#ShropshireBirding
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fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A Song Thrush

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/16-f...
A Song Thrush
February 16, 2026 at 3:26 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A male Siskin

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/14-f...
A male Siskin
February 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
jannerbirder.bsky.social
Appropriate weather for our final Winter Bird Survey at Haughmond Hill for @bbs-birds.bsky.social today. -3C on arrival! Top birds: Redpolls in bright sunshine.

The third image is "warbler alley", which will look and sound very different in late April when we return for BBS!

#ShropshireBirding
A horizon of distant Shropshire Hills dusted with snow beyond a foreground of green fields and hedgerows with trees. The hills are The Lawley and Caer Caradoc to the left and the Long Mynd plateau to the right. The dip in between is the Stretton Gap, a major geological fault line running through the town of Church Stretton. Shropshire's famous Wrekin Hill under a blue, cloudless sky with wet cereal fields and stands of trees in the foreground. A wet footpath surrounded by brambles, scrub and flattened, dead bracken. In a few weeks this area will be green and loud with the sounds of migratory warblers. A wooden bench coated with frost beside a frosty forestry track.
February 14, 2026 at 9:57 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria)

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/12-f...
Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria)
February 13, 2026 at 10:36 AM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A male Siskin

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/11-f...
A male Siskin
February 12, 2026 at 10:27 AM
pilning.bsky.social
Another look at the White-fronted Geese at Crudgington this drizzly murky morning with G. At least 249 plus 5 GWE, 13 Shelduck, 250 Golden Plover etc. 5 Barnacles still at Buildwas end of Leighton Bends. 14 Pochard, 13 Tufted, 515+ Lapwing etc VP. We missed Otter as always. #shropshirebirding 🪶
Adult White-fronted Goose Crudgington Moor in murk and drizzle. Impressed with the OM1 mark2 and 100-400, but much to learn about it. Some of the 13 Tufted Ducks at VP Pochard outnumbered the Tufteds at VP with 14. 6 male and 8 female. By recent standards this is a high count! As always we missed the Otter, this time by an hour
February 10, 2026 at 4:58 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
I knew it had gone cold, but the snow is a nice detail. Nice summary of the influx here, with particular reference to our #shropshirebirding flock: www.birdguides.com/articles/rev...
Review of the Week: 2-8 February 2026
Ed Stubbs reports on the latest sightings from around Britain, Ireland and the Western Palearctic in the week of 2-8 February 2026. The latest Russian White-fronted Goose influx of the winter produced...
www.birdguides.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
Back to the gull field north of Shrewsbury this morning where a new 2cy #CaspianGull didn't show me its yellow ring until it flew off, and the Viking was back again #lovegulls #shropshirebirding
2cy Caspian Gull (left) in a hole with Herring Gulls 2cy Caspian Gull in flight showing a glimpse of an unread yellow ring, presumably making it Polish 2cy gulls with very pale primaries and plumage in general, probably a hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull
February 9, 2026 at 1:53 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
Go on then, some more of the stunning Russian Whitefronts just outside Telford at Crudgington Moor #shropshirebirding. Name that Shropshire birder currently on shore leave 🤔
Russian White-fronted Geese Russian White-fronted Geese including some delightful 2cys Russian White-fronted Geese Russian White-fronted Geese and observer
February 8, 2026 at 10:13 PM
jannerbirder.bsky.social
We have some great birds in #Shropshire at the moment: the Crudgington Moor floods host the largest group of Russian White-fronted Geese in the county in more than 40 years; on the "Leighton Loops" were five Barnacle Geese. Both species are county rarities. And it didn't rain!

#ShropshireBirding
Some of the 270 or more Russian White-fronted Geese, grazing against a backdrop of fence and mature hedge. Lapwing and Golden Plover on muddy islands in a large field flood. Five Barnacle Geese, behind some of the larger Canada Geese, grazing on the edge of the flooded River Severn. Looking down from the valley side to the River Severn floods at Leighton, near Ironbridge, showing the river up on its floodplain with wooded hills beyond and pasture in the foreground. A low wintry sun is shining through a partially clouded sky.
February 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
Fantastic morning #shropshirebirding started with 10 Russian Whitefronts southbound from #salopobs 🥳, then another visit to the epic frontage at Crudgington Moor: 💥276💥 RWFGs looking stunning as ever with a side order of near-ad #CaspianGull and 3 Great Egrets 🤩 #goosing #ukbirding
10 Russian White-fronted Geese flying south over Condover One 2cy and 5 adult Russian White-fronted Geese in winter wheat Russian White-fronted Geese packed into a winter wheat field Near-adult Caspian Gull (right), adult Yellow-legged Gull (swimming to its left), Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls
February 8, 2026 at 9:40 PM
pilning.bsky.social
Bit of a Shropshire goose fest underway. Yesterday with @janettem34.bsky.social in wretched light late pm with new camera, some of the flock of at least 261 White-fronts (305 counted later) at Crudgington. 5 Barnacles today near Leighton (phone scoped in the distance). #shropshirebirding 🪶
Part of the big group of White-fronted Geese at Crudgington in the rain and gloom Saturday pm More of the Sibe White-front flock including a 1w bird on the right. Need to sort my camera settings 5 distant Barnacle Geese on floods downstream of Leighton bends, phone scoped
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: Great White Egret

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/7-fe...
Great White Egret
February 8, 2026 at 12:24 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
I needed these today after reading about the grim Greenland Whitefront situation. Popped over to see an excellent flock of 40 Russian Whitefronts and left having seen 💥194💥! The highest #shropshirebirding count since the demise of the wintering flock in late 70s! #goosing ebird.org/checklist/S2...
3 adult Russian White-fronted Geese 8 Russian White-fronted Geese 6 adult Russian White-fronted Geese Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylags and Canadas on a flooded cereal field
February 5, 2026 at 6:40 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
As the Russian Whitefront invasion intensifies with a wave of new birds further east, the #shropshirebirding flock of 5 swelled to 40 this morning. I arrived to find 127 on Crudgington Moor and flocks of 49 and 18 passed overhead to the east! Absolutely incredible scenes 😍 #ukbirding
February 5, 2026 at 12:47 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/4-fe...
4 Feb 26
The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake 2.0°C > 4.0°C: Another day of mist / low overcast with some light drizzle in the air. Light easterly...
friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:11 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/3-fe...
FoPL Cover Photo
February 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A Common Buzzard

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/2-fe...
A Common Buzzard
February 2, 2026 at 6:44 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A Great Crested Grebe

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/02/1-fe...
Great Crested Grebe
February 1, 2026 at 5:54 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: Goosander

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/01/31-j...
A female Goosander
February 1, 2026 at 12:57 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: Great Crested Grebe

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/01/30-j...
Great Crested Grebe
January 30, 2026 at 1:51 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A Great White Egret

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/01/29-j...
Great White Egret
January 29, 2026 at 3:14 PM
fopl.bsky.social
Here are Ed Wilson's sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, Telford, Shropshire

#shropshirebirding

Photo: A drake Goosander

friendsofpriorsleelake.blogspot.com/2026/01/28-j...
A drake Goosander
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
With all the minutus excitement, I'd missed the fact that tonight's count of 720 Common Gulls appears to have been the highest in #shropshirebirding for c20 years. A far cry from the 5,000 recorded in 1993, but still significant #lovegulls
Common Gull at sunset
January 27, 2026 at 10:25 PM
saloplarus.bsky.social
Arrived early for the roost at The Mere #Ellesmere this pm and delighted to find an ad Little Gull on the first scan! Turns out southeasterlies and rain produce the goods in all months! Flew west at 1640 but 2 Meds roosted with 4,300 BHGs, 720 Commons, 360 HGs, 960 LBBGs, 3 YLGs #shropshirebirding
Montage of videograbs of an adult Little Gull dip-feeding over The Mere
January 27, 2026 at 7:37 PM