14 May 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  04:25 – 07:05
The Flash:  09:25 – 10:05

6.0°C > 13.0°C:  Sunny: some mist early; hazy again at times. Light ESE wind. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 05:14 BST

Two-part visit today

Priorslee Lake:  04:25 – 07:05

(127th visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- although four Great Crested Grebes seen these were behaving as a pair with the juveniles; and two singles as if another bird might be sitting on a nest in the NW area
- two new broods of juvenile Coots noted: did not stay late-enough to do a full count
- many fewer Blackcaps singing this morning and just a single bird calling. Serious nesting time? Bird-song in general is diminishing
- the Tawny Owl flew past me again at 04:35
- a Reed Warbler singing at an 8th location: hard to access the NW area to check all the three birds were still singing there so could have been a bird relocating
- a male Linnet by the concrete ramp was a surprise find

Bird totals

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake
- 5 Greylag Geese (3 outbound; 2 inbound)
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Stock Doves
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 74 Jackdaws
- 22 Rooks

Hirundines etc. noted
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler as ever
- 14 (13) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 3 (2) (Common) Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 8 (8)? Reed Warblers

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck left 04:35
- 2 Grey Herons
- 4 + 2? (1) brood Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Moorhen
- ? + >7 (>2 broods) Coots

Nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn

Later
- 1 pipistrelle-type bat

The early incarnation of the sunrise – 04:45 if you really want to know.

05:10 and the mist has gone and the colour is greater

After sun-up and at 05:55 all the vapour trails add highlights to the sky.

I have no idea what this Great Spotted Woodpecker is doing.

It was working assiduously around all the bunches of opening leaves on a single tree

Is it eating insects in the leaves? or nectar from them? or perhaps drinking from overnight dew? 

Whatever he is giving a good work-over. Nice red trousers!

This was the mornings surprise – a rather splendid-looking Linnet. It is male with the red breast-sides and crown beginning to colour. This species, like many seed-eaters, are later nesters – an abundance of seeds for their nestlings are not available early in the year. So it is not yet in breeding plumage.

(Ed Wilson)

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

The Flash:  09:25 – 10:05

(120th visit of the year)

Notes from here:
- only two broods of Mallard ducklings located: one with three ducklings; another with eight ducklings
- a juvenile Moorhen was briefly with an adult on one of the footbridges. First juvenile of the year here
- possibly the ‘time of day’ meant few warblers singing
also
- 1 Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)
- 1 bumble bee sp. – either a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) or a Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash
- 2 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. noted
None

Warblers noted (singing birds)
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs only

The counts from the water:
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans
- 14 Canada Geese
- 22 (15♂) + 11 (2 broods) Mallard
- 13 (7♂) Tufted Ducks
- 3 + >1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 24 + 2 (1 brood) Coots again

This rather splendid fellow is a Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis). There is a very similar species with a black head. Its ‘cornis’ look very ‘serrati’ to me – good scientific name.

I am not 100% sure about this. It might be a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) – it is hard to see just how extensive the hairs on the legs are here, but it use of White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) flowers tends to support it. The very similar Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) is the alternative. Whatever: a good-looking bumble bee.

(Ed Wilson)

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

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

2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Whimbrel
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
5 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)