25th January, Wednesday - After the threatened overnight clear skies and frost it was in fact another dull morning at Priorslee - indeed it got rather worse as the sun(!) rose.

Fairly dire watching at times, but as ever a few bits of interest.As would be expected most passerines were rather quiet yet again both at the lake and on the trip from Newport. I logged 52 Robins; 5 Blackbirds; and 7 singing Song Thrushes.Interest around the lake was the first fly-over Lapwing for a while; a fly-over Common Gull (my first of the year here); and a two single Fieldfares.

Oddest sighting was the splendid adult Cormorant with full breeding plumes and thigh-patches being chased unmercifully all around the lake by a posse of c.50 Black-headed Gulls and an immature Herring Gull. After two laps the Cormorant settled back on the water and dived as the gulls peeled off. I assume they were after a recently caught fish, but could not see one. Never seen Cormorants get chased before! 2 more Cormorants arrived later.

Looked for but did not see any Starling at all today.

There were again about 600 Black-headed Gulls at the lake when I arrived.
No more were seen arriving before the mass exodus. No larger gulls at roost but some arrived.

My gulls counts gave these numbers:
08:05: c.250 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls.
08:15: c.80 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 8 Herring Gulls- just after the bird-scarers put most things up (and off).
09:00: c.900 Black-headed Gulls; 49 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 14 Herring Gulls.
09:20: c.1300 Black-headed Gulls; c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; c.45 Herring Gulls- counts a bit approximate as the bird-scarers went off as I was part-way through the count and everything went up again, with many birds leaving.I logged 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 9 Herring Gulls flying over.

Rather more diving ducks today - from a quick visit to The Flash later there was a lot of ice there so perhaps some had moved here where there was very little ice.

The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 3 Cormorants; 2 Swans;16 Canada Geese throughout; the pair of Gadwall; 40 Mallard; 24 Pochard (17 drakes); 22 Tufted Ducks (8 drakes); 10 Moorhens; 152 Coot; 1 Water Rail heard.

The corvids were dire, flying high and scattered against the very grey cloud. My totals today: 31 [370] Jackdaws and 14 [118] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

The Wood Pigeons 'appeared' in Wards Rough again: there were some 70 at 08:35. Did not see them fly in again. Just 14 others logged.

Found what seems to be a roost of Siskins with what I would judge to have been c.20 birds wheezing away deep within the hedge beside the path along the W end. I assume these formed part of the flock of .35 birds zooming around later.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 17 Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; 19 Blackbirds; 8 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; three sightings of Long-tailed Tits totalling at least 6 birds; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 17 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; no Chaffinch; no Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; c.48 Siskins; 1 Redpoll; no Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson).

24th January, Tuesday - Evening update - I drove past priorslee Lake today at 3.30pm and it was covered all over by gulls - from one end to the other.  I have not seen that many there before spread so far over the surface.  No time to stop but from the car going by most looked to be BH Gulls with quite a few LBB Gulls.  And more were flying in.  Must have been quite a pre-roost today. (Richard Camp).

24th January, Tuesday - A dull start again at Priorslee, but the clouds were higher and the visibility better for flying birds. Light winds meant it did not feel quite so raw.

Nevertheless most passerines were rather quiet again this chilly morning both at the lake and on the trip from Newport. More Robins, but the Blackbirds had gone AWOL this morning and I logged 47 Robins; just 3 Blackbirds; and 8 singing Song Thrushes.

Highlight of the morning was the 3 drake Wigeon. Oddly these never called and I had to find them 'by eye', not that this was a problem as they were sat in the middle most of the time.

Looked for but did not see any Starling flocks today. Did see 1 bird leaving a roost along N side.

There were about 600 Black-headed Gulls at the lake when I arrived though as they were all flying around they were hard to see before 07:00! I logged just 127 more arriving before the mass exodus. No larger gulls at roost but some arrived - best number for several weeks.

My gulls counts gave these numbers:
08:25: c.55 Black-headed Gulls; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls
08:55: c.320 Black-headed Gulls; 58 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 12 Herring Gulls
09:45: c.600 Black-headed Gulls; c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 47 Herring Gulls; and again what looked like a Yellow-legged Gull, though it was again too distant to be certain.

I logged 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 18 Herring Gulls flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 7 Great Crested Grebes; 1 Heron; 4 Cormorants; 5 Swans with several adult interlopers ejected; 3 Canada Geese arrived and a few others heard in flight before dawn; 3 drake Wigeon; the pair of Gadwall; 28 Mallard; 14 Pochard (9 drakes); 23 Tufted Ducks (7 drakes) - one of which flew in (for a change); 14 Moorhens; 151 Coot; no Water Rail seen or heard.

The corvids were much better today: the Jackdaws mostly left in three concurrent groups at low level, but the Rooks were harder as they were scattered in smaller parties flying higher. My totals today: 370 [47] Jackdaws and 118 [87] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets]. There was a Jay this morning: the first for several days.

The Wood Pigeons 'appeared' in Wards Rough again: there were none at 08:15 but when I looked at 08:20 there were at least 250! Did not see them fly in!

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; only 3 Pied Wagtails; 12 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; 6 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; one party of Long-tailed Tits totalling at least 3 birds; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 18 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 2 Chaffinch; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinch; 47 Siskins; 3 Redpolls; 5 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

23rd January, Monday - Back to normal at chilly, frosty Priorslee this morning, though a bank of low cloud and lifted fog came in from the west making it very misty and hard to see the flying birds. It also began to melt the hoar frost nixing many of the photo opportunities.

The Robins were very quiet this chilly morning both at the lake and on the trip from Newport where I logged just 35 Robins; 11 Blackbirds; and 10 singing Song Thrushes.

Not much had changed at the lake and little unusual to report. Did not see the big Starling flocks today, but it is doubtful whether the visibility was good-enough anyway. I saw 9 that seemed to be leaving a roost at the lake; and 2 more flying over.

Flushed Lapwings as I walked from the car to the lakeside, but too dark to see, though it sounded like no more than 2 birds: as it was too dark to see the diving duck(s) that I heard the wing-beats to as it / they flew off W before 07:00.

I saw a Water Rail again today - in the NE ditch today. I had looked earlier without success and wandered off to take some photos of the frost. When I came back it had appeared and seemed unconcerned, if distant.

There were about 110 Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived and I logged just 59 more arriving. A scatter of larger gulls arrived.

A couple of gulls counts gave these numbers:
08:50: c.165 Black-headed Gulls; 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 9 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:45: c.130 Black-headed Gulls; 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 16 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls, but what looked like a Yellow-legged Gull, though it was rather too distant to be certain.

I logged just 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Herring Gulls flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were: 0 Little Grebe; 9 Great Crested Grebes; no Herons; no Cormorants; 3 Swans with an interloper being ejected; 3 Canada Geese arrived and 17 more flew over; the pair of Gadwall still here; 37 Mallard; 10 Pochard (8 drakes); 17 Tufted Ducks, though 6 flew off; just 5 Moorhens; 149 Coot again; and 1 Water Rail seen.

The corvids were mainly lost in the mist. My totals today: 47 [312] Jackdaws and 87 [77] Rooks [Saturday's numbers in brackets].

The Wood Pigeons were in Wards Rough again, but too misty to count properly - at least 50: another 30 seen in flight.

The passerines totals for today: no Grey Wagtails; 16 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 10 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; two small parties totalling at least 5 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tit; 20 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; no Tree Creepers; 3 Chaffinch; 4 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 37 Siskins; 2 Redpolls; 2 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson).

21st January, Saturday - Back to the cloud at Priorslee this morning, with the breaks unhelpfully to the SW.

On the trip from Newport I logged 63 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; and 7 singing Song Thrushes. The main difference at the lake this morning was a big roost dispersal of over 2000 Starlings seen flying W -> E to the north: not noted this before, but the Starling roosts do tend to move around.

I saw the Water Rail scuttle off along the Wesley Brook between the bridge and the lake this morning: not so prolonged views as in the NE area, but it was out in the open and it was easier to appreciate the colours and especially the all-pale under-tail as it dashed off.

There was a return to more normal numbers of Moorhens today: but while the Coot count was slightly higher (149 vs. 132) it still confirms that some 100 have left over the past few weeks, 50 of which have gone in the last 2 days. Does anyone ever see this species fly other than low across the water? So how do they come and go?

There were about 250 Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived and relatively few gulls flew in throughout the whole time I was at the lake.I did a number of gulls counts again:
08:20: 47 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull;0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:20: c.110 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:45: c.250 Black-headed Gulls; 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 18 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.

I logged 102 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 1 un-aged Heron; 5 Cormorants arrived; 2 Swans; 14 Canada Geese arrived (10 left); the pair of Gadwall still here; 25 Mallard again; 8 Pochard (5 drakes); 11 Tufted Ducks again; 11 Moorhens; 149 Coot; and 1 Water Rail seen.

The corvids I saw flew off high and were hard to see against the cloud: there was a huge party of some 300 birds that seemed to be mainly Jackdaws, but rather few others, so Rooks were in short supply. My totals today: 312 [428] Jackdaws and 77 [438] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

I saw the flock(s) of Wood Pigeons in flight before it settled in WardsRough and, as expected, this confirmed c.300 birds. Few others today.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 8 Pied Wagtails; 17 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 17 Robins; 26 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; five small parties totalling at least 16 Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 15 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 4 Chaffinch; 2 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinch; 59 Siskins; no Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches; and 4 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson).

20th January, Friday - I suppose it would be churlish to complain about the sun in my eyes at Priorslee this morning! A great, if chilly, start today with a full moon out of a cloudless sky so clear that even with the binoculars it was obvious that Venus, the morning star, for all its brilliance was but a crescent.

With the return to something like winter there was the return of the winter thrushes with over 80 Fieldfare and 30 Redwings to the east. Not much else flying over and it was birds around the lake that kept me entertained: the Water Rail in the NE area; Willow and Coal Tits in with tit parties, one of which also had a Tree Creeper again. The Long-tailed Tits seem to be in smaller groups now - are they forming breeding groups already? Two male Redpolls gave me stunning views again - definitely my best-ever sightings of these normally 'top of a 100 foot conifer' birds.

Quite where all the Coot (and Moorhens) were this morning is hard to fathom - 70-odd seemed to have disappeared overnight! There were very few diving ducks either and most of those flew off.

This morning there were 2 Song Thrushes but fewer Robins singing away again as I arrived. The trip from Newport also netted fewer singing / calling birds for some reason with just 31 Robins; only 4 Blackbirds; but 6 other Song Thrushes.

Again there seemed to be no Black-headed Gulls on the lake though with the choppier water it is harder to be sure in the dark. The arrivals seemed to be coming from the south, so other than the periodic complete gull checks as I walk round the lake I cannot comment on arrivals / departures, but it did get crowded for a while. There were certainly no larger gulls roosting.

I did a number of gulls counts:
08:15: c.350 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:15: c.1600 Black-headed Gulls; 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 4 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull.
09:45: c.500 Black-headed Gulls; 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 17 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.

I also logged just 12 Black-headed Gulls and 198 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over.

The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 9 Great Crested Grebes; 1 un-aged Heron; 1 Cormorant arrived; 2 Swans; 8 Canada Geese arrived; the pair Gadwall still here; 25 Mallard (though 3 flew off); only 5 Pochard (3 drakes, and 1 of these flew off); just 11 Tufted Ducks all of which flew off; only 5 Moorhens; 132 Coot; and 2 Water Rails seen or heard.

The better visibility gave me much higher corvid counts: 428 [376] Jackdaws and 438 [265] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

The flock of Wood Pigeons appeared over the fields and trees this morning and seeing them in flight gave me an estimate of at least 300 birds. Another party of 19 flew over, with just a few others.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 11 Pied Wagtails; 10 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 11 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; 2 Goldcrests; four small parties totalling at least 16 Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 1 Willow Tits; 18 Blue Tits; 21 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 6 Chaffinch; 6 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; 65 Siskins; 6 Redpolls; 9 Bullfinches; and 8 Reed Buntings (Ed Wilson).

19th January, Thursday - Still a cloudy morning at Priorslee but much brighter.

Unusual birds today were two sightings of Mistle Thrush; and a Jay. There were several sightings of Starlings - all in the distance, but the first for several days.This morning there were 2 Song Thrushes as well as several Robins singing away again as I arrived. Later there were 4 more singing Song Thrushes (and at least 2 others calling). Another sign of approaching Spring was a Blue Tit doing its wing-fluttering display flight.

My arrival woke at least 4 Magpies, a Wren and several Blackbirds.

The trip from Newport today netted 50 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 6 other Song Thrushes, and anotherMagpie. The Blackbirds are definitely getting more active. Indeed it was obvious walking around the lake that there was more activity in the passerines and most counts were higher.The Siskins were back feeding in the NW trees again and while I waswatching them drinking in a small runnel I was astonished to see a fine male Redpoll at point blank range. So bright was it that I thought it might be a Crossbill, though the wrong tone! A splendid sight.

Again there seemed to be no Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived but the arrival from the west end took place this morning and I estimated just over 1100 arriving before 07:45 when the movement out started. At this time there seemed just 1 other gull - an adult Great Black-backed Gull that did not leave until after 09:30.

There was a small movement in and out of larger gulls: I did a number of gulls counts:
08:20: c.60 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull
08:50: c.480 Black-headed Gulls; 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull
09:15: c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 23 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull
09:40: c.860 Black-headed Gulls; 53 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 26 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Despite higher cloud and better visibility overflying gulls were scarce again and I logged 113 Black-headed Gulls and just 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The water bird counts this morning were: 0 Little Grebe; 10 Great Crested Grebes; 1 un-aged Heron; 2 Cormorants arrived separately; 2 Swans; 18 Canada Geese arrived and so confused the cob that it gave up!); the pair Gadwall still here; 31 Mallard; 8 Pochard (3 drakes); 14 Tufted Duck (7 ducks) - and 6 of these flew off; 13 Moorhens; 198 Coot; no Water Rail seen or heard.

The better visibility gave me much higher corvid counts: 376 [91] Jackdaws and 265 [110] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

The flock of Wood Pigeons appeared on the trees in front of Ward's Rough today and I estimated 200 birds: two more small flocks (of 18 & 20 birds) flew over, with a scatter around the lake. There are feathers on the S side grass suggesting that one has been predated.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; just 3 Pied Wagtails; 18 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 28 Robins; 21 Blackbirds; 7 Song Thrushes; 2 Goldcrests; two parties totalling at least 8 Long-tailed Tits; no CoalTits; no Willow Tits; 17 Blue Tits; 16 Great Tits; 0 Tree Creepers; 3 Chaffinch; 4 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 22 Siskins; 1 Redpoll; 5 Bullfinches; and 3 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

18th January, Wednesday (Evening Update) - Stopped off at the lake this evening (4:00pm - 4:30pm). Logged:

c.400 Black-headed Gull
c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
13 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gull

Also about were a pair of Great Crested Grebe performing their courtship ritual. In the Northeast corner the pair of Gadwall were still present and a Grey Wagtail flew over at 4:05pm. At 4:15pm the bird scarers went off and all but a hundred Black-headed Gulls took off and headed towards the Flash.. The larger Gulls remained. (Martin Adlam)

18th January, Wednesday - Another cloudy start at Priorslee Lake with some light drizzle to keep me company.

Unusual birds today were again scarce: a Kestrel on the M-way junction lamps; a Kingfisher near Wesley Brook; 2 Mistle Thrushes on the wires to the east where there were the first Starlings for a few days; and 2 different Treecreepers.

The two Song Thrushes as well as several Robins were singing away again as I arrived, and 2 Magpies were waking up [the trip from Newport today netted 43 Robins; 18 Blackbirds (easily my best count this year); 5 other Song Thrushes, and a Great Tit awake and singing rather early in the day].

The Siskins were still in the NW trees but seemed to be taking a rest from feeding and were sitting in the trees preening and wheezing away. But generally finches were in short supply and I recorded no Greenfinches or Goldfinches and just 2 Chaffinches.

Seemed to be no Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived and by 07:35 there were just c.85. No large gulls at first light either.

Counts of gulls taken later:
08:40: c.260 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 1 Herring Gull; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:35: c.900 Black-headed Gulls; 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 13 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Overflying gulls were scarce again and I logged 56 Black-headed Gulls and 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The water bird counts this morning were:
1 Little Grebe; 11 Great Crested Grebes; 1 immature Heron; 1 Cormorant arrived; 2 Swans; 15 Canada Geese flying far to the N; pair Gadwall (with these or another pair seen flying W as I was leaving); 29 Mallard; only 6 Pochard (3 drakes); 26 Tufted Duck (though 7 of these flew off); 11 Moorhens; 208 Coot; no Water Rail seen or heard.

The corvids were again hard to see against the heavy overcast. The counts were just 91 [169] Jackdaws and 110 [117] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

Other than the flock of c.150 Wood Pigeons that again appeared in the Ward's Rough trees I recorded another 49 birds.

The passerines totals for today: 1 Grey Wagtail; 6 Pied Wagtails; 9 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 4 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; three parties totalling at least 8 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 21 Blue Tits; 15 Great Tits; 2 Tree Creepers; 2 Chaffinch; no Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; 53 Siskins; 0 Redpolls; 3 Bullfinches (2 females); and 3 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

17th January, Tuesday - It might have been cloudy yet again at Priorslee, but the cloud was higher and did start to break before I left.

Unusual birds today were just a passing Buzzard; and a very distant Sparrowhawk. I had a great time though as I spent a long while in the NW area. Initially with a Long-tailed Tit party but I found that in amongst these sprites was a Tree Creeper and a Goldcrest that was doing its best to emulate the Tree Creeper! But then I noticed that the alders in the area were full of c.35 Siskins feeding away. All you could hear was the sound of the bits of cones dropping as they fed voraciously. Better yet
there was a small pool of water next me and the Siskins would come down regularly to drink - the males are getting well in to breeding finery. That was not all: as I caught up with the tits on the N shore the noise pulled in a pair of Coal Tits and a pair of Willow Tits - not birds I see every trip.

Two Song Thrushes as well as several Robins were singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport today netted 49 Robins; 7 Blackbirds (two in song); and 4 other Song Thrushes].

Seemed to be c.300 Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived but by 07:30 there were at least 700. Not sure where these came from - not from the W end as in the last few days: I suspect from the south. These all started to leave at 07:45 and the fresh arrival was not until after 08:45 when I was buried in the trees.

No large gulls at first light, though a few drifted in from, I suspect, the east. Thus when the bird-scarers started up at 08:05 at least 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Herring Gulls left the lake. The 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls stayed put.

Counts of gulls taken later:
08:35: c.55 Black-headed Gulls; 0 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:05: c.270 Black-headed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls.
09:30: c.360 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Overflying gulls were scarce again and I logged 53 Black-headed Gulls and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The water bird counts this morning were:
0 Little Grebe; 12 Great Crested Grebes; 1 immature Heron; 1 Cormorant for a while; 2 Swans; 0 Canada Geese on the lake or flying over; 2 Gadwall; 32 Mallard; 11 Pochard (6 drakes); only 11 Tufted Duck (and 4 of these flew off); 14 Moorhens; 213 Coot; 1 Water Rail heard.

The corvids were hard to see: a flock of some c.150 birds far to the east was the only big group I saw but had it been any been earlier, any smaller, or any further away it would have been impossible to see. Later small groups were on divergent paths with birds unusually to the west of the lake. So the counts were just 169 [208] Jackdaws and 117 [266] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

The flock of Wood Pigeons showed up on the trees in Wards Rough to the east again - long after the bird-scarers had gone off. I estimated 220 today. The Sparrowhawk put up some 45 more to the NW along with some of the all-white local loft pigeons.

The passerines totals for today: 0 Grey Wagtail; 7 Pied Wagtails; 13 Wrens; only 2 Dunnocks; 21 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; 2 Goldcrest; two parties totalling at least 11 Long-tailed Tits; 2 Coal Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 20 Blue Tits; 13 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 4 Chaffinch; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; 41 Siskins; 0 Redpolls; 5 Bullfinches (4 females); and 4 Reed Buntings. (Ed Wilson)

16th January, Monday (Evening Update) - A quick stop at the lake this evening (4:30pm - 4:45pm). Just missed the main party of Gulls on the water as I arrived as they flew off east towards Belvide, but did manage to log:

550 Black-headed Gull
460 Lesser Black-backed Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
15 Herring Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull

16th January, Monday - Rapidly getting fed up (and bored) with the dull starts at Priorslee: keeps the frost and ice away I suppose.

Only birds of interest were the Sparrowhawk that was 'hiding' in one of the groups of departing Jackdaws! There was a flock of Wood Pigeons in the trees at Wards Rough again, but visibility was such that I could only just see the trees! Gadwall still here. And the Water Rail gave me scope views today, albeit through about five layers of vegetation.

The Song Thrush as well as the Robins was singing away as I arrived this morning and two Magpies and a Wren complained about being woken [the trip from Newport today netted 59 Robins; 9 Blackbirds (one in song); and 3 Song Thrushes]. One of the Robins was clearly giving the full 'breeding' song as opposed to the 'winter territory' song that I am led to believe is given by males and females. Does this mean the number of singing birds will reduce as the males start 'breeding' song? Will the females stop
singing?

There were no Black-headed (or other) Gulls on the lake when I arrived. I logged just 142 birds arriving before 07:20 and no more before birds started to leave. There was again another arrival after 08:00 and I logged 179 also arriving from the W. Subsequent counts were low too: at 08:45 c.80; at 09:15 c.170.

So no larger gulls at roost: and I logged just 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls but 5 Herring Gulls.

Overflying gulls were scarce with the low cloud and I logged just 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 4 Herring Gulls; and 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull.

13 Great Crested Grebes this morning. In addition to the pair in the NW area and the pair seen displaying along the N side there was at least 1 bird in the SW area looking at previous nest-sites. No sign of the Little Grebe.

1 Heron heard only; 1 Cormorant on the lake - an adult with white thigh-patches indicating breeding condition. 3 more Cormorants flew over.

The resident Swans were present throughout. They ignored the 4 Canada Geese that flew in: a party of 21 geese flew over - large by recent standards.

Aythya-type duck counts were 13 Pochard (6 drakes); and 20 Tufted Duck (7 drakes) on the lake at 10:00. At least 2 more drake Tufted Duck flew off earlier.

I made the Mallard total 40.

Without the boating activity the Coot count was lower again at 216 [the same as Saturday; 243 on Sunday]: there were at least 11 Moorhens. The Water Rail that I saw was in the NE area this morning.

With low cloud again the corvid count and was much as yesterday - 208 [236] Jackdaws and 266 [216] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

At least 37 Siskins; and 4 Redpolls including 2 at point-blank range.

A good count of 17 Pied Wagtails: larger number probably due to the low cloud causing them to fly lower where I could hear them even over the rush-hour traffic. Grey Wagtail again.

No pigeons / doves other than Wood Pigeons.

A good day for Reed Buntings: at least 8 with 7 of these seen to fly off - the party of 3 that flew off into the gloom was only seen because they tracked through my bins as I was trying to sex the Tufted Ducks flying off!

The passerines totals for today: 7 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 20 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrest; one party of at least 7 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 17 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 3 Chaffinch; 2 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; and 3 Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

15th January, Sunday - Another dull start at Priorslee with just a few breaks in the low overcast. Dull from a birdwatching viewpoint as well!

Birds of interest were a Mistle Thrush getting hassle from the Magpies; at least 9 Cormorants; a party of some 200 Wood Pigeons in the trees to the E; and the pair of Gadwall still present - been here a week now. In addition to the Wood Pigeons to the E I flushed 10 from around the lake - my highest number for many weeks around the lake.

The Song Thrush (as well as the Robins) was singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport today netted 62 Robins; 11 Blackbirds (one in full song); 6 Song Thrushes and a calling Crow].

There were about 150 Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived. I logged just 132 birds arriving between 07:20 and 07:40 when birds then started to leave. There seemed to be another arrival after 08:00 and I logged 158 also arriving from the W. Subsequent counts were low too: at 09:15 c.130; at 09:55 I counted 77.

There were no larger gulls at roost: and I logged just 2 Herring Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Of course on Sundays the boats are out on the lake and while they are not launched until after 10:00 there is plenty of activity from 09:30 to disturb the birds.

Overflying gulls included at least 64 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types and 2 Herring Gulls. With one of the Lesser Black-backed parties there were 37 Black-headed Gulls.

My Great Crested Grebes count this morning was 11: no sign of the Little Grebe

1 adult Heron noted; 7 Cormorants were seen to fly off together: later there were 2 more.

The resident Swans were present throughout. Canada Geese heard in flight, but I was busy elsewhere and did not see them.

Aythya-type duck counts were 11 Pochard (7 drakes); and 24 Tufted Duck (9 drakes) on the lake at 10:00. At least 9 more were logged flying off earlier.

I made the Mallard total 34. One of the side-effects of the boating was to bunch up all the Coot and my count today was higher at 243 [216] and is probably a truer count than recently when poor light has made it hard to see those lurking around the edges. 9 [13] Moorhens. Heard the Water Rail again.

With the low cloud I was never going to get a high corvid count and was well-pleased with 236 [219] Jackdaws and 216 [210] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

At least 33 Siskins.

A higher count of 15 Pied Wagtails and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Other than the flock of Wood Pigeons there were 2 Stock Doves, but no Feral Pigeons or Collared Doves.

Only 2 Reed Buntings heard calling.

The passerines totals for today: 11 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 24 Robins; 19 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; 1 Goldcrest; one party of at least 6 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 18 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; 1 Chaffinch; 8 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; and no Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

14th January, Saturday - Much better weather than forecast at Priorslee this morning with the rain already cleared away and just high cloud to worry about. Most significant development is that whatever they are now doing in the Celestica grounds
they have now chopped the trees down that border the Severn-Trent Area in the NE corner. These are mainly conifers and there is still a line of bushes alongside the path, but the trees were latterly used as a Greenfinch roost. (See latest News.)

A very different morning with much lower number of gulls on the lake but a sizeable movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in partied flying south very high overhead; just 1 Cormorant; and with most of rather low number of diving ducks flying off early. There were several large flocks of Wood Pigeons and I logged almost 600 birds. Oddly I noted these some 10 minutes after the bird-scarers went off (after the initial bangs it all falls quiet for about 30 minutes).

Other birds of interest seen: 2 Mistle Thrushes - but no song; a Jay; the pair of Gadwall still present; and what was perhaps a Brambling - not certain as it called once only and I could see no finches in the area.

A Song Thrush as well as the Robins singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport netted 52 Robins; 13 Blackbirds; and 4 Song Thrushes with no commuter traffic this morning].

There were just 2 Black-headed Gulls on the lake when I arrived! These were joined by only 650 birds arriving between 07:20 and 07:45. Birds then started to leave and the lake looked strangely empty at 08:30 when there were fewer than 70 gulls left. Numbers increased somewhat to c.250 by 09:30.

There were no larger gulls at roost: and I logged just 2 immature Herring Gulls later - no Lesser Black-backed Gulls at all!

Overflying gulls included at least 365 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types and 3 at least Herring Gulls one of which was the partial albino bird - would have been a challenge had I not seen the bird on the lake earlier.

At least 13 Great Crested Grebes this morning: no sign of the Little Grebe.

1 Heron noted; and just 1 Cormorant.

The resident Swans were present throughout. When the 2 Canada Geese flew in the cob eventually woke up and chased them off. 2 other Swans seen flying in the distance. And 18 other Canada Geese in flight.

Aythya-type duck counts were 12 Pochard (7 drakes); and only 10 Tufted Duck (2 drakes) on the lake by 09:00. At least 26 were logged flying off early, though 4 were seen to fly in.

I made the Mallard total 41.

I logged just 216 [207 - probably a more accurate count today rather than an increase] Coots; and 13 [8] Moorhens. Heard the Water Rail.

Fewer corvids logged - several parties were so far to the E as to be hard to see, let alone count. My totals were 219 [309] Jackdaws; and 210 [493] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

At least 62 Siskins but no Redpoll today.

Just 3 Pied Wagtails and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Other than the flocks of Wood Pigeons there were no Feral Pigeons, Stock Doves or Collared Doves.

3 Reed Buntings at least - all calling.

The passerines totals for today: 12 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 19 Robins; 14 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Goldcrests; one party of at least 5 Long-tailed Tits again; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; a massive 22 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 2 Chaffinches; the possible Brambling; only 4 Greenfinches now they must be roosting elsewhere; 1 Goldfinch; and 2 female Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

13th January, Friday - Overcast and breezy at Priorslee this morning. Combined with the traffic noise from the M54 it was always going to be a struggle to see and hear the passerines. But you have to try!

The best sighting this morning was the party of 13 Cormorants feeding in the lake: easily my highest count this winter and more than I recorded any day last winter when numbers were well-down on the previous years. Also noteworthy were 2 separate Buzzards flying over (one doing a rather better job than the bird-scarers with the gulls!); a Sparrowhawk hotly pursued by
a posse of gulls; a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 3 Goldcrests together. The Gadwall are still here, but the Little Grebe did not seem to be.

There were 2 Lapwings over the lake briefly today - which reminded me that there were 2 yesterday as well but I forgot to log them! They were the first of the year here. Must have had a bad day yesterday as I forgot the 3 Starlings that seemed to have roosted in the SW bushes - there were 3 that seemed to come from the N side reeds this morning.

Just the Robins singing away again as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport again netted 27 Robins; but just 1 Song Thrush; and 3 Blackbirds in amongst the commuter traffic this morning]. The Magpie was complaining before I stopped the car; and probably woke the Wren as a result.

I could see c.450 Black-headed Gulls on the lake. These were joined by even more birds than my record-breaking arrivals from the W yesterday - today I estimated 1430 birds arriving between 07:35 and 07:40, the largest single group being a huge stream of c.880 birds all flying in low. Larger influx after 08:30 as well.

Again there seemed to be no larger gulls at roost: rather few flew in this morning.

I made several counts at various times again
09:10: c.750 Black-headed Gulls; 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 7 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:30: c.850 Black-headed Gulls; 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 41 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:45: 96 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 61 Herring Gulls; 1 Great Black-backed Gull I think there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull but it was rather far away.
Interesting that for a while there were more Herring Gulls than Lesser Black-backed Gulls. And the count at 09:45 includes birds on the grass at the W end in the Ricoh factory ground where there were 14 of Herring Gulls, but a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Overflying gulls included at least 31 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types though with the local birds being blown around by the wind it was hard to tell who was flying over.

Back to just 9 Great Crested Grebes this morning.

2 Herons noted - one immature; one adult with bill colouring up well. The 13 Cormorants seen by 09:10.

The resident Swans were present throughout. When the 8 Canada Geese flew in the cob seemed undecided about whether to chase them or not - he was apparently head tucked back asleep but moved towards them and occasionally stretched his neck before stopping completely! Amazingly it was successful and the geese flew off!

Aythya-type duck counts were low again. I noted 10 Pochard (6 drakes); and 24 Tufted Duck (10 drakes). None was seen in flight today.

I made the Mallard total 43.

I logged just 207 [229] Coots - they do seem to be thinning out, though it would help if a dog-walker would appear to push all the birds off the SW grass while I am counting! and 8 [8] Moorhens again. 2 of the Moorhens were also seen on the roof of the old boat-hut in the water here! No sight or sound of the Water Rails.

Better positioned for the Corvid exit today and a great log. My totals were 309 [182] Jackdaws; and 493 [221] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

2 Siskins and 1 Redpoll today.

12 Pied Wagtails but no Grey Wagtail.

Only 3 Wood Pigeons logged: no Feral Pigeons, Stock Doves or Collared Doves.

3 Reed Buntings at least - all calling

10 probable Fieldfare seen far to the east.

In the low light and strong wind the passerines totals for today: 8 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 15 Robins; 12 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; 3 Goldcrests; one parties of at least 5 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit heard; 13 Blue Tits; 7 Great Tits; 1 Chaffinch; 11 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; and no Bullfinches again. (Ed Wilson)

12th January, Thursday - A frosty start at Priorslee with a great sunrise, though by that time the light S wind had already melted the frost from the trees - so it was quite so much of a disaster that the zoom mechanism on the camera has packed up. But it did distract me a bit! Even though it did not seem that cold (it was above freezing when I arrived) over 25% of the lake had a layer of ice thick-enough to support gull. The light wind was bringing in a lot of traffic noise again.

Nothing added to the site year-list and lower numbers of most species. The pair Gadwall were still present. And 2 Water Rails scurried along the NE ditch today. The elusive Little Grebe appeared again.

Just the Robins singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport netted just 27 Robins; 3 Song Thrush; and 3 Blackbirds in amongst the commuter traffic this morning]. Getting out of the car woke the complaining Magpie again.

When I arrived there were c.800 Black-headed Gulls on the lake. These all went up in the air at 07:15 (it is often the arrival of a Heron that does this), but most settled back. An incredible c.1200 birds were then seen flying in from the W, including massive party that as best as I could estimate had 650 birds in it. There was a mass exodus just after 08:00 when the bird-scarer went off, but there was no influx after 08:30 today.

There seemed to be no larger gulls at roost: rather few flew in this morning.

I made several counts at various times
08:45: c.550 Black-headed Gulls; 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 0 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
08:55: c.210 Black-headed Gulls; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls; 0 Great Black-backed Gulls
09:40: c.250 Black-headed Gulls; 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 10 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (1 immature; 1 adult) No Yellow-legged Gulls noted today.

Overflying gulls included, unusually, three parties of Black-headed Gulls numbering 81 birds; and at least 113 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types.

In addition to the Little Grebe there were at least 12 Great Crested Grebes this morning. In addition to the 'resident' pair in the NW corner there was another 'pair' displaying by the N side reeds.

1 immature Herons seen briefly: one Cormorant by 08:45, but it left almost immediately.

The resident Swans were present throughout, with another adult thinking better of landing and flying on W - perhaps the one seen at The Flash later. 2 Canada Geese flew in but didn't stay: and another flew over.

Aythya-type duck counts were even lower today, perhaps due to the ice. I noted 9 Pochard (7 drakes); and 21 Tufted Duck (9 drakes). But a party of 15 birds had flown off earlier - these were probably Tufted Duck. The 2 birds that flew out a few minutes later seemed to be Pochard. Later there were 13 Tufted Duck in flight over the lake - I think birds leaving.

I made the Mallard total 40 again today with 3 flying in from the W.

I logged 229 [226] Coots; and 8 [7] Moorhens. 2 Water Rail seen today.

Another reasonable Corvid count though they left early and flew low such that I think I missed some while I was thrashing about trying to get some sunrise pictures. My totals were 182 [221] Jackdaws; and 221 [392] Rooks.[yesterday's numbers in brackets].

28 Siskins and 2 Redpolls today.

Just 11 Pied Wagtails; and the usual Grey Wagtail.

Just 11 Wood Pigeons logged: no Feral Pigeons, Stock Doves or Collared Doves.

8 Reed Buntings at least - 6 seen flying off while 2 more were calling.

The passerines totals for today: 14 Wrens; 4 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 16 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Goldcrests; three parties of at least 19 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 19 Blue Tits; 14 Great Tits; 1 Chaffinch; 5 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; and no Bullfinches - but I don't care anymore!

Was busy most of lunchtime but passed on my way back home at 14:45. A quick stop gave me 14:45: c.550 Black-headed Gulls; c.350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 23 Herring Gulls; 1 adult Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Cormorants fishing. (Ed Wilson)

11th January, Wednesday - At last a fine morning such that the street lights went out a full 23 minutes earlier than in the gloom of yesterday. the overnight rain clearing well away to the SE before dawn.

Today I added to the site year-list a fine Buzzard, unusually sitting on the grass in the SW area; and a distant small party of c.20 Golden Plover.The pair of Gadwall still present. And a Willow Tit was noteworthy. I guess it was inevitable that having broken the jinx of the Bullfinches I would see then easily - 5 different birds this morning!

Several Robins, a Blackbird and a distant Song Thrush singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport netted just 35 Robins; another Song Thrush; 2 Blackbirds; and a Greenfinch in amongst the commuter traffic]. Getting out of the car woke up a complaining Magpie.

I think there was no gull roost at all last night - I could not see any on the choppy water as I looked from the W end. Like yesterday there were parties flying in from the W end and by 07:30 there were about 850 present, though all but c.100 were gone by 08:00.

The bird-scarers were certainly operational today but with the wind carrying the sound away from the lake the gulls seemed unaffected.

I made several counts again as birds began to arrive 08:45: c.400 Black-headed Gulls; 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 2 Herring Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls.

09:00: c.750 Black-headed Gulls; 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 26 Herring Gulls; 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull.

09:20: c.1100 Black-headed Gulls; c.145 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 52 Herring Gulls; 3 Great Black-backed Gulls (1 immature; 2 adults) No Yellow-legged Gulls noted today. The proportion of Herring Gulls was surprising.

Over-flying gulls included at least 222 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types.

No Little Grebe again; and back to 9 Great Crested Grebes this morning.

The 'resident' pair seem well settled in the NW area.

1 immature Herons seen (though there was one briefly earlier when it was too dark to age): one Cormorant by 08:45.

The resident Swans were present throughout, with 2 more adults thinking better of landing and flying on W. No Canada Geese see or heard again.

Aythya-type duck counts were lower today at 11 Pochard (6 drakes; 5 ducks); and at least 37 Tufted Duck (20 drakes; and 17 ducks) - 6 of which flew off just after 08:00. Another 10 flew off as I was leaving. I made the Mallard total 40 today with 10 of these seen flying in from the W.

I logged 226 [227] Coots; just 7 [13] Moorhens. Water Rail heard today.

Another reasonable Corvid count though they were spread about a bit: 221 [302] Jackdaws; 392 [385] Rooks.[yesterday's dire numbers in brackets]. Odd was a party of 14 Magpies together on the dam.

12 Siskins noted. No Redpolls here today again.

13 Pied Wagtails today, one of which was on the dam; and the usual Grey Wagtail.

A big count of 163 Wood Pigeons logged, though 150 were in a big group to the E - probably the bird-scarer doing its work! no Feral Pigeons but 2 Stock Doves over.

3 Reed Buntings seen flying off today.

The passerines totals for today: 10 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 21 Robins; 18 Blackbirds; 3 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; a party of at least 8 Long-tailed Tits; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit heard; 16 Blue Tits; 13 GreatTits; 3 Chaffinch; 9 Greenfinches; 1 Goldfinch; and 5 Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

10th January, Tuesday (Evening Roost) - 2 Yellow-legged Gull there today at around 15:00hrs. Also an adult Great Black-backed Gull. (Jason)

10th January, Tuesday - A very different but equally dull start at Priorslee - moderate / fresh S wind with spells of mainly light rain, but at least good visibility. Lots of road noise from the M54 and sheltering in the hut made for a low count of passerines even though I eventually walked all the way around. But an absorbing day.

Highlight for me was that one of the passerines I did see was a female Bullfinch in flight - so that is now on the site year-list! The pair of Gadwall still present. The main frustration was seeing a large immature gull in the pre-dawn gloom that might just have been a first-winter Glaucous Gull, but probably was just one the large juvenile Herrings with the translucent primaries from underneath. I did see the upper wing and could not see any dark markings, but then again it did not seem to be pale-enough for a true 'Glaucous'-type and, as I said, it was still quite dark at the time. But worth checking if you are passing. Did not see it later.

Nothing apart from Robins singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport netted just 24 Robins; and 1 Song Thrush in the windy conditions, on wet roads and in amongst the commuter traffic].

The gull roost was almost exclusively Black-headed Gulls again with c.1100 at 07:10. Unlike the last few days I noted 33 parties of Black-headed Gulls arriving from the W between 07:10 and 07:50 when the birds started to fly-about and leave. These 33 parties contained at least 1268 birds! This raises the question as to whether the original 1100 may have only just arrived. And whether the absence of this movement in previous days was wind-dependent?

Of the larger gulls the roost seemed to contain about 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 4 Herring Gulls.

I heard no bird-scarer today, but most of the gulls had gone by 08:30. A few started drifting in after this time and I made two more full counts of the gulls before I went off to the Town Centre for some shopping: and then another stop as I passed back. The counts were 08:50: c.130 Black-headed Gulls; 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 7 Herring Gulls.

09:35: c.310 Black-headed Gulls; c.170 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 67 Herring Gulls; 4 Yellow-legged Gulls; 1 immature Great Black-backed Gull 11:35: c.650 Black-headed Gulls; c.800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; c.120 Herring Gulls; 3 Yellow-legged Gulls; 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (1 immature; 1 adult).

Overflying gulls were hard to find among all the gulls leaving and arriving: I logged 138 Lesser Black-backed Gull-types: too dark to see whether Herring Gulls in the groups as well.

No Little Grebe visible but I logged 13 Great Crested Grebes this morning.

1 adult Herons today: one Cormorant by 09:30.

The resident Swans were present throughout. No Canada Geese see or heard.

Aythya-type duck counts included 13 Pochard (8 drakes; 5 ducks); and at least 51 Tufted Duck (just 23 drakes; but 28 ducks again) - 6 of which flew off before 08:00. I made the Mallard total 43 today.

I logged 227 Coots - so the numbers do seem to have dropped somewhat and they are now starting to fight quite aggressively at times; 13 Moorhens. But no Water Rails seen or heard today.

The better visibility at last produced a decent Corvid count: 302 [27] Jackdaws; 385 [27] Rooks! [yesterday's dire numbers in brackets]. Odd was a party of 8 Magpies that flew E over the dam with another 9 in flight around the SE area.

Just 2 Siskins noted. No Redpolls here today again.

9 Pied Wagtails today; but no Grey Wagtail.

No Redwings, Fieldfares, Song or Mistle Thrushes. 1 Starling seen in the distance.

39 Wood Pigeons logged, though 29 of these were in one group: 7 Feral Pigeons in 2 parties.

1 Reed Bunting heard calling.

For what it is worth in the poor conditions the passerines totals for today: 5 Wrens; 3 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 8 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; 2 Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits (though one seemed to be a lone bird!); no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; 1 Chaffinch; 5 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches; the female Bullfinch at last. (Ed Wilson)

9th January, Monday - Another dull start at Priorslee - the street-lights were even later going out today despite the slight movement in the official sunrise time. And there was some light drizzle though it amounted to very little. The cloud was very low again, making overflying birds largely invisible.

But as ever a few highlights: the pair of Gadwall still here as was the Little Grebe. A Water Rail was seen in a new location along the N shore. 2 Treecreepers seen well in the NW area. And a Linnet fly-over was a site
year-tick.

It was a Song Thrush singing away as I arrived this morning [the trip from Newport 51 Robins; and 2 Blackbirds in among the commuter traffic].

The gull roost was almost exclusively Black-headed Gulls again with an estimate of 1200 birds. These started leaving by 07:50. For some reason almost no gulls appeared at the lake later - perhaps they couldn't find it in the mist! There were just c.180 left at 09:30.

Of the larger gulls the roost seemed to contain only 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Herring Gulls. Another Herring Gull was seen briefly; and 2 different Lesser Black-backed Gulls also appeared briefly.

Overflying gulls were again hard to see with the poor visibility and I logged just 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: there seemed to be no Herring Gulls at all.

In addition to the Little Grebe I logged 9 Great Crested Grebes this morning.

2 different Herons today, one an immature: no Cormorant though.

The resident Swans were present throughout. Just 1 Canada Goose see flying over.

Aythya-type duck counts included a low count of just 8 Pochard (6 drakes; 2 ducks); but a larger than usual count of at least 63 Tufted Duck (35 drakes; 28 ducks) - they were scattered all over the very murky lake and hard to count. No birds were seen flying around today. I made the Mallard total 42 today.

I didn't even attempt a Coot count, but around the edges I logged 10 Moorhens. While I was watching the Little Grebe diving alongside the new fishing platform to the E of the N shore wood a Water Rail scampered off - not seen one here before. No others seen or heard today.

With the low cloud I expected the Corvid passage to be poor and I was not surprised: just 27 [63] Jackdaws and 27 [84] Rooks [yesterday's numbers in brackets].

A tame party of 28 Siskins were giving great views in the alders at the W end and apparently another 32 flying around in smaller parties. No Redpolls here today again.

Just 5 Pied Wagtails today; and the usual Grey Wagtail.

No Redwings, Fieldfares or Mistle Thrushes. 2 Starlings flew over.

Only 5 Wood Pigeons, all in one group: but 13 Feral Pigeons with the / a party of 7 seen again.

Heard 1 Reed Bunting in flight, but that was all.

Other passerines totals for today: 13 Wrens; 6 Dunnocks; 21 Robins again; 19 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; no Goldcrests; 1 party of Long-tailed Tits heard; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 16 Blue Tits; 9 Great Tits; 2 Chaffinches; 28 Greenfinches (19 of these were in the NE bushes); 2 Goldfinches; still no Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

8th January, Sunday - Yet another dull start to what turned out to be a dull day weather-wise (but not bird-wise as we shall see later).

Seemed a bit brighter initially - perhaps the lying snow made it seem that way. But later the cloud was very low and seeing overflying birds was hard. I varied the routine today by starting at the S end of the dam trying to get closer to the corvids as they left their roost: and to get the light(?) behind me to see the gulls. This means I tend to miss birds flying in and out of the W end of course: as well as the Reed Bunting roost dispersal.

Just a few highlights: the pair of Gadwall still on the lake; the Little Grebe reappeared; and the Kingfisher was sitting in the Wesley Brook. Still no Bullfinch for me here this year - thought I had it nailed with some soft calls, but they turned out to be given by a Dunnock!

A Blackbird was in full song for a while again this morning [the trip from Newport netted 1 Wren; 60 Robins; 2 Blackbirds and 1 Song Thrush today].

The gull roost was mainly Black-headed Gulls again with an estimate of 1500 birds. These started leaving to the SE at 07:50 and the bird-scarer emptied the lake of all but c.200 at 08:20. Birds started arriving again at 08:35, and 1 logged c.700 at 09:35, but something then spooked all the gulls and most left.

Of the larger gulls the roost seemed to contain 1 adult Common Gull; c.35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; about 8 Herring Gulls; and 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull.. All these had flown off by 08:30. New arrivals after gave me the following count 09:35: c.75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls, including the partial albino again.

Shortly after all the gulls got up and the larger gulls left to the WNW.

Overflying gulls were hard to see with the poor visibility but I logged 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 19 Herring Gulls.

1 Little Grebe and I logged 7 Great Crested Grebes again.

No Heron noted: 1 Cormorant fishing in the lake.

The resident Swans were present throughout. They were generally ignoring the 3 Canada Geese that seemed to roost here though the geese flew off.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 22 Pochard (11 drakes; 11 ducks); and 54 Tufted Duck (30 drakes; 24 ducks). No birds were seen flying around today. I made the Mallard total 41 birds today.

I logged only 210 Coot but this was probably due to the poor visibility rather than a genuine reduction in number, and 11 Moorhens. Water Rails were calling in the Wesley Brook area again.

I did slightly better with the corvid passage: rather unusually the Jackdaws in the flocks were not obeying 'the inverse square law' - the more birds there are the less noise they make - and they drew attention to the birds in the base of the low cloud. I logged 63 [12] Jackdaws and 84 [28] Rooks [yesterday's poor numbers in brackets].

No Siskins or Redpolls today.

15 Pied Wagtails today; and 1 Grey Wagtail.

No Redwings Fieldfares or Mistle Thrushes today. 4 separate sightings of lone Starlings all flying over.

Just 4 Wood Pigeons today but again a party of 7 Feral Pigeons.

Heard1 Reed Bunting rather surprisingly in the SE bushes. A male seen at the W end.

Passerines counts today: 12 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 21 Robins; 20 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; 4 different Goldcrests; 2 parties of Long-tailed Tits heard; 0 Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 15 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 3 Chaffinches; 10 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; still no Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

7th January, Saturday - It must have been slightly brighter at Priorslee this morning as the street lights went out 5 minutes earlier, but you would not have noticed! Less precipitation as well.

Several highlights: a pair of Gadwall on the lake; a drake Pintail flew over; I heard what sounded like a Snipe call, though mindful that I had a Woodcock make as very similar noise last winter I'll have to let it pass as I did not see the bird. Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over. And I added Jay to the Priorslee year list. But still no Bullfinch for me!

A Blackbird was in full song for a while this morning [the trip from Newport netted 42 Robins, 6 Blackbirds and 1 Song Thrush which was rather disappointing for a quiet Saturday when I can take my time without being a hazard on the road!].

Big gull roost seemed to contain almost all Black-headed Gulls with an estimate of 2100 birds. These started leaving to the NW at 08:00 and the bird-scarer emptied the lake of all but c.300 at 08:20. More came in after 09:00 and 1 logged c.600 at 09:35.

Of the larger gulls I think the roost contained c.20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; at least 1 immature Herring Gulls; and 1 first winter Great Black-backed Gull!. All these flew off by 08:30. New arrivals after 09:00 gave me counts as follows 09:20: 35 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 7 Herring Gulls; and 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull. Then 09:35: c.140 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 46 Herring Gulls; and the same adult Yellow-legged Gull At this point all the gulls got up and the larger gulls left to the WNW.

Overflying birds were 79 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls.

No sign of the Little Grebe and I logged only 7 Great Crested Grebes.

1 Heron noted just once: no Cormorants seen.

The resident Swans were present throughout. They were ignoring the 16 Canada Geese that seemed to roost here (outnumbered?) and paid no attention to the 3 more Canada Geese that flew in. 2 more geese flew over.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 17 Pochard (8 drakes; 9 ducks); and 45 Tufted Duck (again but 20 drakes; 25 ducks). A party of 13 birds left to the W at 07:45 which I think were Tufted Duck. Another party of 8 birds flew out a few minutes later and seemed to be Pochard but as neither was confirmed they are not included in the species totals above.

I made the Mallard total just 32 today.

I logged 236 Coot, and 8 Moorhens. 2 Water Rails were calling in the Wesley Brook area and I flushed one at the footbridge. Did not see the bird in the NE ditch this morning.

Corvid passage was dire - they must be feeding elsewhere or I am going blind! I logged a mere 12 [39] Jackdaws and only 28 [98] Rooks [yesterday's poor numbers in brackets].

At least 15 Siskins logged today; no Redpolls again today.

After the good number of Pied Wagtails yesterday it was back to just 7 today; and 1 Grey Wagtail.

1 Redwing heard again; no Fieldfare or Mistle Thrush today. No Starlings either.

6 Wood Pigeons today and a party of 7 Feral Pigeons.

Heard at least 3 Reed Buntings but none was seen again.

Passerines counts today: 13 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 11 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; 2 Goldcrest; Long-tailed Tits heard only; 1 Coal Tit; no Willow Tits; 14 Blue Tits; 8 Great Tits; 6 Chaffinch; 3 Greenfinches; 4 Goldfinches; still no Bullfinches (Ed Wilson)

6th January, Friday - Another day; another early start at Priorslee.

A cold, dull and cheerless morning at Priorslee with light sleet and snow grains for most of the time. At least there was very little wind and I was able to stand at my usual overlook, not that it did much good!

Highlight again was the ever-entertaining Water Rail in the NE area. Confirmed there is certainly 1 Little Grebe present, though again it disappeared from view. I may well have added Sparrowhawk to my Priorslee year list - it sounded as if the tits had a better view of the dashing shape than I did, though the gulls seemed either not to notice or not care! No sign of the Goldeneye today.

No song again this morning at the lake. I did hear 2 Song Thrushes this morning on the way from Newport, with 53 Robins and 2 Blackbirds as well (and House Sparrows awake in Muxton very early too).

The gull roost seemed to contain about 150 Black-headed Gulls, though another 200 had joined them by 08:20 before they started leaving to the NW. After dipping to c.50 birds, more came in after 09:00 and 1 logged c.450 at 09:40 and c.630 at 10:10.

Of the larger gulls I think the roost contained 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 3 immature Herring Gulls; and 1 adult and 2 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull!. All these flew off by 08:30. New arrivals after 09:00 gave me counts as follows 09:40: 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 10 Herring Gulls; and 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull. Then 10:00: c.300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 112 Herring Gulls; and the same adult Great Black-backed Gull.

Overflying birds were just 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

In addition to the Little Grebe there were at least 9 Great Crested Grebes.

1 Heron noted on several occasions, but assumed to be the same bird: at least 3 Cormorants.

The resident Swans were present throughout. 2 Canada Geese briefly joined them before being chased off. Another 7 Canada Geese flew over.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 12 Pochard (6 drakes; 6 ducks); and 45 Tufted Duck (19 drakes; 26 ducks). A party of 9 birds flew in from the west as I was leaving - I think they were Tufted Duck.

I made the Mallard total 43 again.

I logged 242 Coot, and a slightly better 10 Moorhens. A Water Rail was in the NE ditch again this morning.

Corvid passage should have been better but apart from one moderate-sized well spread-out group there were only small parties of Rooks. I logged a paltry 39 [64] Jackdaws and slightly better 98 [54] Rooks. [yesterday's a typical numbers in brackets].

Just 2 single Siskins logged today; no Redpolls again today.

Much better log of 31 Pied Wagtails; and 1 Grey Wagtail.

1 Redwing heard again; no Fieldfare or Mistle Thrush today. 2 Starlings seemed to come from the SW bushes this morning.

Only 4 Wood Pigeons today (but 20 Feral Pigeons in 3 small parties!).

Heard at least 3 Reed Buntings but none was seen.

Again the passerines were in low numbers: looked for the Greenfinch roost but there was some crashing and banging from the Celestica grounds (are they knocking something else down?) and this seemed to have cleared them off.

Passerines counts today: 12 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 9 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; 1 Goldcrest; 1 Long-tailed Tits (yes it seemed to be a party of 1 bird!); no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 13 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; 1 Chaffinch; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; and no Bullfinches again (Ed Wilson)

5th January, Thursday - Evening Update 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Another large Gull roost this evening with:
Lesser Black-backed Gulls C.2000
Black-headed Gulls C.2000
Great Black-backed Gulls 3
Herring Gull 83
Yellow-legged Gulls 4

Quite a spectacular roost this evening with plenty of birds on the water. A big thanks to Arthur Harper who helped locate one of the 4 Yellow-legs in amongst the thousands of Gulls present. Incredibly at 3:50pm the bird scarer went off twice, but didn't seem to have any effect on the roost. Then completely unexpectedly at 4:05pm, every single bird took off without any reason whatsoever. Delayed reaction, a fox, traffic, raptor overhead, there wasn't anything that we could see or hear that would have triggered this mass exodus. But whatever triggered it saw every bird leave the water, with many birds heading off towards Belvide. The next twenty minutes saw a good 500+ Black-headed Gulls return to the lake, but even they were jittery and every few minutes they would all rise off the water before alighting. By 4:30pm it was getting fairly dark and as more gulls arrived they became less flighty. One odd looking gull seen was the Herring Gull? that Ed saw in the morning with the white markings.

Also about were a huge flock of C.60 Siskins that settled down in the Alders in the Northeast wood. Two Starlings came in, flew around the lake and headed southeast, presumably to the M54 services. Overhead we didn't see a single Corvid, unless they were above cloud level.

Overall a very strange evening. (Martin Adlam and Arthur Harper)

5th January, Thursday - A cold morning at Priorslee Lake with some sleet and snow grains to keep me company. Another different strategy to shelter from the cold ENE wind, so again the comparisons are not entirely accurate. Spent most of the time sheltering along the N shore, but did some photography from the dam-top of the aberrant partial-albino Herring Gull (will be sent to Martin Adlam for the web site).

Highlight this morning was the view of 2 Water Rails in the NE area. Managed to hear a Bullfinch this morning - but too dark to see. And the flock of 13 Long-tailed Tits afforded splendid views. There was a small Starling roost in the N-side reeds with birds clicking and popping away, but somehow they managed to fly off while I was looking elsewhere even though I was alongside! Meanwhile the brownhead Goldeneye was still present but rather elusive.

No song this morning at the lake and just 1 Song Thrush this morning on the way from Newport, though there were 51 Robins and 5 Blackbirds heard.

My position allowed rather better view of the gull roost: about 1400 Black-headed Gulls at 07:15. Another 198 flew in from the W before the roost broke at 07:35 and it became impossible to keep track of new or old birds. Birds left in big numbers from 08:00 and by the time the first bird-scarers had done their work there were just about 120 left at 08:25.

As usual birds started flying in soon after and there were at least 700 by 09:40.

Of the larger gulls there seemed to be 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 immature Herring Gulls in the roost. These had gone by 08:30, but a steady stream of new arrivals, especially after 09:30. A count at 09:40 estimated 400 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull; 74 Herring Gulls (a good proportion, when before Christmas they seemed very scarce); and a Great Black-backed Gull.

Looked hard at a lot of gulls this morning while photographing the partial-albino Herring Gull and need to look at the books: two immediate questions - what are these large immature Herring Gulls that show transparent primaries from underneath? There were 5 together today. They cannot be immature Yellow-legged Gulls as they are on the large size, whereas Yellow-legged Gulls are on the small side [what do immature Yellow-legged Gulls look like anyway?] - what is the equivalent to the Yellow-legged Gull in the Lesser Black-backed Gull group? Some of the smaller adults have gleaming white unmarked heads while the larger birds are all smudgy and dark. Races? Overflying gulls noted were 140 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Despite lack of sightings I think the Little Grebes are still present: I glimpsed two separate small birds patter low across the water near the shore-line and disappear in the reeds while it was still too dark to be sure, but they had the jizz of flying grebes. At least 8 Great Crested Grebes again.

1 Heron noted again: 1 Cormorant today.

The resident Swans were present throughout. 4 Canada Geese logged flying to the north.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 18 Pochard (9 drakes; 9 ducks - why does the sex-ratio change so much?); and 40 Tufted Duck (19 drakes; 21 ducks). A party of 8 birds got up from the lake at 07:30 and left to the west - I think they were all Tufted Duck. I made the Mallard total 43.

I logged 236 Coot, but only 6 Moorhens for some reason. The 2 Water Rails were both dashing about in the NE ditch this morning.

Corvid passage was always going to be a problem as sheltering from the ENE wind blocked the view of the main flight-line of these birds. I logged 64 Jackdaws and 54 Rooks.

At least 40 Siskins logged today; no Redpolls again today.

I logged just 6 Pied Wagtails; and 1 Grey Wagtail.

1 Redwing heard before dawn; no Fieldfare, Song Thrush or Mistle Thrush today. Unknown number of Starlings calling from the N-side reed beds.

17 Wood Pigeons today.

Logged just 1 Reed Bunting along the N side.

Generally the passerines were in low numbers today: the only comment was my discovery of a sizeable Greenfinch roost in the boundary bushes in the NE area. Just how big is hard to say as it is impossible to see birds either in the roost or as they depart unless they leave to the S.

Passerines counts today: 5 Wrens; 2 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 9 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Goldcrest; 13 Long-tailed Tits in a party; no Coal Tits; no Willow Tits; 7 Blue Tits; 4 Great Tits; 2 Chaffinches; 13 Greenfinches (but many more heard); no Goldfinches; and 1 Bullfinch heard (Ed Wilson)

4th January, Wednesday - Evening Update 3:30pm - 4:20pm

A very large gathering of Gulls tonight with:
Lesser Black-backed Gulls C.3000
Black-headed Gulls C.2000
Great Black-backed Gulls 2
Herring Gull 131
Yellow-legged Gulls 5

Two of the Black-headed Gulls were sporting complete black heads. Having just come back from Portland/Ferrybridge/Radipole where I came across several Mediterranean Gulls, I was hoping to spot one in the roost tonight. Unfortunately not tonight.
At 4:00pm the bird scarer in the top fields went off three times and there was a mass exodus of all the Gulls bar a hundred Lesser Black-backs. Approx. a 1000 birds flew east with C.4000 birds heading back in the direction of the tip at Granville. A few birds did come back but not in the numbers as previous.
The purpose of the bird scarer going off is a bit of a puzzle, as there were no Woodpigeon about, apart from a solitary bird that headed towards the fields at 4:15pm.

2 Starling came in from the southeast just after 4:00pm. They headed towards the Wesley Reedbeds where they got mixed up with a flock of C.30 Siskins. Shortly after another Starling joined them and the flock of Siskins broke up into 3 or 4 smaller groups. The 3 Starlings then headed back towards the dam and were joined by a fourth bird. Instead of roosting in the reedbeds on the lake, all four flew off in the direction of the M54 Services.

Other birds logged were Magpie 17, Grey Wagtail 1, Pochard 17. Overhead Corvid numbers were well down with only 18 Rook and 58 Jackdaw logged. (Martin Adlam)

4th January, Wednesday - A rather better morning at Priorslee: still cloudy but rather brighter - a relative term. Better visibility.

Walked around anti-clockwise again, starting in the NW corner and then staying at the W end until I walked around after 08:30.

Highlights this morning were the drake Wigeon and the duck Goldeneye. Also added Kestrel and Stock Dove to my Priorslee Year List. Splendid view of female Great Spotted Woodpecker as well. Still no Bullfinches; and again only heard the Long-tailed Tits!

Also worth highlighting was the first Song Thrush in full song at the lake this morning. They seem to have started up today as I heard 4 more while driving from Newport to the lake. This time last year I was logging up to 20 a day and double figures around the lake. But there are other signs of Spring - I saw a pair of Wood Pigeons mating later!

My estimate of the gull roost was about 500 Black-headed Gulls: there did not seem to be any larger gulls with them. I logged another 115 flying in from the W, before most of the gulls left to the NW. As usual more (?) started arriving after c.08:30 and I logged 270 by 08:50, increasing to 480 by 09:25. Of the larger gulls there were 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls by 08:05, but these too left to the NW. Just 9 returned. I logged just 3 Herring Gulls, one of which was a very pale-looking and large apparent first winter that from underneath showed almost complete translucent primaries and only from above could any darker marking be seen to rule out Glaucous Gull (See Images 1 - 3 below). An adult Great Black-backed Gull visited briefly. Overflying birds were 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Black-headed Gulls. I am sure that overflying Black-headed Gulls are not uncommon but I can rarely separate these from the local birds: today these 3 flew over very high.

8 Great Crested Grebes again.

1 Heron noted again: 2 Cormorants today fishing in the lake by 09:30.

The resident Swans were present throughout. 10 Canada Geese I logged were all overflying birds.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 22 Pochard (14 drakes; 4 ducks); and 43 Tufted Duck (25 drakes; 18 ducks). But a party of 18 birds flew out W at 07:50 before I took this count - I think they were Pochard, but it was too dark to be sure - which is better than the 2 (or more) that flew off at 07:15 - all I heard were the rapid wing-beats! I made the Mallard total 48: one more than yesterday I logged 232 Coot, and another good count of 17 Moorhens. Only heard the Water Rail today.

The corvid passage started with several medium-sized groups of Jackdaws flying low, but then a huge party (at least 300 birds) were seen high in the distance. These were tentatively identified on size as 150 each of Jackdaws and Rooks. My totals were 261 Jackdaws; and 228 Rooks.

At least 66 Siskins logged today, but there may have been some duplication amongst the several small flocks seen; no Redpoll's again today.

I logged 9 Pied Wagtails; and 1 Grey Wagtail.

No Fieldfare, Redwing or Mistle Thrush today. 1 Starlings again seemed to emerge from the SW bushes.

5 Wood Pigeons today (but 2 Stock Doves as well).

Logged at least 4 Reed Buntings again this morning with the only departure being a bird that flew through my view as I tried to separate and count the huge Corvid flock!

Lots of Blue Tits today for some reason: apart from Willow Tit again, nothing of note with the parties.

Passerines counts today: 19 Wrens; 8 Dunnocks; 14 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; no Goldcrest; a Long-tailed Tit party heard only again; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit heard; 23 Blue Tits; 12 Great Tits; 2 Chaffinches; just 1 Greenfinch (there was a dumper working in the Celestica factory adjacent to where most of Greenfinches normally are); 3 Goldfinches; and no Bullfinches yet again. (Ed Wilson)

3rd January, Tuesday - A very dank morning at Priorslee with spells of drizzle and light rain. Poor visibility, especially above with very low clouds Broke with tradition and walked around anti-clockwise, starting in the NW corner and sheltering in the hut for while. So perhaps the numbers would have been different, but I did not end up on the dam as I usually do! Highlight for me was a cracking view of the Water Rail feeding underneath the newly refurbished fishing walkway / platform at the W end of the N shore. The Tree Creeper was welcome though I was distracted by the near-by crest, checking that it was indeed a Goldcrest. Also added Long-tailed Tits and Redwing - both heard only - to my Priorslee year-list.

Also Great Black-backed Gull About 750 Black-headed Gulls were on the lake at 07:10, beginning to move off by 07:40, with the main exodus around 08:00, by which time I had logged another 170 arriving from the W. Fewer than 50 birds remained at 08:20. As usual after 09:00 birds started drifting in from the N (most had left to NW or SE), and with them came the first larger gulls A count at 09:20 produced c.360 Black-headed Gulls; 31 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 6 Herring Gulls; and 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull. I counted again at 09:40 and the respective totals were c.320; 66; 5 and 2 (both adults). A few large gulls flying through - 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 5 Herring Gulls; and, rather unusually 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Only 8 Great Crested Grebes with at least 2 of these immatures: the others seem to have gone off to The Flash (see below). No sign of the Little Grebes again 1 Heron noted again: and 1 Cormorant fishing in the lake by 08:55.

The resident Swans were present throughout and ignored the 4 Canada Geese which left of their own accord.

All counts of the water birds come with a health warning today: with rather poor visibility and certainly very low light-levels I was unable to take a count across the whole lake, so the totals are a combination of counts from several places that can lead to double-counting of some birds while others are missed. With that in mind: Aythya-type duck counts included at least 20 Pochard (13 drakes; 7 ducks); and 39 Tufted Duck (15 drakes; 24 ducks). I made the Mallard total 47, higher than normal I reckon.

Jjust 221 Coot, but a great count of 18 Moorhens. And the Water Rail of course. I should perhaps remark that the Coot are no longer forming an obvious roost in the centre of the lake. There are some scattered all across the lake when I arrive, but many emerge from the NW reeds over the next 30 minutes or so.

Visible Corvid passage was restricted to those passing overhead so totals of 49 [108] Jackdaws and 82 [90] Rooks was not surprising.

At least 5 Siskins; no Redpolls today I logged 11 Pied Wagtails; no Grey Wagtail; and no Meadow Pipit either 1 Redwing heard over. No Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush or Starlings.

Only 3 Wood Pigeons in the gloom today Logged at least 4 Reed Buntings this morning.

Passerines counts today: 7 Wrens; 7 Dunnocks; 13 Robins; 17 Blackbirds; 1 Song Thrush; 1 Goldcrest; a Long-tailed Tit party heard; no Coal Tits; 1 Willow Tit heard; 11 Blue Tits; 5 Great Tits; 1 Tree Creeper; 1 Chaffinches; 12 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; and no Bullfinches yet again (Ed Wilson)

2nd January, Monday - Fine and frosty at Priorslee this morning until 09:30 when fog rolled in from the SE. Several bands of medium-level clouds at times giving a great sunrise and that and the frost diverted me with the camera again. Visibility good until the fog rolled in.

Struggling to pull out an avian highlight: a couple of Lapwing were my first for a while. And I added Coal Tit and Redpoll to my Priorslee year-list. Still no Water Rail, Long-tailed Tits, or Bullfinch here.

Not sure on what to blame the absence of gulls this morning: there were none at 07:00. A party of 130 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:20 but did not settle and all left soon after. I logged 162 more arriving from the W; and there were more seen coming from the N after 09:00, but the fog precluded any counts later. I saw no other gulls on the lake, but logged 179 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over.

12 Great Crested Grebes with at least 5 of these immature's.

1 Heron noted flying at 07:35, but not clear whether it was coming or going! 3 Cormorants made a low pass but carried on W.

The resident Swans were present throughout and were left in peace as there were no other Swans and I saw no Canada Geese at all either.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 15 Pochard (11 drakes; 4 ducks); and 50 Tufted Duck (29 drakes; 21 ducks).

No numbers for Coot or Moorhen today as I do these last and by that time the fog precluded counting. No Water Rails seen or heard. I did manage the count of Mallard: 35 at least.

Another strange Corvid passage with a small party of Jackdaws flying low while it was still quite dark. Then there was no real passage at all, with a few scattered sightings. The final log was just 108 [327] Jackdaws; and just 90 [72] Rooks. Observation was not helped by a band of cloud exactly where most corvid's fly making it much harder to see them than, say, against a bright clear sky.

At least 14 Siskins; and 1 Redpoll's today.

I logged 9 Pied Wagtails; 1 Grey Wagtail again; no Meadow Pipits again.

No Redwings again, but at least 6 Fieldfare seen. The Mistle Thrush was singing far to the W by 07:10 this morning. I logged just 2 Starlings in the distance.

50 Wood Pigeons today with parties of 19 and then 11 flying over high.

Logged only 5 Reed Buntings this morning, but they probably flew off while I was busy with the camera.

Passerines counts today: 14 Wrens; 10 Dunnocks; 11 Robins; 15 Blackbirds; 2 Song Thrushes; no Long-tailed Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 13 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; 1 Goldcrest; 2 Chaffinches; 9 Greenfinches; 2 Goldfinches; and no Bullfinches. (Ed Wilson)

1st January, Sunday - Happy New Year to all my readers. Good birding to you all.

A breezy and rather overcast start to the year at Priorslee. There was almost no traffic on the M54 but the wind was from the NW so that instead of the non-existent road noise there was the steady hum of air conditioning unit from the factory!

The year started with a few less-than-daily birds here - Great Spotted Woodpecker; 4 Collared Doves; 2 Willow Tits. But no Water Rail, Long-tailed Tits, Redpoll or Bullfinch.

An odd call to the south at 07:25 seemed most likely to be a Kestrel, but I did not see it.

I assume all the fireworks from the New Year celebrations were responsible for the complete absence of gulls at 07:00 - most unusual. Some 90 Black-headed Gulls arrived by 07:30, but these started to leave by 07:45. After I had walked all the way around and was back at the dam at 09:25 many birds had arrived, mainly from the north, and the count at that time was c.260 Black-headed Gulls; 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 8 Herring Gulls; and 7 Great Black-backed Gulls. I also logged 287 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over (mainly west), with 1 Herring Gull as well.

The Little Grebes seem to have gone, but with this species who knows! 8 Great Crested Grebes with at least 2 of these immature's.

1 Heron noted; just 1 Cormorants on the lake had arrived by 09:05, but another 7 seen flying over.

No Canada Geese were present when I arrived and then 8 flew in from the Town Park direction (normally they come from The Flash area).

The resident Swans were present throughout and apart from occasional harassment of the Canada Geese were left alone.

Aythya-type duck counts included at least 24 Pochard (14 drakes; 10 ducks); and 53 Tufted Duck (only 18 drakes; and a high count of 35 ducks). 6 of the Tufted Duck flew off W at 07:29 and are included above

I counted 238 Coot and 8 Moorhens today. No Water Rails seen or heard.

Really strange Corvid passage: when it is windy they tend to fly low, but just before 08:00 I was surprised to hear and then see three large parties of some 270 Jackdaws high overhead, amongst the furthest away party to the east were at least 40 Rooks. After this almost none was seen! The final log was 327 [374] Jackdaws; and just 72 [178] Rooks.

A good count of at least 48 Siskins; but no Redpoll's today.

I logged 10 Pied Wagtails; and 1 Grey Wagtail; no Meadow Pipits again.

No Redwings either, but at least 16 Fieldfare seen. I logged 5 Starlings with 1 seeming to come from the bushes in the SW area: yesterday I thought one might have done so.

22 Wood Pigeons was a much better count.

Saw 11 Reed Buntings fly off this morning.

Passerines counts for the record 10 Wrens; 9 Dunnocks; 16 Robins; just 9 Blackbirds; no Song Thrushes; no Long-tailed Tits; 10 Blue Tits; 10 Great Tits; 1 Goldcrest; 9 Chaffinches; 6 Greenfinches; no Goldfinches yet
again; and no Bullfinches either. (Ed Wilson)