4 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 7.0°C: A few patches of cloud but mainly clear. Frost where sheltered from the moderate NW wind. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 07:11 GMT

* = a photo today

Another busy Autumn morning with more than 3400 Wood Pigeons over the lake. Passage had stopped by the time I left. Small movement of Redwings W, with eventually the first significant number of Fieldfare this Autumn over The Flash. The absence of this species to date has been the subject of much discussion on line. Seems they are now here!

Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 09:30

(250th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- No Mute Swans.
- Now two Great Crested Grebes: the new arrival is a first-winter bird.
- Black-headed Gulls did their early arrival and 30 minutes of circling. Only about 150 involved. No larger number seen later though it is likely more birds were involved.
- I was probably not positioned in the best place to see any Starling roost departure. I would have expected to have heard their wings as they left and did not.
- The Cetti's Warbler was much more vocal today giving several bursts of song early and occasional calls and songs later.
- A large number of Pied Wagtails heard leaving a roost to the W / SW of the area. Most not seen and 'best effort' on flight calls. Likely many more.

Overhead:
- 7 Feral Pigeons: single and sextet
- 5 Stock Doves: trio; also two singles noted amongst the Wood Pigeons
- c.3500 Wood Pigeons: c.3425 of these in 63 migrant group
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 51 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 198 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks
- 1 Raven
- 3 Skylarks
- 81 Starlings: five groups
- 24 Fieldfare: together
- 74 Redwings: seven groups
- >35 Pied Wagtails
- 4 Chaffinches
- 2 Greenfinches
- 7 Siskins

Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
None

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler again

Count from the lake area:
- no Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 5 (3♂) Gadwall: of these two pairs flew in together
- 21 (13♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 61 Coots
- no Little Grebes
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 39 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 11 unidentified large gulls
A note about yesterday's photo of a second winter Herring-type Gull. Thanks to Steve Nutall – Mr. Belvide – for his expertise from years of studying gulls in the roost there. He has confirmed my suspicion that it was a Yellow-legged Gull.

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- *1 Tortrix moth
with:
- 1 Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
- *lots of unknown tiny buglings?
- *1 Larinioides cornutus Orb-web spider
- *1 Neriene montana spider
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. Stretch spider
- 3 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestmen
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman

Yesterday's froghopper has been confirmed as a Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius). The literature suggests that this species is not seen after September. Keith, the Shropshire recorder, suggests the absence of significant frosts has allowed it to survive thus far.

Noted later:
- 2 Grey Squirrels

 Not much cloud around this morning. What there was rather spoilt the sunrise.

With bright sunshine I hoped to get better photos of Siskins. Initially all I could find on the Alders was this hiding Goldfinch.

I then managed a sunny Goldfinch.

Eventually a Siskin turned up – upside down as usual. A female here.

 And a male with shadow across its head.

A late tortrix micro moth. I am getting its identity confirmed. If you look to the right there are many tiny buglings?

And here is the full set of the buglings. What they are I am unsure at the moment.

 You WILL learn to like spiders. This is Larinioides cornutus.

And this is Neriene montana. Note the black up the centre of the thorax and brown diagonal lines.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35

(227th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Number of Mallard down again. Where do they go?
- The first drake Pochard of the season.
- Fieldfare and Redwing overhead as highlighted.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Skylark again
- c.130 Fieldfare: one group
- 37 Redwing: two groups
- 1 Siskin

On /around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese yet again
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived again
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 19 (12♂) Mallard only
- *1 (1♂) Pochard
- 20 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- *4 (0♂) Goosander
- 12 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first winter
- 2 Grey Herons

On the lamp poles:
Nothing on any of them

On the Ivy:
Very busy around the Ivy despite the ambient temperature being below 10°C. The Ivy was in full sun and sheltered from the wind:
- *2 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- >2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *>5 Tapered Drone Flies (Eristalis pertinax)
- *>30 Common Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
- *Very many Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Even more flies.

The first drake Pochard of the season. Amazing red eye on drakes of this species.

And here having a preen.

How could I resist a sunny brownhead Goosander?

The local Common Buzzard circling overhead.

It is not infrequent to find Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) on the wing on fine days in late Autumn. Here is one.

A different individual – note the more extensive blue at the base of the right wing and the damage to the left wing.

A female Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax). Females do not have the obvious taper to the abdomen so to separate from Common Drone Fly (E. tenax) examine the legs, especially the front pair. Extensive yellow identifies it as a Tapered Drone Fly.

A side view of a different Tapered Drone Fly.

Not too easy to see but the legs are dark on this female hoverfly so it is a Common Drone Fly (E. tenax).

 There were many of these Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris), this one after the Ivy nectar.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2011
Priorslee Lake
Yellow legged Gull
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
16 Pochard
43 Tufted Duck
Yellow-legged Gull
Kingfisher
400+ Jackdaws
17 Fieldfare
7 Redwings
Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
24 Pochard
81 Tufted Ducks
c.180 large gulls
5 Redwings here
(Ed Wilson)

Trench Lock Pool
Yellow-legged Gull
(Martin Grant)

2009
Priorslee Lake
17 Pochard
4 Wigeon
8 Tufted
42 Mute Swan
400+ Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow Legged Gull
(Mike Cooper)

Wrekin
Firecrest
2 Brambling
(Dave Barrow / Andy Latham)

2006
Priorslee Lake
23 Pochard
48 Tufted Ducks
1 Ruddy Duck
650+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
134 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
450 Wood Pigeons
15 Pied Wagtails
18 Wrens
13 Dunnocks
25 Robins
18 Blackbirds
155 Fieldfares
5 Song Thrushes
85 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
14 Greenfinches
2 Siskins
4 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

3 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: Very mixed. Started with medium-level cloud and a few breaks to the E. More breaks developed then c.09:00 low cloud descended, covering the tops for a while before clearing to mainly blue skies. Light NNW wind, becoming moderate at times. Mainly good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:09 GMT

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:15

(249th visit of the year)

Many fewer and smaller groups of Wood Pigeons with slight renewed activity later at The Flash when the skies cleared.

Other bird notes:
- No Mute Swans over-nighted. Two (near?) adults arrived low from the E at 07:30.
- About 430 Starlings came out of the reeds together: even more difficult to gauge the number as they left low to the W staying below the tree-line. It was over minutes later that another c.125 departed together. A few stragglers thereafter. Two groups flew over much later.
- The Cetti's Warbler gave one almost complete burst of song from the W end of the N side at 06:35. It gave several more spluttering notes shortly thereafter but was then silent. At 09:00 presumably the same bird was heard persistently calling and then seen in long grass behind the sailing club shelter.
- Siskins again heard in the W end trees very early, apparently flying off. More overhead. Then at least 15 in Alders by the Teece Drive gate, with Goldfinches, at 09:00.
- In the winter period I usually see Reed Buntings leaving the W end roost and flying far away. I heard one only in the roost area this morning but later I saw four together alongside the S side 'path'.

Overhead:
- Canada Geese: heard only outbound
- 1 Greylag Goose: outbound
- 363 Wood Pigeons: 307 of these in 15 migrant group
- 2 Collared Doves: together
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 unidentified large gulls'
- 1 Cormorant again
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 314 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks only
- 1 Skylark
- 67 Starlings: two groups
- 8 Redwings
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 11 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Linnet
- 23 Siskins: four groups

Birds leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.570 Starlings

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler

Count from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans: arrived
- 17 (12♂) Mallard: arrived in four groups
- *3 (2♂) Gadwall again
- 16 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 2 Little Grebes again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls
- *9 Herring Gulls
- 95 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 45 unidentified large gulls
- no Grey Heron

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
None

with:
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- *1 froghopper sp.
- 1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. Stretch spider
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

Noted later:
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

The sky was cloudy for the sunrise. The sun came out later and the early Autumn light again enhanced the colours.

Another view.

One day the Gadwall will come close-enough for a photo to shows the great vermiculations along the flanks of the drake. This was the closest I could get today with the pair appearing to have a slight tiff. Drake on the left.

A different drake Gadwall shown amongst a group of Mallard.

I am regretting photographing this gull. It is a second-winter Herring Gull-type but is it 'just' a Herring Gill? None of my books illustrate second-winter Yellow-legged or Caspian Gulls. Is the head too pale for a Herring Gull? Why has it got a pale tip on a bill that appears to droop? Pass!

I am very pleased with this male Siskin photo. The bird was high up in an Alder tree and I was shooting in to a bright sky. Note the black crown feathers have pale fringes so at this time of year the crown is not 'jet black' s it will be in the Spring when the fringes have worn off..

I found this froghopper on a lamp pole pre-dawn. I am taking advice, but this group is challenging to identify.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:20 – 10:30

(226th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Number of Mallard recovered but lower number of Tufted Duck, Goosander and Moorhens!

Birds noted flying over here:
- 5 Feral Pigeons
- 64 Wood Pigeons in four migrant groups
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Skylark
- 26 Starlings (two groups)
- 1 Redwing
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Siskins

On /around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese again
- 1 Greylag Goose: arrived
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- *34 (24♂) Mallard
- 23 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 (0♂) Goosander only
- 6 Moorhens only
- 25 Coots
- *3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 34 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Herring Gull: third winter
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adult and first winter
- no Grey Herons

On a lamp pole:
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. Stretch spider

Noted elsewhere:
- Only a few Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)

A first winter Great Crested Grebe. Whether this is one of those raised locally or not is hard to determine but...

..it was close to this adult. This bird is moulting its head-feathers. Its close proximity to the juvenile suggests they are both from the family that raised three juveniles here.

The Mallard formation flying team passes by. One of their number is not in 'team livery'!

Visually I had this logged as an adult Herring Gull but the photo shows otherwise with dark primary coverts and some dusky marks in the secondaries. So it is a third winter bird. Strangely at this age there should be some dark marks from a vestigial tail band.

A first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull showing several identification features: the broad dark tail band with a clean upper tail; dark secondaries with no pale on the inner primaries; and a rather hooded appearance.

Note how it twists its tail as it manoeuvres.

(Ed Wilson)

Also

Elsewhere

Not from 'around here' – indeed very much not from around here. I was at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Wood Lane near Ellesmere yesterday and came across this rather distant puzzle. On the left is a drake Shoveler . The other bird is a drake Cape Shelduck. That's 'Cape' and in 'Cape of Good Hope' - South Africa. It is non-migratory so this bird has escaped from a wildlife collection.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2013
Shifnal, Lizard Wood
2 Hawfinch
(Arthur Harper)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Several Herons
>3800 Wood Pigeons
11 Skylarks
2 Meadow Pipits
199 Fieldfare
32 Redwings
9 Siskins
1 Linnet
Brambling 
(Ed Wilson)

Wrekin
Location
1 Crossbill
Several Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
21 Pochard
58 Tufted Ducks
2 Buzzards
>900 Black-headed Gulls
176 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
807 Wood Pigeons
16 Pied Wagtails
26 Wrens
14 Dunnocks
34 Robins
24 Blackbirds
213 Fieldfares
6 Song Thrushes
150 Redwings
5 Mistle Thrushes
1 Blackcap
447 Starlings
2 Siskins
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

2.0°C > 4.0°C: Early mist over the water and frost on the grass. Otherwise just a few patches of high cloud. Calm / light S wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:08 GMT

No photos today – busy doing other thing. Watch out tomorrow

Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:25

(248th visit of the year)

The main feature of the morning was very the large passage of Wood Pigeons heading S. This started by 07:05, petering out somewhat after 07:45. Several groups contained at least 500 birds and on occasions groups were passing to both the E and W of the lake simultaneously. When I totted up my 'best effort' at logging these my total came to just shy of 5400 birds. Add about 100 moving locally. The most interesting flock was a distant view of c.150 birds at 08:55 which overtook a late passing group of 18 Rooks: the pigeons were in turn overtaken by a group of c.75 Golden Plover. The comparison in flight formation – the plover in very typical wavy lines - and wing rate was enough to clinch the identity of my 112th species here this year.

Other bird notes:
- The erstwhile resident cob and his three cygnets spent the night here but left to the NE at 08:15. Within 10 minutes two other adults arrived: one bird was certainly not ringed - both may have been: I could only see this as they upended in the distance.
- A Great Crested Grebe: the first for some days. It is unusual for none to be present.
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls arrived at 06:25 and by 06:35 at least 500 were present. An unusually early and an unusually large arrival.
- A single Jackdaw flew over at 06:15. The next were the first big group at 06:45.
- About 550 Starlings burst out of the reeds almost together. About 30 more left a few minutes behind these. Five small groups flew over much later.
- At least two Siskins seemed to leave trees at the W end very early, as if they might have roosted there overnight.

Overhead:
- 3 Canada Geese: flushed out of fields to the E
- 3 Greylag Geese: one outbound; duo inbound
- 2 Stock Doves, at least in with....
- c.5500 Wood Pigeons: c.5400 in 46 migrant groups, heading between S: see also highlight
- c.75 Golden Plover: see highlight
- 36 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 unidentified large gulls'
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk again
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- c.400 Jackdaws
- 47 Rooks
- 3 Skylarks
- 59 Starlings: five groups
- 19 Redwings
- 13 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Greenfinch
- 1 Siskin

Birds leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.580 Starlings
- 2+ Siskins: see notes

Warblers noted:
None

Count from the lake area:
- 3 + 3 Mute Swans again: see notes
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Gadwall
- 19 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 58 Coots
- 2 Little Grebes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- >500 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull again
- 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 13 unidentified large gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 2 November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.)
with:
- 2 spiders: photos still to be examined
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum/blackwalli harvestman
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

Noted later:
- Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 1 Grey Squirrel

It was a misty (and frosty) start yesterday

Cleared to give some great views of of the Autumn tints.

The cob Mute Swan and his three cygnets leaving.

One of the cygnets circling overhead before finally flying away.

 The other two (near) adult Mute Swans fly in.

For a change a flight shot in focus! The Grey Heron departs. I am sure this species has finished its annual moult. I have never noticed how much longer the primary wing feathers are than the secondaries.

It is even more apparent here but what is strange is that it appears only to apply to the right wing. Can't explain!

A Dunnock. Understated plumage on this species.

Here it is again.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:30 – 10:25

(224th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Many Mallard had done a vanishing trick.
- Bumper number of Moorhens.
- The only fly-overs noted was a loose group of Jackdaws and Rooks. Rooks not too common here.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 16 Jackdaws
- 8 Rooks

On /around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 13 (9♂) Mallard
- 31 (18♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 (1?♂) Goosander
- 13 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 27 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Herons

On the same lamp pole as yesterday:
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus-type harvestman.

Noted elsewhere:
- Many Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 2 Common Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
- Hundreds of flies of at least four species

When I checked the photos of the 'small wasps' I had tried to capture I found this Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). Not a small wasp though it tries to convince predators it is.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
Kestrel
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
36 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
4 Lapwings over 
c.200 Starlings roosted at W end 
53 Wood Pigeons
249 Fieldfare
14 Redwings
7 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebes
17 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
c.170 Golden Plover
1175 Wood Pigeons
1 Kingfisher
16 Pied Wagtails
22 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
22 Blackbirds
298 Fieldfares
8 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
69 Starlings
12 Chaffinches
33 Greenfinches
11 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll
5 Bullfinches
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Adult Arctic Tern
172 Redwing
9 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
Siskin
Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

1 Nov 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 0.0°C: Variable amounts of cloud with occasional light showers. Fresh SW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 07:06 GMT

*= a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:20

(247th visit of the year)

A much busier morning. The large Starling roost dispersal the most impressive.

Other bird notes:
- The recently arrived two Mute Swans were present early. At 07:40 the erstwhile resident cob and his three cygnets arrived from the NE. The cob soon set about chasing the other adults away, which he achieved within 20 minutes.
- One pair of Gadwall again.
- Of the >500 Wood Pigeons seen in migrant groups at least 150 seemed to be climbing away from trees to the N and W of the lake.
- Just a single 'large gull' arrived and briefly stopped for a drink. Low number of gulls in general.
- At least 850 Starlings burst out of the reeds almost together – how do you even get an estimate when they fly straight out over you? Could have been many more. Just 10 'teenagers' struggling to get out of bed and leaving later (a few over-flights as well).

Overhead:
- 5 Feral Pigeons: one group
- c.600 Wood Pigeons: c.500 in 13 migrant groups, heading between SW and SE
- 1 Collared Dove
- 27 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants: together
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 263 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks
- 1 Skylark
- 11 Starlings: two groups
- 2 Fieldfare: singles
- 31 Redwings
- c.16 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Chaffinch
- 4 Siskins

Birds leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.860 Starlings
- 14 Redwings
- 1 Reed Bunting

Warblers noted:
- 1 Cetti's Warbler: single song near Wesley Brook bridge pre-dawn; later calling at W end

Count from the lake area:
- *3 + 3 Mute Swans: see notes
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 26 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 44 Coots
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 unidentified large gull, briefly
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

At / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 2 November Moth agg. (Epirrita sp.)
with:
- 1 Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
- 1 Common European Earwig (Forficula dentata)
- *1 Neriene montana spider
- *1 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- *1 Tetragnatha sp. Stretch spider
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestmen

Noted later:
- 1 (Common) Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum) in the sailing club shelter.
- 1 Grey Squirrel

It did not look like this for much of the time! A rewarding sunrise.

Not too easy to see against the water but here is 'our' con Mute Swan and two of the cygnets returning from wherever they have been on half-term. [The red spot is a buoy behind one of the cygnets.]

It did not take the cob long to dislodge the two that have been present for the last five days. Here they climb away to safety

And having circled around to gain height head off.

The spider Neriene montana with a dark line down the head and thorax.

A six-legged Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis). Best identified by the unusual shape of the head and thorax with a pale line down the centre (and often down the abdomen as well), Typically he front two pairs of legs are held together as they are here on the spider's left side. It seems to have lost the two front legs on its right side.

A species of stretch spider Tetragnatha showing the top row of four eyes. I saw very many spiders in this group on vegetation in early summer but none recently. One or two have appeared on the lamp posts recently. This could mean they are different species. The NatureSpot web site notes all three common species as not occurring beyond September. For scale purposes the background in the top part of the number '0' on the lamp pole identifier.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 09:250 – 10:10

(223th visit of the year)

Seems I was mistaken: some / much of the Willow tree that had fallen in the water (adopts 'Goon Show' voice) and was lately removed has, after all, been retained on site. It is scattered around in various places to recycle its nutrients. Well done.

Bird notes:
- The drake Teal appeared yet again – on its own still apparently.
- At least two Siskins in trees on the island.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 4 Jackdaws

On /around the water:
- 29 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: one of these flew in
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 36 (25♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Teal reappeared
- 26 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- *14 (0♂) Goosander: two flew off
- 9 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes only
- 44 Black-headed Gulls
- *2 Grey Herons

On a lamp pole:
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus-type harvestman.

Noted elsewhere:
- A few Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris) on the Ivy flowers braving the dull and windy conditions.

A 'brownhead' Goosander. The pale line from the base of the bill to the eye (called a loral line) indicates this is an immature, sex unknown. Note the outline of the head and nape is slightly fuzzy.

Here is the same bird in front of what I believe to be duck (female). There is no loral line and the eye and the head has a more shaggy outline to the nape.

A reflective Grey Heron.

The same bird from an unusual angle.

(Ed Wilson)

Note:
A Gyrfalcon has gone missing from Bridport and has been seen in the Priorslee Area. If you see it please contact us by email so we can pass on the sighting to the owner. Here a couple of photos of it.




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2010
Priorslee Lake
Brambling
3 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
5 Siskins
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Cormorant
14 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
Female Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Willow Tits with the Long-tailed Tits
Kingfisher
Jays
Skylark
Siskin
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)