Priorslee Lake and The Flash:
13.0°C: Low cloud with light rain to start: then wet, very wet. Light E wind. Moderate visibility.
Sunrise: 04:45 BST:
The Met Office forecast said heavy rain all morning. The BBC forecast said light rain all morning. The weather radar suggested light rain for a while, then heavy rain. The latter was correct.
I decided to go anyway – FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)!
Priorslee Lake: 04:25 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 07:40
(114th visit of the year)
An addition to my 2020 lake list:
#89 Common Tern
A bird flew through just before 07:00. After my unidentified tern on Sunday 14th a welcome addition.
I have an audio recording of a rather strange warbler that is 'under investigation'.
The hardy over-night fishermen reported that a Tawny Owl was calling from the N side trees. This species did not seem to nest around the lake this year so perhaps a juvenile seeking a territory.
Other bird notes in poor conditions.
None
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 1 Common Tern
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
- 3 Rooks
- 1 Starling
Hirundines etc. logged:
None
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (11) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 5 (3) Common Whitethroats
- 4 (4) Reed Warblers: too soggy to sing?
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 11 (9♂) Mallard
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Moorhens
- 28 + 10 (5 broods) Coots
NB: a prefix * means there is a photo today.
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
- *Treble Brown Spot moth (Idaea trigeminata)
- *Satin Wave moth (Idaea subsericeata)
- *Probable Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica)
Insects / other things etc. noted later in wet conditions:
None
Some welcome feedback from @ShropBotany means I have to make some changes to the flowers logged on Monday 15th June:
- The convolvulus sp. is more likely Hedge (or Larger) Bindweed (Calystegia sepium, formerly Convolvulus sepium). Needs another look.
- The willowherb should be Great(er) Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)
- The scientific name for Water Forget-me-not has been changed to (Myositis scorpioides)
- What I though a garden escape is Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
My knowledge of all flora and fauna other than birds is largely self-taught from field guides and the web. I do get help from experts on moths and hoverflies. So corrections are always appreciated - it is the way we all learn.
Another spider that I have provisionally identified as a Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica).
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 05:45 – 06:30
(100th visit of the year)
Notes:
- One of the Moorhens seemed to have a broken leg and could only hop on land. Presumably would tend to swim in circles.
- Reed Warbler not heard – but in the rain there was little song from this species at the lake.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None
Hirundines etc. logged:
- 2 House Martins briefly
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap
- no Reed Warbler noted
Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 74 Greylag Geese
- 136 + 2 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 24 (18♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 + 2(1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Moorhens
- 13 + 9 (5 broods) Coots
Nothing else of note:
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday just a few desultory flowers. Now the Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre) is in full flower.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
Of note:
- First brood juvenile Moorhen on the grass alongside the upper pool.
Also
- 1 Riband Wave moth (Idaea aversata) on a lamp pole
On a lamp pole was this Riband Wave moth (Idaea aversata). This is of the locally more common form remutata. The nominate form has a the area between the two cross-lines dark grey, forming a ribbon.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here