25 Apr 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  04:50 – 06:15 // 07:05 – 09:00
The Flash:  06:20 – 07:00

7.0°C > 11.0°C:  Mostly cloudy; some mostly light rain. Moderate E wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 05:50 BST

Priorslee Lake:  04:50 – 06:15 // 07:05 – 09:00

(110 visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- probably many more hirundines than noted as they kept appearing and then disappearing with variable numbers each time. I have used my highest instantaneous count
- an ‘extra’ Willow Warbler was singing first thing in the SW copse but not later
- cannot decide whether there were two or three singing Common Whitethroats. One of them may have a large territory and seem to be two birds
- try and I might I could not convince myself there was a fourth Reed Warbler today

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 1 Greylag Goose (inbound)
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Rook

Hirundines noted
- >40 Sand Martins
- >6 Barn Swallows
- >3 House Martins

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 8 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Willow Warbler
- 23 (18) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers still
- 2? (2?) (Common) Whitethroats (see notes)
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese (came and went)
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron again
- 1 Little Grebes heard only
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens again
- 17 Coots only

Nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn

Later
- a cranefly, Tipula vittata
- a snail, probably a Smooth Grass Snail (Vallonia pulchella)
- a species of unidentified fungus

Between the pulses of rain a red sky in the morning to remind us of the Shepherds’ warning.

Looked slightly better later with scudding clouds but not enough blue for a pair of Sailor’s trousers (look it up if you don’t know).

Whilst it is true that craneflies (daddy long-legs) are most abundant in Autumn they do occur from Spring onwards as this shows. This is Tipula vittata (no vernacular name) with a diagnostic stripe along the side of the body and well-patterned wings. Apparently my first-ever.

First rains and out come the slugs and, here, snails. I was surprised to read there are over 100 species of snail found in the UK.

Perhaps easier to identify from this angle. I think a Smooth Grass Snail (Vallonia pulchella).

I found a rather more accessible Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) bush in flower this morning. Here are some of the first flowers. Remember Blackthorn flowers before the leaves are open, Hawthorn after the leaves open. Another vernacular name is May – suggesting the usual time of flowering. This date to be treated with caution as there are many sub-species (and cultivars). These flower at different times. On moorland it is often June before the flowers open.

Why do none of my fungus pictures match anything I can find in my books or on the web sites I use ....

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:  06:20 – 07:00

(103rd visit of the year)

A Common Sandpiper, this time on the island. Could have been one lingering from yesterday though

Other notes from here:
- single brood of 10 Mallard ducklings
- Tree Creeper singing at the S end: my first for a while here and song is not often heard

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Starling

Hirundines noted
None

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs remain
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 7 (5) Blackcaps

The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 19 Canada Geese
- 18 (14♂) + 10 (1 brood) Mallard
- 9 (5♂) Tufted Ducks still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 1 Moorhen only
- 21 Coots
- 1 Common Sandpiper

Another smug-looking duck Mallard with her brood of 10.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the lake and The Flash

At or around the lower pool (singing birds)
- 1 drake Mallard
- 1 Song Thrush
- 1 Coal Tit

At or around the upper pool (singing birds)
- 1 Moorhen
- 1 (1) Goldcrest
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 1 (1) Blackcap

(Ed Wilson)

Note: A few photos from Belvide on Tuesday. Click Here

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
4 Great Crested Grebes 
2 Cormorants
2 Lapwings 
2 Common Sandpiper 
3 Reed Warblers
14 Blackcaps 
8 Chiffchaffs 
2 Willow Warblers 
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Great Crested Grebe 
1 Greylag Goose 
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose 
12 Tufted Duck 
5 Song Thrushes 
3 Blackcaps 
3 Chiffchaffs 
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Woodhouse Lane
3 Common Whitethroats
2 Linnets.
7 Yellowhammers
Blackcaps
Chiffchaffs 
Willow Warbler.
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
4 Meadow Pipits
4 Sky Lark
20 Wheatear
2 Fieldfare
1 Lesser Whitethroat.
2 Common Whitethroats.
3 Blackcaps.
2 Chiffchaffs.
1 Linnet.
2 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
1 Whimbrel
2 Curlew
6 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
(JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
35 Swallows
2 House Martins
Grey Wagtail
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
2 Swift
1 Grasshopper Warbler
(John Isherwood, J W Reeves, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
9 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpiper
(Andy Latham)

Nedge Hill
Swift
12 Wheatear
1 Whinchat
Lesser Whitethroat
2 Whitethroat
Blackcap
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
19 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Turtle Doves
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
Sand Martins
Swallows
1 Tufted Duck
1 Sedge Warbler
4 Reed Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcaps 
6 Chiffchaffs 
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Common Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee
3 Great Crested Grebes
1 Tufted Duck
1 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Tit
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
5 Wheatears
1 Whinchat
1 Sedge Warbler
Common Whitethroat
4 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
Swallows
1 Grey Wagtail
6 Blackcaps
6 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
7 Great Crested Grebes
4 Herons
4 Greylag Geese
4 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
2 Kestrels
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Sky Lark
23 Sand Martins
12 Swallows
29 Wrens
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Reed Warblers
11 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
2 Jays
7 Greenfinches
21 Redpolls
5 Reed Buntings.

Lanes
3 Whitethroats
2 Sky Larks
3 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaff
4 Linnets
6 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)