15 Oct 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 7.0°C: Almost clear skies. Very light west-north-west wind. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 07:35 BST

+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today

Highlight was my first Woodcock of the Winter at 06:30 flying along the North edge of the Balancing Lake towards its day roost – wherever that is.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:15

(212th visit of the year)

It is getting busy – as it does every Autumn.

Bird notes:
- probably many more Wood Pigeons in migrant parties than the 906 I counted. Firstly I was surprised how early passage started (07:40) and may have missed some earlier groups. Then in the clear skies some even large groups were surprisingly difficult to see. I also noted behaviour I cannot recall from earlier years. It is usual for local birds to be noted setting off to catch up with groups overhead. Today a (very) few birds did the opposite and left the migrant groups and dropped in to the local trees.
- not many gulls again this morning. The nine unidentified large gulls flying over pre dawn looked to be heading to the Bayliss Pools near the M54 Service Station.
- both Sparrowhawk and a female Peregrine powered over. Two Common Buzzards probably came from a roost in trees on the north-east side of the M54 Castle Farm Interchange, setting off to the North for a day's hunting.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 5 Canada Geese: a trio outbound and two flying South
- 16 Feral Pigeon: 11 and then a quartet flying East; a single flying West
- 983 Wood Pigeons: of these 906 were in thirteen migrant groups flying South
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 unidentified large gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Peregrine
- 1 Cormorant
- 239 Jackdaws
- 75 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 3 Fieldfare
- 5 Redwings
- 5 Pied Wagtails
- 2 Siskins

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose: arrived
- 2 + 2 Mute Swan
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 1 (1♂) Mallard
- 10 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 133 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:

Moths:
- *4 November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.)

Other things:
- *1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 2 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis
- 1 springtail Tomocerus minor
- *1 unidentified ground beetle Nebria sp.
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- ++*1 spider sp., possibly a Mothercare Spider (Phylloneta sisyphia)
- 2 male harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli
- 3 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis

Noted later:
- *3 more harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
I could again not find an Alder Leaf Beetle!

A collage of the four November Moths (Epirrita dilutata agg.) sitting at various angles on various street lamp poles. Any difference in appearance is most likely due to variability within the species rather than any specific identification feature.

I am fairly certain this is one of the winter craneflies, more delicate than 'regular' craneflies. There are several in the genus Trichocera, not readily separable from photos.

Today's unidentified ground beetle Nebria sp.

This spider is possibly a Mothercare Spider (Phylloneta sisyphia). The markings on the abdomen are correct. The species is noted as having a "very rounded abdomen" and I am wondering whether it is round enough. This was the second choice given by my app., the first choice at a low 42% was clearly wrong.

It seem 'that time of year' for harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis. Rather than show a flash photo of one on the street lamp poles pre-dawn here is one in daylight on the fence between Teece Drive and the Wesley Brook. It more clearly shows the pale line down the centre of the abdomen and the thicker basal part of the legs – all eight of them.

Or only six legs for this specimen in the same area. Seems harvestmen lose legs as easily as craneflies. The internet suggests that this is when attacked by predators. It makes them less likely to mate successfully. If spiders lose a leg it can regrow. Harvestmen cannot do this useful trick.

This one has seven and a half legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:30

(198th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the sun persuaded a Chiffchaff to sing, albeit rather intermittently.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *5 Cormorants: together
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted:
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese
- 2 + *4 Mute Swans
- 39 (27♂) + 4 Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 10 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 38 brownhead Goosander
- 16 Moorhens
- 44 Coots
- 4 + 3 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 17 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.:
- *1 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
- *1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- *1 stretch spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:

Butterflies:
- *Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Bees / wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Hoverflies:
- Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Other flies:
- many including *Common Blow Fly (Calliphora vicina)

Fungus:
- no new fungus seen

Two of the four Mute Swan cygnets take themselves for a fly.

I selected this immature Cormorant from the group of five that flew over together. The extent of the white on the belly reduces as the bird ages and matures. Some internet sites suggest only juveniles and first year birds have white on the belly. If this is so then I see many more first year birds than adults which seems unlikely. I would suggest that the extent of the white reduces over perhaps three years.

A Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) with a rush of blood to the head. And no: I did not edit the photo to make it point that way!

I took this photo of a random wasp among dozen on the Ivy bank and was rewarded with a German Wasp (Vespula germanica), identified by the yellow along the side of the thorax not being parallel-sided as it is on the Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris).

The working part of the cranefly Limonia nubeculosa.

And the working part of the cranefly Tipula confusa. A very different head and thorax shape from the previous species. Unusual for a species in the genus Tipula it rests with its wings held over its back as in the Limonia species above.

I noted yesterday that I was surprised by the length of the tongue on the Common Blow Fly (Calliphora vicina). Here is another view of one apparently cleaning its tongue with its front legs. (or its front legs with its tongue?)

A stretch spider Tetragnatha sp. at full stretch.

Plane of the day. A Cessna 172 Skyhawk owned by Aviolease Ltd., with a registered address at Doncaster - Sheffield Airport. This airport, sometimes known as Robin Hood Airport, closed last year but I guess with the company leasing aircraft to other operators it could still have its offices in the still extant buildings. There are efforts being made to reopen the airfield.

(Ed Wilson)

Note

The Smew was back at The Flash this morning.

(Ann Dewhurst)

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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
Nedge Hill
2 Fieldfare
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Gulls
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
12 Pochard
87 Tufted Ducks
1 Kingfisher
23 Pied Wagtails
32 Robins
12 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
11 Redwings
c.130 Starlings
(Ed Wilson)