6 May 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 13.0°C: Low overcast lifted somewhat with a few breaks before light rain after 09:30. Light SE wind. Moderate visibility becoming good for a while.

Sunrise: 05:29 BST

* = a species with a photo today

Back from just over two weeks in America. Warbler numbers somewhat provisional as I have not yet sorted out all the territories.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:05

(91st visit of the year)

New Bird Species
The remaining regular Summer visitors had all arrived while I was away so I added these bird species to my 2023 listing from here:
- Swift
- Sedge Warblers
- Garden Warblers
- Common Whitethroats
bringing my 2023 total to 89 species.

Other bird notes:
- It was reported that one of last year's Mute Swan cygnets was noted dead and reported to DEFRA and taken away. It seems most likely to have been the bird continually chased by the adult cob. It may have died of exhaustion or starved as a result. The other three cygnets would appear to have flown off of their own accord.
- Great Crested Grebes do not yet seem to have established territories (or pairings) with several fights seen.
- The Cetti's Warbler was even more vocal and mobile than usual and twice popped out in the open very briefly. It is just possible two birds were involved.
- I was rather surprised to hear two Willow Warblers still singing here. They have not bred here for some years with all the singing birds usually moving through.
- Four singing Sedge Warblers is my highest-ever count of this species' songsters here.
- An improbable count of at least thirteen Reed Warblers. Several of these were in rather unsuitable habitat and perhaps birds either passing through; or unable to find space in the reeds for a territory.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 23 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 4 Jackdaws

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler: see notes
- 2 (2) Willow Warblers
- 13 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Sedge Warblers
- 13 (13) Reed Warblers
- 15 (13) Blackcaps
- *2 (2) Garden Warblers
- 2 (1) Common Whitethroats

Hirundines etc., noted:
- *4 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows

Counts from the lake area:
- *4 + 6 (1 brood) Canada Geese: the resident pair with goslings; the other pair chased away
- 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- *4 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens
- 29 + 3 (2 broods) Coots
- *7 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Cormorant very briefly

Noted on the damp street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 unidentified slug

Noted later:
- *Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria)
- *two other fly sps.
- *Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni)
- *Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) flowers
- *Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers
- *Common Plantain (Plantago major)
- *Wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana) flowers
- *Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica) flowers
- *Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) flowers

The pair of Canada Geese with their six goslings. How well they will cope with the attentions of the cob Mute Swan remains to be seen. He has killed all the goslings for the last two years.

Sitting alongside the path along the dam top is Mrs. Mallard. I hope this is not where she is brooding her eggs.

One of the battling Great Crested Grebes takes off.

As does another with a third bird in the water, partially hidden.

The distinctive silhouette of a Swift. This species is just about the last of the Summer visitors to arrive and also the first to leave, most birds will be gone by early August.

Not much light for bird photography, especially flying birds. This was the best I could do with the passing Jay.

Or is this slightly better?

Or this one with no visible means of support?

Or this?

One of two Garden Warblers this morning. Remember that this species has no distinguishing plumage features.

This insect resembles a caddis fly but the dark wings with very prominent venation identifies it as an Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria).

One of two different species of fly I noted. This looks rather like a Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) except that it is not yellow.

And the other unidentified fly. Perhaps one of the soldier fly species. Note the hairy eyes.

Probably a harmless gnat. Probably.

A Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina). I have no idea what the white object is beside one of its legs.

The only thing I noted on the street lamp poles around dawn was this slug. Identification of slugs is difficult with most species having several colour forms.

Many different white flowers at the moment. This is Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) flowers, a species also known as 'May' for obvious reasons.

Rather early to be flowering is this Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). Identify by the outer flowers of the umbels having larger petals.

I showed a photo of Hedge Garlic [or Jack-by-the-Hedge] (Alliaria petiolata) as the flower was just opening. Here is one now in full bloom.

I also showed a photo of Ramsons (Allium ursinum) as the flower was about to open. Here is one in full bloom.

Here is Common Plantain (Plantago major) in flower.

Yet another white flower: this is from a Wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana).

Not all the flowers are white: this is Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica). Some of the flowers have a mauve tone.

This is Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:10 – 09:50

(84th visit of the year)

New Bird Species
The only addition to my 2023 bird list from here was House Martin, with two birds seen high to the East of the water taking my count to 66. I could see any Swifts in the distance over their usual nesting area in St Georges.

Other bird notes:
- *A pair of Greylag Geese with six goslings. The third Greylag paired with a Canada Goose.
- *A very new brood of nine Mallard ducklings.
- All the earlier Willow Warblers seem to have moved on from here.

Birds noted flying over here:
None

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 2 House Martins

Noted on / around the water
- 15 Canada Geese
- *3 + 6 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 + 1 Mute Swans: ? eggs
- *13 (10♂) + 9 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Peking(?) Duck)
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 23 + 6 (2 broods) Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes

On / around the street lamp poles
Nothing noted

Of interest elsewhere:
- Hybrid Bluebell (Hyacinthoides x massartiana)

A pair of Greylag Geese with six goslings.

Mrs. Mallard with her nine small ducklings.

Not sure what is going on with this pair of Great Crested Grebes. The bird on the right clambered on to the tree root – a difficult task for this species with its legs set so for back.

(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

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2008
Nedge Hill
5 Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
4 Wheatear
(Arthur Harper)