25 May 19

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

Priorslee Lake:  04:15 – 08:05
The Flash:  08:10 – 08:50

12.0°C > 15.0°C:  Often low cloud but with some good breaks at times. Light NW wind. Good visibility

Sunrise: 04:59 BST

Priorslee Lake: 04:15 – 08:05

(136th visit of the year)

Bird notes from today
- A first-year Mute Swan made two flying circuits of the lake with the resident cob in full ‘threatening’ pose and wisely decided to fly on.
- A pair of Tufted Ducks on the lake when I arrived. After I had checked the football field area and as I was walking back a pair came from the W and landed on the water. I could still only find one pair on the water. Later another pair flew in and there were then two pairs on the water.
- A Barn Swallow flew through W at 05:30. Three overhead later stayed a while.
- Juvenile Magpies out marauding with their parents.
- Chiffchaffs noticeably quiet this morning. One calling adult seen with two very yellow/olive juveniles.
- Two Sedge Warblers seen together: presumed pair and therefore nesting.

Bird totals:

Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 1 first-year Mute Swan
- 4 Greylag Geese (2 outbound; 2 inbound)
- 12 Canada Geese (outbound)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 11 Wood Pigeons
- 83 Jackdaws
- 38 Rooks
- 2 Linnets

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Swifts
- 4 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 7 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 18 (17) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 3 (2) (Common) Whitethroats once more
- 2 (1) Sedge Warblers
- 11 (8) Reed Warblers

The counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 4 (2) Tufted Ducks (see notes)
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Moorhens again
- 22 + 10 (4 broods) Coots

Nothing on the lamp poles pre-dawn:

Seen later
- Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies
- Red-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius)
- Tree Bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum)
- the soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans
- 2 Grey Squirrels
and new flowers for the year
- White Clover (Trifolium repens)
- yesterday’s Rumex sp. confirmed as Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

The best of the sunrise during one of the partial clearances of cloud. 

The first year Mute Swan on one of its passes. Still extensive grey in the wing and a very dull bill. 

Showing the maximum amount of the upperwing to illustrate all the grey areas. 

Passing in all its glory. 

Rather distant: another ‘quart in to a pint pot’ attempt from this Great Crested Grebe, 

Apparently ‘down the hatch’ anyway. At least it had the sense not to offer it to one of its offspring. 

A male Reed Bunting with more wriggly things. Seem birds are finding the same green ‘looper’ caterpillars that have been abundant this year.

This rather small bumblebee in a buttercup flower is likely a worker Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius).

Against the popular idea that bees are becoming scarce I seem to be seeing more this year. We cannot see the head of this bee. However the hairy, ginger thorax and the white ‘tail’ point to Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum). Not recorded in the UK until 2001 this species is now common throughout most of England and Wales.

This is a soldier beetle and there are many species that are similar. However the black head, orange on the thorax and part of the leg point to Cantharis nigricans (no vernacular name).

I remembered to photograph the leaves today to identify yesterday’s Rumex sp. flowers as from Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).

The first flower of White Clover (Trifolium repens). Not yet quite the characteristic shape.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  08:10 – 08:50

(130th visit of the year)

Decided on a later visit to see whether the juvenile Coots would be on the water. Mixed results. There were some juveniles from three broods. However the timing seemed to have an adverse effect on the number of singing warblers

Notes from here:
- Now from where did the Gadwall reappear? Last noted 26 April. No sign of any juveniles in tow.
- The quartet(?) of Mallard ducklings again rather hidden and still not 100% sure of the number. Otherwise rather few Mallard.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts

Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
no others!

The counts from the water:
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 25 Canada Geese
- 2 (1) Gadwall
- 12 (11♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 5 Moorhens
- 29 + 9 (3 broods) Coots

(Ed Wilson)

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

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2012
Nedge Hill
2 Ravens mobbing Kestrel.
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Ringed Plover
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Red Kite
(Ed Wilson)