18 Oct 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 10.0°C: Cloudy and dull. Almost calm. Moderate visibility.

Sunrise: 07:42 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 06:11 – 09:37

(223rd visit of the year)

A report from one of the fishermen tells of a Little Egret here briefly on Friday afternoon (16th)

Bird notes:

- All the Mute Swan cygnets flying strongly and managing turns at the ends of the lake.

- The Tufted Duck were very mobile even before the sailing club arrived at the water's edge. They were hard to census.

- Many more Black-headed Gulls than recently visited the lake. Most did not stay long.

- In the dull conditions I had logged 118 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arriving from the N / NW after 07:11. However a quick check of the water revealed at least 150 had arrived. At least 40 more flew from the NW but some at least of these seemed to fly straight over. Much later just six seen over.

- After 08:00 only 19 Lesser Black-backs and six Herring Gulls arrived, all from the E.

- If there were any migrant parties of high-flying Wood Pigeons, they were lost in the gloom.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- >8 Canada Geese (one group heard only outbound; eight in one group inbound)
- 2 (?♂) Goosanders
- >6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (see notes)
- 8 Feral Pigeons (one group)
- 58 Wood Pigeons
- c.285 Jackdaws
- no Rooks
- 1 Skylark
- 1 Starling only
- 12 Fieldfares (one group)
- 15 Redwings (five groups)
- 4 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin again

No warblers logged: until next Spring any warblers seen or heard will be specifically included in the daily bird notes.

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake

- >350 Starlings
- 3 Redwings
- 1 Reed Bunting

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall still
- 9 (?♂) Mallard: seven departed pre-dawn.
- 4 (2♂) Pochard again
- 32 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
- 2 Little Grebes
- 12 Great Crested Grebes only
- 10 Moorhens
- 134 Coots
- >250 Black-headed Gulls
- c.175 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again (see notes)
- 6 Herring Gulls: all immatures

Playing fields

Not visited

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

- probably 13 November Moth-types (Epirrita sp.). Eight on lamp poles with three of these flying off. Five more, presumed this species, flying around. I do not recall this species behaving like this in previous years.
- *3 winter gnats (Trichocera sp)
- 3 spiders, all different species, one of which was probably the orb-web spider *Zygiella x-notata.
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum-type harvestman

Noted later:

- 1 Grey Squirrel

This winter gnat (Trichocera sp) has a tiny friend. No idea!

The only one of the three spiders that I could photograph well-enough to attempt an ID was this probable Zygiella x-notata. There is, as always, a confusion species that requires interfering with its sex-life to determine. If it is this species it is also known as the 'missing sector orb web spider' because of the characteristic web pattern. Not quite sure where all its legs are – I think I can just about make out five.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:45

(208th visit of the year)

A report from one of the fishermen here of a Great White Egret seen flying over / away on Saturday (17th).

Bird notes:

- Three duck Teal new in. All went for fly around but returned. Two then stayed amongst the Tufted Ducks. The other sought refuge under overhanging vegetation around the island.

- Some of the Tufted Ducks were possibly refugees from the lake as the sailing club took to the water.

- A Great Spotted Woodpecker calling at the top of squirrel alley. This species has been much less frequent here this year.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 3 Jackdaws
- 2 Skylarks
- 2 Redwings
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 18 Canada Geese
- *3 (0♂) (Common) Teal
- 37 (23♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Pochard again
- 106 (c.48♂) Tufted Duck
- *2 brownhead Goosanders
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens again
- 26 Coots only
- 19 Black-headed Gulls

On various lamp poles:

- 5 November Moth-types (Epirrita sp.)
- >10 Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris): these were back on both the lamp pole and the light sensor at the top of squirrel alley.
- *1 ground beetle, probably Leistus fulvibarbis.

On / around the Ivy

Nothing and too dull for the Honey Bees to emerge.

One of the three duck (Common) Teal. Was quite pleased with this result on such a gloomy day. Note the green speculum showing and also the mark that appears as a white line along the side of the tail.

Not so good: the other two duck (Common) Teal.

The Goosander synchronised preening team in training. Both of these show a hint of white above the bill and therefore immatures. Both show extensive white along the flanks and I would surmise they will moult in to handsome drake plumage in due course.

Searching the eakringbirds.com photo gallery suggests this beetle is either Leistus fulvibarbis or L. spinibarbis and I would favour the former. Both are ground beetles so what it was doing six feet up a lamp pole is only known by the beetle.

(Ed Wilson)

Note

There are a few images from the Dee Estuary, 17 Oct on our Readers Corner Page Here.

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On this day

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

2008

Priorslee Lake

992 Redwings

203 Fieldfare

Siskins

Redpolls

6 Pochard

c.150 Tufted Duck

Water Rail

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

18 Pochard

98 Tufted Ducks

1 duck Goldeneye

1 drake Ruddy Duck

1 Kingfisher

20 Pied Wagtails

18 Wrens

46 Robin

20 Blackbirds

6 Song Thrushes

42 Redwings

1 Chiffchaff

12 Starlings

52 Greenfinches

9 Goldfinches

2 Siskins

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

4 Wigeon

1 Shoveler 

8 Pochard

64 Tufted Ducks

30 Robins

(Ed Wilson)