Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

21 Jan 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 5.0°C: Early there were a few breaks in medium-high level cloud. Low cloud soon rolled in from the south-east with a sharp shower c.09:00 after which the cloud descended further in to misty murk with light rain and drizzle. Moderate-fresh south-easterly wind. Good visibility becoming moderate and then poor.

Sunrise: 08:08 GMT

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:55 – 09:20

(18th visit of the year)

Of Interest
Thanks to various people's help I now have full information about the ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull that I photographed 14 January on the ice. It was ringed as a nestling by the Severn Estuary Gull Group in Gloucestershire on 23 May 2005. For the next six years it was recorded more than 50 times in and around Gloucestershire. Since then it has been recorded intermittently at several landfill sites in Leicestershire except on 25 January 2013 when it was seen here (Priorslee Lake) by an observer noted as "RC". Welcome back to a 20 year old!

Today's bird notes:
- no Canada Geese.
- the pair of Goosander remain.
- another day with small numbers of gulls on the water
- the first four Black-headed Gulls arrived at 07:45. Soon after c.40 arrived from the West and almost immediately departed to the South. Later there were c.110 on the water. I have assumed these were different birds.
- the first Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew South at 07:30 and it was 07:39 when the first of six Herring Gulls and just 26 Lesser Black-backs arrived, staying only a short while. Most of the gulls passed to the East, confusingly concurrent with the Jackdaws and Rooks and using the same flight line.
- the Great (White) Egret was seen flying off West at 09:00 (and presumably the bird seen later at The Flash). It was in the air with two Grey Herons. I could not tell whether the herons were chasing it or perhaps sparring among themselves and the egret merely retreated for safety.
- a single Chaffinch and a single Greenfinch slightly improved on yesterday's dearth of finches.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Herring Gulls
- 102 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 219 Jackdaws
- 149 Rooks
- 1 Redwing

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 (4♂) Mallard
- 18 (10♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander still
- 5 Moorhens
- 16 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Heron again
- 1 Great (White) Egret: flew off.

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Breezy again around the poles.

Moths:
- 1 Early Moth Theria primaria

Flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Springtails:
- 7 springtails sp. of at least three species including
*probable Dicyrtomina saundersi
*Orchesella cincta

Beetles:
- 1 possible Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala

Spiders / harvestmen etc.:
- *3 spiders, some possibly laceweb spiders Amaurobius fenestralis.

I did not have much luck with some of these. The moth, the cranefly and the flea-beetle all flew away as soon as my torch beam hit them!

Later on the wet Teece Drive fence

Nothing noted

Too damp and gloomy to photograph and birds at the lake. The usual oddities from the street lamp poles. This springtail might be Dicyrtomina saundersi. Then again... Needs greater resolution to provide a confirmed identity.

Is this the same species? The markings on the abdomen of all the globular springtails are variable making identification a challenge.

I am almost certain this is the springtail Orchesella cincta. I have never noticed before that the legs as well and the antennae have pale areas.

I presume a springtail. I can't find any species similar to this in the NatureSpot photo gallery.

Two of these spiders were close together on one of the street lamp poles. Difficult to photograph as they were both close to a fold in the pole which was where the camera insisted on focussing. Obsidentify suggested the laceweb spider Amaurobius fenestralis.

The photo of the other is no better!

On the next pole along was this male spider (boxing gloves as palps). I tried both Obsidentify and Google Lens. Neither gave what I felt was an acceptable identity either before or after I edited the photo, with both changing their suggestions after editing.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:25

(13th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Mute Swans again
- still strangely absent so far this year are Greylag Geese.
- the Pochard were difficult to count, most diving continually in the mist. One of my bird books says this species is a nocturnal feeder and spends the day loafing on the surface. Seems these birds have not read their manual.
- ten Goosander (four *drakes) today.
- back to a high count of Moorhens. They seem to like the wet weather.
- I confirmed there were two Great Crested Grebes today even though I never saw two at the same time. One has more developed head plumes than the *other.
- no Cormorants today.
- the Great (White) Egret was perhaps taking refuge from the Balancing Lake and sitting on the island. It is hard to hide a large white bird.
- as yesterday Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Goldfinch were all seen here. A group of at least 20 of the later were here today.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Noted on / around the water:
- 14 Canada Geese
- no Mute Swans
- 26 (19♂) Mallard
- 8 (8?♂) Pochard
- *39 (22♂) Tufted Duck
- 10 (*4♂) Goosander
- 17 Moorhens
- *37 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 28 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: first-winter, briefly
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great (White) Egret

Noted around the area:

Springtails:
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta

Five drake and two duck Tufted Duck...

...five more drakes with just one duck...

...go to the top end guys where three drakes have nine girls for company (and a Coot).

A drake Goosander powering away. These are often shy birds. When I arrived several were close to the Derwent Drive wall. As soon as I tried to creep out of the car they sped away.

One of the Great Crested Grebes was alongside one of the footbridges and happy to be photographed.

"My other side"

Note the lobed feet used to powering through the water after fish.

Slightly soggy. But then so was I.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
2 Greater Scaup
1 Velvet Scoter
117 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Redwings
c.274 Jackdaws
(Ed Wilson / Mike Stokes)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
26 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
22 Pochard
76 Tufted Ducks
157 Coots
1 Common Gull
144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
74 Herring Gulls
4 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Glaucous Gull
Juvenile Iceland Gull
(Observer Unknown)

2007
Priorslee Lake
2 Pochard
36 Tufted Ducks
c.195 Black-headed Gulls
48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
34 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
5 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
132 Coot
2 Water Rail
c.1600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
428 Jackdaws
438 Rook
300 Wood Pigeons
14 Robin
80 Fieldfare
30 Redwing
11 Blackbird
1 Willow Tits
6 Greenfinch
65 Siskins
6 Redpolls
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

20 Jan 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 8.0°C: A few breaks in the clouds and occasional sunny bits. Moderate south-easterly wind gusting fresh. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 08:09 GMT

* = a species photographed today

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:05 – 09:20

(17th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- six Canada Geese remain.
- *a trio of adult Mute Swans flew in from the East c.07:45 settling on the water as a pair and a single. At c.08:15 another adult flew in from the West. All four were then sometimes together, sometimes raising wings in threat and sometimes looking "friendly" before all four flew off West together c.09:05.
- at c.07:35 there were 14 Tufted Duck (11 drakes) and 5 drake Pochard in the middle of the water. Some of these Tufted Duck (there were others elsewhere) and all the Pochard departed, perhaps to The Flash?
- the pair of Goosander still here. Also an unsexed bird flew East c.07:45.
- another small gull arrival. The early arrival of Black-headed Gulls began at 07:45 with just five birds, slowly increasing to 24. By 08:30 there were 75.
. the large gulls started arriving at 07:35 with 10 Herring Gulls and 46 Lesser Black-backs noted. A higher number of Lesser Black-backs flew South to the East early. Almost no gulls flew over later.
- the first sizeable passage of Jackdaws and Rooks for some while. Probably at least in part because for the good visibility.
- at least one Redwing was calling pre-dawn from the hedge between the lake and the M54. Seems a noisy place to roost.
- the only "finches" noted here today were Siskins. These were possibly only flying over.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew East
- 1 (?♂) Goosander
- 17 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 94 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 348 – er, let's say c.350 Jackdaws
- 166 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: arrived and departed – see notes
- 16 (9♂) Mallard
- 5 (5♂) Pochard: departed
- 26 (18♂) Tufted Duck: some of these departed
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 3 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Herring Gulls
- 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *3 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret: chased away by one of the herons.

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Breezy around the poles.

Flies:
- *1 midge, perhaps a Cerotelion species

Springtails:
- *1 springtail sp., probably Dicyrtomina saundersi

Spiders / harvestmen etc.:
- *1 money spider, perhaps Erigone sp.

Later on the wet Teece Drive fence:

Nothing noted

A sunny interlude gave the North side an autumnal look.

One of the pair of Mute Swans that flew in from the East. This is a cob (male).

This is probably his intended.

Here the fourth Mute Swan flies in. Also a cob I suspect.

All four together with cobs book-ending the group.

The pairs getting friendly, the bird on the left with tail raised.

And away they go, more or less synchronised.

Not easy to identify at this angle...

...is an immature Cormorant with the early morning sun on it.

The Great (White) Egret was chased away by one of the Grey Herons. The low morning sun gives it pale yellow tone.

And from this angle the bone structure of the wings is revealed.

Two Mistle Thrushes, almost certainly a pair, in trees above the Wesley Brook bridge. I assume the two birds that were on the south-west grass earlier.

Obsidentify suggested a cranefly for this insect. I think not: there seem to be no craneflies with spurs on their legs and the curved antennae are unusual to say the least. Going back to the "old school" Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe it looks to be a midge, quite possibly one of the Cerotelion species. While Collins suggests a 6 – 10 (months) flight period the iNaturalist web site shows records from all Winter months.

This springtail is probably Dicyrtomina saundersi.

I have logged this spider as possibly one of the money spider Erigone group though this one looks larger and longer bodied than individuals I have seen previously.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:40

(13th visit of the year)

New Bird Species
Three additions to my 2026 bird species list for here:
- a pair of Ravens tumbled over and calling while flying West.
- a Jay was heard calling at the top end.
- *a Common Buzzard flew over
This brings this year's bird species count to 46.

Bird notes:
- no Mute Swans again
- *nine (eight? drake) Pochard. Some of these as seen earlier at the lake?
- nine Goosander (five drakes) today.
- after several days with high counts of Moorhens I was struggling to find many today.
- I could not find the Little Grebe.
- *three Cormorants today, one an adult in breeding condition.
- there may have been a dearth of finches at the lake but *Chaffinch, *Greenfinch, Bullfinch and *Goldfinch were all seen here.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- *1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Jackdaw
- 2 Ravens

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese
- no Mute Swans
- 27 (20♂) Mallard
- *9 (8?♂) Pochard
- *28 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 (5♂) Goosander
- 7 Moorhens
- 36 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 36 Black-headed Gulls
- *3 Cormorants: two departed separately
- 2 Grey Herons

Noted around the area:

Springtails:
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta

A drake Pochard at rest but keeping careful watch.

Possibly a duck Pochard. A few weeks ago there seemed, most unusually, to be more ducks than drakes present. There aren't now and I suspect that most of the putative ducks were late-moulting drakes, likely first year birds. I still worry that the rear end of this bird is too black to be a duck.

"My what a big tuft you have!". Drake Tufted Duck of course.

Birds on the island challenge the camera. Two Cormorants. The bird on the right has well-developed whine head-plumes with a small part of the white thigh patch visible. The bird on the left has just a few wisps or its head plumes and a smidgeon of the white thigh patch visible. Both will likely breed this year.

Species #46 here this year – a fly-over Common Buzzard.

A Song Thrush with its mouth closed. More intent on feeding than singing.

A male Chaffinch. If you were to paint this species you would need a wide palette.

Mrs. Chaffinch is more subdued! Note her bill is dark.

I don't usually take photos of birds at feeders. This was the only opportunity I had to photograph a smart male Greenfinch. The tail-on bird is a female Greenfinch. She is much paler green with streaking down her back....

...and her front. Usually described as "flammulated".

Another Mrs. Chaffinch included because top left is a female Greenfinch in flight showing that she is in fact significantly green.

A Goldfinch tucks in to an Alder cone for the seeds.

(Ed Wilson)

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19 Jan 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

6.0°C: Overcast with mist rolling in and out. Very-light south-easterly wind. Moderate / poor visibility.

[Sunrise: 08:10 GMT]

* = a species photographed today

Mist in Newport early so I decided not to visit until it was properly(?) light.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:20 – 10:30

(16th visit of the year)

Viewing only from the dam-top.

Bird notes:
- still six Canada Geese.
- at least 21 Mallard were noted flying around, presumably to and from the storm pools to the East. Fewer of these were seen on the water later.
- Pochard seem to have moved in from The Flash.
- the pair of Goosander still present.
- very few gulls: none when I arrived with only a few flying in.

Bird(s) noted flying:

Not counted.

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 8 (5♂) Mallard
- 6 (6♂) Pochard
- 18 (12♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (1♂) Goosander
- 5 Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls: all arrived
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: arrived together
- 4 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Heron: one departed
- 1 Great (White) Egret: departed

Two male Pied Wagtails were competing for the attentions of a female on and around the boxing ring. Here is one of the males. Note the black back.

And the female with a grey back.

The other male. His black bib is still incomplete as he moults in to breeding plumage.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:40 – 11:45

(12th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Mute Swans seen.
- the Pochard seem to have gone to the Balancing Lake.
- eight Goosander (three drakes).
- the Little Grebe seen briefly in the mist.
- possibly more than one Great Crested Grebe. Noted in several different locations but with the mist I could never see more than one at any one time.
- my first Cormorant actually here this year (as opposed to flying over). An immature was sitting along the edge of the island.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 13 Canada Geese
- no Mute Swans
- 26 (20♂) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 19 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- *8 (3♂) Goosander
- 15 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull: arrived
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted around the area:

Flies:
- *1 small male plumed midge

Springtails:
- *1 springtail, just possibly Cyphoderus albinus
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- *1 springtail, perhaps Orchesella villosa

The view to the island from Derwent Drive is clear: a bank of mist approaches from the top end.

Mallard are dabbling- (as opposed to diving-) ducks so when food sinks they have to adopt this position.

A drake Mallard paddling hard to stay head underwater.

Sometimes the lack of light to freeze the action can result in interesting photos. A duck Mallard with whirring wings.

A female (brownhead) Goosander looks about to burst in to tears.

She has recovered her composure.

The Little Grebe was only visible(?) during maximum mist. The yellow mark at the base of its bill indicates it is in breeding plumage.

One of my friendly Robins.

Trying to stare the camera down!

More interested in looking for food.

On an identity label on a street lamp pole is a small male plumed midge and an even smaller springtail, this just perhaps Orchesella villosa. [I had to think hard about the grammatical adjectival precedence rule to come up with "small male plumed..."!]

Not at all sure about this minute insect. Had it kept still I would not have noticed it. Here it is running off at speed so the photo is not that sharp. My best suggestion is the springtail Cyphoderus albinus though NatureSpot notes this under recorded species is usually found in ant nests.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
1 female Velvet Scoter
3 Scaup - 1st winter male, 2 1st winter females
(David Barnes / Tony Beckett / Ed Wilson)

2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Greater Scaup
1 Goldeneye
5 Great Black-backed Gulls
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Adult Caspian Gull
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Andy Latham)

2007
Priorslee Lake
8 Cormorants
3 Pochard
31 Tufted Ducks
9 Goosanders
c.50 Golden Plover
>1100 Black-headed Gulls
133 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
10 Herring Gulls
250 Wood Pigeons
21 Robins
17 Blackbirds
8 Fieldfares
4 Redwings
43 Magpies
279 Jackdaws
136 Rooks
5 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1100 Black-headed Gulls
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Gadwall
8 Pochard
14 Tufted Duck
198 Coot
376 Jackdaws
265 Rooks
200 Wood Pigeons
28 Robins
21 Blackbirds
22 Siskins
1 Redpoll
3 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

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