8 Nov 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 9.0°C: Very misty and murky. Calm start with light E wind later. Poor visibility.

Sunrise: 07:21 GMT

* = a photo today.

A very quiet morning

Priorslee Lake: 06:02 – 08:52

(244th visit of the year)


Was not expecting much on such a dull and misty morning. Wrong:
- A group of 10 Eurasian Wigeon - at least three drakes.
- Another drake Shelduck with them at least part of the time.
- A male Blackcap and possibly another of the same species. I saw what I thought was this male and as I repositioned and confirmed its identity another bird flew off. My bird then flew off to join it but I saw neither again. My first ever November record of this species I think anywhere in the UK. I have always tended to see over-wintering birds in December and January.

Other bird notes:
- One brownhead Goosanders dropped in at 07:50. Still present at 08:30 at least.
- For some reason (fireworks?) 118 of the Coots were at the E end and seemed to come out of the N side reeds. Usually most birds emerge from the NW reeds and stay at the W end.
- c.250 Black-headed Gulls were on the water by 07:15 when there was enough visibility to see.
- Up to 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls by c.07:15. Later 14 more arrived with at least five Herring Gulls.
- The milder weather prompted two Song Thrushes to start sub-singing.

Birds noted flying over / near here:
In mist, low cloud and poor visibility only birds passing directly overhead could be seen.
- 2 Greylag Geese at least
- 32 Canada Geese
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws only seen:others heard!
- c.75 Starlings: one group
- 4 Redwings: one group
- 8 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Linnet

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- No Starlings, though roosting birds heard calling from N side reeds
- 13 Redwings
- 6 Reed Buntings

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 10 (3+♂) Eurasian Wigeon
- 7 (5♂) Gadwall
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 47 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosanders: briefly
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes
- 11 Great Crested Grebes again
- 8 Moorhens
- 149 Coots
- >250 Black-headed Gulls again
- c.25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls: two (near) adults; three first-winter birds

Playing fields
Not visited

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:
- 1 Mottled Umber moth (Erranis defoliaria)
- 3 Trichocera regelationis ('winter gnat')
- 1 Larinioides cornutus (Orb-web spider)
- 1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- 1 Tetragnatha sp (Stretch spider)
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman

Noted later:
- 1 Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Trooping Funnel fungus (Clitocybe geotropa)

It required a bit of work with the photo editor to make this vaguely presentable. There are nine of ten Eurasian Wigeon in this shot.

Slightly better view with six in the shot taken in tip-toe over the vegetation to avoid flushing them. Second from left and second from right are drakes.

The drake Shoveler that was at least initially with the Wigeon.

For some unknown reason I failed to show this 'record shot' of the drake Shoveler that was present on Friday (6th).

Not a very 'umber' Mottled Umber moth (Erranis defoliaria). It is a very variable species, some with almost no markings and others with much contrast between areas each side of the cross-line. The dark spots are usually present and good clue to its identity.

Comparing this with photos on the Naturespot web site this is a female Larinioides cornutus Orb-web spider.

There are several similar species though this most closely matches the Trooping Funnel fungus (Clitocybe geotropa). There were five specimens in a vague line and I'll try and get a better photo when there is better light. Lines, arcs and complete fairy rings are all possible with this species. I have never seen it here before - indeed never knowingly until last year.

Most of the leaves gone now though it is well in to December until all trees lose their leaves and stand gaunt. This Sycamore-type still has a few leaves to lose.

Several insects been chomping the leaves.

The bright pink capsules of Spindle (Euonymus europaeus). It is the seeds that are orange.

I think these berries are Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus). Most photos on the web are dated August so there must be some doubt the berries would last this long. The leaves are also a good match (even if they are not as in focus as I would like).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:55 – 09:57

(228th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- So where have all the Tufted Duck gone?

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
None

Counts from the water:
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 22 Canada Geese; six of these arrived - better radar than me.
- 33 (20♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Pochard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 21 (5?♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron still
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 7 Moorhens
- 33 Coots
- 38 Black-headed Gulls

On the lamp poles:
Nothing

On / around the Ivy:
Nothing

Of interest elsewhere:
- 2 Grey Squirrels

Yesterday I managed to show a brownhead Goosander with the tail of its meal sticking out the corner of its mouth. Phil Nock was quicker off the mark with a different bird as it gets to grips with a Perch (Perca fluviatilis). Look at the base of the gape. You can see the serrations that give rise to the colloquial name for this and several allied species of duck - sawbills. Handy for gripping slippery fish. Thanks to Phil for sending me this.

The local Grey Heron not hiding away on the island for a change.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2013
Priorslee Lake
10 Mute Swans 
4 Wigeon 
4 Gadwall 
3 Teal 
1 Pochard 
53 Tufted Duck 
1 Water Rail 
223 Coots 
c.3500 Wood Pigeons
78 Fieldfare
34 Redwings
433 Jackdaws
135 Rooks 
c.155 Starlings from roost
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
18 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
70 Greylag Geese
Pink-footed Goose 
2 Gadwall 
7 Pochard 
35 Tufted Ducks 
149 Coots 
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
Great Black-backed Gull
c.320 Wood Pigeons
166 Redwings
31 Fieldfares
889 Jackdaws
126 Rooks
200+ Starlings left roost
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Wrekin
Location
Firecrest
(Jim Almond)

2006
Priorslee Lake
20 Pochard
108 Tufted Ducks
15 Lapwings
c.587 Black-headed Gulls
938 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
161 Wood Pigeons
36 Robins
25 Blackbirds
7 Song Thrushes
13 Redwings
4 Mistle Thrushes
202 Jackdaws
163 Rooks
29 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)