26 Oct 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 10.0°C: Early light rain from medium overcast. Some breaks developing, then low cloud by 09:00. Moderate SSE wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:55 BST

*= a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 06:20 – 09:35

(241st visit of the year)

Another uncharacteristically quiet morning for the time of year. The only notable sighting was a Common Kestrel hovering over one of the remaining fields to the E at 07:55 and for a while thereafter.

Other bird notes:
- No Mute Swans! It does happen about this time most years when the adults take the cygnets away – somewhere safe? The adults usually come back within a week. Sometimes the cygnets also return until chased away in the Spring
- Very few early 'large gulls' with 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Herring Gulls stopping off and just seven unidentified gulls flying over.
- It was the Cetti's that was on 'warbler duty' today.
- Song Thrush singing again, briefly c.07:35.
- No birds seen leaving roosts around the water.

Overhead:
- 1 Canada Goose: inbound
- 76 Wood Pigeons: 32 of these in two migrant groups heading S
- 5 Black-headed Gulls flew high N together
- 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 unidentified large gulls only
- 202 Jackdaws
- no Rooks
- c.84 Starlings: group of four and one of c.80 birds
- 10? Redwings: five of these heard overhead pre-dawn
- 11 Pied Wagtails again
- 1 Chaffinch

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: no song but loud calls from the W end

Count from the lake area:
- no Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall again
- 38 (>16♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 57 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls only
- 9 Herring Gulls
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
- 43 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Grey Heron

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
A surprising haul despite the slight rain.

Moths:
- 8 November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.)
with:
- *1 ichneumon sp.
- *1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) var. succinea
- 2 Common European Earwig (Forficula dentata)
- 1 Pogonognathellus longicornis-type springtail
- *1 Larinioides cornutus Orb-web spider
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica)
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. Stretch spider
- 3 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum/blackwalli harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn
- *1 Large House Spider-type: Eratigena sp.
- many Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius) as usual

Noted later:
- *1 November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.) on the fence alongside Teece Drive.
- 1 clump of fungus sp.

A rather unusual day-time record of a November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.). None of the eight I recorded on the lamp poles c.06:30 were there at 09:00, seeming not to like daylight (or rain?). This one was resting at waist-height on the fence between Teece Drive and the Wesley Brook at 09:15, providing a good photo opportunity.

Another record of an ichneumon sp. To my untutored eye recent sightings all the look to be of the same species. No idea what they might be though.

Covered in dew and / or raindrops this Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) of the form succinea (which usually has 17 spots). It was on one of the lamp poles pre-dawn. I have had many of this species trying to get in my house over the last few days.

Console yourself that this Large House Spider-type (Eratigena sp.) is not in your bath but minding its own business in the corner of the sailing club shelter. I wonder if shelter users during the day know what is lurking in the corners?

This has been confirmed as a Larinioides cornutus Orb-web spider. It is of the less frequent rust-toned form. Nigel has explained the difference between this species and the similar and frequently seen Bridge Orb-web Spider (L. sclopetarius) . On cornutus the leaf-like mark on the abdomen (called the folium) comprises islands of colour (or black) against the background. On sclopetarius the folium is more uniform with just the edges picked out in white or cream.

It is Autumn so there is always fungus popping up. Often, as here, in dark recesses of the wooded areas and requiring a flash photo. Flash, even with the compensation set, alters the colour balance somewhat. In real life this had a pale mauve rather then a brown centre to the cap. No idea as to species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:40 – 10:30

(218th visit of the year)

A large willow tree than was blown in to the lake some weeks ago was removed yesterday. Sadly they did not leave a 'wood pile' of the remains to attract wildlife. The base is still present so that, at least, will probably sprout next Spring.

Bird notes:
- The pair of Teal found again! Tucked up against the island where I see them most often.
- There seemed to be more Tufted Duck flying about as I arrived. Were some leaving? Rather few counted.
- Four Great Crested Grebes seen. Two were adults; one a juvenile; not sure about the fourth as it was too far away.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 16 Jackdaws
- 1 Siskin again

On /around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 31 (20♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Teal
- 13 (5+♂) Tufted Duck only
- 10 Moorhens again
- 24 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 32 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron

On various lamp pole:
- *2 November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.).
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus-type harvestman

Noted elsewhere:
- many Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris) as always on the Ivy flowers.
- *three different species of fungus

Of all the November Moths I have seen this Autumn this is by far the most heavily-marked. Even so it is not possible to ascribe to a particular species within the Epirrita group.

I found three different species of fungus, all in the small wooded area in the top NW corner. Here is species #1.

Species #2. This specimen seems to have had a larger part break off. Or is it just sprouting sideways at the base?

A plan view of species #3.

And a side-elevation of the same specimen showing the gill structure.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2011
Priorslee Lake
17 Tufted Ducks
c.400 Lesser Black-backed Gull
(Mike Cooper)

2005
Priorslee Lake
16 Pochard
41 Tufted Duck
212 Coot
778 Fieldfare
199 Redwings
800 Wood Pigeons
Chiffchaff
Possible Firecrest
3 Siskin
18 Redpoll
275 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)