21 Sep 17

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

13.5°C throughout: Cloudy at low level with occasional mainly light drizzle. Moderate / fresh S wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 06:53 BST

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 07:20 // 08:05 – 09:35

(97th visit of the year)

Two surprises today, both here

A drake (Greater) Scaup was a distinctly unusual find at this date – I associate this species with deep winter and early spring

Also an usual date for a Reed Warbler only located because it was sub-singing from deep within vegetation along the N side and nowhere near any reeds. I tried ‘pishing’ but it wasn’t about to show itself. Our breeding birds leave in late August so this was no doubt a migrant from further north

Other notes from today:
- a Greylag Goose was noted lurking in the reeds in the NE area apparently to avoid attention from the resident Mute Swans
- Tufted Ducks were unusually ‘jumpy’ this morning making an accurate count hard to take
- Black-headed Gulls back to usual numbers this morning: probably more birds involved as there was considerable movement to and from the fields to the E
- a count of the Pied Wagtails on the football field at 08:05 produced 42. I did a recount at 09:30 when just 21 were noted
and
- no moths on the lamps today
- the following additional plant noted in flower
- Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

On with the bird totals

Birds noted flying over the lake:
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 33 Wood Pigeons
- 17 Jackdaws
- 188 Rooks
- 13 Starlings (2 groups)

Hirundines etc. seen today
- 9 Barn Swallows

Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 5 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 1 (0♂) Eurasian Wigeon remains
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall remain
- 10 (5♂) Mallard
- 33 (>7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 (1♂) (Greater) Scaup
- 1 Grey Heron
- 7 + 8 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 (5 juveniles) Moorhens
- 125 Coots
- >160 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher again

Here we see the drake (Greater) Scaup. Note the fine vermiculations on the back to distinguish from drake Tufted Duck. Also the more rounded head-shape with no hint of a ‘tuft’ – always present on both sexes of Tufted Duck.

Ducks in the genus Aythya frequently hybridise and any claim to a (Greater) Scaup needs to be checked against possible hybrid characteristics. Here we see the typical small dark nail (tip) to the bill. This along with the complete absence of ‘tuft’ allows a confident ID of drake (Greater) Scaup.

Here we see the drake (Greater) Scaup (on the left) with a drake Tufted Duck for comparison. Note the slightly greater bulk of the (Greater) Scaup [apologies for the quality – it was at extreme range on a dull and drizzly morning].

The date suggests that this is a Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis) – other species of sow-thistle should have finished flowering by now.

This is a different plant but I think shows one of the flowers, closed in the dull weather, and with a free-loader. [without a shot showing the leaves it is impossible to eliminate one of the many species of hawkweed / hawkbit, but I think not].

A Garden Spider lurking under the roof of the shelter.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:30 – 08:00

(75th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- apart from the non-flying white feral goose no geese at all seen! As the feral bird seemed paired with a Canada Goose that appeared unable to fly exactly where they all have gone is unclear
- again just 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe and well away from the adults who seemed rather more interested in starting another brood
- large number of Black-headed Gulls with the biggest ‘instant’ count shown. Birds flying in and out all the while, apparently commuting from the lake

Birds noted flying over
None

Hirundines etc. noted
None

Warblers counts: number in brackets = singing birds
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the water
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 1 white feral goose
- 32 (21♂) Mallard
- 32 (>12♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 (2 juveniles) Moorhens
- 10 Coots
- >103 Black-headed Gulls

A Moorhen was again calling from the upper pool between the lake and The Flash: also record here was a Grey Squirrel.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2011
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Wigeon
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)