12 Dec 23

Priorslee Balancing Lake only

8.0°C: Already low cloud descended to cover the tree-tops and render it very misty. Then after 08:15 it began to rain heavily. Light south-easterly wind. Moderate visibility, poor later, even very poor at times.

Sunrise: 08:12 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:15

(258th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- There were c.125 large gulls, almost all Lesser Black-backs, on the water by 06:45, my first view of the water after I had completed my round of the street lamp poles. Since I had not heard these arrive and they did not 'gas and go' like the usual early arrivals I presume these had, unusually, roosted here.
- The first gull arrivals were ten Black-headed Gulls at 07:30. Eventually about 175 Black-heads arrived in total.
- A few more large gulls arrived later though the low cloud base made distinguishing arrivals from birds merely flying around a bit hit-and-miss.
- In the mild conditions and before the rain set in three Song Thrushes were motivated to sing.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 7 Greylag Geese: a duo and a quintet 0utbound
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 6 Jackdaws
- 18 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 3 Redwings
- 3 Siskins

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.65 Starlings in three groups, all from the north-east area.

Counts from the lake area:

All numbers best-effort in poor conditions.
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Pochard
- 41 (24♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- no count of Coots
- c.175 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 22 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron

The (semi) nocturnal community on or around the street lamp poles at dawn:

Moths:
- 3 male Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata)

Otherwise:
- 1 ground beetle Nebria brevicollis

Spiders and allies:
- 1 spider, possibly Agelena labyrinthica
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 spider Neriene montana
- 1 possible Triangulate Cobweb Spider (Steatoda triangulosa)
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New fungus found:
- possible Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa)

Later on the soaking wet Teece Drive fence:

Nothing noted

Probably a male Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata). There is a very similar species, the Northern Winter Moth (O. fagata). At rest this slightly larger species tends to rest with the hindwings extending beyond the forewings. It may appear like that here but I think it is the way it is resting. Also the Northern Winter Moth has pale underwings. So Winter Moth it is in the log.

The ground beetle Nebria brevicollis.

Otherwise it was all spiders on the street lamp poles. These three photos are of species that do not appear too often. This is possibly Agelena labyrinthica.

The radiating lines on the thorax of this spider indicate it is a Neriene montana. A male with 'boxing glove' palps.

I have not seen this species of small spider previously. It is a good match for the Triangulate Cobweb Spider (Steatoda triangulosa).

I will have to get another look at this fungus to be sure. Obsidentify's best suggestion when I showed it this photo was Jelly Rot Fungus (Phlebia tremellosa). I can see why though photos on the web show it much paler. When it is not pouring with rain I'll point the phone directly at the live fungus and try again.

(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
2 Scaup (imm/fem)
4 Pochard
2 Teal
2 Goosanders
101 Tufted Duck
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
c.478 Lesser Black-backed
c30 Herring
c.5 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 Water Rail
245 Coots
18 Fieldfare
201 Redwings
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/Gary Crowder)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
2 Teal
45 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
10 Redwings
2 Fieldfares
(Ed Wilson/Martin Grant)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
c300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
11 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebe
36 Swans
29 Pochard
79 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
277 Coots
5 Redwings
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow-legged Gull
7 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Gadwall
45 Golden Plover
( John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
5 Cormorants
25 Pochard
44 Tufted Ducks
72 Coots
>2000 Black-headed Gulls
228 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
15 Herring Gulls
25 Robins
16 Blackbirds
31 Fieldfares
5 Redwings
278 Jackdaws
105 Rooks
32 Starlings
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
2 Little Grebes
7 Great Crested Grebes
16 Pochard
54 Tufted Duck
244 Coot
262 Jackdaws
285 Rooks
1 Redpoll
24 Siskins
21 Pied Wagtails
2 Grey Wagtails
8 Redwings
15 Fieldfares
13 Reed Buntings
13 Robins
19 Blackbirds
1 Willow Tit
14 Greenfinches
(Ed Wilson)