Priorslee Lake and The Flash
17.0°C > 18.0°C: Very low cloud and mist, even some drizzle in the air at times. Light NNW breeze. Moderate visibility at best.
Sunrise: 05:41 BST
Priorslee Lake: 04:20 – 06:30 // 07:35 – 09:20
(159th visit of the year)
Best today was a fly-over Yellow Wagtail: my first here though they likely bred in the fields alongside Woodhouse Lane. As far as I can recall this is my first post-breeding record here – usually Spring migrants enter my log book. Bird species #97 here in 2020 for me.
Other bird notes:
- A group of 16 Cormorants approached from, unusually, the SW and circled over with several looking as if they might peel off and annoy the fishermen. Despite the presence of two individuals already here they eventually decided to move on.
- Not entirely sure that all the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were different birds. All were (near) adults. Up to four present at any one time with singles arriving and departing.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 131 Greylag Geese (45 in eight groups outbound; 86 in three groups inbound)
- 24 Canada Geese (all in four groups outbound)
- 16 Cormorant together
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves (duo)
- 76 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. logged:
- >25 House Martins
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 11 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (0) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats again
- 4 (0) Reed Warblers again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 15 (?♂) Mallard again
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck (arrived?)
- 2 Cormorant: arrived separately yet again
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed
- Little Grebe heard again
- 13 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 59 adult and immature Coots
- 46 Black-headed Gulls: two juveniles
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all (near) adults
Gulls on the football or academy playing field c.06:10:
None
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
Note: unable to complete research on these before submitting the report. Updates will appear later.
Moths:
- 1 Barred Marble (Celypha striana): NB: yesterday's unidentified micro moth was a different specimen of the this species.
- 1 Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)
- 3 different micro moths not yet identified
Other things:
- 1 unidentified caddis fly
- 1 picture-winged fly (or wasp)
- 2 orb-web spiders, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus-type (harvestman)
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum-type (harvestman)
Insects / other things etc. noted later:
In the dull conditions very little noted
The full list of things noted:
Butterflies:
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
Moths:
- Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
Bees / wasps:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Damsel-/Dragon-flies:
- Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)
Hoverflies:
None
Mammals
- 1 Pipistrelle-type bat
- 2 other different bats, from flight-action likely two different species
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Of note:
Nothing
Additional flowering plant species recorded for the year at this site:
None
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:30
(145th visit of the year)
Best bird today was a Little Grebe amongst a gaggle of Tufted Ducks in the middle of the water. It seemed to be spooked by me and took, flying unusually high (for a Little Grebe) at over six feet. I did not relocate it and it may have flown off. Only my third record in the last six years, the others also being mid-Summer dates of 15th July 2018 and 19th July 2019. Many years ago this was a relatively common winter visitor lurking around the edges of the island. Bird species #70 here in 2020 for me.
Other bird notes:
- The pen Mute Swan was looking after all seven cygnets. Another swan was seen inside the island though I could not determine whether it was the cob or the 2018 immature – my money would be on the latter.
- Was so dark this morning that seeing along the edge of and inside the island to see Mallard and Coots at rest, made doubly so my a party of 11 duck Tufted Duck milling about.
- The same Racing Pigeon was present when I arrived but gone(?) later.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 3 Feral Pigeons
Hirundines etc. logged:
- 3 House Martins
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 8 (1) Chiffchaffs again
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Counts from the water:
- 2 + 7 Mute Swans (see notes)
- 7 Greylag Geese: departed
- 16 Canada Geese: including the bird with deformed wings again
- 11 (?♂) Mallard only
- 31 (13?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 27 adult and juvenile Coots
- 31 Black-headed Gulls: two juveniles
- 1 Kingfisher
On various lamp poles:
Still no Moths
and
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus-type (harvestmen)
- 9 Leiobunum rotundum-type (harvestmen)
Otherwise
- 1 Grey Squirrel again
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the lake and The Flash:
Of note
- Blackcap calling near the upper pool.
Otherwise
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........