Priorslee Lake: 06:20 – 07:25 // 08:10 – 09:30
The Flash: 07:30- 08:05
8°C > 9°C: Overcast with light rain, more persistent later. Then gradual clearance from NW after 09:15. Light NW wind fell away for a while. Good visibility
Sunrise: 06:56 BST
Priorslee Lake: 06:20 – 07:25 // 08:10 – 09:30
(112th visit of the year)
One of the overnight fishermen told me that two Tawny Owls had been very noisy during last night
Bird notes:
- bit of a surprise to find 2 still obvious, if well-grown, Mallard ducklings with their mother
- only 1 of the juveniles from the original family of Great Crested Grebes seen
- the only surviving juvenile from the other family of Great Crested Grebes was begging from one of its parents early on. Later it was all alone
- 3 sightings of at least 2 different Sparrowhawks flushed from trees
- Coot numbers likely affected by rather poor conditions
- no more than 44 Black-headed Gulls noted on the water. Unusual was 62 on the football field at 07:20 before the dog-walkers scared them off
- the 2 Barn Swallows flew, unexpectedly, NW
Bird totals
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake: (affected by my late arrival and the poor weather)
- 41 Greylag Geese [5 groups, all outbound]
- 18 Canada Geese [2 groups, all outbound]
- 1 (1♂) Mallard again
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Feral Pigeon again
- 10 Wood Pigeons only
- 4 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Hirundines etc. noted
- 2 Barn Swallows
Warblers noted:
- 8 Chiffchaffs
The counts from the lake area
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 5 (3♂) Gadwalls
- 5 (3♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallards
- 6 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Little Grebe
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Moorhens
- 127 Coots
- >65 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
And other notes
- in the rain I only noted
- 1 Lunar Underwing moth on the lamps. This species was new for me here on 04 October 2017
- 1 wasp sp.
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- many more fungus alongside the football field
A very distinctive moth found on one of the lamps today – a Lunar Underwing.
A touch of Autumn: a few red-tinged leaves and red fruits of a Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus).
Last weeks fungus already deliquescing ...
... very crowded!
And some rather irregular shaped.
(Ed Wilson)
Also thank you to Chris Amathyststar for the following lovely photos.
It was a chilly day............
..............but the birds were still as wonderful as ever
(Chris Amathyststar)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 07:30- 08:05
(91st visit of the year)
Notes
- only 1 adult Mute Swan noted but I forgot to double check the interior of the island to see whether the other was lurking there
- one of the cygnets is noticeably smaller, darker and always brings up the rear. Can it survive?
- all the geese out in the fields
- single adult and juvenile Great Crested Grebes only yet again: the other adult and the other two juveniles seem to be missing
Birds noted flying over or near to The Flash
- 2 Jackdaws
Local hirundines etc. noted
Warblers noted
- 6 (1) Chiffchaffs
The counts from the water
- 1 + 3 Mute Swans
- no geese
- 43 (28♂) + 9 (2 broods) Mallard
- 17 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Moorhens again
- 13 Coots again
- 16 Black-headed Gulls
Of interest between the lake and The Flash
- 3 Chiffchaffs calling and flying around the pools
- 1 Blackcap calling by the lower pool
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2017Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Whinchat
3 Snipe
1 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Ruddy Duck
Kingfisher
696 Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martin
55 Meadow Pipit
(Ed Wilson)