1 Jun 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 07:30 – 09:20
The Flash: 07:10 – 07:25 // 09:25 – 09:40
same times as yesterday

c.16.0°C: Yes: another visit with a very low overcast. Drizzle until c.07:45. Light E wind. Poor visibility, becoming moderate after drizzle ceased.

Sunrise: 04:52 BST again

With the start of June there is a small but perceptible reduction in the volume and frequency of bird-song

Priorslee Lake: 07:30 – 09:20

(66th visit of the year)

Notes from today:
- the non-breeding pair of Mute Swans has gone. Meanwhile the cob of the long-term resident pair was sitting on the N-side bank: could he be injured after seeing off the others?
- the small group of Tufted Ducks present throughout
- 1 immature Cormorant seen leaving as I arrived
- 4 Great Crested Grebes as two pairs today. Initially both asleep well away from the usual breeding sites. Later both pairs seen displaying. No confirmed sightings of any other bird
- juvenile Coots heard calling along the N side but nothing seen
- the Swifts and hirundines were mostly lost in the low cloud
- single Sand Martin flying E at 08:30 was unusual for the date
- I was premature in suggesting that the local Starlings had left. At least 11 had transferred from the ‘football field’ and moved on to the academy playing field. There were also at least another 9 seen flying out of their breeding sites in the estate

and
- an identified yellow-legged fly on one of the lamps
- another Silver-ground Carpet moth flushed
- many Yellow-barred Longhorn (Nemophora degeerella) moths flushed
- a Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) moth flushed
- two Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella) moths also flushed
- usual Common stretch-spiders (Tetragnatha extensa
- a more-or-less all-white spider – likely the crab spider Misumena vatia
- another Red-and-Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)
- a dagger fly, probably Empis opaca
- lots of slugs and snails enjoying the damp
- several mosquitoes enjoying me

Two new species of flowering plants noted today
- Water Forget-me-not (Myositis palustris)
- Goat's-beard or Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon or Meadow Salsify (Tragopogon pratensis)

Today’s bird totals

Birds noted flying over / near the lake:
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Wood Pigeon only
- 9 Starlings
- 5 Jackdaws

Hirundines seen today
- 3 Common Swifts
- 1 Sand Martin
- 2 House Martins

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

The counts from the lake area
- 4 + 8 (2) Mute Swans
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (3♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 4? Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 19 + ? (1 brood) Coots

This is a Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) moth.

This Tortrix moths is hiding its key ID feature – its yellow ‘face’ (actually palps). Otherwise the photo shows rather better the wing markings of Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella).

This is an easier moth to ID: a Yellow-barred Longhorn (Nemophora degeerella) moth. Seems an appropriate vernacular name!

A view of a different specimen of this amazing little moth. There were a number of these dancing around today.

Yet another specimen also keen to show off its long horns.

I think this is the dagger fly Empis opaca.

This yellow-legged fly ought to be easy to ID, but ... I have failed.

This seems to be the crab spider Misumena vatia. It can change colour to match its background – though it is not doing too well here.

The very last flowers of Lady's Smock / Cuckooplant / Milkmaid (Cardamine pratensis).

With the edge of the petals slightly notched this suggests these are Water Forget-me-not (Myositis palustris) flowers.

This is Goat's-beard or Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon or Meadow Salsify (Tragopogon sp. Tragopogon pratensis). It has a very distinctive ‘clock’ after the flowers have finished.

More damp weather means more slugs and snails: here is a White-lipped snail.

This White-lipped Snail seems to gripping a small stick tightly to avoid falling / sliding off.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:10 – 07:25 // 09:25 – 09:40

(49th visit of the year)

Notes from today
- now two duck Mallards ducklings: the original group of 7 still doing well; a newer group under the vegetation that seemed to have 6 ducklings
- the 2 Barn Swallows on wires in Ashley Road again
also
- a Figure of Eighty moth on one of the lamps. Last year I recorded my first here on 18 June
- a clump of orchids seen in flower: my bus called and I’ll ID them tomorrow

Birds noted flying over
None

Hirundines etc. seen today
- 2 Barn Swallows to N once more
- 4 House Martins

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

The counts from the water
- 1 Mute Swan still
- 28 Canada Geese
- 10 (8♂) + 13? (2 broods) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Tufted Ducks remain
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen
- 20 + 6 (4 broods) Coots

A Figure of Eighty moth, clearly named from the wing marks. 

Near The Flash

5657E A slightly better view of one of the Barn Swallows on the wire: if we ever get some sun I may get a better-lit shot. On the other hand the bird might well be feeding on all the insects flying!

Noted between the lake and The Flash
- a Moorhen calling from the lower 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

2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
Peregrine
(Ed Wilson)