29 May 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

13.5°C > 14.5°C: Another morning with a low overcast and occasional dampness in the air. Moderate ENE wind. Moderate visibility

Sunrise: 04:54 BST

Priorslee Lake: 04:30 – 05:35 // 06:30 – 08:10

(63rd visit of the year)

Highlight today was the Hobby that flashed NE across the football field at 05:30 scattering Wood Pigeons and Starlings. Almost worth the early start ... however it, or another, flew W at medium height over the lake at the more civilised time of 07:40. My 87th bird species this year here

Notes from today:
- the pair of Mute Swans in the NE area still declined to introduce any cygnets to the water
- an extra pair of Great Crested Grebes today. One bird from the two resident pairs was unseen again
- a single Common Tern arrived at 05:10 and was seen throughout thereafter
- 1 Swift over at 05:10 briefly; 3 equally briefly at 08:00
- 3 House Martins over at 07:35 were the only true hirundines today
- a Jay seen making off with a nestling pursued by a protesting group of Blackbirds
- after much walking between the singing birds I am now happy that there are three singing Garden Warblers after all. They all seem to move around their territories a lot which has caused me confusion ‘around the edges’
- the Mistle Thrush singing around the Teece Drive gate again. Later two birds on the football field both collecting food and flying off

and
- once more nothing on the lamps: a major disappointment this year so far
- at least three Silver-ground Carpet moths flushed: several other unidentified moths similarly flushed
- several Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea) again
- the crane-fly Limonia phragmitidis was new for me
- the now usual horde of Common stretch-spiders (Tetragnatha extensa) in the nettles

The following plants added to previous sightings this month
- Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 or 2 Hobbies (see notes)
- 6 Wood Pigeons again
- 2 Jackdaws

Hirundines seen today
- 4 Common Swifts
- 3 House Martins

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

The counts from the lake area
- 6 + >5 (2?) Mute Swans again
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- 17 + H (1 brood) Coots
- 1 Common Tern

My first sighting of Hobby today was too brief to even be able to raise the binoculars. This second sighting was slightly longer and here is a record shot as it flew away fast W. The narrow pointed wings are obvious even at this range

Taken in poor light early on is this Mistle Thrush on the football field looking to collect food for its brood. More contrast than a Song Thrush would ever show; larger and more upright with bolder spotting; smaller-headed; and with pale edges to the flight feathers.

This striking Crane-fly is Limonia phragmitidis. It has no vernacular name – perhaps ‘Red-headed Cranefly’ or, following its scientific name, ‘Reed Cranefly’? My first record of this species.

My first Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) of the year here. I read that this species is not truly native to the UK and all specimens have escaped / been introduced at some time.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:45 – 06:25

(46th visit of the year)

Notes from today
- duck Mallard still with 7 ducklings – this brood first seen by me on 24th May
- I saw none of very new juvenile Coots alongside Derwent Drive – they could well have been in the largely hidden nest being brooded by the sitting adult. Just 1 well-grown juvenile along the E side
- no Swifts overhead today and none visible towards their breeding area in St Georges
- two Chiffchaffs singing this morning after several days with one / none
- only one Blackcap heard from around the primary academy entrance today with two more around the pool

Birds noted flying over
- 1 Jackdaw again

Hirundines etc. seen today
None

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

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan again
- 40 Canada Geese
- 8 (6♂) + 7 (1 brood) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Moorhens
- 21 + 1 (1 brood) Coots

These had got too close to a nesting Coot and were being chased off: the duck Mallard with her 7 ducklings.

Noted between the lake and The Flash
- 1 Moorhen on grass around upper pool

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Sedge Warbler
5 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
2 Dunlin
1 Sanderling
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Ducks
Ed Wilson

2007
Priorslee Lake
Swifts
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
(Martin Adlam)