23 Apr 20

Priorslee Lake only

5.0°C > 10.0°C:  Clear again. Some thin high cloud. Mainly calm. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:52 BST

Priorslee Lake:  early

(62nd visit of the year)

New species for my 2020 lake list:
#83     House Martin

Bird notes:
- Three Greylag Geese arrived from the E. The cob Mute Swan soon chased one away: the others required more effort to dislodge.
- A pair of Canada Geese were feeding on the school playing field for at least part of the time.
- When I arrived there seemed to be no Tufted Duck. Then a pair appeared. Soon after two more drakes and a duck. Finally another pair. No idea where they came from – hiding in the reeds perhaps. None seen in flight.
- I suspect two pairs of Little Grebes are nesting. As usual can be hard to detect.
- A Little Ringed Plover again put in only a very brief appearance.
- A Pheasant called from the school grounds several times. Another was heard to the E of Castle Farm Way. Only the second time I have heard this species here this year.
- A Lesser Black-backed Gull dropped in briefly.
- Willow Warbler heard and then seen calling. Not seen well-enough to tell whether it was Monday’s bird with damaged-looking eye. No song heard.
- Garden Warblers heard singing from three locations – all previously used sites. None seen.
- The Lesser Whitethroat heard twice giving brief snatch of rattling song from different locations. These perhaps far-enough apart for there to be different birds but not far-enough apart to be certain.
- Just one Reed Warbler heard singing.
- 15 Starlings feeding on the school playing fields.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 Canada Geese
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all adults
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks

Count of hirundines etc logged:
- 2 Swifts
- 1 House Martin
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 3 Sand Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 12 (10) Chiffchaffs yet again
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 25 (20) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat still
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler only

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 3 Greylag Geese for a while
- 2 Canada Geese (on playing field)
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall remain
- 13 (10♂) Mallard
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes still
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Moorhens yet again
- 26 Coots
- 1 Little Ringed Plover again
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)

New flower species for 2020:
- Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
also the first bushes of
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) are in flower

I again left before insects were about, but I did note:
- several midges biting me and on the wall of the yacht club hut
- 2 different spiders on one of the street lamp poles

The sunrise. It had been a lot more colourful while I was making my permitted short drive to undertake my exercise while keeping social distance. Must get up earlier!

As yesterday the view as the sun was just about to rise – through high cloud this morning. The white van in the lay-by is a Waitrose van. The driver stops briefly most mornings to feed the swan.

Full breeding plumage crest on this drake Tufted Duck. Looks as if he is smiling.

Until they can spend all their time hidden behind leaves I will continue to photograph Long-tailed Tits.

Yummy. Breakfast!

A Chiffchaff sitting high in a small tree. From this angle there looks to be a longish supercilium. Note however that it is very indistinct: it would be more noticeable on a Willow Warbler which would also have a more yellow-looking wash on the breast.

“Chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-.....”

‘Only’ a female Blackbird but a great pose in good light.

There are two Pied Wagtails using the SW grass and two around the dam. Here is one standing on the sluice exit.

Strangely the two on the dam both look like males. Note the extensive grey on the flanks of the left-hand bird. This area is white on the Continental race / species of White Wagtail. The back of both males and females of White Wagtail is also grey so no confusion here anyway.

Do I need to say “Goldfinch”? Some books say these can be sexed from the extent and shape of the red on the face but don’t explain how. Another book remarks “for all practical purposes sexes are alike”. I’ll go with the latter.

This female Bullfinch photo is included to show the big, clear white rump that is so obvious as this species flies away.

I found a few midges on the wall of the yacht club hut. This is not a ‘wasp-waisted’ species – it is the way the wings are overlapping the body that gives this illusion. Not sure what species. May have been one of those that were biting me.

Is this the same species? It has folded its wings differently and they extend beyond the abdomen. The wings seem to have a ‘cloud’ in them and the antenna look a different length. Perhaps male and female? Though I would expect one, the male, to show feathered antenna to locate the female’s pheromones.

Two different spiders here. The smaller on the left looks like one I have seen in my garden – dark body and red legs. Did not help me identify it.

My first flower of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) this year

The Council contractors may have mown the Cowslips (Primula veris) down on the ‘football’ field. They won’t get at these!

Yellow flowers are becoming more prominent. These are, of course, Dandelion sp. (probably Taraxacum officinale), growing on a verge yet to be mown. I was amazed to see that the ‘football’ field that was mown by contractors yesterday was full of new Dandelion flowers after just 24 hours.

In close-up like this you might almost think this is Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis). However these flower head are really tiny. I think they belong to the related Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta).

The first Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) are in flower

(Ed Wilson)

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If you are on your daily exercise and keeping a safe distance from others, we would love to see any photos or sightings from Priorslee Lake and The Flash, by contacting us at priorsleelake@hotmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.😊

(Martin Adlam and Ed Wilson)

Note:
Here are a few Garden Sightings from Ed Wilson Here on our Readers Corner from the past few days

And

A few of Martin Adlam's Sightings from the Isle of Portland Here.

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On this day..........
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

 2016
Local Area
Today's Sightings Here

 2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

 2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes 
3 Greylag Geese
1 Grasshopper Warbler 
2 Reed Warblers 
8 Blackcaps 
9 Chiffchaffs 
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

 The Flash
1 Richardson's-type Canada Goose 
8 Tufted Duck 
1 Blackcap 
2 Chiffchaffs 
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

 Nedge Hill
6 Swallows
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Fieldfare
3 Blackcaps 
3 Willow Warbler 
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
29 Wheatear
1 Lapwing
(John Isherwood, Ed Wilson)

 2012
Priorslee Lake
Green Woodpecker
5 Great Crested Grebes
4 Tufted Duck
12 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

 In the lane / fields to the E
5 Skylarks
2 Whitethroats
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
9 Linnets 
5 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

 Priorslee Flash
5 Great Crested Grebes
23 Tufted Duck 
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warblers
4 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood)

 Nedge Hill
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

 2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)

 Nedge Hill
3 Yellow Wagtail
6 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

 2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Sedge Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)

 The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

 Nedge Hill
2 Common Whitethroat
3 Wheatears
(Ed Wilson)

 The Wrekin
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Mike)

 Ercall Woods
3 Pied Flycatcher
Buzzards
2 Ravens
(Mike)

 2007
Priorslee Flash
2 Common Sandpipers
Garden Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

 2006
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
5 Common Sandpipers
100+ Sand Martin
5 Swallow
1 House Martin
23 Wrens
19 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Garden Warblers
7 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
1 Willow Tit
3 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)