9 Oct 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

15.0°C > 17.0°C: Variable area of medium/high cloud to start. Some areas of lower cloud for a while. Finally after 10:00 some sunny spells. A calm start with a very light westerly breeze later. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:25 BST

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

Two highlights today: one more or less expected; the other not so.
- at c.06:00 my first Redwing of the Autumn called while I was checking the insects on the street lamp poles. Whether this was flying over or I flushed it from a roost is hard to say. At 07:25 on flew over the football field. At 08:15 a party of 58 flew overhead heading West. Finally at least eight flushed from the West end at 09:10.
- *at the bottom end of squirrel alley at The Flash I heard and then saw a Marsh Tit. I have not recorded any at The Flash for at least 10 years (the extent of my computerised log): and I do not recall ever seeing one here. At the Balancing Lake I have a single-day record of a bird heard only on 16 June last year. I recall that this species, declining nationwide, was not infrequent at the lake in the 1990's.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:25

(206th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- of the 87 Wood Pigeons 44 of these flew East in a scattered group. At low-level these were likely to be birds spooked from trees by e.g. a Sparrowhawk rather than bird moving. Migration is usually in tight groups at much higher level. I noted a partially plucked and eaten Wood Pigeon was on the football field so a Sparrowhawk is about.
- the Black-headed Gulls on the football field were very jumpy and kept flushing and returning. At least 150 (with one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with them for some of the time). Whatever was spooking the gulls was also spooking the Wood Pigeons as very few were on the grass c.07:30. I could not see anything that might have been disturbing them.
- unlike yesterday when a smaller than usual number of large gulls noted around dawn all flew over today a larger number all pitched in for a drink and bathe.
- I was all set to make an accurate count of the Jackdaws streaming over the lake when they all formed in to a tight group and circled before flying off in the same tight group. c.200?
- the Cetti's Warbler sang initially from the north-east area at 06:55. Later I heard one singing along the South side. Could there be two birds?

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 87 Wood Pigeons
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- c.225 Jackdaws
- 57 Rooks
- 4 Starlings: together
- 59 Redwings: as highlighted
- 1 Song Thrush
- 4 Pied Wagtails

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler: see notes
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Canada Goose: arrived
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 7 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 131 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- 15 Herring Gulls
- 98 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Kingfisher

On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:

Moths:
- none

Other things: another big haul with several more small insects that were quite beyond me!
- 1 ichneumon sp.
- 4 Spotted-winged Drosophila flies (Drosophila suzukii)
- *1 Muscid fly, probably Phaonia subventa
- *1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- 1 wood gnat Sylvicola sp.
- 1 plumed midge sp.
- *1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- *>4 blackfly aphids
- 1 springtail Tomocerus minor
- 4 Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *1 Neriene sp. spider, perhaps N. clathrata
- 1 Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica)
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders (Zygiella x-notata)
- *1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Noted later:

Aphid:
- *possible Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus)

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni)
- *a Staphylinidae rove beetle
- *weevil sp.

Molluscs:
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

A Grey Wagtail on one of its favourite locations: the boat-launching platform.

 The red-toned abdomen and build of this fly suggests it a Muscid fly, probably Phaonia subventa.

Yesterday's cranefly Tipula confusa had only three legs. Today's is one better.

There were many black aphids on the lamps pre-dawn, as here.

Later I found this one on the 'boxing ring' which Obsidentify suggested might be a Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus). I cannot find any photos of the winged form of this aphid on the web to check. It does however seem to show tubercles on the rear of the abdomen so it could well be this species (as suggested by the scientific family name).

It is no good you just sitting there. Get out and eat those aphids. A Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea).

Not a very good photo. This Staphylinidae rove beetle was roving too fast for me. Not a group of insects I see very often.

I am confused by this small weevil I found on the wooden fence separating Teece Drive from the Wesley Brook. There are dozens of small weevils on the NatureSpot web site but none of them shows banding on the elytra – they all seem to be longitudinally pitted.

A different spider I found today. A species of Neriene spider, perhaps N. clathrata. There are several similar species and the abdomen marking of all species is variable.

Probably the easiest harvestman to (partially) identify with the very long pedipalps and the long, bunched legs. Which of the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus it is, cannot be determined from photos.

A Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella). There does not seem to be anyone at home. Does somebody want to read the 'head line' of my palm?

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:30 – 10:45

(193rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *the Mute Swan cygnets all flew strongly down the length of the water and even managed a partial turn before splashing down. They took to the air of their own volition, their parents being elsewhere on the water.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
- 2 Skylarks: together

Warblers noted:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese: of these four arrived together
- 3 Greylag Geese
- 2 + *4 Mute Swans
- 39 (27♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- *22 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 26 brownhead Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- 46 Coots
- *4 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 41 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- no Grey Heron
- *1 Kingfisher

Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.:
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp.

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:

Butterflies:
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Bees / wasps etc.:
- *Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)

Other flies:
- *Face Fly (Musca autumnalis)
- *cluster fly Pollenia sp.

Molluscs:
- Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

Newly found fungus:
- *Conifer Mazegill (Gloeophyllum sepiarium)

Two of the Mute Swan cygnets flying strongly.

Just about managing a turn rather than crashing in to the water so they must have been flying for several days.

"I am watching you and not really asleep". A mistrustful Tufted Duck.

One of the adult Great Crested Grebes was staying boldly by one of the footbridges. It is one of the two or three adults that are not the parents of the two still occasionally begging juveniles.

This won't win prizes either but you can see it is a, distant, Kingfisher. It flew off!

Definite bird of the day and probably bird of the year here. A Marsh Tit with the black crown almost recalling Blackcap until you see it clearly.

I have many photos of very sharp Hawthorn berries and a rather out of focus Marsh Tit. I have included this to show the small 'Hitler' moustache (am I allowed to say that these days?) which is one way to separate this species from the very, very similar Willow Tit. Willow Tit has a slightly larger and neater moustache.

On both Marsh and Willow Tits, but not Blackcap, the black on the crown extends down the nape.

Very busy here!

A morsel in its bill.

This bird was thankfully very vocal. Despite their similar appearance the calls (and in season, the songs) of Marsh and Willow Tits are very different and diagnostic.

Time for another morsel I think.

Carrion Crows are usually wary and difficult to approach. With food on offer I was allowed close. Note the blue gloss. Apparently the closely-related Rook never 'glosses'.

Seen well they are fine-looking bird.

A busy Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

This fly with four white lines on the thorax and a rufous abdomen that has a central longitudinal black stripe is the Face Fly (Musca autumnalis). Face Fly because it is the fly that settles on the faces of cattle to drink fluid from around their eyes and nostrils. It also feeds on nectar. Despite its scientific name it is not confined to Autumn.

Billy no-mates. All on its own is one of the cluster flies Pollenia sp., often to be seen sunning as a group on lamp poles etc.

It is the time of year for fungus. This is Conifer Mazegill (Gloeophyllum sepiarium). I found it on the timber rail separating the water from the footpath along the West side. I'll try to remember to get a photo from underneath to show the 'maze gill' structure.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- none

Other things:
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- *1 Amaurobius sp. spider either A. fenestralis (woodland) or A. similis (houses)
- also the usual array of unidentified spiders

An Amaurobius sp. spider either A. fenestralis or A. similis. The former is noted as occurring primarily in woodland; the latter primarily around houses. So which is most likely here? The usual genitalia examination is needed for confirmation of specific identity.

(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

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)