18 Nov 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:20 again
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:05

6°C: Started with low cloud and few breaks: the breaks increasing and mainly clear after 09:00. Light, occasionally moderate, E wind. Moderate visibility

Sunrise: 07:37 GMT

Priorslee Lake: 06:25 – 09:20

(155th visit of the year)

The low cloud seemed to deter fly-overs. A good number of ducks had changed since yesterday with additional Gadwall and Mallard: the drake Teal replaced by three ducks; and Wigeon, Shoveler and Pochard all new in

Other bird notes:
- 14 geese were seen flying S, far to the E at 07:20: these were presumably the 14 Greylag Geese that came from the E at 07:25, circled, flew off N and then went away E. See also notes for The Flash
- five Goosanders again came in from the S and looked at the lake before returning SW
- whilst stalking the ducks to get some record shots I failed to notice a perched Sparrowhawk until I flushed it
- higher number of Wood Pigeon in flight: none of these were in groups or apparently moving other than locally (until later at The Flash)
- the Jackdaws almost slipped past me this morning – noted at 07:05 and well before the local street-lights went out. Perhaps there were clear skies at their roost which set them off early: still very dark at the lake
- no fewer than 4 parties of Long-tailed Tits encountered today. The number I log depends upon which direction both of us are moving around the lake. However 4 parties is unusual
- several of the groups of Meadow Pipits were very low, almost as if they were using the trees along the N side. Perching in trees is only something I have seen this species do on Spring migration. I concluded that they had most likely stopped off on the bare ground of the construction site to the N – no-one is working today
- also seen were 4 different Goldcrests

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 14 Greylag Geese
- 5 (1♂) Goosanders
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 93 Wood Pigeons (no groups)
- 128 Jackdaws
- 1 Starling
- 42 Fieldfares (2 groups)
- 2 Redwings (singles)
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 15 Meadow Pipits
- 2 Chaffinches
- 2 Siskins

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 13 Starlings
- 2 Redwings

The counts from the lake area
- 1 Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Wigeon
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall
- 3 (0♂) Teal
- 19 (12♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂() Shoveler
- 6 (5♂) Pochard
- 82 (>50♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 5 Little Grebes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 7 Moorhens again
- 104 Coots
- c.110 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

And other notes
my log today consisted of
- 1 Winter Moth on a lamp post
- 1 male Mottled Umber moth caught in a spider-web on the same lamp post
- another late flowering plant: Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)

A few breaks early gave a brief pre-dawn red sky. More cloudy for a while later.

None of the ducks was too cooperative and the dull light did not help. Two drake Wigeon just about showing their yellow crowns.

Two of the three duck Teal. We can just about see the green speculum. Note the pale patch on the side of the tail, especially obvious on the left-hand bird.

And all three of the duck Teal. here. The green speculum just visible on the left-hand bird and the pale patch this time shows on the side of the tail of the right-most bird

A pair of Shoveler.

A by-product of trying to photograph the ducks was this shot that included two Little Grebes. At the time I had not noticed that at least one of the five Little Grebes present was a juvenile – the closer bird here, still with stripes on its face. I wonder where that was raised ....

A late flowering plant: Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). Can be identified by the larger petals at the edges of the umbels.

This is, I think, a Winter Moth. We cannot see the underwing to be certain of separation from Northern Winter Moth, as apparently seen yesterday. This specimen looked slightly small and is less well-marked.

I suppose spiders have to eat. This male Mottled Umber moth is trapped in a web – too high on the lamp for me to attempt a rescue even if it is still alive – which I doubt.

(Ed Wilson)

Also

I saw the Water Rail as I went over the Wesley Brook bridge but no photo yet hopefully get one soon.
(Mark Williams)

Two Blue Tits on the reeds.

One of the Blue Tits

A Great Crested Grebe.

A Grey Heron in flight.

(Mark Williams)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:05

(121st visit of the year)

Notes from here
- the 12 Greylag Geese came from the SE, circled around without losing height and left to the E. Whether these were some of the birds seen over the lake some 4 hours earlier is a possibility
- at least 4 of the 7 Moorhens seen were immatures with dull plumage and without the full red shield
- as the last of the cloud cleared a tight group of 76 Wood Pigeons flew over. Most of the others noted were chasing after this group

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 12 Greylag Geese
- 1 Cormorant
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 86 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Starling

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 1 Canada Goose
- 35 (20♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Tufted Ducks
- 9 (1♂) Goosanders
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- 7 Moorhens
- 7 Coots again
- 34 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

10 (trust me: there are 10) of the 12 Greylag Geese that circled over. Easily identified by call. From a photo we can separate from somewhat similar Pink-footed Goose by the dark ‘tongue’ at the base of the pale forewing and by the large bill which we can just about make out is all orange. On a Pink-footed Goose the bill is obviously small and predominantly dark with a variable amount of pink / orange in a band across it. Also the whole of the forewing is grey.

Its sort of a pity this was not exposed better but a reflective adult winter Black-headed Gull is nice to see.

An adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull showing limited head streaking. Note the very restricted amount of white in the wing-tips. Apart from the white primary tips only the outer primary has a white ‘mirror’. This and the rather dark mantle – always tricky to evaluate accurately as the angle of the light changes – both point to this being of the ‘intermedius’ race from the Denmark / Norway populations.

(Ed Wilson)

Note: Readers Corner - Venus Pool Sunday 17 Nov Here

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Wigeon 
5 Gadwall 
2 Teal 
1 Pochard 
102 Tufted Duck 
1 Water Rail
229 Coots 
1 Snipe
>500 Starlings
127 Fieldfare
7 Redwings 
99 Jackdaws
1 Brambling
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Newport
1 Waxwing
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Adult Yellow legged Gull
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 adult Yellow legged Gull
2 female Goosander
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
36 Pochard
49 Tufted Duck
1 Ruddy Duck
11 Lapwings
1 Woodcock
c.1700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>600 Black-headed Gulls
5 Herring Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gulls
910 Wood Pigeons
22 Robins
21 Blackbirds
258 Fieldfares
13 Redwings
201 Jackdaws
158 Rooks
348 Starlings
4 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam / Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
c.1000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.1500 Black-headed Gulls
10 Herring Gull
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Wigeon
(Martin Adlam)