30 Mar 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  07:25 – 09:10
The Flash:  09:20 – 10:05

3.0°C > 5.0°C:  Fog suggested a late start. Remained misty and worse throughout. Almost calm. Poor / very poor visibility

Sunrise: 05:49 GMT

Priorslee Lake:  07:25 – 09:10

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- Little Grebes heard calling in NW and NE areas again
- an additional Great Crested Grebe present

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
None

Hirundines noted
None

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Blackcaps

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans as ever
- 2 Canada Geese
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 2+ Little Grebes
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens (partial count)
- 26 Coots

Other things
- first Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) flowers

Here is a flower of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) – this species only flowers in shady places. Here I have propped the flower up so we can see inside. The leaves you see are from still-growing Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) ....

Here is a flower in its ‘natural’ surroundings showing the leaves of the plant.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  09:20 – 10:05

(77th visit of the year)

Notes from here:
in the mist nothing flying over
- failed to locate any Blackcaps again
also noted
- 1 Lunar Marbled Brown moth on a lamp pole
- new White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) flowers

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
None

Hirundines noted
None

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs

The counts from the water: *** all totals minima in poor visibility
- 1 + 1 Mute Swans (unable to see inside the island)
- 25 Canada Geese
- 16 (13♂) Mallard
- 25 (14♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens again
- = Coots: no meaningful count possible

Something to lift my spirits on a misty morning – the daily Long-tailed Tit.

Looking skyward for inspiration? I have no idea what this Jay was doing or why.

This is a Lunar Marbled Brown moth. It is a new moth for me in Shropshire and #6 in 2019 at this site. ‘Lunar’ because of the dark crescent marking in the middle of the wing that separates it from the similar Marbled Brown, though this latter species tends to fly later in the year.

Here again. This was on a lamp pole that I regularly check though today was the first occasion I have ever found a moth on it –persistence rewarded.

So we’d better celebrate with another shot.

This is White Deadnettle (Lamium album). These are new flowers – last year’s flowers were still evident on 1st January. Non-stinging of course.

A real close-up of a single flower in one of the whorls.

(Ed Wilson)

Note
Here are a few images from Belvide on 26 Mar Here

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
19 Tufted Duck
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Redwing
1 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaffs
197 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Cackling Goose
2 Common Teal
42 Tufted Ducks
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Horsehay Pool
Mandarin Ducks
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
15 Tufted Duck
1 Peregrine Falcon
3 Blackcaps
12 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood )

The Flash 
46 Tufted Duck 
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
Raven
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Swallow
14 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
20 Redwing
4 Siskins
2 Linnet
9 Greenfinch
4 Reed Bunting
10 Meadow Pipit
1 Willow Tit
(Martin R Adlam)