5.0°C > 11.0°C: A few clouds: mist over the lake and fields early. Calm start with light SE breeze developing. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:24 BST
* = a photo from today.
Priorslee Lake: 05:50 – 09:30
(219th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I counted 74 Canada Geese on the water when it was light-enough to make them out: some may have already left as there was much calling going on. Most, if not all, soon departed in several groups in multiple directions. After 09:00 14 were noted arriving in three small groups, possibly some of the earlier birds returning?
- A big skein of 46 apparently all Greylag Geese flew high West at c. 07:50.
- A first winter Mediterranean Gull was on the same buoy as the one I saw on 25 September. It was too misty at the time to get a photo that might have indicated whether it was the same individual.
- Two more Eurasian Wigeon were present today. One was certainly a drake. I remain unsure as to the sex of the others: perhaps immatures?
- A Sparrowhawk shot over my head and unusually landed in view in the small copse at the West end. A few minutes later a male Pheasant flushed out of the south-west grassy area and the Sparrowhawk made a dive at it. Whether it was being serious about tackling such a large bird is hard to say.
- A Cetti's Warbler sang from the West end at c.06:45. At c.08:45 it, or another, was heard calling and then briefly seen, working the dam-face. Despite spending 10 minutes or so searching it refused to show again though it continued to call and I could see the vegetation shaking. I knew it was still present.
- House Sparrows were in the scrubby area at the West end. During the breeding season I saw this species at many different locations around the lake though I never suspected actual nesting. Birds seemed to be carrying food back to the estate area where they can be seen throughout the year. This is the first time I have noted them near the lake outside the breeding season.
- Seven Reed Buntings left the W end roost c.07:30. At least one more was still calling in the area.
Birds noted flying over here:
- *46 Greylag Geese: flew high West together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 35 Wood Pigeons
- 26 unidentified large gulls: pre-dawn
- 5 Cormorants: together
- 1 or more Sparrowhawks
- 31 Jackdaws
- 163 Rooks
- 4 Skylarks
- 5 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Meadow Pipit
Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: singing at the West end again: but see notes.
- 1 Chiffchaff: no song
Counts from the lake area:
- 74? Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 4 (1♂?) Eurasian Wigeon
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 15 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens only
- 184 Coots
- 13 Great Crested Grebes
- *c.110 Black-headed Gulls: none on the misty football field c.07:15
- 1 Mediterranean Gull: first winter
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 68 unidentified large gulls: pre-dawn
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *2 Pogonognathellus longicornis-type springtails
- *1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- *1 other species of spider
Noted later:
- Grey Squirrel
An adult winter Black-headed Gull with a glint in its eye.
If this is not a Pogonognathellus longicornis springtail I would like to see one with longer antennae.
Another Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) or, perhaps, the one I photographed yesterday.
I have trouble identifying many spiders at the best of time. This behaviour does not help!
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:35– 10:35
(211th visit of the year)
HighlightsNothing.
Often less of interest at weekends when many fishermen present.
- I only noted three of the four Mute Swan cygnets. It was probably lurking somewhere.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 25 Jackdaws: two duos and party of 21
- 1 Skylark
Warblers noted:
This is a harvestman from the Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus complex. Note that the second leg on the left side has come unplugged! The very long pedipalps are an instant identification that the harvestmen belongs to this group but their separation is a job for a specialist with a microscope or more.
I pointed my 'Seek' app. at them with this result. The app. comes from National Geographic and therefore has an American bias. It also fails to provide a scientific name for the species. Mr. Google to the rescue and also confirmed that this species occurs widely in the UK where it is commonly known as Fairy Inkcap fungus (Coprinellus disseminatus (formerly Coprinus disseminatus))
- I only noted three of the four Mute Swan cygnets. It was probably lurking somewhere.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 25 Jackdaws: two duos and party of 21
- 1 Skylark
Warblers noted:
None
Noted on / around the water
- >23 Canada Geese: many(?) more unseen inside island
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 23 (15♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 14 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 15 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: adult and juvenile still
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- *1 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Noted later:
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *Fairy Inkcap aka Trooping Crumble Cap fungus (Coprinellus disseminatus (formerly Coprinus disseminatus))
- >23 Canada Geese: many(?) more unseen inside island
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 23 (15♂) Mallard only
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 14 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 15 Moorhens
- 24 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes: adult and juvenile still
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- *1 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Noted later:
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *Fairy Inkcap aka Trooping Crumble Cap fungus (Coprinellus disseminatus (formerly Coprinus disseminatus))
A typically hyperactive party of Long-tailed Tits gave only brief view. Here are two birds.
On a dead log at the top end I found a large number of these fungi.
Another cluster of fruiting bodies.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp.
- 19 other midges / mosquitoes of various sizes
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipedes
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp.
- 19 other midges / mosquitoes of various sizes
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipedes
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Pochard
60 Tufted Duck
1 Water Rail
235 Coots
7 Song Thrushes
118 Fieldfare
30 Redwings
466 Jackdaws
139 Rooks
c.450 Starlings from roost
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
c.100 Greylag Geese
3 Gadwall
8 Pochard
18 Tufted Ducks
153 Coots
c.500 Black-headed Gulls
c.450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
118 Wood Pigeons
103 Redwings
154 Fieldfares
809 Jackdaws
201 Rooks
7 Siskin
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Pink-footed Goose
c.100 Greylag Geese
41 Canada Geese
41 Tufted Duck
12 Goosander
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Yellow legged Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
28 Pochard
65 Tufted Duck
46 Greenfinches
5 Fieldfares
11 Redwings
12 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
2 Goosanders
1 Pochard
45 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Great Black-backed Gull
1 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
2 Wigeon
Peregrine Falcon
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
23 Pochard
75 Tufted Ducks
950+ Black-headed Gulls
1204+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
499 Wood Pigeons
11 Meadow Pipits
23 Robins
23 Blackbirds
13 Fieldfares
4 Song Thrushes
18 Redwings
1 Willow Tit
321 Jackdaws
241 Rooks
22 Greenfinches
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)