21 Nov 17

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

12.0°C: Broken low cloud below medium-high overcast; less low cloud to the S. Moderate SW wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 07:42 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:30 – 09:20

(138th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- some of the Gadwall seem to have left while several of those still present had moved from the E end to the W end
- a drake Shoveler flew E at 08:20
- 11 Goosanders flew W at 07:45. It was still rather dark and I was unable to sex these birds. 2 peeled off heading in the direction of Holmer Lake; 7 seemed to be going towards The Flash (they weren’t there by the time I arrived); the other 2 headed straight away
- 2 Grey Herons over at 07:20 may have been disputing who was going to take charge of feeding at the lake this morning and may therefore have included the bird seen later
- 6 Lapwings circling over today and seemed to be looking at both the dam face and the SW grass to land, but in the event flew off NE
- just 2 groups of Wood Pigeons on passage, all passing NNE
- the Starling roost today saw a male Sparrowhawk chasing one of the birds: this was some 20 minutes after the same or another male Sparrowhawk flew over
- 17 Redwings in the main roost: 11 more roosting in scattered locations
- a Song Thrush singing quietly again
and, all on the lamps
- 2 Winter Moth
- 1 Northern Winter Moth
- 1 Mottled Umber moth
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)

On with today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over the lake:
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 11 (?♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Sparrowhawk (male)
- 1 Buzzard again
- 6 Lapwings
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Doves
- 79 Wood Pigeons (including 47 migrants in 2 groups)
- c.410 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 2 Starlings (singles)
- 1 Fieldfare
- 21 Redwings (5 groups)
- 5 Goldfinches
- 2 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- [Magpies not counted]
- c.120 Starlings
- 28 Redwings
- 1 Reed Bunting

The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans again
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall
- 20 (12♂) Mallard
- 50 (28♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 + 1 Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Water Rail heard
- 5 Moorhens again
- 165 Coots
- >200 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

In the poor light this was the best I could do with the group of 6 Lapwing.

At least this one came closer.

This is, I think, a Winter Moth. Separation from Northern Winter Moth is difficult without seeing the diagnostic underwing tone – brownish on Winter Moth; white on Northern Winter Moth Despite it name Northern Winter Moth is equally common across most of the UK. It tends to be slightly larger and have a more prominent centre band.

Size is deceptive here as the moth was further away. The rather silky tone and prominent band both suggest Northern Winter Moth.

Two for the price of one. The upper moth is probably another Winter Moth. The lower one is a ‘classic’ Mottled Umber – a species which is very variable in appearance. Both are males: like both ‘winter’ moths the Mottled Umber females are virtually wingless, certainly flightless. My first Mottled Umber of the season – flight season is through to January as it is for both these species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:10

(97th visit of the year)

Notes from here
- a third Great Crested Grebe today
- a Greenfinch heard making its long wheezy ‘song’, usually not heard before mid/late January

Birds noted flying over
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Feral Pigeon (2 groups)
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 2 Jackdaws
- 5 Starlings

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again: the remaining cygnet is Blue 7IVP
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 white feral goose
- 27 (19♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Pochard
- 25 (8♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coots
- 52 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher still

I have remarked before that Moorhens are surprisingly adept at climbing. Here one gets a reward by eating the hips.
(Ed Wilson)

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

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Local area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
5 Gadwall 
1 Pochard 
125 Tufted Duck
3 Water Rails 
15 Moorhens 
221 Coots counted again 
1 Snipe 
23 Fieldfare
8 Redwings 
196 Jackdaws
4 Rooks
2 Ravens
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
3 Gadwall 
8 Pochard 
27 Tufted Ducks 
9 Moorhens 
142 Coots 
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1st winter Great Black-backed Gull
3 female Goosander
3 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
2 Cormorants
30 Greylag Gees
16 Pochard
166 Tufted Duck
3 Goosander
Water Rail
148 Coot
c.700 Black-headed
c.1300 Lesser Black-backed
<20 Herring Gulls
93 Redwings
c.500 Starlings left a roost
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
33 Pochard
69 Tufted Ducks
6 Buzzards
>1750 Black-headed Gulls
2251 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
26 Robins
32 Blackbirds
96 Fieldfares
4 Song Thrushes
13 Redwings
384 Jackdaws
216 Rooks
22 Greenfinch
2 Siskins
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)