31 Oct 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C: Cleared after overnight rain. Moderate S wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: [07:04 GMT]

No photos today

Yet another rain-delayed start and a short visit as other things to do.

Priorslee Lake: 10:00 – 10:10

(246th visit of the year)

A very short visit viewing from the dam area to check whether there was anything unusual: there wasn't. The sailing club were setting up and some things had probably departed.

Bird notes:
- The loud Cetti's Warbler was heard, relocated in the NE area.

Overhead:
- 22 Canada Geese: one group, inbound

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans:
- no Mallard noted
- no Gadwall
- 22 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Moorhen
- 63 Coots
- 12 Black-headed Gulls only
- 1 Herring Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Nothing else noted

(Ed Wilson)

Note:
If you happen to be at Priorslee Lake and hear a really loud burst of song, it could be the Cetti's Warbler.

Here is a short video of a Cetti's Warbler I recorded at Radipole Lake, Weymouth a few years back. There is a long intro and then the song. (Martin Adlam - Port and Wey)

And a photo of the Cetti's Warbler (Martin Adlam)

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The Flash: 10:15 – 10:55

(223rd visit of the year)

Slightly longer here.

Bird notes:
- Another day with a low number of Tufted Ducks (and they were certainly not at the lake)
- The Goosanders seemed rather unfazed by the fishermen.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Skylark

On /around the water:
- 25 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 37 (24♂) Mallard
- 12 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 (0♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 22 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Grey Herons

On the lamp poles:
Nothing on any of them

Noted elsewhere:
- c.100(?) Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris) on the Ivy flowers.
- No hoverflies
- Some unidentified flies

(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

2013
Candles Landfill Site
2nd winter Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gulls
Great Black-backed Gull
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Chiffchaff
Mistle Thrush
29 Fieldfares
32 Redwings
13 Siskins
3 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Shoveler
5 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2005
Trench Pool
2 Goosander
10 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)