15 Dec 23

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

5.0°C > 8.0°C: Overcast at low/medium level. Light south-westerly wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:15 GMT

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:20 – 09:30

(261st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The two Mute Swan cygnets seem to spend much time away from their parents though they did all go for a family flight yesterday. Still only along the length of the lake and the cygnets have not been exposed to 'the great outside' as yet.
- I am not sure whether any gulls roosted last night. I heard Black-headed Gulls arriving c.06:40 with more seen arriving at c.07:00. By 07:30 there were at least 650 present along with a few Herring Gulls and perhaps as many as 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- Unlike yesterday, when a later arrival of large gulls from the North saw birds coming low over the tree-tops, many of today's arrivals were initially mere dots circling very high overhead. As these circled losing height it was impossible to keep track of them. Soon after this another passage of large gulls was seen heading south-west to the north-west. Many of these broke away and headed for the lake where they became mixed up with the earlier arrivals that were already starting to leave. So the gull totals are rather approximate.

Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 2 Canada Geese: flew North together
- 20 Greylag Geese: all outbound in four groups
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- c.75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 12 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake.
None

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- 49 (26♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 120 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe
- c.650 Black-headed Gulls: again see notes for all gull numbers
- c.65 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

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

Moths:
- 3 male Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata)
- *1 Mottled Umber (Erranis defoliaria)

Flies:
- 1 unidentified midge sp.
- *1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Beetles:
- *2 Cabbage-stem Flea Beetles (Psylliodes chrysocephala)
- *1 small ladybird, perhaps Rhyzobius chrysomeloides

Spiders and allies:
- *1 spider, perhaps Neriene peltata
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Noted later on the dam's 'boxing ring':
- *1 spider, perhaps the money spider Lepthyphantes minutus

Noted later on the Teece Drive fence:
- *1 female Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

As usual a branch in the way. At least the Long-tailed Tit is (more or less) in focus.

That's better.

That's best.

Does not look like a moth does it? A female Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata).

The Mottled Umber moth (Erranis defoliaria) I noted here.

A winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

I have seen this flea beetle species before: a flea beetle not because of its size but because the swollen hind legs allow it jump away from predators. Obsidentify tells me it is a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala).

This is a tiny ladybird, probably Rhyzobius chrysomeloides.

This spider in one of the Neriene species, perhaps N. peltata.

I found this spider on the rail of the 'boxing ring' on the dam. It is perhaps the money spider Lepthyphantes minutus. Not all "money spiders" are tiny.

 Spring already? The Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkins are visible already.

Plane of the day: this is a Diamond Aircraft DA 40 D Diamond Star ('D' for diesel-powered). It is registered to Romeo Golf Aviation of Leamington Spa. It is not fitted with a modern transponder so I cannot say where it flies from.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:45

(245th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Redwings

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 16 Greylag Geese: of these seven departed.
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 2 + 4 Mute Swans
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 41 (30♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 3 (2♂) Pochard
- *57 (30♂) Tufted Duck
- 14 Moorhens
- 44 Coots
- *4 Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls: one adult; one third winter
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- *4 Cormorants: of these one departed
- *1 Grey Heron

Noted on street lamp poles around the area:

Moths:
- *1 Mottled Umber (Erranis defoliaria)

Spiders:
- *1 unidentified spider?

Of note elsewhere.
Nothing

A conundrum? What is it?

This is easier: a duck Mallard flying away.

A smart drake Tufted Duck...

 ... and a duck Tufted Duck.

"Don't mess with me".

Despite the growth on its neck this drake seems to surviving well. I first noted this bird several months ago.

Another drake: a first winter bird still to moult out some of its browner flank feathers.

These two Great Crested Grebes were doing a rather perfunctory display.

A long way away: this Cormorant is already showing a white-thigh patch indicating it is coming in to breeding plumage. (a Greylag Goose is behind it).

Do Cormorants ever look neat and smart? This one has typical scruffy wings and tail.

This one is indeed looking smart.

It, or another, looking smart. Wonderful coloured eyes when adult.

This Grey Heron shows lots of breeding plumes. The colour of the lower mandible also indicates it is in breeding condition.

The Mottled Umber moth (Erranis defoliaria) from here.

A very distinctive-looking spider. Obsidentify told me it is a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus): I am fairly certain it isn't. But I cannot suggest an alternative.

Another sign of Spring: a 'sticky bud'. When it bursts it will reveal the fresh new leaves of a Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).

(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
48 Magpies
2 Ravens
134 Starlings
1 Siskin
6 Gadwall
2 Teal
6 Pochard
115 Tufted Ducks
1 Water Rail
235 Coots
258 Black-headed Gulls
27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
24 Herring Gulls
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
32 Fieldfare
96 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Pochard
198 Tufted Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
6 Goosanders
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe.
4 Gadwall
8 Pochard
50 Tufted Ducks
1 Goosander
1 Water Rail
168 Coots
296 Wood Pigeons
3 Redwings
1 Fieldfare
203 Jackdaws
41 Rooks
4 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
1 Heron
34 Swans
2 Shoveler
1 Pochard
41 Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
170 Coots
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
10 Pochard
19 Tufted Ducks
Curlew
2 Fieldfare
23 Redwings
c.25 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
33 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Goosander
1 Common Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Black necked Grebe
30 Mute Swans
2 Gadwall
27 Pochard
93 Tufted Ducks
1 Teal
263 Coot
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
600 Black-headed Gulls
Goldcrest
11 Siskins
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Herons
25 Pochard
41 Tufted Ducks
64 Coots
>500 Black-headed Gulls
>1700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
7 Herring Gulls
35 Robins
30 Blackbirds
c.30 Fieldfare
c.24 Redwings
259 Jackdaws
232 Rooks
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)