Priorslee Lake: 05:25 – 07:00 // 07:55 – 09:35
The Flash: 07:05 – 07:50
12°C > 15°C: Cloudy with very few breaks. Cleared to high cloud only after 08:00. Then clouded again after 09:00. Light W wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 06:14 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:25 – 07:00 // 07:55 – 09:35
(107th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- unusually the two Grey Herons were content to occupy adjacent sailing club launch platforms – they are normally very territorial. One was a juvenile so perhaps the other was a tolerant parent
- Black-headed Gulls in typical small numbers early. By the time I returned from The Flash there I counted 196, some of which were leaving to the fields to the E. Some 20 minutes later a big influx back from the fields (along with a Lesser Black-backed Gulls) saw at least 250 on the lake. They flew off and back several more times. Each time a few Lesser Black-backs came in – these were obviously different birds so perhaps some of the Black-headed Gulls wee also different. Largest count of the season so far
- c.30 House Martins seen high over the estate at 07:00 again. Then 26 were seen high to the N at 08:45, apparently heading SE. Very few over the estate later
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 3 Greylag Geese [1 (with Canadas) outbound; 2 inbound]
- 32 Canada Geese [32 (4 groups) outbound only]
- 38 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves (singles)
- 67 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
- 2 Carrion Crows
- 4 Starlings (single; trio)
Hirundines etc. noted
- >30 House Martins again
Warblers noted:
- 7 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 4 Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans as usual
- 15 (?♂) Mallards
- 2 Grey Herons
- 4 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 7 + 8 (? broods) Moorhens
- 89 (near) adult + 8 dependent juvenile Coots again
- >250 Black-headed Gulls (see notes)
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
And other notes
several wasps around the lamps as I searched for the moths. Later yet another unprovoked attack and sting from one on the dam
- butterflies
- 2 Small White
- 2 Speckled Wood
- moths on the lamps
- 3 Agriphila tristella (Common Grass-veneer)
- no moths identified elsewhere
- no damselflies / dragonflies
- hoverflies
- 2 Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade hoverfly)
- 2 Syrphus ribesii
- flies etc. identified
- many wasps again
- beetles or bugs noted
- 1 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)
- no spiders seen
- snails etc
>10 White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis). Must have rained recently!
- no different plants noted
- mammals seen
- 2 Grey Squirrels
This Common Buzzard, carrying food, was being given a hard time by a Carrion Crow.
Just a few of this morning’s large (>250) party of Black-headed Gulls.
Joined here by three (one adult and 2 1st year) Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
And the top-side view of a different specimen.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 07:05 – 07:50
(88th visit of the year)
Notes
- Cormorants overhead was unusual
- the independent juvenile Great Crested Grebes are rather elusive at times
and
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Birds noted flying over or near to The Flash
- 3 Cormorants
- 5 Feral Pigeons (1 group)
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Starling
Hirundines etc. noted
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted
None
The counts from the water
- 2 + 3 Mute Swans as usual
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose: arrived
- 19 Canada Geese: 11 left; then 8 arrived
- 24 (15♂) + 14 (2 broods) Mallard
- 8 Tufted Ducks again
- 1 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes only
- 2 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 15 + 2 dependent juvenile Coots
- 44 (5 juveniles) Black-headed Gulls
A proud mother Mallard with 7 of her brood, now almost grown (the 8th was lurking out of view).
Of interest between the lake and The Flash
- 1 male Blackcap calling around the upper pool and visiting local gardens
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's News Here
2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's News Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
Whinchat
(John Isherwood)
2011
Nedge Hill
Peregrine
(John Isherwood)