24 Nov 18

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 09:25
The Flash:  09:30 – 10:15

7°C:  Not quite as dull as yesterday with visibility somewhat better and cloud somewhat higher. Moderate ENE wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:47 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  06:25 – 09:25

(161st visit of the year)

Best bird today was the Woodcock that flew past me at 07:00 heading towards one of the oft-used day-roost areas. Within seconds what I assume was the same bird flew the opposite way only for it (or another?) to fly toward the same day-roost some 30 seconds later

Other bird notes:
- the geese on the lake departed to the E at 06:57
- single Rook and Jackdaw flew over at 07:24: the main tight and swirling group of c.275 flew over at 07:26. Just a group of 22 later
- at one stage several Blackbirds starting scolding loudly. After a few minutes they were joined by at least 2 Jays. Now Jays are noisy at the best of times and now they were REALLY upset. What was causing this? A bird of prey? An Owl? I could find nothing at the time. However shortly after I came across a black cat sitting on one of the abandoned fishing platforms. It wasn’t for long. It is distressing how few people realise, or sadly care about, the ecological damage these uncontrolled ‘pets’ cause

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 16 Canada Geese outbound
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Feral / Racing Pigeons (1 group)
- 5 Wood Pigeons (no groups)
- c.300 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 1 Raven
- 3 Fieldfare (1 group S)
- 4 Redwings (1 group N)
- 2 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Greenfinch

Birds leaving roosts around the lake
- 9 Redwings
- 2 Reed Buntings

The counts from the lake area: light-levels still rather low
- 1 + 1 Mute Swan
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 10 Canada Geese
- 8 (4♂) Gadwall again
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 4 (4♂) Pochard
- 131 (>64♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 Cormorants
- 3 Little Grebes again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Moorhens
- 101 Coots
- 73 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

And other notes
My log today consisted of
        - Alucita hexadactyla (Many-plume Moth) found in my car
        - 2 Winter Moths flying around a lamp
        - 1 Scarce Umber moth on a different lamp to yesterday
        - 1 Mottled Umber moth unmoved since yesterday
        - late flowers of Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris)
        - Spindle-tree (Euonymus europaea) fruits still showing

Not sure this really counts as I found it in my car as I arrived at the lake and therefore presumably it came from elsewhere. It is an Alucita hexadactyla (Many-plume Moth), less than half an inch across. Each wing is split in to six segments or plumes. The old vernacular name was, inaccurately, Twenty-plume Moth: the scientific moniker hexadactyla (six fingers) is better.

A head of Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) showing the tight, separated heads of this umbellifer. Also note the pinkish wash.

The Spindle-tree (Euonymus europaea) has a vivid pink fruit with the bright orange seed showing. They form loose clusters and can be seen from late September.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:30 – 10:15

(125th visit of the year)

It now appears that work on the footbridges has turned out to be more difficult than anticipated and notices now state that they will be closed for two three-week periods, one closure each side of Christmas / New Year. How this extended activity will affect the birds on the water remains to be seen

Bird notes from here
- there may have been more Goosanders by the time I left: at least 5 (2 drakes) seen in the air looking as if they might be landing. Whether these were new arrivals or disturbed birds repositioning is impossible to say
and
- 1 Winter moth on a lamp post
- 2 Mottled Umber moths on different lamp posts

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 3 Stock Doves
- 1 Chaffinch

The counts from the water
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans again
- 2 Canada Geese again
- 26 (18♂) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 26 (3♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Moorhen
- 9 Coots only
- 64 Black-headed Gulls

A bit hard to see what is going on here. I saw this Coot climb on to the nest with something in its bill and I thought “I know they are inveterate nest-builders, but in November ...?”. Seems not as it appears it got a fish from somewhere and took it on to the nest to get better access to the meat.

(Ed Wilson)

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
6 Gadwall 
2 Teal 
3 Pochard 
114 Tufted Duck
228 Coots
1 Snipe 
Tawny Owl
157 Fieldfare
63 Redwings 
208 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
31 Tufted Ducks 
3 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
35 Greylag Geese
3 Gadwall 
9 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks 
157 Coots
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
18 Redwings
16 Fieldfares 
4 Siskins
3 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
6 Yellow-legged Gulls
700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood / Tom Lowe)

2007
Priorslee Lake
A male Stonechat
1 Gadwall
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
Great Black-backed Gull
5 Goosander
(John Isherwood)

East of Priorslee
60 Golden Plover
(John Isherwood)