Priorslee Lake
16.0°C > 14.0°C: Mainly cloudy. A few spots of rain c.06:15. Spell of heavy drizzle after 08:40. Moderate WSW wind veered N in drizzle. Very good visibility until drizzle, then moderate.
Sunrise: 06:35 BST
* = a photo today.
The heavy drizzle sent me home early. Of course it did not last, the remnant of a weak cold front that dropped the temperature.
Priorslee Lake: 05:08 – 09:04
(187th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Still unable able to read any of the Mute Swan cygnets rings. A stray adult arrived and seemed unnoticed for some while as it paddled towards the residents resting on the slipway. Eventually chased away by both adults with the cygnets paddling in hot pursuit. No flying lessons seen over the last few days.
- Just 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew SE between 06:10 and 06:40. After 07:15 I counted 149 birds flying from the E with 124 settling on the lake with at least 25 passing over. As yesterday a few moved on quickly while many stayed to be joined by more from the S. A significant proportion of these (over one third) were immatures, and mostly 2020 birds. A significant departure took place when the battling Mute Swans threatened. A good number stayed though.
- House Martin(s) heard from the estate area at c.06:50 but all I could find was a Hobby cruising around. Just four over the lake in the drizzle.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 133 Greylag Geese (132 outbound in three groups; single inbound with Canadas)
- 91 Canada Geese (85 outbound in five groups; six inbound with one Greylag)
- 1 Cormorant
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Hobby again
- 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws again
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 3 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Siskin
Hirundines etc. logged:
- >4 House Martins (see notes)
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 10 (6) Chiffchaffs: everybody wanted to sing!
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- *3 + 5 Mute Swans: additional adult, briefly
- 13 (8♂) Mallard
- 2 Cormorants
- [no Grey Heron]
- 16 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 77 adult and juvenile Coots
- 34 Black-headed Gulls: just one first-winter.
- 154 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: at least 63 immatures
Birds on the football and academy playing fields c.06:30:
[Wood Pigeons and Magpies excluded]
Sunrise: 06:35 BST
* = a photo today.
The heavy drizzle sent me home early. Of course it did not last, the remnant of a weak cold front that dropped the temperature.
Priorslee Lake: 05:08 – 09:04
(187th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Still unable able to read any of the Mute Swan cygnets rings. A stray adult arrived and seemed unnoticed for some while as it paddled towards the residents resting on the slipway. Eventually chased away by both adults with the cygnets paddling in hot pursuit. No flying lessons seen over the last few days.
- Just 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew SE between 06:10 and 06:40. After 07:15 I counted 149 birds flying from the E with 124 settling on the lake with at least 25 passing over. As yesterday a few moved on quickly while many stayed to be joined by more from the S. A significant proportion of these (over one third) were immatures, and mostly 2020 birds. A significant departure took place when the battling Mute Swans threatened. A good number stayed though.
- House Martin(s) heard from the estate area at c.06:50 but all I could find was a Hobby cruising around. Just four over the lake in the drizzle.
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 133 Greylag Geese (132 outbound in three groups; single inbound with Canadas)
- 91 Canada Geese (85 outbound in five groups; six inbound with one Greylag)
- 1 Cormorant
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Hobby again
- 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws again
- 1 Pied Wagtail again
- 3 Meadow Pipits
- 1 Siskin
Hirundines etc. logged:
- >4 House Martins (see notes)
Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):
- 10 (6) Chiffchaffs: everybody wanted to sing!
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- *3 + 5 Mute Swans: additional adult, briefly
- 13 (8♂) Mallard
- 2 Cormorants
- [no Grey Heron]
- 16 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 77 adult and juvenile Coots
- 34 Black-headed Gulls: just one first-winter.
- 154 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: at least 63 immatures
Birds on the football and academy playing fields c.06:30:
[Wood Pigeons and Magpies excluded]
- 3 Black-headed Gulls on the football field.
- 143 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing field.
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
Moths
- 143 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing field.
On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
Moths
None again:
Other things:
- *1 Common European Earwig (Forficula auricularia)
- *11 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris): at five different lamps
- *3 Orb-web spiders, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
Insects etc. noted later:
Just
- *1 Dusky Thorn moth (Ennomos fuscantaria)
Mammals
- 12 Pipistrelle-type bats
- 1 Grey Squirrel
New flowering plant species recorded:
Other things:
- *1 Common European Earwig (Forficula auricularia)
- *11 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris): at five different lamps
- *3 Orb-web spiders, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
Insects etc. noted later:
Just
- *1 Dusky Thorn moth (Ennomos fuscantaria)
Mammals
- 12 Pipistrelle-type bats
- 1 Grey Squirrel
New flowering plant species recorded:
None
Repelling the invader. The resident cob Mute Swan in full pursuit mode.
"Go damn you"
It finally gets the message. Seemed to be unringed.
Just as the heavy drizzle started I flushed this moth which promptly went to the darkest recess of the wooded area on the north side. I felt a flash photo might make it fly so a dull light shot is all I managed. It is a Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria). Only my second record here – previously on 22nd August 2018. The larval food plant of this moth is Ash. Like all thorn moths it usually rests with wings partially open. Moth species #95 for me here this year. Will I make 100? There are two 'Autumn' species almost guaranteed but I need a few more.
This is a Common European Earwig (Forficula auricularia). I suppose they have to eat but I thought they were vegetarian – they used to play havoc with my father's Dahlias. The very curved cerci (claspers) show a tooth on the flat basal part confirming this is a male.
I always wonder who wins here. There always seem to be orb-web spiders around but they must be less numerous than the social wasps, so I assume not too many spider get stung. The spider is what I think is Larinioides sclopetarius.
Another one of the same species of spider. Seems to have its legs full of things to eat.
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day..........
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Shovelers
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
Possible Yellow-legged Gull
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Teal
4 Swifts
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)