28 May 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

12.0°C > 13.5°C: Low overcast occasionally threatening to break but never did. Calm with light E wind picking up. Poor visibility, becoming moderate as cloud lifted somewhat

Sunrise: 04:55 BST

Priorslee Lake: 04:40 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 08:25

(62nd visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- 3 first year Mute Swans had arrived during yesterday’s storms and initially seemed to be being tolerated. They were eventually chased away and the locals then had a scrap with the non-nesting pair without any real conclusion. The pair in the NE area still declined to introduce any cygnets to the water
- the Pheasant heard calling again
- single quite well-grown juvenile Coot in the NW area again; also 4 very new juveniles from a nearby breed
- an unexpected Oystercatcher flew low E at 07:30
- a single Common Sandpiper
- no Common Terns at 04:45: a lone bird by 06:50 and throughout thereafter
- 2 Barn Swallows briefly only
- 6 singing Reed Warblers: perhaps we have had a few late arrivals taking advantage of the new growth in the reeds that were flattened by the snow. This species can be a late migrant as it needs aphids on the new growth to feed
- still >20 Starlings on the ‘football field’ with both adults and juveniles

and
- still nothing on the lamps
- another Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella) moth flushed from the vegetation
- at least one grass moth flushed – my first record of Crambus lathoniellus (aka Hook-streak Grass-veneer) here
- several Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
- dozens of Common stretch-spiders (Tetragnatha extensa) in the nettles
- small hatch of damselflies despite the damp conditions with at least one Red-eyed Damselfly
- a Mirid bug, likely an Orthops sp., possibly Orthops basalis
- I can attest to the presence of mosquito sp. I did not specifically identify it!

The following plants added to previous sightings this month
- Shiny Crane’s-bill (Geranium lucidum)
- Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Stock Dove
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines seen today
- >15 Common Swifts
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted: figure in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (10) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- 1 (1) (Common) Whitethroat
- 7 (6) Reed Warblers

The counts from the lake area
- 9 > 6 + >5 (2?) Mute Swans (see notes)
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 18 + 5 (2 broods) Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Common Tern

Typically with its mouth open and calling: an Oystercatcher passes by.

The sun threatened to break through but never did. NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH YOUR EYES. I can get away with it using the camera. Unusually we cannot see any sign of sun-spots.

A grass-moth – my first of the year: but which? It is Crambus lathoniellus (aka Hook-streak Grass-veneer), one of the earliest grass moths. Surprising I note that this seems to be my first-ever record here. Perhaps I am often away during its short flight-season.

Another view of a Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella) moth.

I helped this struggling damselfly to emerge from its rather damp exuvia. I am fairly sure this is a female Red-eyed Damselfly – there is a hint of red in the eyes, the body yet to acquire its proper colour.

The short wing (case?) suggests this small insect is a Mirid Bug rather than a beetle sp. I think it might be an Orthops sp., possibly Orthops basalis.

Can someone tell me what these black things are? Found on the underside of a grass stem over-hanging the water.

I think this is Shiny Crane’s-bill (Geranium lucidum), mainly from the leaves just visible.

This seems to be Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis) about to open.

Fall on sword time: been unable, in time available, to sort this small blue flower out.

One of the results of the heavy rain and thunderstorms from yesterday: a lot of debris jammed against the Wesley Brook bridge and signs that the bridge was ‘topped’ with the vegetation at the side also flattened by the force of the water flowing in to the lake.

This is where various drains discharge in to the Wesley Brook at the Teece Drive gate: more vegetation flattened by the rushing flood-water.

Much of the blossom has been washed off the trees – mainly Hawthorn here. Hope it has been on the trees long-enough for fertilisation to have occurred here.

Also washed off the trees were these vestigial sycamore (Acer sp.) keys. Obviously an effect of the rain: however many trees over-produce fruit/seed and have a ‘drop’ to discard an excess and maximise the chance of ripening more than enough for the species survival.

This is a different Acer sp. tree, but we plenty of keys remaining.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:50 – 06:25

(45th visit of the year)

Notes from today
- the recent ‘extra’ Mute Swans all gone (via the lake?). Only one of the residents seen
- the Great Crested Grebes seemed to be hiding and were only heard displaying behind overhanging vegetation
- 2 quite well-grown juvenile Coots were seen on the island; 2 very new juveniles alongside Derwent Drive; 1 between-sized juvenile along the E side. Lots of adults on the water. Strangely there seem to be more birds here than at the lake this year
- 3 of the Blackcaps could be heard from around the primary academy entrance, with only one other around the water itself

Birds noted flying over
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Starling

Hirundines etc. seen today
- 4 Swifts

Warblers noted: figures in brackets is singing birds (not all the males seen might have been singing)
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler still
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan (see notes)
- 34 Canada Geese
- 13 (11♂) + 0 Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- Great Crested Grebes heard only
- 1 Moorhen
- 25 + 5 (3 broods) Coots

To me very ugly: a really new Coot juvenile gets fed.

On the roof of the tunnel under Priorslee Avenue was this Red-green Carpet moth. My first record of this species for many years in this area.
Noted between the lake and The Flash
- at least 6 House Martins above Priorslee Avenue: these not seen / heard at either the lake or The Flash
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again
and
- Red-green Carpet moth in the tunnel under Priorslee Avenue

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
(Martin Adlam)