25 Jan 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

1.0°C: Dull and overcast. Early light WSW breeze died away. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:03 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 07:00 – 09:25

(23rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- This morning it was Black-headed Gulls that were first to arrive with c.40 at 07:40 flying in, as usual, low from the W. Another similar-sized group arrived a few minutes later. Then c.35 arrived high from the N, travelling with the first large gulls – 12 Herring Gulls and 72 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
- Later it was again more Herring Gulls than Lesser Black-backed Gulls that stopped off for a wash and drink.
- Again the dull conditions prevented specific identification of most of the large gulls over flying the lake.
- More than 20 Siskins in trees at the W end.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 6 Canada Geese: outbound together low over the football field
- 55 Wood Pigeons: 46 of these in two groups flying W
- 49 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 76 large gulls
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 74 Jackdaws: same number as yesterday

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- 2 + 3 (1) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall again
- 2 (1♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) Pochard as ever
- 21 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens again
- 35 Coots only
- c.115 Black-headed Gulls
- 27 Herring Gulls
- 81 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants again
- 1 Grey Heron again

On and around the lamps:

Moths:
- *1 dead / moribund individual, probably an Early Moth (Theria primaria)

Nothing else

Not too sure about this: it looks to be a scrunched up and presumably dead moth. I have probably seen this at the top of a lamp pole for several mornings and dismissed it as detritus or remains of spider prey (it may be this). This morning it seemed to have slipped lower down and was just amenable to a flash photo. It is clearly a moth but what? I suspect it is an Early Moth (Theria primaria): it is the right colour. Photos on the Norfolk Moths web site show the pale-ended legs: this feature is not illustrated in the field guide which shows the typical resting position with the legs underneath the body and wings. Also note that alongside the middle of the right wing there is what looks like a (detached) feathered antenna: this feature is shown by the full-winged males of this species.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:30 – 10:20

(22nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The drake Teal was seen out on open water. No sign of any partner.
- Bumper number of Herring Gulls present.

Bird noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

On /around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 41 (26♂) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 46 (25♂) Tufted Duck
- *1 (1♂) Teal again
- no Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- *1 Great Crested Grebe
- 58 Black-headed Gulls
- *10 Herring Gulls: two (near?) adults; one third winter; two second winters, and five first winters
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, departed
- 1 Grey Heron again

On a different street lamp pole:
- *1 Early Moth (Theria primaria)

Even in the dull conditions I was able to get a reasonable photo of the drake Teal.

The Great Crested Grebe that arrived / returned three days ago. A few feathers of the breeding head-plumes are starting to show.

The pale eye and limited amount of black on the lower mandible only suggests that this is a third winter Herring Gull.

A dark eye and mainly dark bill indicates a second winter Herring Gull. Two adult Black-headed Gulls behind it.

Here is a first winter Herring Gull. The bill has pale only at the very base. A similar-age Lesser Black-backed Gull would be darker overall.

To complete the set: centre left is an adult Herring Gull and a rather small individual at that, likely a female. The bulkier second-winter top-right shows a small pale tip to the bill. A first winter is in the foreground.

Today's Early Moth (Theria primaria) on a different lamp pole from any others I have seen this season. I remain somewhat bemused by the brown-tone of all the specimens I have seen in the area. Photos on the web tend to look paler with some looking almost grey-toned. There is no other species flying at this time of year of a similar size and with this wing-shape.

(Ed Wilson)

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

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2014
Priorslee Lake
11 Pochard
61 Tufted Duck
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
98 Coots
4 Redwings
c.735 Jackdaws
c.257 Rooks
4 Siskins
1 Redpoll 
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
92 Tufted Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
Peregrine
6 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
31 Wigeon 
12 Gadwall 
1 Greater Scaup
>700 Black-headed Gulls
7 Common Gulls
>1500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
>300 Herring Gulls
7 Great Black-backed Gulls.
(Ed Wilson, (John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine
1 Little Grebe 
30 Swans
4 Gadwall
28 Pochard
86 Tufted Ducks
1 Buzzard 
296 Coots
5 Redwings
27 Greenfinches
c.30 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Goldeneye
1 Water Rail
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
c.1300 Black-headed Gulls
c.120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
c.45 Herring Gulls
10 Great Crested Grebes
2 Gadwall
24 Pochard
22 Tufted Ducks
152 Coot
1 Water Rail
c.48 Siskins
1 Redpoll
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)