Priorslee Lake and The Flash
12.0°C – 11.0°C: Spells of heavy rain eased after 05:30. Light / Moderate S wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 05:24
* = a photo today
More welcome feedback to report, all from Friday's sightings at the lake:
- It has been suggested that the caterpillar is of a Mottled Umber (Erranis defoliaria) moth. Reference to photos on the Norfolk Moths web site shows this caterpillar to be very variable and whilst there is no exact match it looks a very high probability.
- The two unidentified bees from Friday were both Red Mason Bees (Osmia bicornis). One clue I missed was that, especially in males, the antennae are proportionally longer than on Andrena mining bees.
- I am informed that the hoverfly I tentatively identified as a female Pipiza noctiluca is best recorded as Pipiza sp. Latest research suggests that markings are an unreliable guide to identification and that the whole genus probably needs taxonomic revision.
So on with today's log. Some things apparently still recovering from the deluge yesterday and first thing this morning.
Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:05 // 06:50 – 08:35
(86th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Only two of the 15 Barn Swallows did any feeding over the lake, all the others flying straight through.
- A Reed Warbler was again singing in the brambles behind the Sailing Club shelter first thing. I did not hear it later. One was singing along the S side later, though I had not heard it earlier. The same? Otherwise seven birds were singing from the same locations that they have used for over a week.
- A Garden Warbler along the N side again.
- I may have to revise the number of Common Whitethroat territories. I always seem to see hear and see two singing early from locations that don't seem to be used later. Conversely there are birds singing elsewhere later that I have not noted earlier. It may just be that they are now well in to nesting and have limited time for singing.
Overhead
- 16 Canada Geese: four pairs and a group of seven outbound; one 'cross bound'!
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 12 (near) adults and two immature birds
- 1 Cormorant
- 77 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 15 Barn Swallows: see notes
Warblers noted
- 12 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers: see notes
- 9 (8) Blackcaps only
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroats
Count from the lake area
- 1 Canada Goose: the resident
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Tufted Duck, briefly: arrived together; departed separately
- 1 Moorhen only
- 18 Coots: no juveniles seen
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron once more
I did not check the street lamps pre-dawn in the pouring rain!
Noted later:
- unidentified egg!
- Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)
- Grey Squirrel
12.0°C – 11.0°C: Spells of heavy rain eased after 05:30. Light / Moderate S wind. Very good visibility
Sunrise: 05:24
* = a photo today
More welcome feedback to report, all from Friday's sightings at the lake:
- It has been suggested that the caterpillar is of a Mottled Umber (Erranis defoliaria) moth. Reference to photos on the Norfolk Moths web site shows this caterpillar to be very variable and whilst there is no exact match it looks a very high probability.
- The two unidentified bees from Friday were both Red Mason Bees (Osmia bicornis). One clue I missed was that, especially in males, the antennae are proportionally longer than on Andrena mining bees.
- I am informed that the hoverfly I tentatively identified as a female Pipiza noctiluca is best recorded as Pipiza sp. Latest research suggests that markings are an unreliable guide to identification and that the whole genus probably needs taxonomic revision.
So on with today's log. Some things apparently still recovering from the deluge yesterday and first thing this morning.
Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:05 // 06:50 – 08:35
(86th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Only two of the 15 Barn Swallows did any feeding over the lake, all the others flying straight through.
- A Reed Warbler was again singing in the brambles behind the Sailing Club shelter first thing. I did not hear it later. One was singing along the S side later, though I had not heard it earlier. The same? Otherwise seven birds were singing from the same locations that they have used for over a week.
- A Garden Warbler along the N side again.
- I may have to revise the number of Common Whitethroat territories. I always seem to see hear and see two singing early from locations that don't seem to be used later. Conversely there are birds singing elsewhere later that I have not noted earlier. It may just be that they are now well in to nesting and have limited time for singing.
Overhead
- 16 Canada Geese: four pairs and a group of seven outbound; one 'cross bound'!
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 12 (near) adults and two immature birds
- 1 Cormorant
- 77 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 15 Barn Swallows: see notes
Warblers noted
- 12 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers: see notes
- 9 (8) Blackcaps only
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroats
Count from the lake area
- 1 Canada Goose: the resident
- 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Tufted Duck, briefly: arrived together; departed separately
- 1 Moorhen only
- 18 Coots: no juveniles seen
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron once more
I did not check the street lamps pre-dawn in the pouring rain!
Noted later:
- unidentified egg!
- Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum)
- Grey Squirrel
Probably one of the few creatures that really enjoyed the rain. A Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum).
I am not sure there is much printable that I can say about this. I was told that one of the Sailing Club members had felled and then cut up this tree, allegedly because it was in the way. Well even if it was why cut it down completely rather than trim the offending branches? And anyway the action was possibly illegal in destroying bird(s) nests. Boys with toys no doubt.
Between the lake and The Flash
- A drake Mallard on the lower pool.
- A pair of Moorhens at both pools with one of each still sitting on a nest.
- No warblers seen or heard.
The Flash: 06:10 – 06:45
(73rd visit of the year)
Bird notes
- The Mute Swans seem to have lost another cygnet: I counted only five. I also failed to see the third adult but it have been the 'other side of the island' on geese-chasing duty.
- Every time I stared hard at the island another Tufted Duck seemed to appear. How many more were lurking inside?
- A Stock Dove was doing its display flight around the medical practice area with a different bird calling from trees here.
- Yet another Common Sandpiper record.
Noted flying over here.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash
- A drake Mallard on the lower pool.
- A pair of Moorhens at both pools with one of each still sitting on a nest.
- No warblers seen or heard.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:10 – 06:45
(73rd visit of the year)
Bird notes
- The Mute Swans seem to have lost another cygnet: I counted only five. I also failed to see the third adult but it have been the 'other side of the island' on geese-chasing duty.
- Every time I stared hard at the island another Tufted Duck seemed to appear. How many more were lurking inside?
- A Stock Dove was doing its display flight around the medical practice area with a different bird calling from trees here.
- Yet another Common Sandpiper record.
Noted flying over here.
Nothing
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps only
On the water
- 36 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 23 (17♂) Mallard
- 10 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper again
Otherwise noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps only
On the water
- 36 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 23 (17♂) Mallard
- 10 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper again
Otherwise noted:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
Note
As well as editing and uploading the sightings for Priorslee Lake and The Flash, I do have a Blog myself now that I live on the Isle of Portland. If you want to see what is coming your way in the Spring and Summer, then why not take a look Here.
Martin Adlam (Co-founder of FoPL)
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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
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
Shelduck
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler
(John Isherwood)
2009
Nedge Hill
Whinchat
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Arctic Tern
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)