13 Apr 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 10.0°C: Some early brightness but also some low-level misty areas. More general cloud at multiple levels later with rain and drizzle after 08:30. Calm early with light SW wind later. Very good visibility but only moderate once rain arrived.

Sunrise: 06:17 BST

* = a photo today

The big passage of Willow Warblers continues. Ten again at the lake; three between the lake and The Flash; and at least 16 around The Flash. There were probably many more at The Flash: for much of my walk around at any one time I could hear three or four birds singing. Keeping track of them as they actively fed in the trees and bushes was a challenge. The largest number I have recorded on any single day.

Will we get some of the promised sun and warm weather soon?

Priorslee Lake: 05:20 – 06:40 // 07:45 – 09:20

(87th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The second Common Sandpiper of Spring on a more typical 'first date' that had been eclipsed this year by the bird on 29 March.
- A Cetti's Warbler was frequently singing from his most recently favoured area between the Wesley Brook bridge and the sailing club's concrete ramp. I also saw a bird along the N side lurking in reeds / willow scrub. Whether our songster has a partner / competitor or whether he was taking a trip away from home territory is hard to say.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 5 Wood Pigeons only
- 1 Collared Dove
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 16 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.30 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows again
These arrived at the onset of the heavier rain at 08:45

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler: see notes
- 10 (9) Willow Warblers again
- 19 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 16 (12) Blackcaps

Counts from the lake area:
- 1? Canada Goose still
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest throughout
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 29 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Common Sandpiper

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *several plumed midges
- *a 'Pushmi-Pullyu fly (Diptera dolittlii)'
- *a small crane fly sp.
- Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- several springtails
- *Common Pygmy Woodlouse (Trichoniscus pusillus agg.)
- *a ground beetle probably Agonum emarginatum

Noted later:
- slugs and
- *1 possible Shiny Glass Snail (Zonitoides nitidus)

Good of this Common Sandpiper to pose so well. Pity there was not more light. Note the rain drops on its back. The best identification for this species when on the ground is the white area extending on to the shoulder and, typically, the continual bobbing of its rear end. It flies on fluttering wings that never rise above the horizontal as it skims the water.

A Great Tit attacking one of last year's reed stems to get at insects within. The wide black 'zip' on the belly means this is a male.

The 'Pushmi-Pullyu fly (Diptera dolittlii)'. In reality of course two flies mating. Note that in this species, whatever it is, the male's antennae are not plumed.

Since they were together I decided to show these two plumed midges that I am sure are of different species, the upper individual looks more robust.

This is a small crane fly and a female – note the pointed abdomen. The photo caught it just as it took off. I can only make out five legs; the front pair seem disproportionately long. The trailing edge of the right wing seems to be hairy. None of these features helps me identify the species involved.

I think a Common Pygmy Woodlouse (Trichoniscus pusillus agg.). The 'agg. (aggregate)' in the scientific name is appended because it is now known that there are two very similar species involved and separation is only possible – you guessed it – by examining the genitalia.

This is a ground beetle and likely the very common species Agonum emarginatum. There are several similar beetles in this genus all of which have the rather blunt-ended abdomen. Most of the other species having varying amounts of brown on their legs.

I am certain this is one of the glass snails. The orange spot behind the opening might indicate it is a Shiny Glass Snail (Zonitoides nitidus) though none of the photos of this species show such pronounced markings in the whorls.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:45 – 07:40

(84th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The Tufted Duck were even more mobile today, chasing around in small groups and flying around as well as up and down. Best effort on numbers.
- Very low count of Moorhens. Probably partly because I was looking up at and for Willow Warblers.
- At least ten Bramblings were high in trees in the top left area again. To dull to even try for another poor photo.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 16 (16) Willow Warblers: as highlighted
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps

Noted on / around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans
- 19 (17♂) + 2 ducklings (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 48 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first year

On / around the street lamp poles:
Nothing noted

Seen elsewhere:
- 1 Grey Squirrel

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- 2 (1♂) Mallard on grass beside the lower pool
- 1 Moorhen in the upper pool
- 3 Willow Warblers: all in song
- 2 Chiffchaffs: one singing alongside each pool
- 1 Starling
and
- 2 Grey Squirrels

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- 2 plumed midges
- 1 small snail
- >5 slugs including what is probably a *Yellow Slug (Limacus flavus)
Yesterday's rain has brought the slugs out though they won't find food in the tunnel!

Slugs are very hard to specifically identify. 'Black slugs' can be yellow: 'yellow slugs' can be black. This may well be a Yellow Slug (Limacus flavus), though in much of the country this species is being replaced by and / or is hybridising with the Irish Yellow Slug (Limacus maculatus) ["the Irish coming over here and eating all our lettuces..."!]. The length of the yellow line running up the abdomen from the tail favours the former species.

(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

2014

Priorslee Lake

3 Great Crested Grebes

1 Grey Herons

2 Greylag Geese

1 Common Sandpiper

c.10 Sand Martins

>6 Barn Swallows

1 House Martin

2 Tawny Owls

2 Meadow Pipits

8 Blackcaps

8 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warbler

276 Jackdaws

(Ed Wilson)

The Flash

1 Greylag Goose

1 Cackling-type Goose

17 Tufted Ducks

1 Swallow

5 Blackcap

5 Chiffchaffs

3 Willow Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

2013

Priorslee Lake

3 Little Ringed Plover 

>20 Willow Warbler

(John Isherwood)

The Flash

2 Shoveler

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

2 Common Redstart

8 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington

47 Black-tailed Godwit

6 Ringed Plover

3 Redshank

1 Dunlin

3 Swallows

(Andy Latham)

2011

Priorslee Lake

2 House Martin

(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill

7 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2008

Priorslee Lake

4 Common Sandpiper

4 Gadwall

(John Isherwood)

2006

Priorslee Lake

12 Swallow

23 Sand Martin

1 House Martin

5 Great Crested Grebes

3 Tufted Ducks

2 Ruddy Ducks

1 Water Rail

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

2 Fieldfares

3 Blackcaps

5 Chiffchaffs

6 Willow Warblers

2 Greenfinches

1 Siskin

1 Reed Bunting

(Martin Adlam)