roosting on the dam-face.

Both Kestrel (on the M-way Roundabout poles) and Sparrowhawk (flushing 10 Wood Pigeons from the NW area) seen.

There were no Black-headed Gulls at 06:45. I logged 148 arriving from the W before 07:10, but by 07:15 some had started to leave again. On the lake gull numbers were low throughout, but there was an unusual movement of c.270 Black-headed Gulls and c.500 large gulls S / SW overhead just after 07:45, in addition to the numbers logged on the lake below. While there were more Herring than Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the lake, this did not seem to apply to the fly-overs which seemed to be mainly Lesser Black-backs.

Fewer periodic gull counts were taken as there was little movement:
06:45 0 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:10 148 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls.
07:55 c.500 Black-headed Gulls; 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 27 Herring Gulls.
09:10 c.160 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 4 Herring Gulls.

I logged 55 other Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 9 Great Crested Grebes, with a pair showing interest in the SE area; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants yet again; 4 Swans (with more interlopers seen off); 19 Canada Geese with 15 landing on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; just 15 Mallard, though I suspect more are lurking in the NW area; 11 Pochard (8 drakes); 40 Tufted Ducks (24 drakes); 10 Moorhen yet again; 144 Coots; and 2 Water Rails seen together.

The Wood Pigeon flock never appeared in Wards Rough again this morning but over 150 birds (in 3 flocks) flew towards the area from the NW. Rather distracted at that time by parties of thrushes flying around - c.45 Fieldfares and a few assumed Redwings with them.

Most of the corvids left in two large parties high to the east, but at least they were visible today. I logged 450 [179] Jackdaws and 259 [94] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

The Starling roost dispatched at least 250 birds across the lake this morning: Once again a lone bird flew out about 2 minutes later.

The passerines totals I logged today: 2 Grey Wagtails; 8 Pied Wagtails; 17 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 19 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 10 Song Thrushes, 9 in song; 1 Mistle Thrush seen; no Goldcrest; four parties of Long-tailed Tits totalling at least 15 birds; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 12 Blue Tits; only 6 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 8 Chaffinches; 12 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 33 Siskin; no Redpolls; 4 Bullfinches; and 8 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

8th February, Wednesday - A very odd day for me at Priorslee as I always seemed to be getting distracted from the job in hand, so the observations are not what they might be. Initially I had to shelter from the passing showers in the hut on the SW grass, but when these petered out I was at the W end with Song Thrushes drowning out all but the cacophony from the Starlings in the reed bed. Then there was the first decent sunrise for many a long day to capture with the camera. Then the men in the Celestica site were using some heavy equipment and banging about …

Perhaps it was the wind again and the wet roads but there were even fewer birds logged on the trip from Newport today: 20 [56] Robins; 9 [11] Blackbirds; 7 [12] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets]. These lower numbers were reflected at the lake (and later at The Flash)

Best around the lake for me was a glimpse of the Water Rail in Wesley Brook again. Panicked a bit when the Gadwall were not in the NE area but found them lurking near the reeds along the N shore.

A distant singing Mistle Thrush was my first for a while here.

There was a low count of Black-headed Gulls at 06:50 again - c.120; and very few arrived until after 08:30. Even my later counts were low and contained very few larger gulls. And I stopped again much later on the way back from some domestic duties when the numbers were little better.

Periodic gull counts were taken:
06:50 c. 120 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
08:30 c.170 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
09:00 c.370 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 3 Herring Gulls
09:40 c.330 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls
11:30 c.380 Black-headed Gulls; 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls

I logged 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Herring Gull flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 9 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants again; 4 Swans (with interlopers seen off); 14 Canada Geese, 11 of which landed on the lake for a while; the pair of Gadwall; just 16 Mallard; 18 Pochard (10 drakes); 52 Tufted Ducks (20 drakes); 10 Moorhen again; 151 Coots; and 1 Water Rail seen.

The Wood Pigeon flock never appeared in Wards Rough this morning but about 250 birds (in 4 flocks) flew towards the area from the NW. At least 80 more were seen over the fields to the E. There were just 9 in the trees around the lake today with only 5 others flying over.

With the Wood Pigeons over the fields to the E were at least 100 Fieldfares in two separate parties, each of about 50 birds.

The corvids flew out during a showery period and were against the darkest part of the sky: they were also circling around in the wind. So numbers were low again and I logged 179 [293] Jackdaws and 94 [105] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

The Starling roost dispatched at least 240 birds across the lake this morning: Oddly a lone bird flew out about 2 minutes later!

The passerines totals for today were unexceptional. I logged: 1 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails; 9 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 17 Robins; 24 Blackbirds; 5 Song Thrushes, all in song; 1 Mistle Thrush heard distantly in song; no Goldcrest; two parties of Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 11 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 4 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches; 3 Goldfinches; just 1 Siskin; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and only 5 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

7th February, Tuesday - Another overcast morning at Priorslee though the cloud was much higher. Moderate W breeze, but mild. Much better visibility and as result there were birds everywhere!

A few interesting sightings, but I am sure I missed more than I saw. Perhaps it was the wind because despite the mild weather there fewer birds logged on the trip from Newport today: 56 [66] Robins; 11 [19] Blackbirds; 12 [10] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Best around the lake for me was a splendid view of the Water Rail in Wesley Brook: one day I will see them both!

Other less than regular birds were a female Sparrowhawk at the W end - thanks to the alert Long-tailed Tits for spotting this before I did! Two sightings of Kestrel; a Stock Dove flying over; a Mistle Thrush in flight; and a Jay in the NW area.

I again started at the dam end: there were just about 100 Black-headed Gulls present at 06:50 and no more joined them until 07:40 by which time many of the originals had left. But by 08:45 gulls were streaming in from the north and some reasonable numbers of larger gulls. The image below shows some of the plumage variants as they start to acquire summer plumage - nothing special, just interesting (well I think it is!)

Periodic gull counts were taken:
06:50 c. 100 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
08:05 155 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 7 Herring Gulls (all immatures); 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
08:20 c.70 Black-headed Gulls; 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls; 1 3rd winter Great Black-backed Gull.
08:40 c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:10 c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 57 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 17 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:20 c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 131 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 35 Herring Gulls; 3 Great Black-backed Gulls (1 adult; 1 3rd winter).

I logged 63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 13 Herring Gull flying over.

The number of diving ducks continues to decline.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 11 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 3 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 39 Canada Geese, 7 of which landed on the lake; the pair of Gadwall; 32 Mallard; 14 Pochard (7 drakes); 42 Tufted Ducks (17 drakes); 9 Moorhens again; 162 Coots; and 1 Water Rail seen.

The Wood Pigeon flock never appeared in Wards Rough this morning but I twice logged 120 birds flying over the fields to the east. There were 21 in the trees around the lake today as well as 40 others flying over.

A flock of over 200 corvids flew high well to the east of the lake, which seemed to contain mostly Jackdaws. This was the only big party I logged and all the others flew more or less overhead. I logged 293 [121] Jackdaws and 105 [92] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

The Starling roost dispatched c.120 birds across the lake this morning: 2 singles seen in flight as well.

Another good count of 17 Reed Buntings leaving the reed-bed roost this morning, with another 2 heard.

The passerines totals for today were quite good. I logged: 1 Grey Wagtail; 9 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; 5 Dunnocks; 27 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes, all in song; 1 Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrest; four parties of Long-tailed Tits again; no Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 22 Blue Tits; 11 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 5 Chaffinches; 8 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; at least 28 Siskins; 2 Redpolls; 6 Bullfinches; and 19 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

6th February, Monday - Cloudy again at Priorslee this morning, with slightly more breeze than in recent days.

On a weekday with all the traffic there are usually fewer birds logged on the trip from Newport today was 66 [79] Robins; 19 [19] Blackbirds; 10 [13] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Rather little of interest around the lake: a fly-over Greylag Goose; probably 2 different Kestrels seen; the Wood Pigeons flock was seen flying in to Wards Rough this morning - I would judge at least 600 birds.

I again started at the dam again: all the gulls seemed to have arrived early this morning with c.1300 present before 06:45 and no more seen arriving - all Black-headed Gulls. It was after 08:30 before any large gulls showed up.

Periodic gull counts were taken:
06:45 c. 1300 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
07:55 c.310 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
08:05 82 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
08:45 450 Black-headed Gulls; 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 9 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls

I logged 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Herring Gull flying over.

Rather fewer Tufted Duck today, with 3 seen flying off. A subsequent visit to The Flash (see below) showed they weren't all there either.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 12 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 2 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose flew over; 2 Canada Geese also flew over; the pair of Gadwall; 28 Mallard; 22 Pochard (13 drakes); 63 Tufted Ducks (36 drakes); 9 Moorhens; 164 Coots; no Water Rails seen or heard.

The corvids logged were once again confined to those that flew more or less overhead - too dark. I logged 121 [120] Jackdaws and 92 [66] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

The Starling roost sounded as is it was in the wooded area in the NW behind the reed-bed today, but again seemed to disperse without me seeing more than 4 birds. I wonder whether one of the dogs being walked flushed them out the other way?

In contrast I logged 15 Reed Buntings leaving the reed-bed roost this morning, with another 2 heard.

The passerines totals for today were quite good. I logged: 1 Grey Wagtail; 4 Pied Wagtails; 18 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 21 Robins; 24 Blackbirds; 9 Song Thrushes, 7 of which were singing; no Mistle Thrushes; no Goldcrest; four parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 3 Willow Tits fighting; 23 Blue Tits; 19 Great Tits; no Tree Creeper; 4 Chaffinch; 11 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; at least 15 Siskins; no Redpolls; 2 Bullfinches; and 17 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

5th February, Sunday - Yet another cloudy at Priorslee this morning, but there was a hint of red in the sky at one stage, so things are slowly improving! Again with calm winds it felt almost pleasant.

Good numbers of passerines logged again: my log on the trip from Newport today was 79 [80] Robins; 19 [12] Blackbirds; 13 [10] singing Song Thrushes [yesterday's figures in brackets].

Of interest today at the lake was a Buzzard on a pylon to the NE; 3 Mistle Thrushes calling in the NW area; the Wood Pigeons (c.190) still in Wards Rough and another 50 on the trees to the immediate east of the lay-by. After my comment yesterday the Tree Creeper had declared UDI and was nowhere near any of the Long-tailed Tit parties.

There was more disturbance today from fishermen and dog-walkers and this may have affected the gull counts, but the Tufted Duck seemed not to worry.

I again started at the dam again: there were just 16 Black-headed Gulls at 06:55, but c.830 flew in apparently from the W by 07:00. No more were seen to arrive until much later. A few larger gulls came in but did not stay.

Periodic gull counts were taken:
06:55: 16 Black-headed Gulls: 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
07:00: c.850 Black-headed Gulls: 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
07:55: c.80 Black-headed Gulls: 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
08:15: c.150 Black-headed Gulls; 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 9 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:35: 179 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.

I logged 48 Black-headed Gulls; 127 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 9 Herring Gulls flying over in the murk.

Once again the ducks and Coots were scattered all over the lake making it hard to get accurate numbers and the dog-walkers causing the Coots to move about did not help! But coot numbers seem to have returned to the pre-ice numbers.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 8 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 2 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 30 Canada Geese all flying over; the pair of Gadwall; 40 Mallard (three of these fly-by birds); 20 Pochard (11 drakes); 85 Tufted Ducks (44 drakes); 11 Moorhens; 163 Coots; no Water Rails seen or heard.

The corvids that passed overhead were again easier to see provided they flew more or less overhead - too dark otherwise. No early noisy low-level party of Jackdaws though. I logged 120 [169] Jackdaws and 66 [74] Rooks.

I only logged 1 Starling leaving the reed-bed this morning (with 5 of Reed Buntings): another was seen circling around about 10 minutes later and may have also roosted. Another 6 flew over.

The passerines totals for today were generally high again. I logged: 1 Grey Wagtail; 5 Pied Wagtails; 15 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; a more normal 22 Blackbirds; 10 Song Thrushes, 9 of which were singing; 3 Mistle Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; three parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 18 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 3 Chaffinch; 13 Greenfinches again (7 of which were having a singing competition at the W end); just 1 Goldfinch; at least 27 Siskins; no Redpolls; 7 Bullfinches; and 10 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

4th February, Saturday - What a difference a day makes: still cloudy at Priorslee this morning, but with the base slightly higher and the visibility much better. In addition there were +ve temperatures (just!) and this seemed to encourage lots more activity - with almost no wind it felt almost pleasant and the drizzle soon stopped. Even a brief blue patch!

So lost more song and many more birds: my log on the trip from Newport today was 80 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; 10 singing Song Thrushes; and the wayward Great Tit again - about double the numbers of yesterday, though probably helped by the lack of traffic at the weekend.

Of interest today were at least 10 different Cormorants; a fly-over Greylag Goose; lots of Tufted Ducks again; a big flock of Wood Pigeons in Wards Rough; a Collared Dove overhead; Redwings heard overhead; a Mistle Thrush; at least 88 Starlings roosting in the reeds; another Tree Creeper record - it seems permanently attached to one of the Long-tailed Tit parties; a fine party of 32 Goldfinches at the W end (as well as some others flying over); and well over 100 Siskins seen.

I again started at the dam with more success with the gull origin: there were just 23 Black-headed Gulls with single Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls at 07:00, but over 250 flew in from the N before 07:05 and then 200 more from the W by 07:20.

Periodic gull counts were taken:
07:00: 23 Black-headed Gulls: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 0 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gulls.
07:25: c.480 Black-headed Gulls: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
08:00: c.180 Black-headed Gulls: 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:15: c.210 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:50: c.580 Black-headed Gulls; 116 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 31 Herring Gull; 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

I logged 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over in the murk.

With the ducks scattered all over the lake it was hard to get accurate numbers - it was also hard to count the Coots amongst all the ducks, but the numbers below are minima - I assume the additional Coots have come from smaller pools that have been frozen over?

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 12 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 10 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 1 Greylag Goose over; 18 Canada Geese throughout; the pair of Gadwall; 42 Mallard; 19 Pochard (10 drakes); 89 Tufted Ducks (47 drakes); 17 Moorhens; 183 Coots; no Water Rails seen or heard.

Managed to get the telescope on the Wood Pigeon flock in the trees at Wards Rough: my count of the visible birds in the tree-tops was at least 540 - there were probably many more! There were another 32 weighing down the power lines.

The corvids were easier to see today with an early noisy low-level party of Jackdaws followed by steady passage of small groups as high overhead as the cloud would permit. I logged 169 Jackdaws and 74 Rooks - not bad in the dull conditions.

The passerines totals for today were generally high with lots more evident. I logged: 1 Grey Wagtail; 6 Pied Wagtails; 16 Wrens; 10 Dunnocks; 27 Robins; a massive 34 Blackbirds (at least 10 in the ivy-covered trees at the W end); 8 Song Thrushes, 5 of which were singing; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Goldcrest; two parties of Long-tailed Tits with at least 16 birds; no Coal Tit; 2 Willow Tits; 24 Blue Tits; 17 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 6 Chaffinch; 13 Greenfinches; 40 Goldfinches; at least 127 Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

3rd February, Friday - Report for Friday in the gloom! Good job I don't suffer with SAD.

Another unpleasant morning at Priorslee Lake: still with low, grey skies but now very misty and, despite the sub-zero temperature, with light drizzle.

Everything was quiet again at both the lake; and on the trip from Newport during which I logged 38 Robins; 3 Blackbirds; and 4 singing Song Thrushes.

At the lake there was a pair of Wigeon new in: plenty of diving ducks again: but no sign of the Little Grebe - not this means much as they can be elusive. The Water Rail in the NE area gave me the closest view yet.

I started off on the dam trying to see where all the gulls arrived from; and to be close-enough to the corvid flight-line to see some of them. This meant that I missed some of the 'dawn chorus' from the W end and so passerine numbers are different as a result.

The attempts at better positioning were not entirely successful. I could see the gulls better but the c.120 I estimated at 06:55 grew to c.160 by 07:25 and then c.240 by 07:35 (when they started to leave) without any obvious arrival. I suppose it could be that the numbers appear to increase as increasing light makes them easier to see? There was 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with them from at least 07:15.

I was only partially successful in getting to grips with the corvids: I did see more Rooks - but almost no Jackdaws! But perhaps not surprising in the conditions. The totals were 9 [88] Jackdaws; and 18 [8] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

The Starling roost was probably present again but I was elsewhere, though I did see 76 fly across the lake. I was also in the wrong place to see any Reed Buntings leaving the reed-bed roost, but I did log birds that seemed to have roosted in the SE bushes and along the N shore as well as some calling at the W end.

The pair of Great Crested Grebes taking up residence in the SW area were doing the full display bit today - both of them with weed and all.

Periodic gull counts were taken as best I could in the conditions and gave these numbers:
07:35: c.240 Black-headed Gulls: 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
08:40: c.230 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:05: c.400 Black-headed Gulls; 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls

I logged no Gulls flying over in the murk.

The water bird counts this morning were: no Little Grebes; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 2 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 16 Canada Geese arrived with 4 more flying over; the pair of Gadwall; the pair of Wigeon; 30 Mallard; 19 Pochard (13 drakes); 77 Tufted Ducks (44 drakes); 14 Moorhens; 151 Coots; 1 Water Rail seen.

I flushed 3 Wood Pigeons from the trees around the lake before 07:00: otherwise I saw just 6 more. No chance of seeing whether the flock was still in Wards Rough.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails again; 12 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes, both singing; no Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrests; three small parties of Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 13 Great Tits; 2 sightings of what was probably the same Tree Creeper; 2 Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; at least 90 Siskins, with a party of at least 70 flying W; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

2nd February, Thursday - slightly less unpleasant morning at Priorslee Lake: still with sub-zero temperatures and low grey skies but without yesterday's chill wind.

Even the Robins were rather quiet at both the lake; and on the trip from Newport during which I logged 39 Robins; no Blackbirds; and just 4 singing Song Thrushes.

Main change at the lake was the number of diving ducks still 16 Pochard, but a record (?) 101 Tufted Duck - though 35 of these flew off W at 07:25 as it began to get light. Little Grebes - 2 of them - reappeared. And the Water Rail in the NE area was obliging again - one day there will be enough light for me to try for a photograph!

The Starling roost was present again, though it managed to leave without me seeing the birds go! I did however see 12 Reed Buntings leave - 9 of them in one loose group.

A probable Sky Lark was heard in flight - don't think it was a roosting Starling making the noise, but you can never be sure without seeing the bird!

Also over the lake was a Kestrel.

When I arrived I walked straight towards the E end from where I could see that there were c.500 gulls at 06:45: by 07:05 there were c.1100 but I still have no idea where the others came from - only 38 flew in from the west. All (?) seemed to be Black-headed Gulls, though some larger gulls arrived soon after. As usual they all started leaving early - at 07:35 today, assisted by the light-sensitive bird-scarers that started up at 07:40.

Periodic gull counts gave these numbers:
07:35: c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 14 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
08:15: c.200 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:05: c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:30: c.480 Black-headed Gulls; 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 9 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

I logged 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and no Herring Gulls flying over in the murk.

The water bird counts this morning were: 2 Little Grebes; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 1 Cormorant; 2 Swans; 22 Canada Geese arrived with 20 staying; the pair of Gadwall; 44 Mallard; 16 Pochard (10 drakes); 101 Tufted Ducks (of the 66 left on the lake there were 36 drakes); 8 Moorhens; 159 Coots; 1 Water Rail seen.

The corvids were different yet again. There was one sizeable party of Jackdaws that passed low over and then nothing for 10 minutes when a scattered party flew as high overhead as the clouds would allow with a few Rooks intermingled. The totals today were 88 [146] Jackdaws and 8 [5] Rooks [yesterday's figures in brackets].

At least 70 Wood Pigeons were in Wards Rough again when I got close-enough to be able to see the trees. 43 others logged, including a party of 27 which seemed to have come from the trees in the NW area.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails; 8 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes, just 2 singing; 1 scolding Mistle Thrush; 2 Goldcrests; a party of at least 13 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit; 22 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 2 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; only 2 Siskins; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; and 13 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson)

1st February, Wednesday - A rather unpleasant morning at Priorslee Lake with sub-zero temperatures,low grey skies and a chill if light breeze from the N.

Many passerines were rather quiet at both the lake; and on the trip from Newport during which I logged 49 Robins; 3 Blackbirds; 8 singing Song Thrushes; a wayward early Great Tit(!); and a calling Crow.

Interest around the lake was just about confined to the small (by theirstandard) Starling roost now back in the NW reed beds with c.85 birds seen leaving (and another 22 flying through).

There seemed to be gulls on the lake when I arrived - far too early for the dark morning! But c.800 Black-headed Gulls were flying low over the E end of the lake by 07:15. These did not arrive from the W. No larger gulls at roost but some arrived after 08:00.

My gulls counts gave these numbers [I stopped off later on my way back from town and did another check of the gulls]
08:25: c.85 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
08:40: c.180 Black-headed Gulls; 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 4 Herring Gulls
09:20: c.450 Black-headed Gulls; 62 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls
12:20: c.400 Black-headed Gulls; c.650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 26 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

I logged 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Herring Gulls flying over.

Reasonable number of diving ducks today though some flew off when it was too dark to specifically identify them.The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 2 Herons; 0 Cormorants; 2 Swans; 2 Canada Geese arrived for a while and 2 more overhead; the pair of Gadwall still here for their 3rd week; 26 Mallard; 16 Pochard (10 drakes); 27 Tufted Ducks (11 drakes); 20 more Pochard / Tufted Ducks flew off W; 13 Moorhens; 168 Coots (though counted 'in bits' and there may be some overlap); no Water Rail seen or heard.

The corvids were different again. In the conditions I expected a poor count but I logged 4 sizeable parties of Jackdaws, but could find no Rooks other than those in the Jackdaw parties. So the totals today were: 146 Jackdaws and just 5 Rooks.

At least 200 Wood Pigeons were in Wards Rough again when I got close-enough to be able to see the trees! Just 24 others logged.

The passerines totals for today: no Grey Wagtails; 7 Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; just 9 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes, all singing; 3 Redwings at least heard overhead; 1 singing Mistle Thrush; no Goldcrests; three sightings of Long-tailed Tits totalling at least 21 birds; no Coal Tits; 2 encounters with perhaps the same Willow Tit; 10 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 1 Chaffinch; 7 Greenfinches; 7 Goldfinch; 17 Siskins; no Redpolls; no Bullfinches; and 5 Reed Buntings.

Despite the cold weather the moles are very active with new hills all around the lake. (Ed Wilson)